Neuronal mechanisms underlying opioid-induced respiratory depression: our current understanding

Opioid-induced respiratory depression (OIRD) represents the primary cause of death associated with therapeutic and recreational opioid use. Within the United States, the rate of death from opioid abuse since the early 1990s has grown disproportionally, prompting the classification as a nationwide epidemic. Since this time, we have begun to unravel many fundamental cellular and systemslevel mechanisms associated with opioid-related death. However, factors such as individual vulnerability, neuromodulatory compensation, and redundancy of opioid effects across central and peripheral nervous systems have created a barrier to a concise, integrative view of OIRD. Within this review, we bring together multiple perspectives in the field of OIRD to create an overarching viewpoint of what we know, and where we view this essential topic of research going forward into the future.

Automated summary

Opioid-induced respiratory depression is the primary cause of death associated with therapeutic and recreational opioid use, with the death rate from opioid abuse growing disproportionally in the United States since the early 1990s. Despite uncovering many fundamental cellular and systems-level mechanisms related to opioid-related death, factors such as individual vulnerability, neuromodulatory compensation, and redundancy of opioid effects continue to hinder the formation of a concise, integrative view of OIRD. This review brings together multiple perspectives in the field of OIRD to create a comprehensive understanding of this important research topic and its future direction.