Featured Publications
Dysregulation of the endogenous cannabinoid system following opioid exposure
Mohammad Aghaei A, Saali A, Canas M, Weleff J, D'Souza D, Angarita G, Bassir Nia A. Dysregulation of the endogenous cannabinoid system following opioid exposure. Psychiatry Research 2023, 330: 115586. PMID: 37931479, PMCID: PMC10842415, DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115586.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEndocannabinoid systemECS componentsBrain regionsNovel neurobiological targetsTreatment of OUDEndogenous opioid systemOpioid-related deathsEndogenous cannabinoid systemSpecific brain regionsECS dysregulationOpioid exposureOUD treatmentOpioid systemCannabinoid systemNeurobiological targetsNew medicationsPreclinical literatureCannabinoid receptorsEndogenous ligandTherapeutic potentialStudy typePresent potential targetsExposure protocolOpioidsPreclinical researchWhy Harm Reduction and Equity Are Ethical Imperatives in Opioid Use Disorder Care.
Weleff J. Why Harm Reduction and Equity Are Ethical Imperatives in Opioid Use Disorder Care. The AMA Journal Of Ethic 2024, 26: e509-511. PMID: 38958418, DOI: 10.1001/amajethics.2024.509.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2025
Effects of psychedelics on opioid use disorder: a scoping review of preclinical studies
Pulido-Saavedra A, Oliva H, Prudente T, Kitaneh R, Nunes E, Fogg C, Funaro M, Weleff J, Nia A, Angarita G. Effects of psychedelics on opioid use disorder: a scoping review of preclinical studies. Cellular And Molecular Life Sciences 2025, 82: 49. PMID: 39833376, PMCID: PMC11747050, DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05519-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnalgesics, OpioidAnimalsDrug Evaluation, PreclinicalHallucinogensHumansOpioid-Related DisordersConceptsOpioid use disorderUse disorderPreclinical studiesClinical studiesReview of preclinical studiesConditioned place preferenceOpioid self-administrationEffects of psychedelicsPreclinical in vivo studiesOpioid use disorder treatmentFrequency of administrationPlace preferencePotential therapeutic effectsSelf-administrationWithdrawal symptomsPreclinical findingsMechanism of actionSafety profilePain studiesPsychedelicsMethodological quality assessmentClinical evidenceCardiovascular riskOpioidWeb of Science
2023
Prescribing of Z-Drugs With and Without Opioid Coprescribing to Primary Care Patients in a Large Health Care System From 2019-2020.
Anand A, Weleff J, Thompson N, Barnett B. Prescribing of Z-Drugs With and Without Opioid Coprescribing to Primary Care Patients in a Large Health Care System From 2019-2020. The Journal Of Clinical Psychiatry 2023, 84 PMID: 37707315, DOI: 10.4088/jcp.22m14753.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsZ-drug prescribingDiagnosis of opioid use disorderZ-drug prescriptionsOpioid use disorderZ-drugsHealth care systemPrimary care clinicsWhite raceUse disorderCare systemAssociated with increasing ageCare clinicsOlder ageStudy periodDiagnosis of bipolar disorderCross-sectional studyPrimary care patientsLarger health care systemAdult patientsPatient populationOpioidGeneralized anxiety disorderPatientsBipolar disorderPost-lockdown