TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) - Researchers from the University of Arizona and the National Center for Wellness and Recovery in Tulsa, Oklahoma, are testing a new molecule that could change the way opioid overdoses are treated. This collaboration aims to address the ongoing opioid crisis by developing a longer-lasting antidote.

"The compound we are currently testing is a long-acting opioid antagonist that could potentially save lives with a single dose," said Todd Vanderah, director of the University of Arizona's Comprehensive Center for Pain and Addiction.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is up to 100 times more potent than morphine and has been a major contributor to overdose deaths. In 2024 alone, more than 50,000 Americans died from opioid overdoses, with synthetic opioids like fentanyl involved

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