Opiate receptor in normal and drug altered brain function

Recent biochemical identification of the receptor site for pharmacological actions of opiates helps elucidate how these drugs relieve pain, elicit euphoria and 'addiction', and provides simple, direct approaches to developing potentially non-addicting analgesics. The isolation of a morphine-like peptide which may be a central nervous system neurotransmitter sheds light on normal brain mechanisms regulating pain and emotion.