Chinese researchers tested implant that placed in brain to cure drug addiction

News24xx.com - The Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) technique has long been used by medical experts to cure the shakiness in Parkinson's patients. This technique uses implants that placed in the brain that can drain electricity to stimulate certain nerves.

A group of researchers in China plan to apply a similar technique this time to treat methamphetamine and opioid drug addiction. If it works, it means that an addiction problem in people can be overcome just by pressing the button.

Similar research has been attempted several times by European researchers but has been hit by complex ethical, social, and scientific problems. Therefore, China with its strict rules on combating drugs can emerge as this kind of research center.

According to experimental reports carried out at the Shanghai Hospital Ruijin Hospital. The risks if the surgery failed are bleeding, convulsions, infections, to behavioral changes. "This implant will feel like magic. Doctors can arrange it to make you happy and sad, if they want so" said one patient involved in the experiment as quoted from ABC, on Wednesday, May 8th 2019.

Some researchers criticize the experiment assuming this does not look at biological, social, and psychological factors in drug addiction problems. "As doctors, we always have to think about patients. They are human, they want to be helped. You can't say 'oh we can't help, we don't know any therapy that can help you'" concluded Dr. Sun Bomin, director of the neurosurgery department at Ruijin Hospital.

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