German scientist Meinhart Zenk at Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg has proven once-and-for-all (?) a long-held theory that the human brain naturally produces morphine. Kristen Philipkoski reports on the findings in Wired News. Zenk's claim is supported by other recent work by neuroscientist George Stefano of the State University of New York at Old Westbury. Stefano believes that doctors could eventually teat a patient's pain by providing a precursor to morphine instead of the drug itself. From the Wired News article:
The discovery could also explain why some people are more susceptible to addiction — they may have a morphine deficiency.
"All of a sudden," Stefano said, "(morphine-deficient individuals) take this compound (and) it really makes them feel not only good but normal."
