Researchers working toward a heroin vaccine are both hopeful and cautious

Stephen Thomas, MD (photo by Jim Howe) Stephen Thomas, MD (photo by
Jim Howe) The body's immune system is good at recognizing foreign
substances. Vaccines leverage that immune system by training it to
fight invaders. A team of military scientists is collaborating with
physician scientists at Upstate to create a vaccine that would
disarm the effects of heroin, helping people who have a substance
abuse disorder by removing the drug's appeal. The body's immune
system is good at recognizing foreign substances. Vaccines leverage
that immune system by training it to fight invaders. A team of
military scientists is collaborating with physician scientists at
Upstate to create a vaccine that would disarm the effects of
heroin, helping people who have a substance abuse disorder by
removing the drug's appeal. Stephen Thomas, MD, Stephen Thomas, MD,
explains the process of creating a new vaccine, which is tried in
laboratory animals before it's considered for human trials. He sees
this vaccine as one of multiple tools that people fighting heroin
addiction might use to achieve sobriety. explains the process of
creating a new vaccine, which is tried in laboratory animals before
it's considered for human trials. He sees this vaccine as one of
multiple tools that people fighting heroin addiction might use to
achieve sobriety.