2. Summarize the observed effects of whole-head tPBM on opioid craving and depressive symptoms in a residential rehabilitation setting.
3. Identify considerations for implementing brief tPBM protocols in wellness, rehabilitation, or military recovery programs.
4. Evaluate how non-pharmacologic adjunct interventions can support relapse prevention and emotional stabilization during recovery.
Opioid use disorder (OUD) remains a pervasive public health challenge affecting civilian, Veteran, and active-duty military populations. Even when individuals achieve abstinence in structured treatment environments, cravings and depressive symptoms frequently persist and are among the strongest predictors of relapse. While pharmacotherapy and counseling remain central components of recovery, there is a growing need for accessible, non-pharmacologic, adjunctive interventions that can be delivered in diverse environments—including wellness centers, integrative care clinics, and residential rehabilitation programs. Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a non-invasive neuromodulation approach that uses near-infrared light to influence mitochondrial activity, cerebral blood flow, neural network signaling, and neuroinflammatory pathways associated with mood and reward-system regulation.