The shootings in Chicago make for dramatic headlines, as well as tweets from the president. But far more people die each year in Illinois from opioid overdoses than from homicides. Much of the opioid epidemic in our state-and across the country-is related to drugs prescribed to people trying to deal with pain. One of the ways researchers are trying to bring those numbers down is by coming up with alternative ways to manage pain. 

Brigid Sweeney of Crain’s Chicago Business dives into some local universities are working toward a new understanding of—and treatment for—pain that doesn’t involve popping highly addictive pills.