New Zealand researchers could provide the answer to the opioid epidemic.

Victoria University has received a $1.2 million grant to advance the development of a safer opioid alternative to the pre-clinical phase.

Associate Professor Bronwyn Kivel told Mike Hosking one in five New Zealand adults suffer from chronic pain, and half of those report current treatments don't offer much relief.

She says they're aiming to develop a double-whammy drug that relieves pain, and isn't as addictive.

Kivell says they know a lot about the anti-addiction properties of the compound they're studying and that's why they're investigating it.

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