The Latest News from Our Field

We curate a digest of the latest news in our field for advocates, policymakers, community coalitions and all who work toward shaping policies and practices to effectively prevent substance use and treat addiction. Sign up here to receive weekly updates straight to your inbox.

KFF Health News/CBS: States eye opioid money amid federal funding cuts

As federal funding dries up, states are increasingly looking to opioid settlement funds to fill the gaps, KFF Health News/CBS report.

House Republicans pass budget plan requiring Medicaid cuts

The House passed a budget blueprint requiring $880 billion in cuts from the Energy and Commerce Committee, which would necessitate cuts to Medicaid.

DOL struggles to enforce parity laws

A report found that DOL lacked critical tools to enforce parity compliance, furthering barriers to care.

Overdose deaths down nearly 24%

Provisional CDC data shows about 87,000 overdose deaths Oct. 2023-Sept. 2024, down significantly from the previous year.

Research News Roundup: March 6, 2025

View our curated digest of the latest research news, including a study on whether chatbots provide reliable information on how to quit smoking.

NYT: Buprenorphine underused despite proven benefits

Despite the proven effectiveness of buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder, it continues to be under-utilized for a host of reasons.

KFF Health News/NBC: Effective prevention debate for opioid settlement funds

A Kentucky county's use of opioid settlement funds highlights debate about what is needed for effective substance use prevention efforts.

Overdose death rates decline 4% in 2023

A CDC report found that the rate of overdose deaths fell 4% from 2022 to 2023.

Trump administration defends ACA preventive services

The Trump administration intends to defend the ACA's preventive services requirement in court, stressing the power of the HHS secretary.

Research News Roundup: February 27, 2025

View our curated digest of the latest research news, including a study on the effectiveness of school-based opioid education programs.

Legal Loophole Allows Children Who Access Social Media to See Marijuana Ads: Study

A legal loophole is allowing children with access to social media to see ads for marijuana, according to a new study.

Researchers Find High Levels of Industrial Chemical in Illicit Fentanyl

High levels of an industrial chemical have been found in the illicit fentanyl supply in the United States, according to new research.

Buprenorphine is Proven Effective But Remains Drastically Underprescribed

Despite the proven effectiveness of buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder, it remains drastically underprescribed, The New York Times reports.

Policy News Roundup: February 20, 2025

Find more of our must-reads in policy news, including a study finding that the opioid epidemic cost the U.S. $2.7 trillion in 2023.

Research News Roundup: February 20, 2025

View our curated digest of the latest research news, including an investigation of cardiovascular health outcomes associated with noncigarette tobacco products.

Study Links Marijuana Dependence to Increased Risk of Death

A new study links marijuana dependence to an increased risk of death, The New York Times reports.

Growing Evidence Suggests Weight-Loss Drugs May Treat Alcohol Use Disorder

Growing evidence suggests that newer weight-loss drugs such as semaglutide (Ozempic) may be useful in treating alcohol use disorder, NBC News reports.

Council of Economic Advisers Study Finds Opioid Crisis Cost the U.S. $2.7 Trillion in 2023

The Council of Economic Advisers has released a study finding that the opioid epidemic cost the U.S. $2.7 trillion in 2023.

Policy News Roundup: February 13, 2025

Find more of our must-reads in policy news, including tariffs targeting fentanyl trafficking concerns.

Research News Roundup: February 13, 2025

View our curated digest of the latest research news, including the development of a conceptual framework for the use of alternative payment models for substance use disorder prevention.

FDA Approves New Non-Opioid Painkiller Designed to Eliminate Risk of Substance Use Disorder

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new non-opioid painkiller designed to eliminate the risk of addiction and overdose, AP reports.

State Regulators Face Challenges in Keeping Harmful Substances Out of Legal Marijuana

State regulators around the country are facing challenges in keeping harmful substances such as pesticides, molds and heavy metals out of the supply of legal marijuana, NPR reports.

Crisis Services Did Not Expand After Launch of 988 Suicide Hotline: Study

A new study finds most community crisis services did not expand after the launch of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, potentially limiting the line’s effectiveness.

Policy News Roundup: February 6, 2025

Find more of our must-reads in policy news, including RFK Jr.'s contentious HHS nomination hearings.

Research News Roundup: February 6, 2025

View our curated digest of the latest research news, including a review of prospective studies on the association between the age of cannabis use onset and later substance use problems.

1 2 3 … 262 next