Helpline
Call 1.855.378.4373 to schedule a call time with a specialist or visit scheduler.drugfree.org
Helpline

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.

A legal loophole is allowing children with access to social media to see ads for marijuana, according to a new study.
High levels of an industrial chemical have been found in the illicit fentanyl supply in the United States, according to new research.
Despite the proven effectiveness of buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder, it remains drastically underprescribed, The New York Times reports.
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.
View our curated digest of the latest research news, including an investigation of cardiovascular health outcomes associated with noncigarette tobacco products.
A new study links marijuana dependence to an increased risk of death, The New York Times reports.
Growing evidence suggests that newer weight-loss drugs such as semaglutide (Ozempic) may be useful in treating alcohol use disorder, NBC News reports.
The Council of Economic Advisers has released a study finding that the opioid epidemic cost the U.S. $2.7 trillion in 2023.
Find more of our must-reads in policy news, including tariffs targeting fentanyl trafficking concerns.
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.
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 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.
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.
Find more of our must-reads in policy news, including RFK Jr.'s contentious HHS nomination hearings.
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.
The Trump administration withdrew the proposed rule that would have banned menthol in cigarettes and flavored cigars, CNN reports.
A new study finds more frequent marijuana use damages the brain’s working memory, the ability to retain information for a short period and use it.
Purdue Pharma, the company that makes OxyContin, and members of the Sackler family, which owns the company, agreed to pay up to $7.4 billion in a new opioid settlement, AP reports.
Find more of our must-reads in policy news, including the new opioid settlement agreement reached with Purdue and the Sacklers.
View our curated digest of the latest research news, including a study on the impact of marijuana use on brain function.
The Food and Drug Administration approved the sale of Zyn nicotine pouches to help adult smokers quit or cut back on the number of cigarettes they smoke, AP reports.
A new study finds ketamine use increased 40% in the United States between 2021 and 2022.
“Menthol mimics,” cigarettes that imitate the cooling effect of menthol, are increasingly popular and are undermining menthol cigarette bans, a new study concludes.
Find more of our must-reads in policy news, including new rules proposed by the DEA on prescribing controlled substances via telehealth.
View our curated digest of the latest research news, including cannabis use characteristics and associations with problematic use outcomes, quitting-related factors, and mental health among young adults in the United States.
1 2 3 365