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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.

Sackler Family Members to Testify at House Hearing Examining Opioid Epidemic

Two members of the Sackler family, which owns OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma, were scheduled to testify Thursday before a House panel investigating the opioid epidemic, according to Reuters.

Depression in Childhood or Teen Years May Increase Odds of Illness and Early Death

A new study suggests depression in childhood or adolescence may increase the risk of illness and early death.

Opioid Industry Spent $65 Million Funding Advocacy Groups: Senate Report

Nonprofit groups that advocate treating pain with medications have received $65 million since 1997 from opioid manufacturers, according to a bipartisan congressional investigation.

Teen Vaping Rate Stops Climbing, But Levels Stay High

Teens’ rate of vaping nicotine and marijuana leveled off this year, but rates remain high, according to the most recent figures from the annual Monitoring the Future survey.

College Students Who Moved Home Due to Pandemic are Drinking Less

A new survey finds college students who moved home due to the COVID-19 pandemic are drinking less alcohol, HealthDay reports.

McKinsey Apologizes for Its Work With OxyContin Maker Purdue Pharma

Consulting firm McKinsey & Company issued an apology this week for its work with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma, The New York Times reports.

House Passes Bill Decriminalizing Marijuana at the Federal Level

The House passed a bill that would decriminalize marijuana at the federal level. The Senate is unlikely to pass the measure, CBS News reports.

Vaping Rates Among Teens and Young Adults Have Fallen During Pandemic

A new survey has found vaping rates among teens and young adults have dropped significantly during the pandemic.

Non-Fatal Overdoses Increase in Children Younger Than 15

Non-fatal drug overdoses increased for children under the age of 15 between 2016 and 2019, according to a study published in Pediatrics.

WHO Sets Goal: Get 100 Million People to Quit Tobacco Worldwide in 2021

The World Health Organization announced a year-long campaign, “Commit to Quit,” to help 100 million people quit tobacco worldwide.

Consulting Firm McKinsey Suggested OxyContin Maker Pay Rebates for Overdoses

The consulting firm McKinsey & Company advised members of the Sackler family, the owners of OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma, to consider giving the company’s distributors a rebate for every overdose attributable to the pills they sold, according to documents released in a federal bankruptcy court.

OxyContin Maker Purdue Pharma Pleads Guilty to Criminal Charges in Opioid Case

Purdue Pharma pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges related to the marketing and distribution of its opioid painkiller OxyContin, The New York Times reports.

United Nations Removes Marijuana from List of the World’s Most Dangerous Drugs

The United Nations this week voted to remove marijuana from its list of the world’s most dangerous drugs.

One-Fifth of U.S. Adults Used Tobacco Products in 2019

One-fifth of U.S. adults — 50.6 million people — used tobacco products in 2019, according to a new government report.

Virtual A.A. Sessions Likely to Outlast the Pandemic

Virtual sessions of Alcoholics Anonymous, which have become common during the pandemic, are likely to become a permanent part of recovery, according to participants and addiction treatment providers.

Judge Approves $8.3 Billion Settlement With OxyContin Maker Purdue Pharma

This week a federal bankruptcy judge authorized a settlement valued at $8.3 billion between OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma and the Department of Justice, NPR reports.

Supervising Drug Consumption at Needle Exchange Program Would Save Lives: Study

Supervising drug consumption at a needle exchange program in Boston would save three to four lives a year, and more than $4 million, according to a new report.

Fentanyl Deaths Increase in Western U.S.

A new study finds fentanyl deaths have increased in states west of the Mississippi River, according to NPR.

Bipartisan Support for Marijuana Legalization Grows Across Country

A recent Gallup poll and the passage of state marijuana legalization measures indicate that bipartisan support for legalization is growing, AP reports.

New York Excise Tax Makes It Harder To Fill Opioid Prescriptions

After New York State implemented an excise tax on many opioids in July 2019, some patients have had difficulty filling opioid prescriptions, Kaiser Health News reports.

Proposed $26 Billion Deal Would End Thousands of Opioid Lawsuits

A large drug company and three major drug distributors have proposed a $26 billion deal with state and local governments that sued them for their role in the opioid crisis. If the deal is finalized, the companies would be shielded from future opioid-related lawsuits from these governments, The New York Times reports.

House To Vote on Bill That Would Remove Federal Penalties on Marijuana

The U.S. House will vote next month on a measure to remove federal penalties on marijuana, Politico reports.

U.S. Sees Dramatic Rise in Alcohol and Drug Misuse, Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors

A new study finds “diseases of despair,” including alcohol and drug misuse and suicidal thoughts and behaviors, rose dramatically in the United States between 2009 and 2018.

Democratic Senators Oppose Effort To Convert Purdue Pharma to Public Asset

A group of Democratic senators is urging the Justice Department to drop its efforts to convert OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma into a public asset, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Study Finds One-Third of People Who Vape Have Symptoms of Lung Injury

One-third of people who use e-cigarettes report having one or more symptoms of vaping-related lung injury, according to a new study.
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