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.
The number of children who end up in the emergency room due to accidental medication poisoning is declining, according to a new government study.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will spend $20 million in 16 states to reduce opioid overdoses, UPI reports.
Allowing needles exchanges for people who use intravenous drugs in Washington, D.C. prevented 120 new cases of HIV in two years, a new study concludes.
Injuries occurring in meth labs are on the rise, a new study finds. Common injuries include chemical burns, breathing problems and even deaths, according to HealthDay.
The wait for federally funded rehab is increasing as the number of people addicted to heroin grows, NBC News reports.
More than three-quarters of dentists in the United States ask their patients about illicit drug use, a new survey finds. However, only 54 percent say such drug screening should be their responsibility.
The Food and Drug Administration’s decision last month to approve the opioid painkiller OxyContin for children as young as 11 has been welcomed by some pediatricians and pain specialists, The Washington Post reports. Some critics, however, say the decision could lead to increased abuse of the drug.
E-cigarettes are being used by more people to smoke marijuana or synthetic drugs, CNN reports. People use the devices to get high without police, parents or teachers knowing.
Flakka, the synthetic drug that has hit Florida hard, has been spreading to states including Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio, The Wall Street Journal reports. People using the drug suffer bouts of extreme paranoia.
Marijuana businesses are increasingly using technology to grow, test, sell and deliver their product, according to CBS News.
People who play electronic games professionally will not be allowed to use the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder drug Adderall unless they have a doctor’s note, the Electronic Sports League said Wednesday.
Chicago’s heroin problem is increasing at a time when Illinois has cut funding for drug treatment, according to a new report.
Top headlines of the week from Friday, August 7- Thursday, August 13, 2015.
In addressing overdoses, clinicians and the public have largely focused on how to safely prescribe opioid medication and on limiting access to opioid medication. These are important steps in solving the problem, but more needs to be done to address the underlying issue: addiction.
Colorado officials are recommending that edible marijuana products be labeled with a red stop sign, the Associated Press reports. The state may also ban the word “candy” from edible labels.
An increasing number of men are overusing body-building supplements in an attempt to meet the modern ideal of masculinity, researchers reported at the American Psychological Association annual meeting.
Mice addicted to methamphetamine who received a single injection of an experimental drug called blebbistatin did not experience a relapse, a new study finds.
Fewer long-term nursing home residents are taking antipsychotic medications, compared with 2011, according to a new government report. The decrease came after a campaign that targeted overprescribing, according to The Hill.
More than 4 million Americans admit they have driven while intoxicated at least once in the past month, a new government study finds. The typical drunk driver is a young male with a history of binge drinking.
A national group representing state legislatures is calling on Congress to allow states to set their own policies on marijuana and hemp. The National Conference of State Legislatures urged the Obama Administration not to interfere with state marijuana and hemp policies.
Online support groups are not as effective as face-to-face meetings in helping people stay sober, a new study concludes. Participants said they were less likely to be dishonest in face-to-face meetings, according to HealthDay.
A group of Cincinnati hospitals has announced it will test all mothers or their babies for opiates. It is the first program of its kind in the nation, Reuters reports.
Some patients with chronic pain say they are having increasing trouble obtaining prescription painkillers. This trend may be an unintended consequence of the government’s attempts to reduce illicit use of prescription drugs, PBS NewsHour reports.
At least 22 states considered bills this year that would allow alcohol makers to circumvent alcohol distributors and allow them to sell their products directly to consumers, Time reports.
A bill introduced Wednesday in Ohio’s state legislature would require people applying for welfare to undergo drug screening. If the screening suggested drug use, they would have to take a drug test, ABC News reports.
Get Support
