The Latest News from Our Field

Top headlines of the week from Friday, October 3 to Thursday, October 9.

Joseph Califano, author of the new book, "How to Raise a Drug Free Kid: The Straight Dope for Parents," gives advice on parenting and technology.

Treating substance abuse issues in a person with severe mental illness will reduce the risk they will commit violent acts, a new study suggests. Health professionals have disagreed about whether to treat substance abuse or mental illness first in people who are dealing with both.

A review of 20 years of marijuana research concludes there are real risks to using the drug, according to U.S. News & World Report. These include increased risk of car crashes, dropping out of high school and cognitive impairment.

After a group of activists called on the head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to quit over the approval of the painkiller Zohydro, three FDA officials say the drug’s approval was warranted.

Banning smoking in government-subsidized housing could save almost $500 million a year in costs related to health care, renovations and smoking-related fire losses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The death rate from heroin overdoses doubled from 2010 to 2012, according to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Years of over-prescribing of painkillers led to the increase in heroin deaths, the CDC said.

Many young adults who abuse prescription opioids are not prepared to deal with an overdose, a new study finds. They tend to think prescription medications are less dangerous than heroin, the researchers say.

A growing number of older adults are struggling with drug and alcohol abuse, experts tell The New York Times. Alcohol abuse is the biggest problem among older adults, but the rate of illicit drug use among adults ages 50 to 64 is also on the rise.

A year after the black market website Silk Road was shuttered by the FBI, many new sites selling illegal drugs have appeared. Ecstasy (MDMA) is the most widely sold illicit drug on these sites, according to a survey.

The maker of the pure hydrocodone drug Zohydro ER has submitted an application to the Food and Drug Administration for a more tamper-resistant version of the drug, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Drug manufacturers must pay to dispose of unused and unexpired medications in Alameda County, California, a federal appeals court ruled this week. The decision upheld a lower-court ruling.

A national survey finds Americans are significantly more likely to have a negative attitude about drug addiction than mental illness.

The number of American adults who are trying e-cigarettes for the first time appears to be stabilizing, a new government study finds.

Parents who provide their teens with alcohol and a place to consume it may think they are teaching their children “responsible drinking.” A new review of studies concludes this view is misguided. Researchers found parental provision of alcohol is associated with increased teen alcohol use.

Teenagers who experience a traumatic brain injury are at increased risk of using marijuana, drinking alcohol and smoking, a new study finds. They are also at risk of getting poor grades, HealthDay reports.

The Colorado Supreme Court on Tuesday heard arguments in a lawsuit brought by an employee of Dish Network who was dismissed after he tested positive for marijuana. The employee, Brandon Coats, has a state-issued medical marijuana license.

A faith-based group is calling for an automatic “R” rating for movies that include smoking. The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, along with an advocacy organization called As You Sow, say they want to limit the amount of smoking young people see in movies.

Chronic use of alcohol can disrupt a person’s sleep months or even years after a person stops drinking, according to researchers from Boston University School of Medicine.

The risk of death, overdose and addiction from prescription opioids outweighs the benefits in treating headache, chronic low back pain and other non-cancer conditions, according to a new position paper from the American Academy of Neurology.

Tobacco manufacturers are issuing strong health warnings on the packaging of their own e-cigarettes, The New York Times reports. Industry critics are skeptical of their motives.

Marijuana entrepreneurs are starting to become involved in politics by donating to candidates who support their cause, according to the Associated Press. Members of Congress who once returned checks from the industry are now keeping them, the AP notes.

The Federal Railroad Administration has delayed implementing new alcohol and drug regulations for railroad maintenance workers. It is extending the comment period at the request of industry groups, The Hill reports.

Starting to drink at an early age can increase the risk of alcohol abuse in teens, according to a new study. The shorter the time between a teen’s first drink and the first time they get drunk, the greater their risk of later alcohol abuse.