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.
A pilot program that uses fingernail drug and alcohol testing is helping to spot drivers who have been convicted of driving while intoxicated who are continuing to drink or use drugs. Fingernail testing captures a person’s history of drug and alcohol use for the past three to six months.
A new study of thousands of Americans finds people with a history of drinking problems have more than twice the risk of memory problems later in life, compared with those who have never been heavy drinkers.
FedEx, which was indicted earlier this month on drug trafficking charges, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday. The company is accused of conspiring to deliver prescription drugs for illegal online pharmacies.
A measure designed to reduce prescription drug abuse passed in the House on Tuesday with bipartisan support, according to The Hill.
The four U.S. senators from Colorado and Washington state have asked the White House to establish “consistent and uniform” marijuana guidelines.
As the use of drug courts expand, critics say people with minor marijuana infractions are more likely than those with serious drug problems to end up in these programs.
Government researchers are studying the effect of marijuana on drivers, USA Today reports. The findings will help regulators decide on guidelines for drugged driving.
In the high-stress environment of Silicon Valley, a growing number of high-tech workers are abusing painkillers and illegal drugs such as cocaine and heroin, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
New products on the market are helping people monitor their blood alcohol levels. Some devices link to a smartphone, NPR reports.
A new painkiller that combines oxycodone and naloxone was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday. Naloxone was included in the drug to block the euphoric effects of oxycodone, making it less appealing to abuse.
Three-quarters of Americans say they would oppose legislation to lower the drinking age from 21 to 18, a new Gallup poll finds.
The World Health Organization is urging countries to decriminalize personal drug use, in order to reduce incarceration, The Huffington Post reports.
A federal judge ruled this week that the Food and Drug Administration cannot use findings from a panel report that recommended removing menthol cigarettes from the market. Three of the panel members had conflicts of interest, the judge said.
The use of performance-enhancing drugs by our youth is an important public health issue which has been unequivocally shown to extend beyond elite and professional level sport, and new research shows a significant increase in use of synthetic hGH by teens.
The Oregon Secretary of State has certified that a petition campaign for a measure that would allow recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older has turned in enough valid signatures to qualify for the November ballot.
An investigation into drug sting operations conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives finds most people arrested are racial or ethnic minorities, according to USA Today.
A new study finds mixing energy drinks with alcohol increases the urge to drink. People who consume the mixture may drink more alcohol than they planned, according to the researchers.
Missouri is the only state that does not have a prescription drug monitoring database, The New York Times reports. The state’s decision not to use such a drug-tracking tool has hampered efforts to fight prescription drug abuse.
More than 46,000 drug offenders will be eligible for early release from prison, after the U.S. Sentencing Commission voted to reduce terms for low-level drug traffickers who are already incarcerated. The vote was unanimous, NPR reports.
A federal grand jury in San Francisco has indicted FedEx for drug trafficking, USA Today reports. The company is accused of conspiring to deliver prescription drugs for illegal online pharmacies.
A widow of a chain smoker who died of lung cancer has been awarded more than $23 billion in punitive damages by a Florida jury. The woman sued R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, claiming the company conspired to conceal cigarettes’ health dangers and addictive nature.
A new study finds U.S. college students involved in alcohol-related offenses and incidents often receive light penalties.
A growing number of parents are hiring private dog-sniffing businesses to find out if their teens are using illegal substances, NPR reports. The dogs are also being requested by schools, businesses, landlords and halfway houses.
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