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.
Arizona health officials report two cases of people using a caustic, homemade heroin-like drug called “krokodil” that can rot flesh and bone, according to USA Today. The drug became popular in Russia about 10 years ago as a cheap replacement for heroin.
The location where people drink influences whether they will be involved in partner violence, suggests a new study. Men drinking in bars and at parties away from home are more likely to be involved in male-to-female violence, as are women who drink in parks and other public places.
A judge in Ohio recently ordered an 18-year-old addicted to heroin, who was convicted of stealing, to undergo a series of injections of the opioid dependence medication Vivitrol. The move has sparked debate about whether this approach should be used more widely, and who would pay for it, according to USA Today.
Deaths caused by oxycodone dropped 41 percent in Florida last year, according to a new government report. Deaths linked to methadone, hydrocodone and cocaine also decreased, according to the Miami Herald.
A nonprofit drug education group will be on hand at the TomorrowWorld electronic dance music festival in Atlanta on Friday to give advice on the dangers of using Molly and other party drugs. The group will also tell people who choose to use the drugs how to do so more safely.
U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, who chairs the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, called synthetic drugs “diabolical” at a hearing on the substances Wednesday. Senator Feinstein is co-sponsor of the Protecting Our Youth from Dangerous Synthetic Drugs Act.
A marijuana legalization advocacy group currently has the highest number of votes in a contest in which the winner will have their ad produced and submitted for broadcast during the Super Bowl.
The number of patients receiving mental health care is expected to soar under provisions of the Affordable Care Act that will take effect next week, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Most drug tests given to people on parole or probation are unlikely to detect synthetic marijuana, a new study finds.
The club drug “Molly” is often laced with other synthetic drugs such as bath salts, making it more dangerous, according to law enforcement officials.
The Attorneys General of 41 states asked the Food and Drug Administration to issue regulations for e-cigarettes by the end of October. They said they want to ensure e-cigarette companies do not continue to sell or advertise to minors.
A survey of underage smokers and drinkers in Canada finds many of them obtain their cigarettes and alcohol from family and friends.
Legacy's Julia Cartwright pays tribute to Terrie Hall, an important voice in the fight to save lives from tobacco use.
Opponents of marijuana legalization say they don’t believe states where recreational use of the drug is legal will be able to keep it out of the hands of children, according to the Miami Herald.
French officials announced the largest haul of cocaine ever seized in that country--1.3 metric tons, or 2,900 pounds—was found in suitcases on an Air France flight arriving from Venezuela. The drugs were worth at least $67 million, The New York Times reports.
Kentucky is offering two $1,500 college scholarships to high school seniors who have been impacted by prescription drug abuse. Teens can qualify if they are recovering themselves, or if they are affected by a family member’s prescription drug abuse, according to the Associated Press.
State senators from California and Nevada are calling on Craigslist to stop running ads for prescription drugs, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Several recent cases of drugs smuggled into substance abuse treatment centers highlight how difficult it is to eradicate drug use in these facilities, according to USA Today.
Illegal drugs including heroin, cocaine, opioid pills, Ecstasy and LSD are for sale through an online marketplace named Silk Road, which law enforcement officials have been unable to shut down.
A new study finds three risk factors for smoking among young adults are being impulsive, using alcohol regularly and receiving low grades in school.
U.S. Senator Charles Schumer of New York has introduced a new bill aimed at “Molly” and similar synthetic drugs, The Wall Street Journal reports.
A quick Internet search of “pills to boost your brain power” will return thousands of hits. For high school and college students, the pressure to perform academically makes the idea of a pill that can help with attention or studying even more attractive, says one researcher.
Attorney General Eric Holder has announced the Justice Department will broaden a plan to change how some non-violent drug offenders are prosecuted.
Opioid prescribing for non-cancer pain almost doubled between 2000 and 2010, while prescriptions for non-opioid pain relievers remained relatively stable during that period, according to a new study.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health will award up to $53 million this fiscal year to create a tobacco research program. Funding over five years could reach $273 million, Reuters reports.
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