The Latest News from Our Field

Parents often feel helpless when it comes to teen drugs and alcohol use. But prevention research over the past two decades has shown that by encouraging their kids to get involved in the community – either through school, houses of worship, sports, etc. – parents can change their kids’ ability to turn down drugs and alcohol.

Children who were exposed to cigarette smoke prenatally may be at increased risk of addiction, a new study suggests. The smoke may interfere with the brain’s reward processing system, Time.com reports.

An estimated one million former smokers took up cigarettes again after the 9/11 attacks on America, a new study suggests. The stress of the events of that day led to the resurgence of smoking among people who had previously quit, the researchers report.

Teens may be at increased risk of hearing loss if their mother smoked during pregnancy, suggests new research.

Marijuana growers are impacting the environment in Northern California, endangering wildlife and threatening forests, The New York Times reports.

Almost 70 percent of Americans take at least one prescription medication, and more than half take at least two, according to a new study by researchers at the Mayo Clinic. The most common prescriptions are for antibiotics, antidepressants and opioid painkillers.

A state-by-state analysis of substance abuse treatment programs finds that in many states, minorities are less likely than whites to successfully complete substance abuse programs. The analysis found significant disparities among states with regard to racial and ethnic differences.

Faces & Voices of Recovery and Caron Treatment Centers will present the 2013 America Honors Recovery Awards on June 26 to leaders in the recovery community.

Law enforcement and retail officials say Tide detergent is being stolen and traded for drugs. Liquid Tide or Tide Pods are also being sold at open swap meets and secret meetings.

Google still isn’t doing enough to prevent illegal online sales of drugs without prescriptions, according to Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood. He announced Tuesday he is sending out subpoenas for company documents, the Associated Press reports.

A new animal study suggests a missing brain enzyme increases concentrations of a protein related to opioid addiction, Science Daily reports.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and autism spectrum disorder may share some molecular similarities, a new study of rats suggests. The findings could help researchers trying to develop new treatments for both disorders, Fox News reports.

Join Together chats with New York Times best-selling author Anne Fletcher, MS, RD, whose latest book is “Inside Rehab: The Surprising Truth About Addiction Treatment – And How to Get Help That Works” (Viking, 2013), to discuss addiction treatment today and the future of recovery.

The percentage of adult smokers in the United States declined last year to 18 percent, from 18.9 percent the previous year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Doctors should not prescribe medical marijuana to teens with chronic pain, say researchers at the Mayo Clinic. Marijuana can lead to some negative short-term side effects, including impaired concentration, fatigue and slower reaction times, they write in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

The smoke of cigarettes from bar and restaurant patrons who stand just outside the entrance appears to drift inside, a new Spanish study suggests. The researchers call for laws that restrict smoking outside these venues, to more completely protect against secondhand smoke.

Officials in Kentucky will study the effectiveness of new laws designed to reduce prescription drug abuse, The Courier-Journal reports.

Urban Outfitters announced Friday it will discontinue selling products that promote prescription drug abuse. The move comes after a campaign by public health groups, state attorneys general and legislators.

A survey of eighth and ninth graders prescribed medication finds 83.4 percent say they have unsupervised access to the drugs at home.

A group of entrepreneurs is looking to invest in legal marijuana companies, according to The New York Times. ArcView Investor Network recently organized a conference with 18 start-up companies that provide services to the marijuana industry.

Many baseball players are tired of seeing colleagues who are punished for using performance-enhancing drugs (PED), then receive large contracts a short time later, the Los Angeles Times reports. They are calling for tougher sanctions for players who use PEDs.

From small towns like Page, Arizona to major cities like Denver, Colorado and Brooklyn, New York, All Rise America! put a spotlight on what can be achieved when justice and treatment professionals work together to give addicted offenders the opportunity for treatment.

Some men who use the baldness drug finasteride (Propecia) report drinking less alcohol, according to a new study. The researchers say they are not sure why the medication may reduce the urge to drink, but suggest the drug may change the brain’s chemistry.

The number of tobacco ads preteens and teens are exposed to influences their risk of starting to smoke, a new study suggests. Researchers found for every 10 tobacco ads that they see, their risk of starting to smoke increases by almost 40 percent.

A new study finds states that have more restrictive rules on youth access to tobacco also have lower rates of adult smoking.