The Latest News from Our Field

The number of deadly drug overdoses in the United States increased for the 11th consecutive year, according to new government data. More than 22,000 people died of overdoses involving prescription drugs in 2010.

Mapping the location of alcohol outlets, drug activity and violent crimes could help police prevent violence, a new study suggests.

The Supreme Court ruled police do not have to extensively document a drug-sniffing dog’s expertise to justify relying on the canine to search a vehicle, according to The Washington Post. The unanimous ruling overturned a Florida Supreme Court decision.

The risk of dying before age 55 is increased in teens and young adults who smoke, are obese and have high blood sugar levels, a new study suggests.

The second National Rx Drug Abuse Summit, to be held April 2-4, 2013, will bring together top leaders from many disciplines, and provide all stakeholders timely, relevant and evidence-based information to help put an end to prescription drug abuse, explains Karen Kelly of Operation Unite.

A bipartisan group of legislators from around the country has introduced a bill designed to reduce methamphetamine addiction.

Substance abuse prevention programs that begin in middle school may help deter prescription drug abuse in later years, new research suggests.

Public health groups and tobacco companies are united in their opposition to a provision of the Affordable Care Act that allows insurance companies to charge smokers 50 percent more than nonsmokers, The Washington Post reports.

A growing number of drug companies are working with the World Anti-Doping Agency to try to prevent illegal use of their products among athletes, according to The New York Times.

The term "enabling" is commonplace in the field of addiction and used within support group settings, in treatment programs and throughout the professional literature about addiction and the family. Kimberly Kirby, PhD, of the Treatment Research Institute, explains how it is one of the most frequently misunderstood terms in the field.

Teens who are old enough to be in 12th grade, but have dropped out of school, have higher substance abuse rates than their peers who are enrolled in school, according to a new government report.

Kidney damage caused by synthetic marijuana was reported in 16 patients in six states last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All were admitted to the hospital, and five required hemodialysis, a treatment for advanced kidney failure.

Alcohol consumption results in an estimated 20,000 cancer deaths in the United States, a new study concludes. The majority of alcohol-related deaths in women are from breast cancer, while in men, alcohol is most likely to cause upper airway and esophageal cancer.

Laws that ban smoking in enclosed public places may result in lower preterm birth rates, a new study suggests.

A new study finds racial differences in opioid prescribing, monitoring and follow-up treatment practices. Black patients are less likely than white patients to have their pain levels documented, and to be referred to a pain specialist. They are more likely to be referred for substance abuse assessment after being prescribed opioids, MedicalXpress reports.

Women who are attempting to quit smoking may try to reduce their quitting-related stress by using alcohol, which in turn can lead to greater urges to smoke, a new study finds. This vicious cycle can increase the risk of smoking relapse, according to Science Daily.

The generic drug distributor Rochester Drug Co-Operative Inc. has sued the maker of the opioid addiction treatment Suboxone for allegedly monopolizing the opioid treatment market, Bloomberg reports.

Treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder does not appear to help many young children, a new study concludes.

The maker of the sweet alcoholic drink Four Loko will put an “alcohol facts panel” on the back of cans containing more than two servings of alcohol, to settle the Federal Trade Commission’s charges of deceptive marketing.

Researchers at the University of Mississippi have developed a patch to deliver THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. They say it could be used to treat pain, glaucoma, and the nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy.

Veterans with post-traumatic stress syndrome are often prescribed medications not supported by existing government guidelines, according to a new study. Most of these prescriptions are written by mental health care providers.

A task force of doctors, public health experts and social workers in Florida has released a report designed to combat the growing problem of babies born to mothers who are addicted to prescription drugs.

While extensive research exists on the effects of tobacco use in the general population, few studies focus on individuals with mental illnesses. Further research is needed to address tobacco cessation efforts in this underserved community, explains Legacy President and CEO Cheryl Healton

Teenagers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are significantly more likely to have substance abuse issues and to smoke cigarettes, compared with their peers without a history of the disorder, according to a nationwide study.

A growing number of pets are being accidentally poisoned, and prescription medicines are largely to blame, The Wall Street Journal reports.