The Latest News from Our Field

The latest synthetic drug to cause concern among law enforcement officials is called “Smiles,” or 2C-I, Fox News reports. The drug has been linked to the deaths of two North Dakota teens.

Generic drug company Watson Pharmaceuticals announced it is recalling two lots of a drug that contains hydrocodone and acetaminophen. The pills may contain doses of the medicines that are higher than intended, Reuters reports.

California Governor Jerry Brown has signed legislation that is designed to cut down on underage drinking on chartered party buses. Under the new law, party buses with alcohol and underage passengers will need chaperones and ID checks.

A new government survey finds the number of young adults ages 18 to 25 who used prescription drugs for non-medical purposes in the past month declined 14 percent, from 2 million in 2010, to 1.7 million in 2011.

Addiction experts are advocating for a more medical approach to addiction treatment, instead of relying on 12-step programs, according to The Los Angeles Times.

A growing number of middle schools are requiring that students submit to drug testing, The New York Times reports.

Polls suggest there is substantial voter support for initiatives in Colorado and Washington that would allow recreational use of marijuana, according to The Wall Street Journal. Voters in Oregon, where a similar measure will appear on the ballot in November, are split.

If you’re a parent, take the time to talk to your children about the harm caused by medicine abuse, and educate yourself on the signs of abuse, encourages Gil Kerlikowske, Director of National Drug Control Policy.

State prescription drug monitoring programs need to shift from a reactive approach to a proactive one, according to a new report by the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Center of Excellence at Brandeis University.

An increase in prescription drug overdoses among young whites, and higher rates of smoking among less educated white women, may be contributing to the decline in life expectancy for white Americans with lower levels of education.

Teenagers can purchase alcohol on eBay, according to an investigation by the news show “20/20.”

Secondhand smoke has a major impact on the health of black Americans, a new study finds.

Estimates vary widely about how much tax might be collected from marijuana sales if recreational use of the drug is approved by voters in Colorado, Oregon and Washington this November, the Associated Press reports.

Veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse face an increased risk of death, a new study suggests.

A new study concludes that exposure to secondhand smoke can harm the developing brain of newborns. Researchers found exposure to active or secondhand smoke affected newborn babies’ ability to inhibit stimuli that can harm the central nervous system.

Almost six million Americans will face a tax penalty under the Affordable Care Act for not obtaining health insurance, according to an estimate from the Congressional Budget Office.

A new study finds a link between mothers’ belief that it is acceptable to let their children sip alcohol, and their children’s reported alcohol use. The study found one-quarter of mothers of young children believed allowing children to sip an alcoholic drink would likely deter them from drinking in the future.

A growing number of children enrolled in Medicaid are taking antipsychotic drugs for off-label uses, a new study finds. These drugs are prescribed for a purpose that has not yet been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Almost 400 people in Minnesota have died of methadone-involved overdoses since 2001, according to the Duluth News Tribune. From 2006 to 2010, the number of methadone deaths almost equaled those who died from firearms, the newspaper reports.

Supporters of a measure that would repeal a new Los Angeles City Council ban on medical marijuana dispensaries have gained enough signatures to put the initiative on the upcoming March ballot.

While it's true that one in five teens binge drinks, it's important to note that this means four out of five teens don't binge drink. That is power, says Mothers Against Drunk Driving President Jan Withers.

Substance abuse among members of the U.S. military and their families has become a public health crisis, according to a new report. The Defense Department’s approaches to preventing and treating substance abuse are outdated, the report states.

Smokers are using fewer cigarettes, a new Gallup poll suggests. Only 1 percent of smokers say they smoke more than a pack a day, and 68 percent say they smoke less than one pack a day.

The increased risk of esophageal cancer that is related to alcohol is reversible after a person gives up drinking, but it can take up to 16 years to return to the risk level for non-drinkers, a new study concludes.

Smoking can reduce the chance of successfully removing a tattoo by 70 percent, a new study finds.