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The Latest News from Our Field

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 measure that would have legalized the use of recreational marijuana failed in Florida, NBC News reports.
States that received waivers allowing Medicaid to pay for mental health and substance use treatment in large residential facilities did not see an overall benefit in terms of increased medication treatment or a decrease in nonfatal overdoses, a new study finds.
If menthol cigarettes are banned, smokers who prefer them would be more likely to turn to nicotine replacement products instead of regular cigarettes, a new study suggests.
Find more of our must-reads in policy news, including findings from a survey on mental health and substance use disorder treatment facility service offerings.
View our curated digest of the latest research news, including a study examining the association between marijuana legalization and marijuana use during early pregnancy.
While overdose deaths are decreasing in the U.S. overall, a new analysis shows the number of fatal overdoses among Black Americans increased in many states between 2022 and 2023, The New York Times reports.
Voters in Florida, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota have marijuana legalization measures on their ballots this year, Newsweek reports.
A new study finds marijuana use among U.S. teens dropped dramatically over a decade, from 23.1% in 2011 to 15.8% in 2021.
Find more of our must-reads in policy news, including broad public support for the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act.
View our curated digest of the latest research news, including the association between state policies surrounding sexual minority individuals and tobacco use among sexual minority individuals.
A new study finds weight loss medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro could lower rates of opioid overdose and alcohol intoxication.
Fatal overdoses are down 12.7% in the 12 months ending May 2024, according to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This marks the sixth consecutive month of reported decreases, NPR reports.
Tobacco use among U.S. middle and high school students has dropped to the lowest level in 25 years, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Find more of our must-reads in policy news, including youth tobacco use hitting a 25-year low.
View our curated digest of the latest research news, including a study on the associations between early maternal prenatal cannabis use and child development delays.
Although the federal government relaxed some rules around methadone access in April, many patients are still not benefiting from the changes, NPR reports.
A growing number of people without medical training are using naloxone to treat opioid overdoses, a new study finds.
A new pilot program in Alabama is directing opioid settlement funds to grandparents or relative caregivers over age 55 who are raising grandchildren because of opioids, NPR reports.
Find more of our must-reads in policy news, including reports from the CDC highlighting youth behavior risks and protections.
View our curated digest of the latest research news, including a study predicting buprenorphine adherence among patients with opioid use disorder in primary care settings.
A new study finds that Black, Hispanic and American Indian teens are more likely than white teens to be tested for drugs and alcohol at pediatric trauma centers.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration says a growing number of illegal online pharmacies are selling counterfeit pills made with fentanyl and methamphetamine, The Hill reports.
Doctors across the country are seeing a growing number of people who are suffering from serious health consequences brought on by cannabis use, The New York Times reports.
Find more of our must-reads in policy news, including a story on juvenile justice and drug-induced homicide laws.
View our curated digest of the latest research news, including an introduction to the Healthy Brain and Child Development Study.