The Latest News from Our Field

A new Tennessee law that licenses pain clinics, which is designed to cut down on “pill mills,” has loopholes, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports.

Smokers with a vitamin D deficiency experience a faster decline in lung function than those who have normal vitamin D levels, a new study finds. The researchers said increasing vitamin D levels will not prevent smoking-related health problems such as cancer, heart disease or stroke.

Over 96% of websites claiming to sell prescription medications are out of compliance with U.S. pharmacy laws and practice standards. It is vital to know who you are buying from before making that purchase explains Marjorie Clifton, Executive Director of the Center for Safe Internet Pharmacies.

Almost 8 percent of pregnant women report alcohol use, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A new study finds a growing number of workers who get hurt on the job are getting their medication directly from their physicians, instead of pharmacies, which is driving up costs.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on Thursday signed a measure that requires treatment for low-level drug offenders who otherwise would go to prison, according to The Star-Ledger.

Current smokers are several times more likely than nonsmokers to try using e-cigarettes, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Public Health.

A bill to be introduced Thursday in the U.S. House would require most painkillers to have safeguards to prevent abuse, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Adults 65 and older who binge drink at least twice a month are two-and-a-half times more likely to suffer cognitive and memory declines, compared with seniors who don’t binge drink, according to research presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference.

Almost one-quarter of college women try hookah smoking during their freshman year, a new study finds.

An estimated $14 million collected through Maryland’s alcohol tax will be used to expand community-based, long-term care for the elderly and those with disabilities, according to the Associated Press.

Advocates around the nation are pushing for state laws that give people limited immunity on drug possession charges if they seek medical help for someone suffering from an overdose, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

An expert panel warned Tuesday that legalizing marijuana in just one state could drive down prices and encourage more people to use the drug, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Smoking increases the risk of reinfection with viral hepatitis in people receiving liver transplants, according to a new study.

The Atlanta City Council approved a ban on smoking in city parks, with fines of up to $1,000, six months in jail or community service for those who light up.

Prescription drug abuse is more than a public health epidemic – it’s a national tragedy, and a comprehensive national strategy for combating it is desperately needed, explains Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-CA).

The increase in prescription drug abuse in the United States is forcing the government to re-examine its emphasis on trying to stop shipments of illegal drugs into the country, The New York Times reports.

New York’s new prescription drug monitoring system, which will show pharmacists in real time whether patients have been “doctor shopping” for drugs, is a model for the rest of the country, state officials said Monday.

Increases in cigarette prices lead to significant increases in binge drinking in young adults, a new study suggests.

Law enforcement officials in Florida are facing the thorny question of how to handle people on probation who get caught using synthetic drugs, the Sun Sentinel reports.

Adults over age 50 often ignore prescription drug labels that highlight key safety information, a new study suggests. The researchers say the labels should be redesigned and placed in a more prominent place to prevent dangerous medication errors.

A growing number of murder cases nationwide seek to exclude the death penalty for defendants with fetal alcohol syndrome, The Seattle Times reports.

As e-cigarettes gain popularity, the debate over the benefits and risks of the products is likely to intensify, according to the Omaha World-Herald.

Supporters of the California cigarette tax that was narrowly defeated last month are asking for a recount, the Associated Press reports.

The demand for addiction treatment is high. The supply of addiction specialists is comparatively low. Yet unlike traditional economic models where money is the obstacle, in our field, the obstacle is time explains Dr. Stuart Gitlow, member of the AMA’s Council on Science & Public Health, and Acting President of the ASAM.