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. Sign up here to receive weekly updates straight to your inbox.
A new national survey finds people who abuse prescription painkillers for the first time often get their pills for free from family or friends. Those who chronically abuse prescription painkillers are more likely to obtain the pills from doctors or dealers.
Chronic cocaine use may accelerate aging of the brain, a new study suggests. The study found people with cocaine dependence have greater levels of age-related loss of nerve tissue in the brain called gray matter.
A study of rats suggests a link between binge eating and the development of other addictive behaviors.
The television shows Glee, Southland, Parenthood and Shameless, along with the feature films Warrior and Take Shelter, were among those that were honored recently at the 16th Annual PRISM Awards ceremony.
In observance of Earth Day, Cheryl G. Healton, DrPH, explains how Legacy is working to raise awareness about the negative impact cigarette filters and discarded cigarette butts have on our environment.
After six teenagers suffered alcohol poisoning from drinking hand sanitizer in California, public health officials are warning parents to look out for signs of abuse.
The drug gabapentin, used to treat epilepsy and nerve pain, may help people quit smoking marijuana, a new study suggests.
Hispanic patients with lung cancer tend to live longer than white or black patients with the disease, a new study suggests. Lower rates of tobacco use, or genetic factors, may help explain the findings, according to the researchers.
TV’s Dr. Mehmet Oz will join New York State Senator Jeffrey Klein to introduce a bill to ban psychedelic drugs that are legally sold online.
The Justice Department announced that Walgreens has agreed to pay the government $7.9 million to resolve allegations the company gave people enrolled in government-run health programs $25 gift cards if they moved their prescriptions over to the pharmacy chain.
A Federal appeals court appeared unmoved Friday by tobacco industry arguments that the court should overrule a judgment that requires corrective ads about the dangers of smoking.
Mock car crashes are a popular way of illustrating the dangers of drinking and distracted driving to teens during prom and graduation season. But in Palm Beach in southern Florida, there is disagreement about how effective these events really are.
Researchers are testing whether psychedelic drugs can help dying patients face their fear of death, The New York Times reports.
Over half of all high school age drinkers get their alcohol from an adult, according to SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Although adults can be part of the underage drinking problem, they can also be part of the solution, explains Jan Withers, Mothers Against Drunk Driving's National President.
A bill that aims to curb prescription drug abuse in Kentucky is stirring debate among politicians, physicians and law enforcement officials, The Wall Street Journal reports.
The Food and Drug Administration has issued a safety alert about fentanyl painkiller patches, warning that young children are at risk of death if they are accidentally exposed to the patches.
A potential cocaine overdose treatment has shown promise in a study of mice, according to the Los Angeles Times. The researchers said the findings could lead to human clinical trials.
Officials at the University of Colorado-Boulder are trying to prevent thousands of people from gathering on campus today for the annual 4/20 marijuana celebration. They have spread smelly fish-based fertilizer on campus as a deterrent.
A new study that links opium use with serious health problems, including cancer, circulatory diseases and respiratory problems, has implications for opium-derived painkillers such as morphine and codeine, CNN reports.
A survey of young adults recruited through social media finds more than half of those who smoke cigarettes say they also use marijuana. This is a higher percentage than has been reported in other surveys, suggesting young adults may be more comfortable reporting their substance use anonymously online.
A report by the General Accountability Office finds sales of pipe tobacco surged after the federal government imposed a 2,000 percent increase in taxes on roll-your-own tobacco and small cigars.
A new study links teenagers’ use of Ecstasy and speed (methamphetamine and/or amphetamine) with a higher risk of developing depression.
In a four-month period last year when Florida required welfare applicants to undergo drug testing, the program yielded no savings, caught few drug users, and did not affect the number of people who applied, The New York Times reports.
The Supreme Court heard arguments this week in two cases involving different sentencing rules for sellers of crack and powder cocaine.
Depression and anxiety are the top reasons older adults abuse drugs or alcohol, according to a study by a Florida drug and alcohol treatment and recovery center.
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