The Latest News from Our Field

When parents find out their teen is abusing drugs or alcohol, the family’s immediate focus is generally on getting help for the teen. But parents are often in great need of help themselves. A new toll-free, bilingual phone helpline is providing that assistance.

Punishments for drunk driving vary widely by location, ranging from receiving a ticket to landing in jail for a first-time offense, according to USA Today.

The Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bill on Thursday that would ban the stimulant drugs known as “bath salts.”

The Army is trying to fill 130 substance-abuse counselor positions by October 1, the Army News Service reports.

Activating a specific brain receptor may reduce the appeal of cocaine, a new study in mice suggests.

A growing number of babies born in Florida are addicted to prescription drugs. CNN reports that the state recorded 635 such births in the first half of 2010.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Alcohol-Related Disease Impact (ARDI) online application has been redesigned to make it easier to use. ARDI provides information that increases understanding of the health consequences of excessive alcohol use throughout the United States.

Vermont officials say prescription drug abuse in the state is becoming a crisis. They are quickly trying to find ways to address the growing problem.

Following the institution of an Indiana law requiring anyone buying and carrying out alcohol to show identification, regardless of their age, state inspectors report fewer of the state’s liquor stores, bars and restaurants are selling alcohol to those under 21.

The Marin Institute, which organizes campaigns to reduce alcohol-related harm, announced it has changed its name to “Alcohol Justice.” The organization said its new name better reflects its national and global reach, and clarifies its mission.

Abusing methamphetamine or other stimulant drugs can increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, new research suggests.

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is objecting to new ads promoting a brand of cigarettes as “eco-friendly.”

Abuse of Suboxone, a drug used to treat addiction, is a growing concern among Vermont corrections officials.

Despite concern that few substance abuse clinics are enrolled in Medicaid, a new report finds that 64 percent of publicly funded facilities that deliver substance use disorder treatment accept Medicaid.

Under the American Psychiatric Association’s new definition of addiction, one-third of patients undergoing long-term pain therapy with opioids meet the criteria for addiction, a new study finds. Contrary to expectations, the new definition does not reduce the percentage of people considered addicted to opioids.

A new study suggests that people, who quit smoking after being hospitalized for signs of a heart attack, but start again after their release, may triple their risk of dying.

Illinois has become the latest state to ban “bath salts,” according to the Los Angeles Times.

The office of California’s Secretary of State has approved the circulation of ballot petitions for a measure that would legalize recreational marijuana. The measure would be voted on in 2012.

A new study suggests that abuse of prescription opioids may be a first step on the path toward misuse of heroin and other injected drugs.

A Food and Drug Administration panel said Friday it needs more information about the marketing of the smokeless tobacco product called snus, before it can make recommendations about new dissolvable tobacco products.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed a law designed to reduce preventable overdose deaths by encouraging people to call 911 if they witness a drug overdose, without fear of being arrested for drug possession.

Ohio, a state hit particularly hard by opioid abuse, is beginning to show early signs of success in fighting the problem, The Columbus Dispatch reports. But many problems remain.

Frank Vocci, PhD, President of Friends Research Institute, discusses the importance of treating drug-dependent prisoners in the criminal justice system, current barriers to treatment, and what changes are needed in the United States in order for these prisoners to receive the treatment they need.

As a new smokeless tobacco product is tested in two U.S. cities, public health officials are expressing concerns about the safety of this and other similar products. They say the products are especially attractive to teens.

New recommendations issued by the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecology call for annual alcohol screening for women, and screening in the first trimester of pregnancy.