The Latest News from Our Field

An Oklahoma doctor who treats patients with opiate addiction by prescribing buprenorphine says federal restrictions on the number of prescriptions he can write for the drug are hurting patients.

Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown has introduced a bill designed to cut down on the abuse of prescription opioids. The bill would limit the number of doctors from which “high-risk” Medicaid beneficiaries could receive prescriptions, as well as pharmacies from which they could obtain opioids.

The effects of nicotine on the parts of the brain involved with addiction are similar to the effects of cocaine, according to a study using rat brain tissue.

Fourteen colleges and universities announced this week they have banded together to fight binge drinking. The institutions, including Dartmouth, Cornell, Duke, Boston University, Northwestern, Princeton and Stanford, plan to test and measure new strategies and share their results with other colleges.

Warning letters from the federal government about medical marijuana laws have prompted several states to start reevaluating their laws, USA Today reports.

Secondhand smoke appears to raise blood pressure in boys, but not girls, according to a new study. The findings suggest that the effects of tobacco smoke on the cardiovascular system begin at an early age.

A Colorado Senate committee defeated a bill that would have made drugs containing pseudoephedrine available only by prescription. The bill aimed to further restrict the ability of methamphetamine labs to make the illegal drug.

Prom and graduation should be a time of pure joy for high school seniors and the people who love them. But every year, this season can also be a time of sadness for too many families due to increased opportunities for underage drinking and driving.

Scientists are working to develop new vaccines to fight drug addiction that are more effective than current treatments, The Wall Street Journal reports. The vaccines use the body’s own defenses to block addictive substances from getting into the brain and triggering a pleasure response.

Being exposed to secondhand smoke in an enclosed space such as a car has a direct impact on the brain and may increase cravings among smokers, a new study suggests. The authors say that this exposure in children might increase the chance they will become smokers in their teen years.

A new assessment tool may allow doctors to evaluate the impact of methamphetamine on babies exposed in the womb. The tool may help identify which babies will go on to develop problems due to exposure to the drug, according to a new study.

Miami-Dade County, which has started a new court program designed for veterans with drug problems, joins a growing nationwide movement of courts for veterans.

A new survey suggests that almost 25 percent of adults who seek medical treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are exaggerating or faking symptoms, to get their hands on stimulant medication such as Ritalin or Adderall.

Prescriptions for the painkiller hydrocodone/acetaminophen have increased dramatically, from 121 million doses in 2006 to 131 million today, a new national survey shows.

Living or working with smokers may increase a pregnant woman’s risk of having a stillbirth, a new study suggests. Pregnant women who breathe in secondhand smoke are also more likely to give birth to babies who weigh less, compared to mothers not exposed to the smoke.

China is imposing a new smoking ban on public places including bars, restaurants and hospitals. The Los Angeles Times reports that enforcing the ban will be very difficult.

All of us who are passionate about reducing drug abuse cannot ignore the growing dangers of prescription drug abuse, particularly among teens and young adults. By preventing drug abuse where it starts, we can make a tremendous difference in the life of our nation: one community, one family and one child at a time.

Mad Men, Black Swan, The Fighter and Nurse Jackie were among the films and television shows recognized Thursday night at the 15th Annual PRISM Awards, which honor entertainment that accurately depicts and brings attention to substance abuse and mental health issues.

Attorneys general from 24 states have asked the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to do more to shield teenagers from alcohol advertising.

New Jersey’s attorney general has told storeowners who are selling synthetic drugs, known as bath salts, that they have 10 days to voluntarily surrender the drugs or they will face criminal penalties.

Teenagers who are on the computer the most are 50 percent more likely to engage in multiple high-risk behaviors, such as drug and alcohol use and unprotected sex compared to teens who log little screen time, according to a new study.

Researchers at companies that make opioid painkillers are trying to make a “safe” drug that is resistant to abuse, in an effort to combat what the government has called an epidemic of prescription painkiller abuse.

Teens who drink with adult supervision have more drinking-related problems than their peers whose parents don’t allow them to drink, a new study shows.

Homeless alcoholic men openly drink at “wet houses,” where the goal is harm reduction instead of sobriety.

To reduce prescription drug abuse among seniors, SAMHSA is expanding a grant program targeting adults 60 and older who are at risk for or experiencing behavioral health problems. The grant also aims to reduce suicides among this group.