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.

S.F. Alcohol Fee Vetoed, Could Go to Voters

San Franciso Mayor Gavin Newsom vetoed a proposed fee on alcohol distribution. The city's Board of Supervisors had approved the proposal, but there were not enough votes to overturn the veto.

Survey Reveals 17 Million Americans Drive Drunk

Twenty percent of American drivers have gotten behind the wheel within two hours of drinking, and 8 percent have driven when they considered themselves drunk.

Obese Heavy Drinkers at Higher Risk for Alcohol-Related Brain Damage

New research suggests obesity in heavy drinkers increases the severity of alcohol-related brain injury.

Smoking Bans Cut Hospital Admissions for Children's Asthma

A public smoking ban implemented in Scotland in 2006 reduced hospital admissions for children's severe asthma attacks by 18.2 percent a year, according to a new study.

Teen Substance Abuse Awareness through Music Contest

The MusiCares and GRAMMY Foundation Teen Substance Abuse Awareness through Music Contest asks young musicians, ages 14-18, to compose or create an original song and/or music video that explores, encourages, and celebrates a healthy lifestyle or accurately depicts a story about drug abuse.

Vermont Creates Online Game to Help Smokers Quit

Back in 1995, Join Together developed a fledgling web-based smoking cessation tool. It eventually became an independent company, QuitNet.com, which may be the largest smoking cessation program in the world.

That?s why we?re especially glad when we see other public health advocates continue to innovate in this area.

Case in point: the Vermont Health Department is offering an online video game to smokers who want to quit.

Mich. to Review Alcoholic Energy Drink Labels

Michigan's Liquor Control Commission will scrutinize the labels and packaging of alcoholic energy drinks.

Stigma Unaffected by Acceptance of Disease Model, Study Finds

Survey results show that although more Americans now believe that mental illness and alcohol dependency are medical or genetic in origin than did so in the mid-1990s, they are just as likely to reject those who suffer from them.

Researchers Say Smoking Promoted on YouTube

Nearly three quarters of the English-language videos posted to YouTube for five top cigarette brands promoted smoking, according to a new Australian study.

No Prescriptions for Cough Medicine, Panel Advises FDA

A panel of experts advising the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended that cough medicine continue to be sold without a prescription despite increased abuse.

'Media Detective' Reduces Kids' Susceptibility to Alcohol and Tobacco Ads

Teaching even young children to think critically about alcohol and tobacco advertising may reduce their risk for use either substance in the future.

Heart Association: Smokeless Tobacco Harmful, Doesn't Help Smokers Quit

The American Heart Association (AHA) said in a policy statement that smokeless tobacco is unsafe to use and does not help smokers quit cigarettes.

Advisory Group Recommends New Addictions Institute Replace NIAAA, NIDA

An expert working group recommended on Sept. 15 to replace the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) with a new Institute on Addictions within the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

S.F. Fee on Alcohol Approved, Faces Likely Veto

San Franciscoâ€™s Board of Supervisors has approved a surcharge on alcohol distribution to offset costs associated with problem drinking.

New Research Center to Help Parents with Kids' Substance Use

Philadelphiaâ€™s Treatment Research Institute (TRI) is launching a new center designed to help parents and their significant others address alcohol and drug use by their children.

Snooping Sheriffs Bad for Treatment

The North Carolina Sheriff’s Association wants access to information contained in a State prescription database about any person in the state who has a prescription for a narcotic pain medicine. The Association claims if they have this information it will be easier for them to make drug arrests. This is an outrageous and dangerous threat to good medical care and addiction treatment.

National Survey Reveals Increases in Substance Use from 2008 to 2009

The use of illicit drugs among Americans increased between 2008 and 2009 according to a national survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) shows the overall rate of current illicit drug use in the United States rose from 8.0 percent of the population aged 12 and older in 2008 to 8.7 percent in 2009. This rise in overall drug use was driven in large part by increases in marijuana use.

Hazelden and NAADAC Partner to Train Clinicians on Co-Occurring Disorders

Hazelden and the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) announced a new partnership to improve training for clinicians on co-occurring disorders.

FDA Warns Five E-Cigarette Companies

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a marketing and safety warning to five makers of e-cigarettes.

Acamprosate Reduces Relapse Risk

Acamprosate significantly reduces relapse risk in alcohol-dependent patients, according to a new research review.

Utah's Underage Drinking Campaign Working, Surveys Suggest

Supporters of a Utah campaign to cut underage drinking say surveys show the campaign is working.

Treatment Admissions Double for Older Adults

Substance-abuse treatment admissions for people 50 and older more than doubled between 1992 and 2008, corresponding to significant changes in their sociodemographic status.

Federal Alcohol Taxes Due for Increase

Despite the fact that local, state, and federal lawmakers are desperate to plug holes in their budgets, advocates of alcohol taxes have struggled to gain traction. They should take heart from a Fresh Story blog post, the first in a series, published online on Aug. 31. It?s an excellent primer on the history of federal alcohol taxes and why it makes sense to raise them now.

Md. Politicians Support 'Dime-a-Drink' Alcohol Tax Increase

Over 140 candidates seeking election to Maryland's 188-seat General Assembly have endorsed an alcohol tax hike.

Studies Shed Light on Breast Cancer and Alcohol Link

Two new studies examine why some women who drink alcohol are at higher risk for breast cancer, or recurrence of the disease, than others.

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