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.
Google, Facebook and Twitter have partnered to launch an online platform to offer support for people with substance use disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic, CNBC reports.
Dr. Nora Volkow, who heads the National Institute on Drug Abuse, is urging people to stop vaping because of the likelihood it will lead to worse outcomes for people with coronavirus, Kaiser Health News reports.
At the beginning of this year, more than a dozen states appeared likely to legalize marijuana for recreational or medical purposes by the end of 2020. Due to the pandemic, many of those states are unlikely to proceed with legalization this year, according to Vox.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned 10 companies to stop making products designed to allow teens to vape without getting caught by parents or teachers.
The flow of meth, heroin and other illegal drugs into the United States has slowed during the coronavirus pandemic, the acting administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration told The Wall Street Journal.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, several health insurers, including Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield companies such as Anthem, have begun covering a telemedicine addiction service called Bright Heart Health, according to NPR.
Some people living in states where liquor stores are not deemed essential businesses during the pandemic are crossing state lines to purchase beer, wine and spirits, ABC News reports.
Tobacco and vaping companies are taking advantage of unique marketing opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Los Angeles Times reports. They are offering discounts and making donations of money and supplies.
The Drug Enforcement Administration is launching the Secure Your Meds campaign to urge Americans to keep prescription medications safe and secure while they stay at home during the pandemic.
Federal officials involved in combating the opioid epidemic say they are concerned the progress made so far will be disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Politico reports.
People being treated for opioid use disorder with methadone or Suboxone are being sent home with more medication, in an attempt to reduce crowds in treatment centers amidst the coronavirus pandemic, according to The Washington Post.
Although some rules for opioid addiction treatment have been loosened during the COVID-19 pandemic, an in-person visit is still required to start methadone treatment, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Addiction experts say they are concerned the social isolation required by the coronavirus pandemic is taking an especially big toll on people in recovery, the Tennessean reports.
Addiction experts say they are worried the isolation required to combat the coronavirus pandemic is a national relapse trigger, The New York Times reports.
Now that the federal government has made it easier for many people being treated for opioid use disorder to receive extended supplies of medication-assisted treatment, states must ensure their own rules do not impede access, according to The Pew Charitable Trusts.
Teens and young adults who have family members taking prescription opioids are more than twice as likely to overdose on opioids themselves compared to their peers without family members taking the medications, according to new research.
Lawyers representing the cities and counties suing drug companies over their role in the opioid crisis are urging a federal judge not to delay the litigation because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Reuters reports.
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