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. Sign up here to receive weekly updates straight to your inbox.

Long-Term Opioid Use May Start With Prescription For Wisdom Teeth Removal

Teens and young adults who fill an opioid prescription after wisdom teeth removal are almost three times as likely to use opioids persistently compared with their peers who don’t fill their prescription, a new study finds.

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Rising Number of Benzodiazepine Prescriptions a Hidden Epidemic: Expert

Doctors are prescribing large amounts of benzodiazepines such as Xanax and Ativan, which can cause deadly complications, an expert tells NBC News.

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Opioid Prescriptions Remain High, Especially in Elderly With Chronic Pain

Opioid prescriptions remain high despite increased awareness of the opioid epidemic and awareness of the drugs’ risks, a new study finds.

Back Pain Shot Used as Alternative to Opioids Carries Severe Risks

Some doctors looking for alternatives to opioids to treat back pain are using an injectable drug that carries risks of injury and complications, according to The New York Times.

Methadone Linked With Lower Rates of Death in Those with Criminal History

People with a criminal conviction who have a history of opioid addiction may be less likely to die of an overdose or other causes when they are being treated with methadone, a new study concludes.

Poll Finds Strong Support for Medical Marijuana

A new poll finds 85 percent of American adults believe marijuana should be legalized for medical use, HealthDay reports.

Featured News: Meth Use is Rising Among People Who Use Opioids

Over one-third of people using opioids in 2017 reported also using methamphetamine – more than double the rate in 2011, according to a new study.

Growing Proportion of Teens Abstain From Drugs and Alcohol

A growing proportion of teens are abstaining from drugs and alcohol, according to a new study.

Adderall Does Not Improve School Performance in College Students Without ADHD

The attention deficit hyperactivity disorder drug Adderall does not improve reading comprehension or fluency in college students without the disorder, and may impair memory, a new study suggests.

Congress Urged to Act to Reduce Fraudulent Addiction Treatment Coverage

The leader of an addiction treatment organization this week urged Congress to crack down on a fraudulent practice called “patient brokering,” Modern Healthcare reports.

Highest Rates of Opioid Prescriptions Are in Southeast, Appalachia and Rural West

A study of opioid prescribing in each U.S. congressional district finds the highest rates are in the Southeast, Appalachia and the rural West, HealthDay reports.

Marijuana Edibles and Vaporizer Cartridges Growing in Popularity

Marijuana retailers are reporting a trend away from smokable cannabis to other forms, including edibles and vaporizer cartridges, according to USA Today.

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Featured News: Study Finds “Gender Paradox” in Opioid Overdose Rates Among Young Adults

A study of young adults who misuse opioids finds that although women have a higher prevalence of potential risk factors for overdose such as mental health issues and sexual victimization, their lifetime prevalence of overdose is similar to that of men.

Attorney General Announces Fentanyl Crackdown in 10 Areas

Federal prosecutors in 10 areas especially hard hit by fentanyl overdose deaths will bring drug charges against anyone suspected of dealing the drug, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced.

Hepatitis C and HIV Infections Surge Among People With Opioid Use Disorder

The number of cases of hepatitis C, HIV and other infectious diseases is surging among people with opioid use disorder, according to experts who published recommendations to combat the problem.

Opioid Epidemic Impacting Labor Force, Federal Reserve Chairman Says

The nation’s opioid epidemic is impacting the nation’s labor force, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell told a Senate committee this week.

Alcohol Leads to Rise in Liver Disease Deaths in Young Adults

Fatal liver disease is on the rise in young adults, driven by alcohol consumption, researchers report in a new study.

Massachusetts Court Rules Judge Can Send Defendants to Jail for Drug Relapse

A judge can require defendants with substance use disorders to stay off drugs as a condition of probation, and send them to jail if they relapse, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled this week.

Featured News: Rapid Response to Fentanyl Overdose is Critical

Fentanyl overdoses share many characteristics with heroin overdoses – with some important differences, according to an addiction specialist at Boston Medical Center’s Grayken Center for Addiction.

More Than Half of Opioid Overdose Deaths Caused by Synthetic Drugs

More than half of opioid overdose deaths are caused by synthetic drugs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

White House Lawyer Named New Head of DEA

White House lawyer Uttam Dhillon has been named the new head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Reuters reports.

People Addicted to Opioids Much More Likely to End Up in Criminal Justice System

People addicted to opioids are up to 13 times more likely to be involved in the criminal justice system compared with people who don’t use opioids, a new study finds.

Teens Tweet About Juul E-Cigarette Use at School

Teens are bonding over Juul e-cigarettes on social media, a new study suggests.

Some People Use Fitness Tracking Devices to Monitor Heart Rate During Drug Use

Some people are using fitness tracking devices such as Fitbit or Apple Watch to monitor their heart rate while they are using illicit drugs in an effort to prevent overdoses, CNBC reports.

Children’s Accidental Exposure to Buprenorphine on the Rise

Children’s accidental exposure to the opioid addiction medication buprenorphine is increasing, according to new data from U.S. poison control centers.

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