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.
The Drug Enforcement Administration will classify illicit versions of fentanyl at the same level as heroin, Reuters reports. The action will make it easier for federal prosecutors and agents to prosecute traffickers of all forms of fentanyl-related substances, the agency said.
The Food and Drug Administration advised consumers to avoid using the herb kratom, citing 36 known deaths associated with products containing the substance.
The opioid epidemic has taken an especially heavy toll on U.S. veterans, Reuters reports. Veterans are twice as likely as non-veterans to die from accidental overdoses of opioid painkillers.
The chair of President Trump’s Opioid Commission warned about the dangers of marijuana, in a letter accompanying the release of the commission’s final report. Some experts are questioning the commission’s view that marijuana could further fuel the opioid crisis.
Hospitals are struggling to deal with an overwhelming number of patients with diseases that result from intravenous opioid use, including hepatitis C, endocarditis and the antibiotic-resistant infection MRSA.
Drug overdose deaths increased more than 17 percent between 2015 and 2016, according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A study of patients who went to the emergency room suffering from acute pain found those given a combination of ibuprofen and acetaminophen reported as much pain relief as those who were given opioids.
Teens who are dependent on marijuana and alcohol struggle to achieve hallmarks of adult success, such as graduating from college, getting married, having a full-time job and earning a good salary, a new study finds.
President Trump’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis released its final report on Wednesday, calling for expanding drug courts into all 94 federal court jurisdictions.
Illicitly manufactured fentanyl is a key factor driving opioid overdose deaths, according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Under a new federal rule, health providers will be allowed to share information about a drug overdose with family members if the patient is in crisis or incapacitated.
School officials report a growing number of teens are bringing a new e-cigarette device called a Juul vaporizer to school. The device looks like a USB flash drive, and charges when plugged into a laptop, USA Today reports.
It’s a common misconception among those entering treatment that their goal is to stop drinking or using. However, ending your substance use is the beginning of a much longer journey.
President Trump will declare the opioid crisis a public health emergency on Thursday, USA Today reports. The order waives regulations and gives states more flexibility in how they use federal funds to combat the crisis.
President Trump’s opioid commission last week focused on health insurance companies’ role in contributing to the addiction crisis. The commission is scheduled to deliver its final report on November 1.
The Food and Drug Administration will encourage widespread use of medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction, the agency’s commissioner said Wednesday.
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