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.
Four drug companies and two Ohio counties have reached a $260 million settlement in a landmark lawsuit over the opioid epidemic, The Washington Post reports.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has for the first time authorized the marketing of “reduced risk” tobacco products. The agency said eight smokeless tobacco products are less harmful than cigarettes.
Teens who first try flavored e-cigarettes, cigar or smokeless tobacco are much more likely to still be using that product a year later, compared with those who try a non-flavored product, a new study finds.
National Jewish Health, a hospital in Denver, this summer launched a vaping cessation program aimed at teens. The program includes coaching by text, NPR reports.
Three drug distributors and two drug manufacturers are in talks to settle more than 2,000 lawsuits over the companies’ role in the nation’s opioid crisis, Reuters reports.
Lung injuries tied to e-cigarettes may have more than one cause, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many different substances and product sources are under investigation, the agency said.
Insurance company Prudential announced it will classify people who use e-cigarettes as smokers when calculating life insurance rates, CBS News reports. Previously, the company charged smokers more than people who used e-cigarettes.
Sesame Street is introducing a new initiative to support children affected by parental addiction. The initiative features a Muppet named Karli, whose mother struggles with addiction, The Washington Post reports.
The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning to consumers to stop using vaping products containing THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.
A new rule published by the Department of Labor allows states to expand the number of people who must pass drug tests before they can receive unemployment benefits, Vox reports.
Purdue Pharma, the company that makes OxyContin, sent $12 billion or $13 billion in profits to members of the Sackler family who own the company, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Johnson & Johnson announced it has reached a $20.4 million settlement with two Ohio counties ahead of a huge federal trial to determine responsibility for the opioid crisis, The Washington Post reports.
A judge ruled Wednesday that a Philadelphia group’s plan to run a supervised drug injection site does not violate federal drug laws, The New York Times reports.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the number of vaping-related injuries continues to increase, and has surpassed the previously reported estimate of 530, The Wall Street Journal reports.
The proposed settlement with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma is “no more than a stopgap for local and state governments,” which will continue to face costs related to the opioid crisis that far exceed the agreed upon amounts, according to a new report by Moody’s Investors Services.
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