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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.

Reconciliation bill passes House narrowly

The House passed the budget reconciliation bill, which includes changes to Medicaid that will harm people with addiction.

MAHA report outlines chronic disease crisis

The MAHA Commission released its first report outlining a chronic disease crisis, pointing to ultra-processed foods, environmental chemicals, childhood behavior, and overmedicalization.

Opioid crisis costs US $4 trillion

An analysis from Avalere Health found that the average annual cost associated with each case of OUD is estimated to be nearly $700,000, though treatment decreases these costs.

Research News Roundup: May 29, 2025

View our curated digest of the latest research news, including how people who use drugs (PWUD) and who use Fentanyl Test Strips (FTS) may also engage in a broader set of harm reduction strategies such as overdose risk reduction behaviors.

Medicaid cuts advance

The House passed the reconciliation bill, with provisions that would cause at least 7.6 million people to go uninsured.

Overdose deaths plummet in 2024

Overdose deaths fell 27% in 2024, the largest ever decline.

Trump administration reconsiders parity rules

Despite ongoing violations of parity, the Trump administration announced it will reconsider 2024 rules that aimed to strengthen these protections for addiction care.

HHS Secretary Kennedy makes first appearance before Congress

Congressional hearings on the proposed budget for HHS were contentious, as HHS Secretary Kennedy defended the cuts to his agency.

Research News Roundup: May 22, 2025

View our curated digest of the latest research news, including how integrating Reddit data into existing surveillance models significantly enhances the real-time prediction accuracy of synthetic opioid overdose rates in the U.S.

Medicaid cuts progress in Congress

The House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced a budget bill that would make cuts to Medicaid that would cause at least 7.6 million people to become uninsured.

White House nominates Casey Means for surgeon general

Trump withdrew his nominee for surgeon general and instead nominated MAHA leader Casey Means.

STAT debunks AG Bondi’s drug bust claims

Attorney General Bondi touted that the administration had saved 258 million lives through drug seizures, a deeply implausible claim.

States sue over HHS cuts

Twenty attorneys general filed a lawsuit to stop the cuts and reorganization at HHS, which they argue is harmful and illegal.

Research News Roundup: May 15, 2025

View our curated digest of the latest research news, including how in states where the most people lost Medicaid coverage in 2023, patients were more likely to stop or reduce their use of buprenorphine suggesting that the loss of coverage disrupted treatment and may increase the risk of opioid-related harm or death in this group.

Trump’s 2026 budget proposes deep cuts

The White House's FY 2026 budget proposal asks Congress to cut over a quarter of HHS's budget.

Trump administration cuts mental health and child care grants

The Education Department cancelled grants for school-based mental health programs, and HHS proposed cutting grants for other child welfare research.

Congress tackles SUPPORT Act and Medicaid cuts

Congress advances SUPPORT Act reauthorization despite administration cuts to addiction programs and continues to consider Medicaid cuts.

Medetomidine increasingly in drug supply

Sedative medetomidine is increasingly being found in the drug supply, causing severe health complications.

Research News Roundup: May 8, 2025

View our curated digest of the latest research news, including how treatment retention rates among pregnant individuals are higher among those who receive medications for opioid use disorder compared to those who do not.

Administration officials speak at Rx Summit

Trump administration officials spoke at the major addiction conference but largely failed to address concerns about the administration's response to the crisis.

Drug policy shifts toward punitive measures

States and localities are increasingly embracing punitive measures over public health approaches as frustration grows over the mental health, addiction, and homelessness crises.

Federal cuts threaten addiction programs nationwide

Cuts across the federal government, including at DOJ and HHS, are impeding efforts to address the opioid crisis.

Research News Roundup: May 1, 2025

View our curated digest of the latest research news, including how to identify and treat Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) in young people.

Trump administration considers major HHS cuts

A leaked budget proposal shows the Trump administration is considering cutting the budget for the federal health department by more than 30%.

JEC: Medicaid cuts threaten opioid treatment access

A Joint Economic Committee report found that around 1 million people received medication treatment for opioid use disorder through Medicaid.
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