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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.

2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey results

The 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that substance use largely decreased among high school students 2023-2025.

Medicaid’s crucial role in SUD treatment

An Urban Institute analysis highlighted the importance of Medicaid for access to addiction treatment. Medicaid pays for more than half of all opioid use disorder medications nationwide.

Addiction clinics see surge in kratom cases

While a lot of the data remains anecdotal, addiction clinics across the country are reporting a growing number of cases related to kratom and increased severity.

New data on CDC workforce lost

A new website shows that CDC has lost nearly a third of its workforce since the start of last year, diminishing its capacity to do critical work.

Research News Roundup: October 1, 2026

View our curated digest of the latest research news, including a randomized controlled trial of N-acetylcysteine for alcohol use disorder in adolescents and young adults that found the medication did not reduce alcohol consumption overall compared with placebo. An exploratory analysis suggested it may reduce how much, though not how often, participants with moderate-to-severe alcohol use disorder drink; no benefit was seen among those with mild disorder.

Senate hearings on HHS nominees

The Senate HELP Committee held a confirmation hearing for three HHS nominees — Chris Klomp to be deputy secretary at HHS, Nicole Saphier to be surgeon general, and Timothy Westlake to lead SAMHSA.

SAMHSA funding for Treatment First and faith-based approaches

SAMHSA announced block grant funding to support its "treatment first" approach and funding to select states for faith-based prevention efforts.

ONDCP notice: Deadly fentanyl analogues on the rise

ONDCP released a Drug Threat Notice to warn about the threat posed by carfentanil, fluorofentanyl, and methylfentanyl due to their increasing prevalence and potency.

Medicare expands ACCESS model to SUD

CMS is expanding an initiative to offer technology-supported care options to Medicare beneficiaries with SUD or nicotine dependence.

Research News Roundup: September 24, 2026

View our curated digest of the latest research, including a study comparing two approaches to opioid use disorder treatment among Medicaid enrollees. Telemedicine bridge clinics provide rapid, short-term treatment by telephone or video while helping patients connect with ongoing care. Usual office-based care provides treatment through regular appointments at a medical practice. Researchers compared 552 telemedicine bridge-clinic patients with 2,208 matched patients receiving usual office-based care. Bridge-clinic patients were more likely to fill a buprenorphine prescription in the following month (91.3% versus 73.6%), maintain better medication continuity, and have fewer emergency department visits compared with the office-based care group. These findings provide evidence to inform Medicaid coverage and investment in accessible telemedicine treatment.

CMS guidance on tier system for Medicaid work requirements

CMS released guidance for states allowing them to use a “tier system” to determine which Medicaid recipients are exempt from work requirements.

FDA explores opioid alternatives, including psychedelics

FDA held a meeting about nonaddictive alternatives to opioids and is ramping up attention on psychedelics.

DOL guidance on parity compliance

The Department of Labor issued guidance announcing its intent to focus enforcement of the non-quantitative treatment limitation requirements under the Parity Act in three areas - treatment limitations, medical necessity, and network adequacy.

New unauthorized flavored vapes hit shelves

New fruit-flavored Vuse Pro vapes are for sale in some places, even though they have not been authorized by FDA, following the FDA's new enforcement priorities.

FDA leadership changes and health nominee hearings

FDA announced a new director of the Center for Tobacco Products, and Congress is holding confirmation hearings this week for the deputy director at HHS, surgeon general, and SAMHSA head.

Research News Roundup: September 17, 2026

View our curated digest of the latest research, including a study showing how young people’s success in quitting nicotine vaping may be closely linked to their friends’ vaping habits. Researchers found that greater vaping among peers was associated with lower rates of biochemically verified abstinence. More frequent vaping among close friends was also associated with fewer counseling sessions attended. These findings suggest that young people’s social environments deserve attention alongside individual motivation and treatment when supporting quit attempts. The study highlights the potential value of helping young people manage exposure to friends’ vaping and develop social support for quitting.

CDC unveils overdose data hub

CDC launched the Overdose Prevention Data Channel, a centralized resource with fatal and nonfatal overdose data, prevention strategies, and information about CDC programs.

Commonwealth Fund: Why overdose death rates are falling

A Commonwealth Fund brief outlines factors that have contributed to the recent decrease in overdose deaths in the U.S. and other high-income countries, including policies, changing drug supply, and behavior changes.

Pentagon seeks NIH funds for defense

The Department of Defense signed an interagency agreement with NIH that could give the Pentagon access to billions of dollars meant for biomedical research.

Research News Roundup: September 10, 2026

View our curated digest of the latest research, including a study estimating that the annual number of cancer deaths attributable to alcohol in the United States more than doubled between 1990 and 2023, rising from 11,361 to 23,126. Researchers found higher mortality rates among men than among women, and among adults aged 55 and older than among those aged 20–54. Liver cancer accounted for the highest alcohol-attributable cancer mortality rate among men aged 55 and older, while breast cancer led among women in both age groups. Among men aged 20–54, colorectal cancer had the highest rate. The findings highlight alcohol’s substantial contribution to cancer mortality and reinforce the importance of incorporating cancer risk into alcohol education and prevention efforts.

Ultrapotent drugs reshape the market

With the shift to synthetic drugs, production and purchase cost less as potency and unpredictability rise.

FDA authorizes new Juul e-cigarettes

FDA authorized the marketing of the Juul2 e-cigarette device and tobacco- and menthol-flavored pods.

Congress passes funding bill delaying hemp and grant rules

The House cleared a stopgap funding patch to fund the federal government until mid-December, preventing a government shutdown next month and delaying rules on federal grants and hemp-derived products.

Opioid funds used for law enforcement tech and other uses

Opioid settlement funds are being put towards uses that violate the spirit and/or letter of the settlement agreements, such as law enforcement salaries and surveillance equipment.

More regulation needed amid marijuana commercialization

In a Health Affairs Forefront article, three researchers outline some of the harms created by marijuana commercialization and call for increased regulation and enforcement.
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