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 next National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day will be held on September 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Drug Enforcement Administration has announced.
Top headlines of the week from Friday, July 10- Thursday, July 16, 2015.
A new free, self-guided online program is designed to help active-duty military and veterans reduce their drinking and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. VetChange allows veterans to build personalized action plans to handle real-world situations that trigger unhealthy drinking and track their progress over time.
Long-term abuse of stimulant drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine may have a greater effect on the brains of women compared with men who were dependent on the same drugs, a new study suggests.
The federal government’s effort to reduce opioid painkiller prescriptions among U.S. veterans has left many of them struggling with chronic pain, the Star Tribune reports.
Eight U.S. senators are calling on the federal government to facilitate research on the potential benefits of medical marijuana. The senators say the research is needed because millions of Americans are now eligible by state law to use the drug for medical purposes.
Attorneys general in more than a dozen states are using state and local laws to pressure the e-cigarette industry to stop marketing to minors, according to Reuters.
A growing number of obituaries of people who have died of heroin overdoses refer to their addiction, The New York Times reports. In the past, these obituaries tended to say a person died “unexpectedly” or “at home.”
President Obama is commuting the sentences of 46 non-violent drug offenders, the White House announced Monday. Most of the offenders had been sentenced to at least 20 years, and 14 were given life sentences for nonviolent drug offenses.
Some people who use psychedelic drugs such as LSD or magic mushrooms are routinely taking “microdoses” of the drugs, LiveScience reports.
A study of why teens use marijuana finds almost one-third say they use the drug to alleviate boredom, HealthDay reports. Teens who use marijuana because they are bored are more likely to also use cocaine, the study found.
Addiction specialists and legislators are calling for expanding access to medication-assisted treatment for addiction, USA Today reports. Only 40 percent of the 2.5 million Americans who could benefit from medication-assisted treatment are receiving it.
A new study links “pharmacy shopping” with many painkiller overdose deaths among patients on Medicaid. The study found patients who used four pharmacies within 90 days had the highest odds of overdosing, HealthDay reports.
The shortage of drug treatment for pregnant women can endanger fetuses, experts tell USA Today. Fewer than 2,000 of the 11,000 treatment facilities listed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration include services for pregnant women.
Giving college students personalized feedback on their drinking habits through text messages and websites can help them cut back, a growing body of research suggests.
Top headlines of the week from Friday, July 3- Thursday, July 9, 2015.
Join Together spoke with Marvin D. Seppala, MD, Chief Medical Officer of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, about how some treatment programs are starting to change their view of medication-assisted treatment for opioid dependence.
Heroin abuse is rising across the United States, according to a new government report that finds the strongest risk factor for a heroin use disorder is a prescription opioid use disorder. People addicted to opioid painkillers are 40 times more likely to abuse or be dependent on heroin, NPR reports.
The CVS Health Corporation has announced it is resigning from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in protest over the group’s efforts to lobby against antismoking laws worldwide.
Viewing ads for medical marijuana may influence middle school students to use the drug, a new study suggests.
Three-quarters of U.S. adults favor raising the minimum tobacco age of sale to 21 years, including seven in 10 smokers, according to a new government study.
New regulations for e-cigarettes are likely to have a large impact on the industry, experts say. The rules could force many small e-cigarette businesses to close, while benefitting large tobacco companies.
Many children and teens who take antipsychotic drugs do not have a mental disorder diagnosis, according to a new study. Use of the drugs has been increasing among teens, the researchers found.
European Americans with blue eyes have an increased rate of alcohol dependence, compared with those with dark brown eyes, a new study suggests.
Recreational marijuana became legal in Oregon on July 1. People 21 and older can possess up to eight ounces of marijuana at home and an ounce of marijuana when away from home, NPR reports.
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