The Latest News from Our Field

The number of prescriptions for psychotropic drugs written for very young children appears to have leveled off, according to a new study. These drugs are prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, mood disorders, anxiety and other mental health conditions.

People who are trying to quit smoking may find help from online support groups, a new study suggests. These groups can provide a strong sense of community, without requiring people to attend on-site meetings.

California Governor Jerry Brown signed two bills designed to fight prescription drug abuse. He vetoed a third bill that could have assisted the state’s medical board in identifying doctors whose patients died after taking drugs they prescribed, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Drivers who test positive for drugs are three times more likely than those who test negative to be involved in a deadly car accident, a new study finds. Using drugs and alcohol together dramatically increases the risk of a fatal crash, according to researchers at Columbia University.

The role of police officers in responding to overdoses is often unclear, according to a new study. Researchers say training officers in administering the overdose antidote naloxone could have a significant impact on the death rate from drug-related fatalities.

Five years after the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 was signed by President George W. Bush, experts say the law has not created parity for mental health coverage.

As makers of electronic cigarettes invest in multimillion-dollar marketing campaigns, a backlash against the devices is brewing, according to The Kansas City Star. Last week, 40 attorneys general sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration asking the agency to regulate e-cigarettes like tobacco products.

Because treatment for adolescent substance use disorder is most effective when it is of high quality and when evidence-based treatments and practices are delivered well, the Treatment Research Institute is contributing to promoting such practices by employing a consumer guide approach to measuring an reporting on the quality of adolescent substance abuse treatment.

Arizona health officials report two cases of people using a caustic, homemade heroin-like drug called “krokodil” that can rot flesh and bone, according to USA Today. The drug became popular in Russia about 10 years ago as a cheap replacement for heroin.

The location where people drink influences whether they will be involved in partner violence, suggests a new study. Men drinking in bars and at parties away from home are more likely to be involved in male-to-female violence, as are women who drink in parks and other public places.

A judge in Ohio recently ordered an 18-year-old addicted to heroin, who was convicted of stealing, to undergo a series of injections of the opioid dependence medication Vivitrol. The move has sparked debate about whether this approach should be used more widely, and who would pay for it, according to USA Today.

Deaths caused by oxycodone dropped 41 percent in Florida last year, according to a new government report. Deaths linked to methadone, hydrocodone and cocaine also decreased, according to the Miami Herald.

A nonprofit drug education group will be on hand at the TomorrowWorld electronic dance music festival in Atlanta on Friday to give advice on the dangers of using Molly and other party drugs. The group will also tell people who choose to use the drugs how to do so more safely.

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, who chairs the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, called synthetic drugs “diabolical” at a hearing on the substances Wednesday. Senator Feinstein is co-sponsor of the Protecting Our Youth from Dangerous Synthetic Drugs Act.

A marijuana legalization advocacy group currently has the highest number of votes in a contest in which the winner will have their ad produced and submitted for broadcast during the Super Bowl.

The number of patients receiving mental health care is expected to soar under provisions of the Affordable Care Act that will take effect next week, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Most drug tests given to people on parole or probation are unlikely to detect synthetic marijuana, a new study finds.

The club drug “Molly” is often laced with other synthetic drugs such as bath salts, making it more dangerous, according to law enforcement officials.

The Attorneys General of 41 states asked the Food and Drug Administration to issue regulations for e-cigarettes by the end of October. They said they want to ensure e-cigarette companies do not continue to sell or advertise to minors.

A survey of underage smokers and drinkers in Canada finds many of them obtain their cigarettes and alcohol from family and friends.

Legacy's Julia Cartwright pays tribute to Terrie Hall, an important voice in the fight to save lives from tobacco use.

Opponents of marijuana legalization say they don’t believe states where recreational use of the drug is legal will be able to keep it out of the hands of children, according to the Miami Herald.

French officials announced the largest haul of cocaine ever seized in that country--1.3 metric tons, or 2,900 pounds—was found in suitcases on an Air France flight arriving from Venezuela. The drugs were worth at least $67 million, The New York Times reports.

Kentucky is offering two $1,500 college scholarships to high school seniors who have been impacted by prescription drug abuse. Teens can qualify if they are recovering themselves, or if they are affected by a family member’s prescription drug abuse, according to the Associated Press.

State senators from California and Nevada are calling on Craigslist to stop running ads for prescription drugs, the Los Angeles Times reports.