The Latest News from Our Field

A growing number of companies are using data analysis to fight prescription drug abuse, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Young adults who receive health insurance through their parents’ plans because of the Affordable Care Act are more likely to use the coverage to treat substance abuse, mental illness or pregnancy, compared with their peers who already had coverage, a new report finds.

In an effort to further crack down on synthetic drugs, the federal government announced this week it is outlawing three more synthetic marijuana substances.

An international effort is underway to identify and ban new synthetic drugs earlier, Bloomberg Businessweek reports.

Thank you for being part of the Join Together community as we celebrate our second anniversary.

North America’s only government-sanctioned facility that medically supervises the injection of illegal drugs, located in Vancouver, British Columbia, continues to stir controversy, according to CNN.

People consume more calories and fat on the days they drink alcohol, according to a new study.

An online toolkit called “Generation Rx University” aims to reduce prescription drug abuse among college students. The Ohio State University’s College of Pharmacy and the Cardinal Health Foundation have teamed up to introduce the program to help college and university students, faculty and staff on campuses across the country educate others about the misconceptions, realities and dangers of prescription drug abuse among 18-to 25-year olds.

A person who answers the door while smoking marijuana can be arrested without a warrant, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled this week.

A new poll finds 52 percent of Americans say doctors should have limits on the amount and dosage of pain medication they are allowed to prescribe. Almost half of those surveyed said prescription drug addiction is a major U.S. health problem.

More than 100 entertainers, civil rights leaders and other notable citizens have signed a letter to President Obama, asking him to change the nation’s drug laws. The group is urging him to replace jail sentences with intervention and rehabilitation for non-violent drug offenders, the Associated Press reports.

The number of smoking scenes in youth-rated movies doubled between 2010 and 2012, HealthDay reports. Smoking scenes have returned to the level of a decade ago, according to a study funded by the anti-smoking group Legacy.

New York state is introducing new driver licenses engraved with a “ghost image” that floats in a transparent window, in an effort to crack down on fake IDs used for underage drinking. Other states may follow suit, BBC News reports.

Each April since 1987, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) has sponsored NCADD Alcohol Awareness Month to increase public awareness and understanding, reduce stigma, encourage individuals and families to seek help and to engage local communities in bringing attention to alcoholism and alcohol-related problems, says its president, Robert J. Lindsey.

A party drug known as “Benzo Fury” can have dangerous consequences, a new study of rodents suggests. It has both stimulant and hallucinogenic effects, Reuters reports.

Tobacco smoke exposure may affect teen kidney function, a new study suggests. The research included the effects of active smoking and secondhand smoke.

Ohio is the latest state to consider making the opioid overdose antidote naloxone available to those at high risk, USA Today reports. Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear is expected to sign a similar bill this summer.

Maryland lawmakers have approved a bill that allows academic medical centers to distribute medical marijuana, according to the Associated Press. Governor Martin O’Malley said he is likely to sign the measure.

Investors are paying more attention to the burgeoning marijuana market, in light of the drug’s legalization in Washington state and Colorado, USA Today reports.

The head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Gil Kerlikowske, said there has been significant progress in disrupting illegal drug trafficking. He spoke in Tucson, Arizona, during a visit to inspect border security operations.

Florida’s success in combating prescription drug abuse is due to a combination of law enforcement and legislative action, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

Minnesota, which has outlawed synthetic drugs, is still seeing cases of exposure to the substances, according to TwinCities.com.

Join Together chats with David Sheff, author of the new book, "Clean: Overcoming Addiction and Ending America’s Greatest Tragedy," to discuss his exploration into the science, prevention and treatment of addiction.

The majority of Americans favor the legalization of marijuana, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center. The findings represent a shift in public opinion, particularly among young people, Reuters reports.

Three-quarters of people who use e-cigarettes say their motivation was to replace cigarettes, a new survey finds. People using e-cigarettes believe they are safer than regular cigarettes, the researchers say.