The Latest News from Our Field

The Drug Enforcement Administration has revoked the licenses to dispense controlled substances for two CVS pharmacies in Florida, after accusing them of dispensing excessive amounts of oxycodone.

Drugs for anxiety, depression and insomnia could impair driving ability, and may increase the risk of having a car accident, a new study suggests.

A study on humans, baboons and rats suggests an experimental drug that blocks some receptors in the brain may reduce cravings for nicotine. The findings could lead to new smoking cessation medications, the researchers say.

A growing number of states are instituting “social host” laws, which are designed to cut down on underage drinking, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to participate in “Rally for Recovery!” on Saturday, September 15, as part of Recovery Month. Events in the United States and the United Kingdom will include rallies, marches, runs and walks.

A new study finds that young men who use marijuana have an increased risk of testicular cancer, according to ABC News.

The shape of your glass may influence how much alcohol you consume, a new study suggests. Researchers in England found a curved glass interferes with a person’s ability to judge their alcohol intake.

As the evidence mounts of the negative effects of medical marijuana laws in various states, it’s even more important for parents to recognize that marijuana needs to be on their parenting radar screen, say researchers from the Treatment Research Institute.

An estimated 3 million fewer people smoked last year compared with 2009, when a 22 percent federal cigarette tax increase went into effect, USA Today reports.

A number of state universities have enacted bans on smoking this year, according to USA Today. These include the University of Oklahoma, the University of Oregon and Montana State University.

People who have three or more alcoholic drinks a day may have a higher risk of stroke at a much younger age, compared with those who don’t drink heavily, a new study suggests.

The federal government is introducing a national campaign to prevent suicide, CNN reports. The Surgeon General notes that individuals with mental and/or substance use disorders are at increased risk for suicidal behaviors.

Recovering alcoholics who help others in Alcoholics Anonymous have better outcomes themselves, a new study concludes.

Nine former administrators of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration have written a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, urging him to oppose three state measures on the ballot this November that would legalize recreational marijuana.

A new program, funded by an Affordable Care Act grant, offers some California smokers enrolled in Medicaid $20 gift cards if they participate in smoking-cessation telephone counseling.

Police in Louisville, Kentucky say they are seeing a rise in the use of heroin, as prescription painkillers become more difficult to obtain. People who formerly were addicted to painkillers are now turning to heroin, which is cheaper, easier to get, and very potent.

A new study shows 57 percent of fatal car crashes involve a driver who tested positive for alcohol or drugs. Alcohol was the most common substance detected, followed by marijuana and stimulants, Reuters reports.

Emergency room doctors are learning the signs of designer drug use in teens and young adults as the substances continue to grow in popularity, The Miami Herald reports.

The most popular students are more likely than their classmates to smoke cigarettes, according to a study of teenagers at seven predominantly Hispanic/Latino high schools in California.

Smokers who are long-term planners are more likely to quit than those who live more in the moment, a new study suggests.

A new study finds elevated rates of suicides and overdose deaths in the month after people have been released from the hospital for substance abuse treatment. Researchers found death rates were substantially higher for those who had been out of the hospital for less than one month, compared with those who had been out for at least one year.

Using nicotine patches or prescription medication helps smokers quit, a new international study concludes. Previous studies have produced conflicting evidence about the effectiveness of smoking cessation aids in real-life settings, according to Reuters.

A new study may help explain why children born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy are at increased risk of obesity. Researchers found children whose mothers smoked while pregnant have structural changes in their brains that may increase preference for fatty food.

College freshman, relishing newfound freedom away from home, are at greatest risk of alcohol-related harm during their first few weeks of school, according to an expert at Penn State’s Prevention Research Center.