The Latest News from Our Field

Only about one in 10 people who need treatment for addiction to drugs or alcohol receive it, according to a new report. Many who do receive treatment do not receive evidence-based care, according to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.

A new study finds prescription painkiller abuse jumped 75 percent between 2002 and 2010. Men and adults ages 26 to 49 were most likely to abuse prescription painkillers.

A popular form of weight-loss surgery may increase the risk of alcohol abuse, The New York Times reports.

Adults who are exposed to secondhand smoke have an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, compared with nonsmokers, a new study suggests.

A measure to raise the cigarette tax by $1 per pack in California failed by less than one percentage point after the vote was deemed too close to call for more than two weeks, the Associated Press reports.

Pregnant women who are being treated for heroin dependence with methadone can be persuaded to reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke through monetary incentives, a new study suggests.

The U.S. Coast Guard launched “Operation Dry Water” this weekend, a nationwide annual campaign to call attention to the dangers of boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

A decreased interest in food is associated with a greater interest in novelty-seeking behavior and cocaine use, a mouse study suggests.

Implementation of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 has been slow, but there are small signs of progress, according to a coalition that aims to ensure that the law is properly enforced.

A pilot program to expand and improve access to prescription drug records for physicians, pharmacists and emergency departments is being launched in Ohio and Indiana, the Department of Health and Human Services announced.

The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that recent changes to penalties for crimes that involve crack cocaine, which make sentences more lenient, can be applied retroactively.

Almost half of adults with a drunk driving conviction said they had been struggling with heavy drinking for a long time, or had resumed heavy drinking after trying to reduce their alcohol use, a new study finds.

A national ad campaign, called “Tips From Former Smokers,” doubled the volume of calls to a nationwide smoking cessation hotline, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Tobacco giant Philip Morris International announced it will sell a new type of cigarette with lower health risks by 2017, Bloomberg News reports.

A study of twins suggests that genetics plays a major role in whether a person taking opioids is at increased risk of addiction, or will suffer unpleasant side effects from the drugs.

A new simulation program is teaching young drivers about the risks of drunk and distracted driving. The program is designed to demonstrate what can happen if they have an accident while they are driving under the influence or texting while driving.

North Carolina legislators are considering allowing liquor stores to open on Labor Day, when an estimated 35,000 people will be in Charlotte for the Democratic National Convention.

The increase in prescription drug abuse is fueling a rise in heroin addiction, NBC News reports. A growing number of young people who start abusing expensive prescription drugs are switching to heroin, which is cheaper and easier to buy.

Alcohol consumption can lead to increased social stress and poor grades in teens, a new study shows.

A bill passed by the New York Senate would prohibit welfare recipients from spending their benefits on alcohol and cigarettes. The bill, which passed 56-3, also bans spending of benefits on gambling and strip clubs.

A growing number of Floridians in their 50s are entering publicly funded substance abuse treatment programs, according to a new report.

According to Legacy President and CEO Dr. Cheryl Healton, lung cancer -- the No. 1 cancer killer in our nation for men and women alike -- carries a lot of baggage beyond what is often a devastating diagnosis for the patient and their loved ones.

Pharmacist groups and drug chains have successfully lobbied against stricter controls on prescription painkillers, The New York Times reports. The proposed controls would have applied to hydrocodone products.

Use of drugs for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children jumped 46 percent from 2002 to 2010, according to a new report in the journal Pediatrics.

Smokers are more likely to recall information from graphic cigarette warning labels than text-only warnings, a new study finds.