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.
Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear announced this week the state will sign an agreement to share and receive prescription drug dispensing data with at least 20 other states. The move is designed to help the state monitor prescription drug abuse.
A recent study that found soaring hospitalization rates for combined drug and alcohol overdoses among young adults suggests doctors could play a pivotal role in educating the public about the dangers of combining these substances, says the study’s author.
Opana, a powerful opioid, is increasingly being abused in rural America, Reuters reports.
The U.S. Supreme Court will not hear an appeal by tobacco maker R.J. Reynolds, in a Florida case in which the company was ordered to pay $28.3 million to a woman whose husband smoked cigarettes for decades and died of lung cancer.
Exposure to smoking before and after birth is a risk factor for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, according to a new study. The number-one risk factor is still tummy sleeping, the study concluded.
“K2” and other synthetic drugs are still available in some gas stations and convenience stores in Missouri even after the state banned the substances, according to The Kansas City Star.
The owners of 25 medical marijuana dispensaries located within 1,000 feet of a school have received letters from Colorado U.S. Attorney John Walsh telling them that they must close, or potentially face criminal prosecution.
Emotional support from middle school teachers may reduce the risk their students will engage in early use of alcohol and other illicit substances, a new study suggests.
Providing extra support for smokers who call a hotline to help them quit does not appear to improve cessation rates.
British Prime Minister David Cameron has proposed that the United Kingdom set a minimum price for alcohol, in an effort to reduce problem drinking.
Research has contributed much knowledge over the decades to smarter prevention of addiction, more efficient early interventions, better and more sustained treatment outcomes, and wiser policies. Now it’s time for research to transform all this knowledge into solutions, says A. Thomas McLellan, PhD, CEO of the Treatment Research Institute.
Cocaine use and heart disease contributed to Whitney Houston’s death from an accidental drowning in a hotel bathtub, according to the initial autopsy report by the Los Angeles County Coroner.
A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel has said it cannot reach a conclusion about the potential risks and benefits of dissolvable tobacco on public health. The panel said that while using the products instead of cigarettes could reduce health risks, they have the potential to increase the number of people who use tobacco products, the Associated Press reports.
The growing popularity of home brewing is forcing legislators across the nation to review old alcohol laws. Home brewers are concerned these laws could criminalize the hobby and lead to the cancellation of annual tasting events.
A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that the Drug Enforcement Administration can suspend the sale of controlled substances at two Florida CVS pharmacies. The decision lifts a temporary order earlier this month that allowed the pharmacies to continue dispensing controlled medications.
The Treatment Research Institute announced that A. Thomas McLellan, PhD, has returned to continue his leadership role as CEO of the nonprofit organization.
Exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of wheezing and asthma in children and teens by at least 20 percent, according to a review of previous studies.
A recently passed Senate bill would close a loophole that currently lets stores that provide “roll-your-own” cigarette machines avoid taxes and fees levied on cigarette manufacturers.
Medical marijuana dispensaries are set to open in Washington, D.C. this summer, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
Fifty million people worldwide have died from tobacco-related causes over the past decade, according to a new report by the World Lung Foundation and the American Cancer Society. The groups estimate that if current trends continue, a billion people will die from tobacco use and exposure in this century.
Blackouts that result from binge drinking among college students cost the average large university about a half million dollars per year, a new study suggests.
Despite a study published last year that found screening heavy smokers with early CT scans reduces deaths from lung cancer, health care experts continue to debate whether the tests should be widely used, according to USA Today.
Florida Governor Rick Scott is delaying implementation of a new law to test state workers for drugs, in response to legal challenges, the Associated Press reports.
As the cost of health care continues to skyrocket, HR professionals and their employers are constantly searching for new ways to keep costs under control and as manageable as possible. An employer- sponsored wellness program is one way to do this, explains Anna Spriggs of Legacy.
The journal Addiction Science & Clinical Practice is now being published by BioMed Central, the company announced.
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