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Helpline
Helpline
Call 1.855.378.4373 to schedule a call time with a specialist

The Latest News from Our Field

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.

The rate of teens who said they’ve ever tried vaping marijuana more than doubled between 2013 and 2020, from 6.1% to 13.6%, according to a new analysis of studies reported in JAMA Pediatrics.
The Biden administration announced a new overdose prevention strategy on Thursday, The Hill reports.
A new survey of U.S. dentists finds 43% say they regularly prescribe opioid medications, even though 84% say combinations of non-opioid pain relievers are as effective as opioids, or even more so, HealthDay reports.
Find more of our must-reads in policy news, including a new Overdose Prevention Strategy to increase access to care among those who use substances.
View our curated digest of the latest research news, including the influence of adolescent peers on one's longer-term patterns of smoking.
More than 96,000 drug overdose deaths were reported in the United States between March 2020 and March 2021, when the pandemic shut down normal daily routines, according to a new government report.
The demand for mental health treatment soared during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, creating what the American Psychological Association is calling a “mental health tsunami,” HealthDay reports.
During the pandemic, many addiction treatment providers switched from in-person treatment to telehealth care. Researchers reviewing studies comparing these two approaches say the potential benefits of telehealth are still unclear, HealthDay reports.
Find more of our must-reads in policy news, including an increase in overdose deaths during the first year of the pandemic in the United States.
View our curated digest of the latest research news, including the association of marijuana legalization with marijuana use among American high school students.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced this week it has authorized the marketing of three new tobacco products, CNN reports. R.J. Reynolds will be allowed to sell three of its Vuse vape products.
A new study finds 20% of surgical patients who start taking prescription opioids after their procedure continue to take them three months after surgery.
College students who misuse prescription stimulant medications such as Adderall or Ritalin in an attempt to focus better while studying are at increased risk of misusing other substances including alcohol and marijuana, new research finds.
Find more of our must-reads in policy news, including the FDA's first vaping product authorization.
View our curated digest of the latest research news, including the efficacy of a web-based treatment tool designed to identify substance use treatment centers.
A new study suggests people with substance use disorders may be at increased risk for breakthrough COVID-19 cases, HealthDay reports.
The trial against four pharmacy chains over their role in the opioid crisis began on Monday, the Associated Press reports.
More than 2 million U.S. middle school and high school students say they currently use e-cigarettes, according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Find more of our must-reads in policy news, including the start of an opioid trial against CVS, Walgreens, Giant Eagle and Walmart.
View our curated digest of the latest research news, including the impact of e-cigarette flavors on youth.
Overdose deaths involving methamphetamine almost tripled in the United States between 2015 and 2019, according to a new study.
The Drug Enforcement Administration has issued a warning about an increase in counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl that are made to look like real prescription medications.
Almost one in five high school students uses e-cigarettes, cigarettes and marijuana together, according to a new study.
Find more of our must-reads in policy news, including a DEA public safety alert on pills laced with fentanyl and methamphetamine.
View our curated digest of the latest research news, including the argument that substance addiction is a brain disease.