Substance Abuse and Addiction News
Studies: Smoking Pot Affects Driving Longer Than People Think
- Lab Testing Detects Synthetic Pot in ‘Gas Station Heroin’
February 2, 2024 — A new CDC report says synthetic cannabis has been found in some “gas station heroin” products, which are often marketed as mood-boosting supplements that can help with alertness or energy.
- Rise in Overdose Deaths Driven by Drug Combinations
January 4, 2024 — Reports of the use of fentanyl along with the animal tranquilizer xylazine makes preventing substance use disorder and associated overdose deaths even more complicated.
- FDA Approves First Test to ID Potential Risk of Opioid Addiction
December 21, 2023 — The FDA has approved the first test that uses DNA to assess if people might have a higher risk of becoming addicted to opioids.
- Health Risks of Ketamine: What to Know
December 18, 2023 — What to know about the health risks of the drug ketamine following Friends star Matthew Perry's death.
- Small Study Raises Hopes for Semaglutide Treatment of Alcoholism
November 28, 2023 — A small case study of people taking the popular weight loss drug semaglutide showed that they experienced a significant reduction in symptoms of a preexisting addiction to alcohol.
- 'Beer Goggles' a Myth, but Alcohol’s Allure Real and Risky
September 22, 2023 — A couple of drinks does not give you “beer goggles” that make other people look more desirable, a new study found. But being tipsy may make you more eager to approach an attractive stranger.
- Traffic Injuries Grew After Marijuana Legalization: Study
September 7, 2023 — Canada’s legalization of recreational marijuana in 2018 is linked to a dramatic increase in marijuana-related traffic injuries resulting in treatment at an emergency department, a new study shows.
- Buyer Beware: Delta-8 is the 'Russian Roulette' of Cannabis
September 6, 2023 — Delta-8 products have spread into vape shops, gas stations and other retailers, but are these products safe for use?
- Overdose Deaths From Counterfeit Prescription Pills Rising: CDC
September 1, 2023 — Overdose deaths from counterfeit prescription pills more than doubled in recent years, the CDC reported.
- Pharmacy Chains to Sell Narcan for Overdoses Over the Counter
August 30, 2023 — Three pharmacy chains will start selling Narcan, without a prescription starting next month, the companies say.
- Gene Therapy Offers New Way to Fight Alcohol Use Disorder
August 21, 2023 — How cutting-edge science is leading the charge against a rising public health crisis.
- Marijuana Use, Binge Drinking Surge to Record Levels
August 18, 2023 — Young adults reported the highest ever rates of marijuana use in 2022, and middle-age adults reported the highest ever rates of binge drinking, according to results from an annual study.
- Fentanyl and Other Opioids Seen as Top Public Health Threat: Poll
August 17, 2023 — Americans are more worried about drug use in the U.S. – specifically, fentanyl and other opioids, according to a new opinion poll.
- Drug Addiction Affects Majority of U.S. Families: Survey
August 15, 2023 — Results from a new survey show that drug and alcohol addiction is commonplace in U.S. families. Two-thirds of people said they or someone in their family has experienced addiction or overdose.
- ‘Smart Drugs’ Underdeliver and Can Bring Trouble
June 23, 2023 — There is no such thing as a "smart pill." In fact, nonmedical use of prescription stimulants like Adderall or Ritalin by people without a prescription can lead to unintended outcomes, including poorer grades and substance abuse.
- Could Weight Loss Drug Treat Addiction as Well as Obesity?
June 13, 2023 — In addition to suppressing appetite, in some people, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists like semaglutide may curb cravings for alcohol or cigarettes, according to reports not yet backed up by research.
- U.S. Overdose Deaths Stabilizing, Leaving Experts Hopeful
May 18, 2023 — The surge in drug overdose deaths in the U.S. during the first 2 years of the pandemic appears to have stabilized. Overdose deaths in 2022 totaled an estimated 109,680 people, which is 2% more than the 107,573 deaths in 2021.
- U.S. Will Fund Study of Safe Injection Sites Despite Pushback
May 17, 2023 — The federal government will, for the first time, bankroll a study on the effectiveness of overdose prevention sites, according to an announcement May 8.
- Marijuana Use Increases Schizophrenia Risk in Men
May 5, 2023 — A new study says as many as 30% of schizophrenia cases among young men could have been prevented if they had avoided marijuana.
- You’ve Quit Smoking With Vaping. Now What?
April 28, 2023 — Many Americans use vapes to quit smoking cigarettes. But because of nicotine levels of e-cigarettes, patients also may need help quitting the unauthorized cessation tools.
- Maker of Opioid Overdose Drug Aiming for $50 OTC Price
April 21, 2023 — Emergent said its goal is to make the OTC retail price “consistent” with the price the company charges public interest groups, which averages less than $50 per package. But the actual retail price will be set by individual retailers.
- White House: Fentanyl-Xylazine Combo an Emerging Threat
April 12, 2023 — The action comes on the heels of a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration warning about a sharp uptick in trafficking and overdoses of fentanyl combined with what is more commonly known as “tranq” or “zombie drug.”
- Why Are Scientists Getting Mice Drunk?
April 6, 2023 — They may have found a new way to help treat people with alcohol poisoning.
- FDA Approves Overdose-Reversing Narcan for Over-the-Counter Use
March 29, 2023 — The opioid overdose-reversal drug Narcan has been approved for over-the-counter use by the FDA, the agency announced Wednesday morning.
- Psoriasis Drug Shows Promise for Problem Drinkers, Study Shows
February 22, 2023 — Researchers have discovered that a medicine used to treat itchy skin can help control Alcohol Use Disorders, according to a new study.
- Fentanyl Test Strips Are Saving Lives, but They're Just the Start
February 15, 2023 — The strips are simple to use and effective. When dipped in water that contains dissolved drug residue, the strips indicate immediately whether trace elements are contained in a substance, such as heroin, cocaine, or ecstasy.
- A Pill Could Help Tame Binge Drinking, Study Shows
February 15, 2023 — A medicine used to treat people with severe alcohol disorders could also be helpful for others against binge drinking, a study says.
- Mocktails Might Trigger Drinking for People Trying to Give It Up
January 18, 2023 — Drinking “mocktails” and other non-alcoholic beverages might be a trigger for people who have moderate to severe alcohol use disorder and can’t stop or control their alcohol use, experts say.