RESEARCH

Elsevier

International Journal of Drug Policy

Volume 145, November 2025, 105015 by Shane O’Mahony
International Journal of Drug Policy
Abstract
The brain disease model of addiction (BDMA) is a dominant, if highly contested, model of drug addiction globally. Over many decades, researchers have marshalled evidence from animal studies, neuroimaging scans, and genome wide association studies to argue that addiction is a brain disease. However, critics have argued that the model de-emphasises social and economic contexts, downplays the phenomenon of spontaneous or natural recovery, and over-interprets neuroscientific findings. Building on this critical tradition, the current paper asks a related question: Has the claim that addiction is a brain disease helped or harmed those experiencing drug-related harm epistemically? While no definitive answer to this question is offered, the current paper argues that overall, the claim that addiction is a brain disease advanced by proponents of the BDMA has harmed substance users already experiencing multiple disadvantages epistemically.
Drawing on the concept of epistemic injustice, the current paper argues that the category ‘drugs’ creates an artificial and harmful dichotomy between those who use licit medicines and experience harm and those who use illicit substances and experience harm. Furthermore, this artificial dichotomy is compounded by racist and colonial discourses central to the war on drugs, and a rigid biological reductionism that de-emphasises social, economic, and cultural harm. The paper concludes by sketching an alternative approach rooted in epistemic justice, and a discussion of the implications of this concept for research and theory.

Introduction

Academic literature has witnessed significant debate over the past thirty years concerning whether addiction is best thought of as a brain disease. While the framing of addiction as a disease has a much longer history (see Levine, 1978), the claim that addiction is specifically a brain disease and the debates around this claim began in earnest when Leshner (1997) categorically claimed that neuroscientific advances had shown that drug addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease resulting from the prolonged effects of drugs on the brain. This framing centres the illness or disorder firmly in the realm of the brain’s structure and functioning, as opposed to a lack of meaning and purpose (i.e. a spiritual disease/malady) as per proponents of AA’s spiritual disease model (see O’Mahony, 2019), a disease of the will as per Benjamin Rush (see Seddon, 2010), or a highly heterogeneous disorder from which more homogeneous, qualitatively distinct subtypes might be derived, only some of which constitute a disease, as E.M. Jellinek and colleagues have argued (see Kelly, 2018).
Despite multiple sustained critiques of the BDMA from criminologists (O’Mahony, 2019), anthropologists (Bourgois, 2009), psychologists (Alexander, 2008), and some within neuroscience (Heilig, 2021, Kalant, 2014) have reiterated that, despite valid criticism, the claim that addiction has a firm neurobiological basis remains strongly supported by the best scientific evidence. Most recently, Heather et al. (2022) have produced a volume evaluating the BDMA through contributions from supporters, opponents, and undecided scholars. While the editors entertain arguments from many different perspectives and models, they argue that addiction is undergoing a revolutionary change—from being considered a brain disease to a disorder of voluntary behaviour (Heather et al., 2022)—though this is contested by advocates of the BDMA (see Heilig, 2021).
While some have examined the emergence of the BDMA from a social constructionist perspective (Keane et al., 2014), and criticised its relative ignorance of social and cultural context (Reinarman, 2005), the current paper asks a different question: has the claim that addiction is best thought of as a brain disease helped or harmed those suffering from harmful substance use epistemically? While critical scholars have approached this question from many angles, there has been little reflection among supporters of the model, where it is often assumed that framing addiction as a brain disease will reduce stigma, increase access to treatment, and lead to better outcomes in general for those experiencing harmful drug use (see Volkow & Koob, 2010). Yet many critical scholars argue that disease understandings commit people to a lifetime of reduced autonomy (Hart, 2021), as they are perceived—by themselves and others—to lack control and free will in important ways. This, in turn, can stigmatise them as disordered and constitutionally different from others. Moreover, clinical treatment providers appear ambiguous in their support of the BDMA. While some believe it can reduce stigma, others argue it may foster hopelessness within clients (Barnett et al., 2018).
Similarly, while access to treatment has increased in many countries, this has not always been due to the adoption of the BDMA or any disease model. For example, Ireland has expanded treatment access in the 21st century (see Butler, 2007), yet never explicitly adopted disease understandings. Sweden’s approach, while complex, accommodates both social and brain-based understandings of drug-related harm (Grahn et al., 2014). Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic of Iran has recently increased access to treatment despite its lack of commitment to disease framings (see Mirzaei et al., 2022). While one might argue that these increases were compelled by growing rates of drug-related harm, the case remains: representing addiction as a brain disease has not, in and of itself, played a decisive role in facilitating treatment access in these diverse contexts. This is not to say that the BDMA cannot support access, but that many culturally diverse countries have achieved this end without adopting it. Ultimately, the choice is not between viewing addiction as a moral failing or a brain disease, there are diverse ways to frame addiction to achieve stigma reduction and treatment uptake ends.
While much debate exists within the academic literature, the BDMA currently represents a dominant way addiction is understood in the United States (Barnett et al., 2018) and that the model is influential in Europe (see SStorbjörk, 2018; O’Mahony, 2019) and Australia (Keane et al., 2014). Given this position of influence, the current paper asks whether the model helps or harms those experiencing drug-related harm epistemically. That is, does the claim that they are suffering from a brain disease help them understand themselves and their experiences of drug-related harm and/or enable them to communicate this to others—or is it harmful in these respects? Before turning to this question, let us briefly examine the relevant literature.

Section snippets

Background

The brain disease model of addiction has been championed for several decades by the US based National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA). While the model contains many complexities, at its most basic, the claim is that persistent drug use changes the brain’s structure and function to such an extent as to ‘hijack’ the brain’s motivational reward circuitry. Koob and Simon (2009) argue, for example, that a key element of drug addiction is how the brain’s reward system changes throughout the course of

Epistemic injustice

Epistemic injustice is a form of injustice ‘done to someone specifically in their capacity as a knower’ (Fricker, 2007: p.1). Put simply, an injustice that harms a person’s ability to know things and be seen by others to know things. Fricker (2007) distinguishes between two different forms of epistemic injustice: (1) Testimonial injustice (TI); and (2) Hermeneutical injustice (HI). TI occurs when a hearer’s prejudices about a person’s identity led them to treat what the person says more

The concept of drugs and hermeneutical injustice

The first issue relevant to this paper is the category of ‘drug’ itself. The question is whether this category—central to the Brain Disease Model of Addiction (BDMA)—is rooted in hermeneutic injustice. A useful starting point is the work of British drug historian Porter (1996). In a paper tracing the historical origins of the “drug problem” in Britain, Porter argues that the concept of a drug is historically contingent:

“If you had talked about the ‘drug problem’ two hundred years ago, no one

The war on drugs and hermeneutic injustice

The previous section argued that the concept of “drugs” is rooted in hermeneutic injustice (HI). This section demonstrates that, cross-culturally, the prohibition and criminalisation of certain types of substance use have been selective regarding which substances are targeted. Put simply, evidence from several jurisdictions indicates that substances used by marginalised populations are disproportionately criminalised. We begin with examples from the United States.
In a landmark study on the

Biological reductionism and epistemic injustice

The previous section demonstrated that substance use among marginalised groups is often labelled drug use, stigmatised and criminalised, while use among powerful groups often escapes these labels and is treated more benignly. This section will show how this tendency also obscures the social, cultural, historical, and economic forces underpinning harmful drug use among marginalised Indigenous populations. This occurs through the biological reductionism at the heart of the Brain Disease Model of

An alternative frame: epistemic justice

This paper argued that the influence of the BDMA (though heavily contested) leads to multiple instances of epistemic injustice (specifically hermeneutic injustices). If this is the case, it is plausible to ask how we might move away from this harmful framing of substance-related problems to a more epistemically just approach. Epistemic justice has been defined as ‘the proper inclusion and balancing of all epistemic sources’ (Geuskens, 2018: 2). Firstly, if we are to move towards a context where

Conclusion and discussion

The current paper asked the following question: Does the claim that addiction is a brain disease put forth by supporters of the BDMA help or harm those who are currently experiencing drug-related harm epistemically? The answer that has been developed is that the BDMA causes harm as it leads to various instances of epistemic injustice. The first instance of epistemic injustice relates to the concept of ‘drugs’ itself. Put simply, built into the very foundations of the concept ‘drugs’ is the

CRediT authorship contribution statement

Shane O’Mahony: Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft, Visualization, Validation, Supervision, Software, Resources, Project administration, Methodology, Investigation, Funding acquisition, Formal analysis, Data curation, Conceptualization.
Source:  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0955395925003111
Filed under: Addiction,Brain and Behaviour,Culture,Latest News,Treatment and Addiction,USA :

Statement by Marcos Neto, UN Assistant Secretary-General, and Director of UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, at the launch of the third UNDP Discussion Paper on drug policy and development, ‘Development Dimensions of Drug Policy: New Challenges, Opportunities, and Emerging Issues’. September 17, 2025

 

Good afternoon, distinguished colleagues and friends.

Welcome to the side event Development Dimensions of Drug Policy: Exploring New Challenges, Opportunities, and Emerging Issues.

This is an important conversation. Drug policy remains one of the least represented issues in the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. The SDGs mention drugs only in the context of substance abuse – a narrow framing.

In reality, the global illicit drug economy, estimated at more than 600 billion dollars, has profound implications for health, human rights, livelihoods, security, the environment, and development. For decades, punitive responses associated with the so-called “war on drugs” have dominated, often with devastating consequences for individuals, families, communities, and entire economies.

Today, we benefit from a growing body of evidence that demonstrates the far-reaching impacts of drug policies. We know that both production and control measures carry serious environmental costs. We know that the proliferation of new substances poses complex public health challenges. And we know that punitive approaches have led to severe human rights violations.

Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, UNDP has worked to broaden the understanding of drug policy, extending beyond the security frame, to a development frame with significant human and health impacts. UNDP works on rights and access to services for key HIV populations, including people who use drugs, in 97 countries. Through its partnership with the Global Fund, UNDP has supported HIV programmes in 57 countries, reaching 86,245 people who use drugs with essential services. We work to deliver the UN System Common Position on Drugs, that calls on us to work through partnerships grounded in human rights, health, and science.

And I am pleased that today we launch the third paper in UNDP’s series on the development dimensions of drug policy.

This new paper addresses today’s increasingly complex landscape:

  • the rise of synthetic drugs,
  • the diversification of drug markets,
  • the emergence of regulated cannabis and psychedelics frameworks and the risks of their “corporate capture,”
  • as well as the growing effects of drug production and control on climate and biodiversity.

The paper also proposes a way forward, highlighting innovative, pragmatic, and people-centered approaches that are evidence- and rights-based.

These approaches prioritize health, human rights, and sustainable development. They ensure meaningful community participation and remove legal barriers to prevention, treatment, care, and support services, making sure that we leave no one behind.

While there is still a lot of work to be done, around the world Member States – including my home country, Brazil – are showing that it is possible to safeguard human rights, respect minorities and Indigenous peoples, address the disproportionate impacts on women and youth, and deliver better health and development outcomes for people who use drugs.

We hope today’s conversation will inspire many more.

It is now my great honour to introduce His Excellency Ernesto Zedillo, Commissioner of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, distinguished scholar, and former President of Mexico.

 

Presentation by Commissioner Zedillo:

Development Dimensions of Drug Policy: Assessing New Challenges, Uncovering Opportunities, and Addressing Emerging Issues – September 16, 2025

This discussion paper examines how drug policy affects sustainable development, human rights, governance, health, and the environment. It underscores that punitive enforcement has largely failed, fueling violence, corruption, incarceration, and health crises, while doing little to reduce harm. In response, many countries are shifting toward evidence- and rights-based reforms such as decriminalization and harm reduction. Yet, organized crime continues to dominate markets, and debates over legal regulation are expanding.

The paper highlights both the opportunities and risks of regulation. It shows how reforms could redirect resources into health and social programmes, strengthen governance, and support sustainable livelihoods, particularly for marginalized communities. At the same time, it warns of inequities in emerging legal markets, “corporate capture”, and insufficient attention to gender, Indigenous rights, and environmental impacts.

Aimed at decision- and policy-makers, multilateral organizations, scholars, and civil society, the paper calls for a development-oriented, rights-based approach that ensures no one is left behind and aligns drug policy with the Sustainable Development Goals. It is the third paper of the series on drug policy and development produced by UNDP.

Filed under: Latest News,Others (International News),Strategy and Policy :
Elsevier

Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior

Volume 254, September 2025, 174056
Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior
by Lee-Yuan Liu-Chen, Peng Huang

Highlights

  • •
    KOR agonists produce additive analgesic effect with MOR agonists.
  • •
    KOR agonists reduce reinforcing properties and side effects of MOR agonists.
  • •
    KOR agonists when used with MOR agonists for analgesia may prevent opioid use disorder.
  • •
    KOR agonists decrease reinforcing properties of cocaine.
  • •
    KOR agonists may be useful for treatment of cocaine use disorder.

Abstract

Reports in the 1990s and 2000s showed that kappa opioid receptor (KOR) agonists might be promising for treatment and/or prevention of opioid use disorder (OUD) and cocaine use disorder (CUD). However, the side effects associated with KOR agonists available at the time, such as psychotomimesis, dysphoria and sedation, prevented clinical development. Subsequently, nalfurafine and recently triazole 1.1 and oxa-noribogaine, three centrally acting KOR agonists devoid of such side effects, have been studied in animal models of OUD and CUD. By and large, earlier findings with typical KOR agonists were replicated with nalfurafine and in limited studies with triazole 1.1 and oxa-noribogaine. KOR agonists reduced reinforcing effects of mu opioid receptor (MOR) agonists and decreased tolerance to and dependence on MOR agonists. Oxa-noribogaine suppressed cue-induced reinstatement of morphine and fentanyl seeking. KOR agonists countered itch elicited by MOR agonists and produced additive analgesic effects with MOR agonists, thus allowing use of lower doses of MOR and KOR agonists, resulting in lower degrees of MOR-related side effects (such as respiratory depression) and typical KOR-associated side effects. In addition, KOR agonists attenuated locomotor sensitization and conditioned place preference sensitization following repeated cocaine, reduced acquisition and maintenance of cocaine self-administration and decreased cocaine-induced increase in extracellular dopamine. KOR agonists also suppressed cocaine priming-induced reinstatement of cocaine seeking. Therefore, a combination of a KOR agonist and a MOR agonist or a compound with dual KOR/MOR agonist activities when used as analgesics will deter escalation use of MOR agonists, thus prevent OUD, and KOR agonists may be useful for treatment of cocaine abuse and relapse. Importantly, KOR agonists with no or fewer side effects of typical KOR agonists should be further investigated in animal models of OUD and CUD, particularly those that simulate stress-, cue- and drug priming-induced relapse for potential clinical development.

Introduction

In the US more than one million people have died since 1999 from overdose of drugs of abuse (https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/health-data/health-factors/health-behaviors/alcohol-and-drug-use/drug-overdose-deaths). The number of reported opioid overdose deaths increased dramatically in recent years, with 81,083 deaths in 2023 (the most recent CDC data) (https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2024/20240515.htm). In the same year, 29,918 people died from overdoses involving cocaine (https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2024/20240515.htm). Many more are suffering from opioid use disorder (OUD)1 or/and cocaine use disorder (CUD). While overdose deaths involving opioids decreased in 2023 compared with 2022, overdose deaths involving cocaine and psychostimulants (like methamphetamine) increased. Unlike OUD, there are no effective medications for CUD. The % of overdose deaths in US involving both fentanyl and stimulants increased from 0.6 % (235) in 2010 to 32.3 % (34,429) in 2021 (Friedman and Shover, 2023). OUD and CUD are often co-morbid. Substance use disorder is a medical, societal, economic, and public health issue, that exacts terrible tolls on the individuals and the society. Therefore, developing drugs effective for treatment of substance use disorder (SUD) is critically important. SUD encompasses compulsive use of many drugs of abuse despite of negative consequences. This review will focus on OUD and CUD.
The kappa opioid receptor (KOR) is one of the three opioid receptors. Studies published as early as 1990s showed that KOR agonists reduced reinforcing properties of opioids and cocaine. KOR agonists prevented morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) at low doses that do not cause conditioned place aversion (CPA) (Bolanos et al., 1996; Funada et al., 1993) and reduced self-administration (SA) of morphine, oxycodone, or heroin in rats and mice at doses that do not affect water SA (Glick et al., 1995; Kuzmin et al., 1997; Xi et al., 1998). KOR agonists also reduced acquisition and maintenance of cocaine SA (Glick et al., 1995; Mello and Negus, 1998, Mello and Negus, 2000; Negus et al., 1997) and attenuated cocaine-induced reinstatement of extinguished cocaine-seeking behavior in rats and monkeys (Morani et al., 2009; Schenk et al., 1999). However, development of KOR agonists for clinical use has been limited by side effects, most importantly dysphoria, psychotomimesis, and sedation (Pande et al., 1996; Pfeiffer et al., 1986; Walsh et al., 2001), except for nalfurafine (formerly named TRK-820)[reviewed in(Miyamoto et al., 2022; Zhou et al., 2022)] and, the peripherally acting difelikefalin (Fishbane et al., 2020; Lipman and Yosipovitch, 2021). Nalfurafine has been used in Japan since 2017 and difelikefalin was approved in the USA in 2021, both for pruritus associated with kidney dialysis. In addition, in preclinical studies triazole 1.1 showed promises as a selective KOR agonist without adverse effects associated with typical KOR agonists (Brust et al., 2016; Zhou et al., 2013).
Herein pharmacology of nalfurafine and triazole 1.1 is briefly described. Then evidence is reviewed for effects of KOR agonists on reinforcing effects of opioids and cocaine and reinstatement of drug seeking after extinction of SA behaviors. With the availability of KOR agonists that show no or fewer unwanted side effects, the notion that KOR agonists may be useful for the prevention and treatment of SUD warrants re-evaluation.

Section snippets

Nalfurafine

Nalfurafine is a highly potent and moderately selective KOR agonist (Cao et al., 2020; Nagase et al., 1998; Wang et al., 2005). Using [35S]GTPγS binding, we have shown that nalfurafine is a potent KOR full agonist (EC50 = 0.097 nM) and MOR partial agonist with 32× KOR/MOR and 242× KOR/DOR selectivity, respectively (Cao et al., 2020). By inhibition of [3H]diprenorphine binding, we determined its Ki to be 0.075 nM for the KOR with 69× KOR/MOR selectivity and 214× KOR/DOR selectivity(Wang et al.,

U50,488H and the dynorphin A analog E-2078

Funada et al. (1993) reported that in male ddY mice, an outbred strain, morphine (3 or 5 mg/kg, s.c.) produced significant CPP, whereas U50,488H (1 mg/kg, s.c.) and the dynorphin A analog E-2078 (0.1 mg/kg, s.c.) induced a slight, nonsignificant CPA. Morphine (3 mg/kg)-induced CPP was abolished by pretreatment with U50,488H (1 mg/kg) and significantly decreased by pretreatment with E-2078 (0.1 mg/kg). The inhibitory effects of U50,488H and E-2078 were antagonized by the KOR antagonist

U50,488

Pretreatment of C57BL/6 mice with nalfurafine (3 μg/kg and 10 μg/kg, s.c.) or U50,488 (3 mg/kg, s.c.) for 15 min before cocaine conditioning blocked cocaine (15 mg/kg)-induced CPP, while these drugs alone did not cause CPA or sedation in the rotarod assay (Dunn et al., 2020). Pretreatment of mice with 10 μg/kg nalfurafine or 3 mg/kg U50,488 immediately before testing potentiated cocaine SA (0.5 mg/kg/infusion). Further, 10 μg/kg nalfurafine also increased progressive ratio break point,

KOR agonists vs. KOR antagonists for the prevention and treatment of SUDs

Koob proposed a conceptual framework of SUDs, which is a three-stage cycle – binge/intoxication, withdrawal/negative affect, and preoccupation / anticipation (Koob, 2020, Koob, 2021, Koob, 2022). The three stages represent dysregulation in three functional domains: incentive salience and/or habits, negative emotional states, and executive function, respectively. Repeated use of drugs of abuse leads to escalating drug use and development tolerance and/or dependence (binge/intoxication) and

Centrally acting novel KOR agonists with fewer side effects

Centrally acting KOR agonists that produce fewer side effects typically associated with KOR agonists, such as nalfurafine, RB64, triazole 1.1, oxa-noribogaine, LOR17 and HS666, makes it feasible to use these compounds for prevention and treatment of SUD. Among these compounds, only nalfurafine is used clinically. As mentioned above, nalfurafine has been approved and used in Japan and South Korea for management of systemic itch associated with kidney dialysis or chronic liver diseases without

Conclusions

There was a large body of literature in 1990s and 2000s showing that KOR agonists reduced reinforcing properties of opioids and cocaine and suppressed reinstatement of opioids or cocaine seeking. However, because of the side effects associated with KOR agonists available at the time, the investigations were limited to preclinical studies in animal models. Subsequently, centrally acting KOR agonists that showed no or lower degrees of side effects have become available, including nalfurafine,

CRediT authorship contribution statement

Lee-Yuan Liu-Chen: Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft, Project administration, Investigation, Funding acquisition, Conceptualization. Peng Huang: Writing – review & editing, Conceptualization.
Source:  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091305725001030
Filed under: Addiction,Cocaine,Drug use-various effects,Europe,Latest News,Opioids,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction :

Transmitted by Gary Christian – President, Drug Free Australia – September 18, 2025

Attached is the Drug Free Australia submission to the TGA Consultation re medicinal cannabis which is not only in  Australian National interest but also this is of concern  worldwide. DFA hopes to bring the present appropriateness of access via the Special Access Scheme (SAS) and Authorised Prescriber (AP) under control into the safety and regulatory oversight of unapproved medicinal cannabis products to protect Australia’s  future generations from harm.

From DFA’s submission’s Executive Summary:

This document addresses three of the TGA consultation questions:

  • Contraindications for medical cannabis – see Appendix A
  • Claims for medical cannabis not supported by rigorous science – See Appendix B
  • Lack of quality assurance in the production of medicinal cannabis – See Appendix C

DFA recommendations are found on page 8.

To access the full document:

  1. Click on the ‘Source’ link below.
  2. An image  – the front page of the full document will appear.
  3. Click on the image to open the full document.

Source:  TGA Medicinal Cannabis submission

Filed under: Addiction,Australia,Cannabis/Marijuana,Drug use-various effects,Latest News,Marijuana and Medicine,Medicines,Prevention and Intervention :

Opening Comment by DrugWatch member Maggie Petito:

It is often stated that comprehensive plans are most effective. Andean media often reports on crime profits from the transport of drugs, weapons and humans.  Additional factual reporting is needed.Few understand the profiteering by the Albanian mafia, Chinese Triads and Russian mobs. South American media does claim that Colombia [and Peru] see soaring cocaine production.Transportation and distribution yields higher profits than the actual production. Nonetheless, common sense reminds that without product, there is nothing to transport.

ARTICLE:

by    Steve Fisher, José de Córdoba and Santiago Pérez  – Wall Street Journal  – Sept. 16, 2025

From a heavily guarded mountain hideout in the heart of the Sierra Madre, 59-year-old Nemesio “Mencho” Oseguera reigns as the new drug king of Mexico, aided in his ascendance by America’s resurging love of cocaine and the Trump administration’s escalating war on fentanyl.

Oseguera spent decades building his Jalisco New Generation Cartel into a transnational criminal organization fierce enough to forge a new underworld order in Mexico, displacing the Sinaloa cartel, torn by warring factions, as the world’s biggest drug pusher.

The Sinaloans, Mexico’s top fentanyl traffickers, got caught in the crosshairs of the Trump administration, which promised to eradicate the synthetic opioid. The crackdown has left an open field for Jalisco and its lucrative cocaine trade, elevating Oseguera to No. 1.

“‘Mencho’ is the most powerful drug trafficker operating in the world,” said Derek Maltz, who served this year as interim chief of the Drug Enforcement Administration. “What is happening now is a pivot to much more cocaine distribution in America.”

Cocaine sold in the U.S. is cheaper and as pure as ever for retail buyers. Consumption in the western U.S. has increased 154% since 2019 and is up 19% during the same period in the eastern part of the country, according to the drug-testing company Millennium Health. In contrast, Fentanyl use in the U.S. began to drop in mid-2023 and has been declining since, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  

For new users, cocaine doesn’t carry the stigma of fentanyl addiction. Middle-class addicts and the tragic spectacle of homeless crack-cocaine users in the 1990s helped put a lid on America’s last cocaine epidemic.

Oseguera, who grew up poor selling avocados, is making a killing from cocaine buyers in the U.S. His cartel transports the addictive powder by the ton from Colombia to Ecuador and then north to Mexico’s Pacific coast via speedboats and so-called narco subs.

U.S. forces in the Caribbean recently blew up two speedboats, including one this week, that President Trump alleged were ferrying cocaine and fentanyl from Venezuela to the U.S. Fentanyl is largely produced in Mexico, and most cocaine ships through the Pacific. All those aboard the two vessels were killed. The president also has threatened military action against Mexican drug cartels.

A video released and edited by the Mexican military showing the apprehension of a drug-laden speedboat on Mexico’s Pacific coast this year.

The U.S. has a $15 million bounty on Oseguera, but he rarely leaves his mountain compound, according to authorities. Few photos of him circulate. The cadre of men protecting Oseguera, known as the Special Force of the High Command, carry RPG 7 heat-seeking, shoulder-fired rocket launchers capable of piercing a tank, people familiar with cartel operations said.

Visitors to the drug lord’s stronghold are hooded before they embark on the six-hour car trip through terrain sown with land mines, those people said. Locations of the pressure-activated explosives are known only by members of Oseguera’s inner circle.

Oseguera’s fortunes rose after the U.S. pressured Mexico to crack down on the Sinaloa cartel, where Oseguera got his start in the trade. The Sinaloans pioneered the manufacturing and smuggling of fentanyl, an industry breakthrough that sent cartel revenue soaring and drove up the number of fatal overdoses in the U.S. For the Sinaloans, landing in the administration’s spotlight couldn’t come at a worse time.

The capture of Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán in January 2016 and his extradition to the U.S. a year later, set in motion a precipitous decline. Guzmán’s four sons inherited their father’s empire, highly valued for its network of smuggling tunnels beneath the U.S.-Mexico border, used for moving cocaine, fentanyl and other contraband.

The sons, known collectively as the little Chapos, or “Chapitos,” shifted production resources to fentanyl, which compared with the heroin their father had brought into the U.S. by the ton is easier to smuggle and costs just a fraction to produce.

The Chapitos triggered an internecine war last year as a result of a plot against Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, the 70-something co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel. Zambada was forced aboard a private plane bound for the U.S. by Joaquin Guzmán, one of El Chapo’s sons, who hoped for leniency from U.S. prosecutors.

Both men were taken into U.S. custody when they landed outside of El Paso, Texas. Zambada pleaded guilty to drug-trafficking charges last month and faces a possible life sentence. Guzmán, still in custody, pleaded not guilty to trafficking charges.

Zambada’s capture led to a violent split between men loyal to Zambada’s son, Ismael “Mayito Flaco” Zambada, and those allied with the Chapitos. An estimated 5,000 people from both camps have been killed or gone missing in the conflict, along with bystanders caught in the crossfire. Mexico has sent 10,000 federal troops in the past year to the state of Sinaloa, where the federal government has been largely helpless to end the fighting.

Hemmed in by U.S. and Mexican authorities on one front, and Zambada’s men on the other, the Chapitos swallowed their pride and sought the help of Oseguera, once a sworn enemy.

Each side had something the other wanted. Oseguera agreed to meet, looking to a future where he and his Jalisco cartel would rule as Mexico’s dominant criminal enterprise.

Landmark drug deal

In December, Oseguera sat down with a top lieutenant of Iván Archivaldo Guzmán, who leads Sinaloa’s Chapito faction. At the meeting in Mexico’s western state of Nayarit, Oseguera, who was operating from a position of strength, agreed to supply the Chapitos with weapons, cash and fighters.

In exchange, the Sinaloans opened their smuggling routes and border tunnels into the U.S., said people familiar with the meeting. The Jalisco cartel previously paid hefty fees to use the tunnels to move drugs beneath the U.S.-Mexico border, people familiar with its operations said.

The agreement also divvied up the U.S. trafficking trade, these people said: The Chapitos would keep their focus on serving American fentanyl addicts. Oseguera would concentrate on cocaine and its down-market cousin, methamphetamine. The Jalisco cartel now ferries tons of cocaine and record amounts of methamphetamine into the U.S. through Sinaloan-built tunnels, as well as fentanyl, the people familiar with cartel operations said.

The Sinaloa-Jalisco agreement was “an unprecedented event in the balance of organized crime,” Mexico’s attorney general’s office said in a July report. The Jalisco cartel compares with the Sinaloa cartel at the height of its power before El Chapo’s arrest, according to the DEA’s latest drug-threat assessment.

Oseguera caught another break from the Trump administration. The president’s campaign to deport immigrants in the U.S. illegally has taken federal agents away from drug-traffic interdiction. In Arizona, two Customs and Border Protection checkpoints along a main fentanyl-smuggling corridor from Mexico have been left unstaffed. Officers stationed there were sent to process detained migrants. A senior administration official said the U.S. border is more secure than it has ever been.

Colombia is producing records amounts of cocaine, and the volume of the drug arriving in the U.S. is driving down prices, the people familiar with cartel operations said.

Cocaine prices have fallen by nearly half to around $60 to $75 a gram compared with five years ago, said Morgan Godvin, a researcher with the community organization Drug Checking Los Angeles. “The price of pure cocaine has plummeted,” Godvin said.

Tons of cocaine manufactured in Colombia are shipped from Ecuador by small crews of fishermen on a three-week voyage to Mexico.

After refueling near the Galapagos, speed-boats and so-called narco subs continue north. The Mexican navy has deployed special forces to block shipments.

The Jalisco cartel, which controls ports on Mexico’s Pacific coast, now uses routes and tunnels into the U.S. that are controlled by the sons of imprisoned drug kingpin Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.

The Jalisco cartel also draws steady revenue from diverse sources outside narcotics.

The cartel acts as a parallel government in the southwestern state of Jalisco and other parts of Mexico, taxing such goods as tortillas, chicken, cigarettes and beer, security experts said. It controls construction companies that build roads, schools and sewers for the municipal governments under cartel control. 

A booming black market for fuel is another cash cow. Gasoline and diesel stolen from Mexican refineries and pipelines—or smuggled into Mexico from the U.S. without paying taxes—is sold at below market prices to small and large businesses. U.S. officials estimate as much as a third of the fuel sold in Mexico is illicit. The head of the Jalisco cartel’s fuel division is nicknamed “Tank” for his prowess at stealing and storing millions of gallons of fuel. 

The cartel profited from the passage of migrants bound for the U.S., charging them thousands of dollars each to pass through territory it controls. And in recent years, the cartel has operated more than two dozen call centers to scam senior citizens out of hundreds of millions of dollars in a vacation-timeshare fraud, according to the Treasury Department.

Family ties

Oseguera, celebrated as “El Señor Mencho” in narco-ballads, is viewed as an altruistic patriarch by some poor Mexicans living in areas controlled by the cartel, which organizes town fiestas and hands out food, medicine and toys.

In 1994, Oseguera was convicted of dealing heroin and served nearly three years in a California prison. He was deported to Mexico, where he married the daughter of the boss of a Sinaloa-affiliated gang. By 2011, he was leading his own organization based in Jalisco state.

Jalisco gunmen stormed a Puerto Vallarta restaurant in 2016 and kidnapped two Chapitos—Iván Archivaldo and Jesús Alfredo—who were celebrating Iván’s birthday. Oseguera released them after an intervention by “El Mayo” Zambada, who later became a target of the Chapitos. 

Like many of Mexico’s cartels, Jalisco is largely a family business. One of Oseguera’s brothers, Antonio, known as Tony Montana after the Al Pacino character in the movie “Scarface,” was in charge of acquiring heavy weapons, the attorney general’s report said. The brother was arrested in 2022, and in February he was among 29 drug bosses Mexico expelled to the U.S., hoping to address Trump’s demands.

Oseguera’s son, who served as a top leader in the cartel, was sentenced in Washington, D.C., this year to life in prison for drug trafficking.

Hundreds of gunmen trained by former Colombian special forces work for Oseguera, according to Mexican officials. He travels through his territory in a small convoy of armored vehicles with a team equipped to fight off aggressors until reinforcements arrive. He had a specialized medical unit built near his mountain hideout to care for his advanced kidney disease, according to people familiar with the matter.

Photos from the Mexican navy showing packaged cocaine, in a 3.5-ton seizure from a semi-submersible vessel, a so-called narco sub, caught off the Pacific coast and brought to port in Acapulco, Mexico, in June.

Two cartel accountants arrested by Mexican authorities said they were required to leave behind smartphones, Apple Watches and any device with GPS signal before traveling to meet with Oseguera, a precaution against electronic surveillance or tracking, according to the people familiar with the cartel’s operations. Oseguera has a team that manages more than 50 phones of top cartel lieutenants, people familiar with the operations said. Every week, cartel operatives gather and review phone call logs to ensure the men haven’t been speaking with enemies, security experts said. Afterward, the men get new phones. 

In 2020, more than two dozen gunmen fired more than 400 rounds at the armored car ferrying Omar García Harfuch, then Mexico City’s security chief, on the capital’s Paseo de la Reforma. García Harfuch was hit three times but survived. Two of his bodyguards and a woman headed to work were killed. García Harfuch now serves as security minister for Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum. He is overseeing the law-enforcement offensive, backed by U.S. intelligence, that has crippled the Chapitos. 

Oseguera’s subsequent rise to Mexico’s top drug trafficker puts him in a very dangerous spot, according to a senior Trump administration official.

Source: www.drugwatch.org
drug-watch-international@googlegroups.com

Filed under: Crime/Violence/Prison,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Economic,Latest News,Prevention and Intervention,Strategy and Policy,USA :

 

NIH – National Library of Medicine – National Center for Biotechnology Information

2025 Oct;178(10):1429-1440.

doi: 10.7326/ANNALS-24-03819. Epub 2025 Aug 26.

by Thanitsara Rittiphairoj1, Louis Leslie2, Jean-Pierre Oberste2, Tsz Wing Yim2, Gregory Tung3, Lisa Bero4, Paula Riggs5, Kent Hutchison6, Jonathan Samet7, Tianjing Li8

Abstract

Background: Rapid changes in the legalized cannabis market have led to the predominance of high-concentration delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) cannabis products.

Purpose: To systematically review associations of high-concentration THC cannabis products with mental health outcomes.

Data sources: Ovid MEDLINE through May 2025; EMBASE, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, Cochrane Library, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, CINAHL, and Toxicology Literature Online through August 2024.

Study selection: Two reviewers independently selected studies with high-concentration THC defined as greater than 5 mg or greater than 10% THC per serving or labeled as “high-potency concentrate,” “shatter,” or “dab.”

Data extraction: Outcomes included anxiety, depression, psychosis or schizophrenia, and cannabis use disorder (CUD). Results were categorized by association direction and by study characteristics. Therapeutic studies were defined by use of cannabis to treat medical conditions or symptoms.

Data synthesis: Ninety-nine studies (221 097 participants) were included: randomized trials (42%), observational studies (47%), and other interventional study designs (11%); more than 95% had moderate or high risk of bias. In studies not testing for therapeutic effects, high-concentration THC products showed consistent unfavorable associations with psychosis or schizophrenia (70%) and CUD (75%). No therapeutic studies reported favorable results for psychosis or schizophrenia. For anxiety and depression, 53% and 41% of nontherapeutic studies, respectively, reported unfavorable associations, especially among healthy populations. Among therapeutic studies, nearly half found benefits for anxiety (47%) and depression (48%), although some also found unfavorable associations (24% and 30%, respectively).

Limitation: Moderate and high risk of bias of individual studies and limited evaluation of contemporary products.

Conclusion: High-concentration THC products are associated with unfavorable mental health outcomes, particularly for psychosis or schizophrenia and CUD. There was some low-quality evidence, inconsistent by population, for therapeutic benefits for anxiety and depression.

Primary funding source: Colorado General Assembly, House Bill 21-1317

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40854216/

 

Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana,Drug use-various effects,Effects of Drugs (Papers),Health,Latest News,Mental Health,Strategy and Policy,USA :

By Scott Wolchek –FOX 2 Detroit –  September 9, 2025 

 DEA launches abuse prevention campaign on campuses

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) emphasized that prevention is key to ensuring the health and safety of the nation’s college students, and they are actively spreading that message. The DEA is teaming up with universities across Michigan and Ohio, reaching out to let them know that resources are available.

The Brief

    • The DEA is working to prevent drug abuse in colleges as students return to class.
    • The focus is on drug awareness because many people between the ages of 18 and 25 are increasingly becoming statistics due to unfortunate overdoses.
    • They report that 50% of the counterfeit pills they seize contain a lethal dose of fentanyl.

DETROIT (FOX 2) – As students return to classes, the DEA is on a mission to help prevent drug abuse on college campuses. 

Big picture view:

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) emphasized that prevention is key to ensuring the health and safety of the nation’s college students, and they are actively spreading that message. The DEA is teaming up with universities across Michigan and Ohio, reaching out to let them know that resources are available.

The focus is on drug awareness because many people between the ages of 18 and 25 are increasingly becoming statistics due to unfortunate overdoses. The DEA is particularly concerned about counterfeit pills, such as ecstasy, which may be laced with fentanyl. 

What they’re saying:

They report that 50% of the counterfeit pills they seize contain a lethal dose of fentanyl. The warning is clear: stop experimenting and stay safe.

“That behavior can lead a student to go online or social media or a weird part of town to obtain what they think is a study aid which might not contain anything but filler and caffeine or worse, fentanyl. We’re just letting our campuses know these pills are out there, and they’re readily available and dangerous,” said Brian McNeal. 

“Is this an age where you see people doing, like more drugs? Uh yeah, certainly. I think more and more this era of humanity is seeing an uptick in drug usage, but I mean it’s been used throughout time and memorium,” said college student Merrick.

Merrick mentioned that he himself had not encountered any of the counterfeit pill issues that the DEA is warning about. He expressed more concern about alcohol use on campus. 

The DEA representative told FOX 2 that while some people may not listen, it’s crucial to heed this advice: don’t take any pills unless you know where they came from, or they are prescribed to you.

With the fentanyl threats all around us, it’s vital to follow the advice being discussed.

Source: https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/dea-launches-drug-abuse-prevention-campaign-college-campuses-across-metro-detroit

Filed under: Culture,Drug use-various effects,Education,Latest News,Prevention and Intervention,Strategy and Policy,USA,Youth :

The following 8 articles were grouped by David Evans, and published by DrugWatch International, to address the subject of cannabis use and how violent offenders can be seen to be marijuana users:

To access the full documents – for each item:

  1. Click on the ‘Source’ link below.
  2. An image  – the front page of the full document will appear.
  3. Click on the image to open the full document.

 

  1. CANNABIS.AND.DOMESTIC.VIOLENCE
  2. CANNABIS.VIOLENCE.YOUNG ADULTS
  3. MARIJUANA INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE
  4. MARIJUANA USE AND MASS VIOLENCE
  5. MARIJUANA.ADDICTION
  6. MARIJUANA.VIOLENCE.AND.LAW
  7. Violence Murder Murderers pot Mass Killers
  8. WEED.BLOWING.YOUNG.MENS’.MINDS

Source: www.drugwatch.org
drug-watch-international@googlegroups.com

Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana,Crime/Violence/Prison,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Latest News,Mental Health,USA :

Source: https://learnaboutsam.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/27Sep2017-opioids-one-pager.pdf September 2017

Filed under: Brain and Behaviour,Cannabis/Marijuana,Heroin/Methadone,Latest News :

By Onuora Aninwobodo  – Sunday, 5 October 2025 

 

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has smashed two major cocaine cartels responsible for six UK-bound shipments and arrested their suspected kingpin, Alhaji Hammed Taofeek Ode, alongside five others, in a string of intelligence-led operations across Lagos spanning three weeks.

The operations, which uncovered 20.5 kilograms of cocaine concealed in stainless steel cups, body cream, and hair gel containers, also led to large-scale seizures of cannabis and tramadol in several states, including Edo, Osun, Kaduna, Ogun, and Kwara.

According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the breakthrough came on September 16, 2025, when operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos intercepted 174 parcels of cocaine weighing 13.4kg hidden inside cocoa butter containers. 

A cargo agent was immediately arrested, leading investigators to uncover Alhaji Ode as the mastermind.

After weeks of coordinated intelligence and cooperation with the police, Alhaji Ode, who claimed to be a businessman and estate developer, was apprehended. 

During interrogation, he allegedly confessed ownership of the drug, which he said cost him over ₦150 million. 

Ode, who had lived in several European countries before returning from the UK in 2024, is believed to be the head of a long-running export syndicate.

In a related operation, another cartel’s bid to export multiple cocaine consignments to the United Kingdom was foiled between September 26 and October 2. 

NDLEA operatives arrested Smith David Korede, a furniture maker from Oshodi, Lagos, after intercepting cocaine hidden in hair cream containers. 

Further raids led to the seizure of additional consignments weighing over 4kg and the arrest of Ogunbiyi Oluseye Taiwo and Popoola Francis Olumuyiwa, both linked to the exports.

The Agency also intercepted a shipment from Thailand containing 6.3kg of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, concealed in bedsheets and hibiscus flowers. 

In separate operations nationwide, NDLEA teams seized over 24,897kg of skunk, destroyed vast cannabis farms in Edo and Osun forests, and recovered thousands of bottles of codeine syrup, tramadol pills, and expired pharmaceuticals.

Among those arrested were:

     – John Igbe, alias SammyBless, caught with 550g of Colorado in Lekki, Lagos

     – Blessing Ovaka, with 498.5kg of skunk in Kaduna  

     – 25-year-old Salisu Abubakar, with 27,700 tramadol pills in Kwara

     – And Abubakar Audu, nabbed with 112kg of skunk in Ogun.

In Edo, two suspects,  Michael Ayang and Bernard “Don” New Year,  were arrested after NDLEA operatives destroyed over 10,897kg of cannabis on more than four hectares of farmland.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), praised the operations, describing them as a testament to the agency’s renewed determination to crush drug networks nationwide.

“We’ll continue to target and dismantle every identified drug cartel, from the mules to the masterminds,” Marwa stated.

“Every arrest, seizure, and forfeited asset means lives saved and communities protected, both here in Nigeria and abroad.”

The NDLEA also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization campaigns in schools, markets, and communities across several states during the week, reaffirming its dual focus on enforcement and prevention.

Source: https://www.nigeriainfo.fm/lagos/news/homepage/ndlea-crushes-two-cocaine-cartels-arrests-drug-kingpin/

Filed under: Cocaine,Crime/Violence/Prison,Latest News,Others (International News),Prevention and Intervention :
By Babatunde Titilola – 7th September 2024
Substance abuse among children is a significant concern, with various studies indicating that it often begins from adolescence.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which is part of the United States National Institutes of Health, factors influencing drug use in children include peer pressure, mental health issues, and accessibility to substances.

It further noted that early exposure can lead to dependency and long-term health consequences.

Addressing your child’s substance abuse can be one of the most challenging and daunting experiences a parent or caregiver faces.

A recent study conducted by Samuel Bunu, Ronari Charles, Oyintari Charles, and Patricia Okafor on the assessment of teenagers’ involvement in drug and substance abuse in Nigeria showed a rapid increase in the unhealthy use of drugs among teenagers, with more than 66.50 per cent, including both males and females, engaging in the misuse of substances to enhance their physical activities and for other reasons.

To solve this problem, understanding the complexities of addiction and its impact on a young person’s life is crucial for effective intervention. Experts say it is important to approach the situation with empathy, patience, and a willingness to seek help.

Every child’s journey with substance use is unique, and recognising the signs early can significantly improve the chances of recovery.

Here are six ways to handle the situation if your child is struggling with substance abuse.

Sit them down and discuss

According to mental health practitioners, the first step for any parent or guardian is to sit the child down and discuss the adverse implications of substance abuse.

Experts agree that conducting joint research online or using the story of a known substance addict can help the child understand the impacts of substance abuse.

Behaviour analyst, Ibukunola Afolabi, said parents should remain calm during the conversation about substance abuse, noting that such discussions can prevent further crises that might worsen the addiction.

“When a child abusing substances feels heard by the parents, it can help the child reveal secrets that will assist in navigating the recovery process. Many children abusing substances often feel neglected or unheard of by their families, which is why they go along with the crowd.

The first step in handling a child with substance abuse is to sit down as a family and talk about it,” the expert said.

Go for family counselling

After having a heart-to-heart conversation with the child, a psychologist, Idris Abayomi, said parents should also enrol in counselling sessions to understand how to interact positively with the child. He said this would help prevent ill feelings between them and the child.

“To address dysfunctional dynamics, enhance communication, and support the child’s recovery, it is critical for the entire family to set an example and participate in thorough and continuous counselling sessions, in addition to involving a professional.

Long-term success may depend on positive family actions, as this fosters a supportive environment,” he said.

Invite an expert

Abayomi said professional help should be sought to address the underlying triggers of substance abuse. He explained that employing a mental health specialist for the child will support recovery efforts and create a nurturing environment.

“Cognitive behavioural therapy is one therapeutic strategy that can assist in addressing underlying difficulties, creating coping mechanisms,” he added.

Establish discipline

The psychologist further said parents should create a structured and supportive environment at home and establish clear rules and consequences related to substance use, while also providing positive reinforcement for healthy behaviours.

This will help the child understand that there are consequences for certain actions and rewards for good conduct.

He added that parents should “encourage the child to associate with peers who have a positive influence and allow them to join support groups.”

Afolabi also advised parents to reassess their values and rebuild character within the home. He said this would help reorient the child and other family members, leading them to adopt new morals and realign their lives for better living.

Never abandon them

Afolabi advised that when a child struggles with substance abuse, it is crucial for parents to provide consistent support and understanding, even in the face of setbacks.

“Abandoning the child during difficult times can increase feelings of shame and isolation, making recovery more challenging. Instead, parents should maintain open lines of communication, express unconditional love, and reinforce the idea that setbacks are part of the recovery journey,” she said.

Get medical help

Additionally, consulting a medical doctor for any complications arising from a child’s substance abuse is essential for their overall health and safety. Substance abuse can lead to various physical and mental health issues, including withdrawal symptoms and damage to vital organs. A healthcare professional can conduct comprehensive evaluations to identify any health complications and recommend appropriate treatments.

Source: https://punchng.com/6-ways-to-handle-a-child-with-substance-abuse/
Filed under: Drug use-various effects,Latest News,Others (International News),Parents,Prevention and Intervention,Youth :

LONDON DAILY MAIL

by Sam Lawley, News Reporter –  5 October 2025 | 

Laying bare the extent of Glasgow‘s substance crisis, a disturbing video showed the drug-taking hotspot in grim detail with needles, spoons and other drug paraphernalia strewn over the ground – and all just round the corner from a popular student accommodation.

Glasgow is home to the UK’s first and only drug consumption facility, The Thistle, less than half a mile from the location of the clip, posted to X on Saturday by Reform councillor Thomas Kerr.

The centre is already open 365 days a year from 9am to 9pm but its operators told MSPs this week that they may have to extend hours as so many addicts are bingeing on cocaine later in the day and evening.

Run jointly by Glasgow City Council and the NHS, The Thistle allows users to inject hard drugs under medical supervision without fear of prosecution.

More than 400 addicts have so far had 5,000 ‘injecting episodes’, with cocaine taken three times as much as heroin. There have also been 60 ‘medical emergencies’ on site.

But it seems drug use is still spilling onto the streets and parks of Scotland’s largest city.

A squalid drug den featuring a tree covered in dirty heroin syringes has been discovered just yards from Scotland’s only ‘safe’ consumption room in Glasgow

‘But as you can see this is student accommodation and look at this,’ he says.

The camera pans from a block of student flats towards a tree loaded with syringes like darts lodged on a board.

Speaking with hundreds of pieces of rubbish scattered across the ground, Ms Dempsey adds: ‘To think this is what we are driving people to is just outrageous. It’s worse than outrageous.’

Seemingly criticising The Thistle consumption room, she sayd: ‘This is where the road to recovery comes right in. The right to enable should not count, it should not be a factor in it.

‘And that’s what we’re doing because all this equipment here, the packaging, the boxes, the syringes, the spoons for burning and the naloxone packages. These are all stuff that is given out freely in the safe consumption room.’

Mr Kerr adds: ‘Scotland’s drug crisis is here for everybody to witness. We need to start focussing on recovery as Audrey said, and not driving into despair where they’re sitting taking needles apparently safely down in the Calton, where you can see the state that people have been driven into.

‘This is absolutely scandalous and this is what’s going on in the streets of Glasgow, just around the corner from a so-called safe consumption facility.’

Ms Dempsey says: ‘This is outrageous. This makes you physically sick to think this is what we are pushing people into, and it tells you all the more that the Right to Recovery Bill should stand because people have a right to recover from this. They shouldn’t be driven to this, it’s just awful.’ 

The Right to Recovery Bill, if passed, would ‘establish a right in law to treatment for addiction for anyone in who is addicted to either alcohol, or drugs or both’. It is currently at stage one, the committee stage, of the process.

The Daily Mail has approached Cllr Casey for comment. 

The Thistle, which opened in January, also stepped up demands for an ‘inhalation space’ for people to smoke crack. 

Responding to calls for longer opening hours, Glasgow Tory MSP Annie Wells said: ‘Local residents will be terrified at the prospect of a 24/7 drug room on their doorsteps. 

‘The Thistle is making lives a misery for those living near it, with dirty needles and anti-social behaviour plaguing the community.

‘Expanding state-sponsored drug taking is not the answer – that’s why it’s crucial that MSPs back our Right to Recovery Bill which would enshrine in law a right to life-saving rehab.’

SNP drugs policy minister Maree Todd later MSPs she was confident the Thistle had already saved lives.

She said: ‘We’re seeing more smoking than we have before, more inhalation routes, so we just need to remain agile. Things are not static.

‘It’s a challenging situation to stay ahead of, quite a dynamic situation that’s out there.’

Tricia Fort, chair of Calton Community Council, said the Thistle was ‘doing good’, but there were concerns about it drawing drug dealers to the area.

Morrisons security boss Steve Baxter said the chain’s nearby supermarket had seen a 94 per cent drop in dirty needles in its car park since the Thistle opened.

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15163757/drug-den-tree-heroin-syringes-Scotland-glasgow-consumption-room.html

Filed under: Addiction,Culture,Latest News,Needle Exchange,UK :
Press Office, Media Relations – press-office@brunel.ac.uk

The UK’s science minister, Sir Patrick Vallance, has sounded the alarm over the country’s declining investment in medicines. He warned that the NHS risks losing out on important treatments and the country could lose its place at the cutting edge of medical research if spending does not recover. It comes at a sensitive time – this year drug-makers including Merck and AstraZeneca have backtracked on plans to invest in the UK.

Vallance is correct that there is a need to encourage pharmaceutical firms to keep investing and launching new medicines in the UK. On the other side, there is a need to protect public funds from being wasted on treatments that do not offer enough benefit for their cost.

At the moment, just 9% of NHS healthcare spending goes on medicines. This is less than Spain (18%), Germany (17%) and France (15%). At a time when some experts believe the UK is getting sicker, this might come as a surprise.

But the UK is unusual among major health systems in how carefully it regulates drug spending. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has, since its creation, judged new treatments not only on clinical evidence but on cost-effectiveness.

That means asking whether a drug’s health benefits – measured in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) – justify its price compared with existing care. For most treatments the threshold is about £20,000 to £30,000 per QALY. This is not a perfect measure, but it gives the NHS a consistent way of deciding whether the health gained is worth the money spent.

The value of this approach is clear. Nice’s record shows that medicines that pass its tests have added millions of QALYs to patients in England, while also preventing waste on drugs that bring only marginal improvements at high cost.

A study published earlier this year in medical journal The Lancet found that many of the new medicines recommended by Nice between 2000-2020 brought substantial benefit to patients. But it also noted that some high-cost drugs deliver much less health gain than investments in prevention or early diagnosis could.

The study emphasises that maintaining rigorous thresholds around cost-effectiveness ensures that public funds go to treatments that really improve lives. In other words, the discipline of cost-effectiveness has protected the public purse while ensuring access to genuine innovations.

This regulatory strength is reinforced by national pricing schemes for branded medicines. These cap overall growth in the NHS drugs bill and require companies to pay rebates if spending rises too fast. In practice, this means that if total spending on branded medicines exceeds an agreed annual limit, pharmaceutical companies must pay back a percentage of their sales revenue to the Department of Health.

In recent years that rebate rate has been as high as 20–26% of sales, effectively lowering the price the NHS pays. This is made possible by the buying power of the health service.

Together with Nice’s appraisals, these measures have helped the NHS maintain relatively low medicines spending compared with many countries. At the same time, it still secures access to major advances in cancer therapy, immunology and rare disease treatment.

For a publicly funded service under constant financial strain, these protections are vital. Despite the pressure on its budget, the NHS has secured meaningful access to new therapies. For example, by March 2024, nearly 100,000 patients in England – many of whom would otherwise face long delays or rejection – had benefited from early access via the Cancer Drugs Fund to more than 100 drugs across 250 conditions.

The balance with Big Pharma

However, strict controls on price and access can have unintended consequences. If companies see the UK as a low-return market, they may choose to launch new drugs elsewhere first, or to limit investment in research and early trials here.

There is a danger that patients could face delays in receiving new treatments. Or the scientific ecosystem, which relies on steady collaboration with industry, could weaken.

Still, the answer is not to abandon cost-effectiveness. Without it, the NHS would risk paying high prices for small gains. This would divert money from staff, diagnostics or prevention – areas that often bring more health benefit per pound spent.

In such cases, raising thresholds or relaxing scrutiny would do more harm than good. Cost-effectiveness is not just about saving money. It is about fairness, ensuring that treatments funded genuinely improve lives relative to their cost.

The challenge, then, is balance. The UK should continue to hold firm on value for money, while finding ways to encourage investment. That might mean improving the speed and clarity of Nice processes, so that companies know where they stand earlier and patients can access good drugs more quickly.

It could involve reviewing thresholds periodically to account for inflation and medical progress, without undermining the principle that treatments must show sufficient benefit. And it certainly means supporting research and development through stable partnerships with universities, tax incentives and grants.

What should not be underestimated is the UK’s scientific strength. The country remains home to world-class universities, skilled researchers and an innovative biotech sector. The rapid development of the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID vaccine showed what UK science can deliver at scale and speed.

Pharmaceutical companies know this, and many – including AstraZeneca, GSK, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and most recently Moderna – continue to invest in British labs and trials because of the talent and infrastructure. Danish firm Novo Nordisk has strengthened its ties with the University of Oxford, committing £18.5 million to fund 20 postdoctoral fellowships as part of its flagship research partnership.

The UK’s approach to assessing value has won respect internationally. That discipline must be preserved. Reversing the decline in investment means creating a predictable, transparent environment for industry while maintaining the protections that safeguard patients and taxpayers alike. If done well, the UK can continue to be both a responsible buyer of medicines and a world leader in science.

Source: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/articles/The-UK-must-invest-in-medicines

Filed under: Drug use-various effects,Latest News,Medicines,Strategy and Policy,UK :

From open communication to community involvement, strategies help families tackle teenage substance abuse head-on

By David Kesiena –

Teenage drug use remains one of the most pressing concerns for parents across America, with recent studies showing that experimentation often begins in middle school. While the challenge can feel overwhelming, experts agree that proactive parenting and strategic interventions make a significant difference in keeping teens away from harmful substances.

Establish open and judgment-free communication early

The foundation of drug prevention starts with creating an environment where teenagers feel comfortable discussing difficult topics. Parents who begin conversations about substances before experimentation occurs give their children the tools to make informed decisions when peer pressure arises.

Rather than waiting for a crisis, families should integrate these discussions into everyday life. Talking about news stories, television shows or situations involving drugs provides natural opportunities to explore consequences and share values without making teens feel interrogated or lectured.

Research consistently shows that adolescents who believe their parents would be extremely upset by drug use are less likely to experiment. However, this doesn’t mean ruling through fear. The key lies in expressing genuine concern while maintaining an open door for honest conversations, even when mistakes happen.

Creating this safe space means responding thoughtfully rather than reactively. When teens share information about their peers or express curiosity about substances, parents who listen first and lecture less build trust that pays long-term dividends.

Monitor activities while respecting growing independence

Effective supervision doesn’t mean helicopter parenting or invading privacy at every turn. Instead, it involves knowing where teenagers spend their time, who their friends are and what activities fill their schedules.

Parents should maintain relationships with other families in their teen’s social circle. This network provides valuable perspective on group dynamics and allows adults to coordinate supervision during gatherings and events. When multiple families share expectations about substance-free environments, teens receive consistent messages across their social sphere.

Setting clear boundaries about unsupervised time, particularly during high-risk periods like after school and late evenings, helps reduce opportunities for experimentation. Studies indicate that teens with structured activities and parental awareness of their whereabouts show lower rates of drug use compared to those with minimal oversight.

Technology offers both challenges and solutions in this arena. While social media can expose teens to drug culture, monitoring apps and parental controls provide tools for staying informed without constant confrontation. The balance lies in being present and aware without becoming invasive or controlling.

Build strong connections with schools and communities

Prevention extends far beyond the home. Partnering with schools, coaches, religious organizations and community programs creates a comprehensive support system that reinforces anti-drug messages.

Parents should actively engage with school counselors and administrators to understand prevention programs and warning signs staff might observe. Many schools offer parent education nights focused on substance abuse, providing current information about trends and available resources.

Encouraging participation in extracurricular activities gives teenagers positive outlets for stress and belonging. Whether through sports, arts, volunteering or clubs, structured programs fill time productively while connecting teens with positive role models and peer groups.

Community-based prevention programs often provide peer support groups where teens can discuss challenges with others facing similar pressures. These programs normalize the choice to remain substance-free and demonstrate that saying no doesn’t mean social isolation.

Recognize warning signs and seek professional help early

Even with strong prevention efforts, some teenagers experiment with drugs. Early intervention dramatically improves outcomes, making it essential for parents to recognize warning signs without dismissing concerning changes as typical adolescent behavior.

Significant shifts in friend groups, declining academic performance, changes in sleep patterns, unexplained money issues or loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities warrant attention. Physical signs like bloodshot eyes, unusual smells or coordination problems shouldn’t be ignored.

When concerns arise, parents should consult with pediatricians, school counselors or addiction specialists promptly. These professionals can assess whether experimentation has progressed to problematic use and recommend appropriate interventions.

Many families hesitate to seek help due to stigma or hoping issues will resolve independently. However, substance abuse disorders respond better to early treatment, and waiting often allows problems to deepen. Professional support provides families with strategies tailored to their specific situation while offering teenagers therapeutic tools for addressing underlying issues driving substance use.

Source: https://rollingout.com/2025/10/13/ways-parents-protect-teens-from-drugs/

Filed under: Drug use-various effects,Drug use-various effects on foetus, babies, children and youth,Latest News,Parents,Prevention and Intervention,Strategy and Policy,Treatment and Addiction,USA,Youth :
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 By : Ijeoma Nwanosike –  16 Oct 2025

Experts and policymakers have called on Nigeria to harness technology not only as a tool for innovation but also as a means of combating drug and substance abuse, particularly among young people increasingly exposed to both digital and chemical dependencies.

The call was made at the seventh National Conference and yearly General Meeting of the International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP) Nigeria, held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Lagos, with the theme: “Impact of Technology on Addiction: Innovations in Prevention, Treatment, Advocacy, and Research.”

Delivering the keynote address, Director of Research, Training and Head of the Drug Abuse Unit at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Dr Sunday Amosu, described technology as a paradox, a force for progress and, simultaneously, a trigger for new forms of addiction.

He observed that while digital tools have expanded access to healthcare and prevention resources, they have also intensified compulsive behaviours, particularly among youth navigating the pressures of modern life.

“Technology can be a double-edged sword. The same innovation that helps us track recovery and connect patients to help can also fuel gaming, gambling, and social media addictions. Our task is to strike a balance, leveraging tech for good while mitigating its harms,” Amosu said.

Representing the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, the Senior Technical Adviser on Youth Health and Policy Research, Dr Obinna Chinonso, commended ISSUP Nigeria for sustaining national dialogue on addiction and mental health.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing drug and substance use among the youth, who constitute nearly 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population.

“When a young person falls into addiction, whether to drugs, alcohol, or technology, they are robbed of the clarity and creativity needed to seize available opportunities,” he said.

Chinonso outlined several initiatives, including the YoHealth Initiative, a youth-focused programme that prioritises mental health and substance abuse prevention.

He also announced the establishment of a technical working group bringing together government agencies, development partners, and civil society to strengthen preventive interventions.

He added that the ministry would collaborate with ISSUP Nigeria and other stakeholders on national sensitisation campaigns, including the forthcoming Sensitisation Against Drug Abuse, Crime, and HIV Parliament Course, in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA).

In his remarks, President of ISSUP Nigeria, Dr Martin Agwogie, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to building professional capacity and promoting cross-sector collaboration to reduce drug demand.

According to him, sustainable prevention “goes beyond rhetoric” and requires systems that integrate community participation, youth engagement, and mental health support at all levels.

Chairman of ISSUP’s Board of Trustees and chief host of the event, Prof. Musa Wakil, commended the collaborative spirit of the conference, describing it as “a critical moment for aligning Africa’s response to addiction with global trends in digital health and behavioural science.”

As Nigeria faces the growing challenge of both drug and technology-related addictions, participants agreed that the future of prevention lies not only in policy but in rethinking how technology itself can be repurposed as part of the solution.

Source: https://guardian.ng/features/health/experts-policymakers-seek-tech-driven-solutions-to-combat-drug-abuse/

Filed under: Drug use-various effects,Latest News,Others (International News),Prevention and Intervention,Strategy and Policy,Youth :

 

The UK government has launched a new campaign to alert young people to the dangers of ketamine, counterfeit medicines and adulterated THC vapes.
by Department of Health and Social Care and Ashley Dalton MP – Published 16 October 2025
  • New campaign to alert young people to the dangers of ketamine, counterfeit medicines and adulterated THC vapes
  • Ketamine use and drug poisonings highest on record with 8 times more people seeking treatment since 2015
  • Government investing £310 million into drug treatment services alongside awareness campaign

Young people are being warned that they risk irreparable bladder damage, poisoning and even death if they take ketamine, synthetic opioids or deliberately contaminated THC vapes, as part of a new anti-drugs campaign.

Launching today (16 October 2025), the campaign, which includes online films, will target 16 to 24 years olds and social media users, following a worrying rise in the number of young people being harmed by drugs. There has been an eight-fold increase in the number of people requiring treatment for ketamine since 2015.

Supported by £310 million investment in drug treatment services, this initiative directly supports the government’s Plan for Change mission to create safer streets by reducing serious harm and protecting communities from emerging drug threats.

Health Minister Ashley Dalton said:

Young people don’t always realise the decision to take drugs such as ketamine can have profound effects. It can destroy your bladder and even end your life.

We’ve seen a worrying rise in people coming to harm from ketamine as well as deliberately contaminated THC vapes and synthetic opioids hidden in fake medicines bought online.

Prevention is at the heart of this government’s approach to tackling drugs and this campaign will ensure young people have the facts they need to make informed decisions about their health and safety, so they think twice about putting themselves in danger.

As part of the campaign, experts will highlight particular risks, including the:

  • potentially irreparable damage ketamine can cause to your bladder
  • dangers of counterfeit medicines containing deadly synthetic opioids purchased online
  • risks from so-called ‘THC vapes’ that often contain dangerous synthetic cannabinoids like spice rather than THC

Resources will be available for schools, universities and local public health teams with content available on FRANK, the drug information website.

There are growing concerns about novel synthetic opioids, particularly nitazenes, which are increasingly appearing in counterfeit medicines sold through illegitimate online sources. Users purchasing these products are typically younger and more drug-naïve.

Reports of harms from THC vapes have also increased, with many products containing synthetic cannabinoids (commonly known as ‘spice’) that have higher potency and unpredictable effects.

Katy Porter, CEO, The Loop, said:

The Loop welcomes the further investment in evidence-based approaches and support to reduce drug-related harm.

Providing accurate, non-judgemental information equips and empowers people to make safer choices and can help reduce preventable harms.

Drug poisoning deaths reached 5,448 in England and Wales in 2023, the highest number since records began in 1993. The campaign emphasises that while complete safety requires avoiding drug use altogether, those who may still use substances should be aware of the risks and know how to access help and support.

The campaign underlines that ketamine’s medical applications do not make illicit use safe, with urologists increasingly concerned about young people presenting with severe bladder problems from recreational ketamine use.

Resources will be distributed to local public health teams, drug and alcohol treatment services, youth services, schools and universities. The campaign provides clear information on accessing help and support for those experiencing drug-related problems or mental health issues.

This year the Department of Health and Social Care is also providing £310 million in additional targeted grants to improve drug and alcohol treatment services and recovery support in England, including specialist services for children and young people.

For information and support on drug-related issues, visit www.talktofrank.com or call the FRANK helpline on 0300 123 6600.

Background information

How to watch this YouTube videoThere’s a YouTube video on this page. You can’t access it because of your cookie settings.You can change your cookie settings or watch the video on YouTube instead:Ket: while each high lasts minutes, for some the damage to their bladder could last forever

How to watch this YouTube videoThere’s a YouTube video on this page. You can’t access it because of your cookie settings.You can change your cookie settings or watch the video on YouTube instead:Synthetic opioids: what are they and why are they so dangerous?

Additional resources for professionals and educators will be available through local public health networks.

The £310 million additional funding for drug treatment services is separate from the public health grant.

Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/young-people-given-stark-warning-on-deadly-risks-of-taking-drugs

 

Filed under: Brain and Behaviour,Cannabis/Marijuana,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Drug use-various effects on foetus, babies, children and youth,Ketamine,Latest News,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,UK,Vaping,Youth :

17 October 2025

Sleep is essential for human survival; it affects an individual’s physical and mental health. Although the amount of sleep required varies throughout a person’s lifetime, the quality of it remains essential. Quality sleep restores the body, consolidates memories, supports emotional regulation, and plays a key role in maintaining the immune system. When sleep quality is compromised—such as in cases of insomnia—it can significantly disrupt daily life, prompting many to seek alternative remedies for relief.

One substance often misrepresented as a sleep aid is marijuana; however, research consistently shows that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) interferes with the very sleep processes it claims to improve. A recent randomized controlled trial examining the effects of a single dose of THC and cannabidiol (CBD), the two primary compounds in marijuana, on individuals with clinical insomnia raised serious concerns about using marijuana as a treatment for sleep problems.

THC and REM sleep

In this study, those who took a one-time dose of 10mg of THC and 20mg of CBD experienced significantly less total sleep time and spent less time in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the phase associated with dreaming, emotional processing and memory consolidation, supporting previous research that pointed to THC disrupting deep REM sleep. THC also disrupted restorative stages, meaning that individuals may fall asleep faster but may never get the kind of sleep the body truly needs.

Those who took this THC and CBD combination also took about an hour longer to reach REM sleep compared to placebo. Studies have shown that the suppression of REM sleep can have long term consequences. While in this study a single dose did not affect next-day function, researchers cautioned that regular use may lead to tolerance and eventual withdrawal symptoms that could lead to worse quality sleep over time. Withdrawal from marijuana can also cause more sleep issues that may lead to relapse, adding challenges for people struggling with substance use or mental health.

While CBD is often marketed as the “calming” component of marijuana, in this formulation it may have intensified THC’s effects due to unknown metabolizing processes of both substances together. As marijuana and CBD products become more widely available and socially accepted—often under misleading claims—more people may turn to them as “natural” sleep remedies. However, as this study underscores, natural does not necessarily mean safe or effective. Just because something is derived from a plant does not mean it is harmless or beneficial.

Source: Drug Free America Foundation | 333 3rd Ave N Suite 200 | St. Petersburg, FL 33701 US
Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana,Drug use-various effects,Health,Latest News,USA :

 

by Virginia Hunt
Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last Updated:  

Kateena Haynes’s smile warms the room as she weaves through playing children at her feet to get to the computer room, chatting with staff as she goes. There, the walls are lined with desktop computers for kids to do their homework. A few minutes later, walking around back under the hot Appalachian sun, she notes the outstanding construction tasks for the new Boys & Girls Club gymnasium, which would officially open later that year, and beams at the progress. Haynes runs the youth development center in Harlan, Kentucky, but even if you didn’t know her official title, you’d quickly figure out that she’s the heart of this place.

During the winter of 2010, 13 of the approximately 60 kids in the Boys & Girls Club of Appalachia had a parent die of a drug overdose. One was a young girl whose father had just returned from prison and asked her to inject opioids into his arm. She said no, knowing he had already had too much.

“He wound up getting out and coming back home and overdosing in the bed with his daughter in the bed with him,” Haynes said in a 2024 interview with Encyclopaedia Britannica.

From opium to Oxy: How history set the stage for the opioid epidemic

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 800,000 Americans died of opioid overdoses between 1999 and 2023. The drug that drove the initial phase of the epidemic was OxyContin, or oxycodone hydrochloride, a narcotic painkiller that can produce a euphoria similar to that of heroin. For its part in producing and distributing OxyContin, pharmaceutical giant Purdue Pharma agreed in 2025 to pay $7.4 billion to all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and four federal territories. Harlan is expected to receive at least $10 million over 18 years to establish treatment, recovery, and prevention efforts throughout the community.

In the complex evolution from the opium plant to widespread synthetic opioids, the 19th century was a critical turning point. American dental surgeon William Thomas Green Morton first demonstrated opioids’ use for anesthetic purposes when combined with ether in 1846, not long after the popular and wildly powerful pain medications morphine and codeine were isolated from opium. These drugs were widely available and could be used without a prescription. Then in the latter half of the century, heroin was synthesized; it also didn’t require a prescription until 1914.

Before 1874 all opium-related drugs were considered natural opioids. Heroin, synthesized via chemical manipulation of natural opium, was the first in a class of semisynthetic opioids. It is much more powerful than natural opioids—and much more addictive. Though heroin would be a scourge for the second half of the 20th century, the perilous power of morphine dominated the first half.

Learn more about the difference between opioids and opiates.

In 1929 the National Research Council’s Committee on Drug Addiction was created with a very specific first target: morphine. While their researchers were at work on understanding addiction and regulating the use of morphine, meperidine, the first entirely synthetic opioid, was created, ushering in a new era of increasingly potent drugs that carry massive overdose risks. At the same time access to other addictive opioids became more common. While the early-to-mid-20th century brought the use of hydromorphone and hydrocodone for pre- and postoperative pain, the distribution of opioids entered a new era in World War II.

The U.S. gave members of its military medical kits that each included single-use morphine injections to provide pain relief to injured troops waiting for advanced medical personnel. Though they had labels that read “Warning: May be habit-forming,” those labels far understated the drug’s addictive potential. After the war some medical kits were sold or stolen by those seeking morphine doses, and others who’d become addicted turned to heroin when morphine wasn’t available.

In 1947 the Committee on Drug Addiction and Narcotics was established, revamping the effort begun in the 1920s. This renewed focus on controlling the manufacture and distribution of drugs was, in part, spurred by the creation by German researchers of methadone. Methadone had shown potential to mitigate symptoms of opioid withdrawal, a potential that had yet to be fully realized. Though research funding began to trickle in, progress stalled as no stream of financial support was established until the 1960s.

That decade was known for massive societal shifts in the United States driven by the civil rights movement, feminist advocacy, and the rise of a distinct counterculture grounded in the questioning of long-held beliefs. For some, this attitude of rebellion led them to try—and in some cases become dependent on—illicit drugs. The increased use of marijuana, LSD, and eventually cocaine, heroin, and amphetamines led to crackdowns on pharmacies that distributed these drugs as well as a greater focus on prevention and treatment.

In 1962 the White House Conference on Narcotic and Drug Abuse was convened with the goal of determining how to better collect data about drug use, how to manage the use of both narcotic and nonnarcotic drugs, and what treatments could help those facing addiction. That year federally funded mental health centers were established nationally.

The next major move, the Controlled Narcotics Act of 1970, sorted drugs into five schedules, or categories, based on addictive potential and harmfulness, as well as their medical utility. Heroin, which had a spike in use in the late 1960s and early ’70s, was classified as a Schedule I drug, meaning it had a high potential for addiction and no accepted medical use. Cocaine was labeled a Schedule II drug, meaning it had some medical utility. Despite growing attention throughout the presidencies of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, the official War on Drugs was not launched until 1971, when Pres. Richard Nixon declared “drug abuse” to be “public enemy number one.” The Drug Abuse Council was founded the same year, as the result of the Ford Foundation’s research, and helped to provide funding for research through 1978.

Initially the War on Drugs was praised as a long-awaited intervention for a serious public safety issue, but in hindsight many have called the effort a failure, both ethically and politically. Even with increased attention on the country’s drug problem, the use of crack cocaine soared throughout the 1980s. It was affordable and provided quick access to euphoria, and its ability to be smoked allowed people to receive smaller portions—all of which made it more cost-effective than powder cocaine, which has historically been seen as a symbol of wealth.

Instead of going after large dealers or manufacturers, Nixon’s War on Drugs led to mass incarceration because it targeted people selling relatively small quantities of drugs, which often meant prison time for young Black men in urban areas who were charged with low-level drug offenses. The War on Drugs also brought the use of mandatory minimum sentences, which disproportionately affected Black communities. Those found with five grams of crack cocaine received a mandatory five-year prison sentence. It took 100 times that amount of powder cocaine to earn the same sentence, meaning that a high-level powder dealer could receive a lesser punishment than a low-level crack dealer. Though statistics show that overall drug use is similar between white and Black communities, four in five crack cocaine users were Black. Nixon’s former White House counsel, John Ehrlichman, gave an interview in 1994 in which he explained the intentional targeting of these communities:

The Nixon campaign in 1968, and the Nixon White House after that, had two enemies: the antiwar left and black people.… We knew we couldn’t make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin, and then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities. We could arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news. Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did.

Today many see the War on Drugs as having meted out the disproportionate impact of incarceration on historically underserved communities—a pattern that the quickly emerging opioid epidemic would only exacerbate. While the War on Drugs perpetuated stereotypes about Black communities, public response to the opioid epidemic capitalized on and furthered derogatory caricatures of rural white communities before the epidemic spread to all corners of the country.

As cocaine use grew across the United States, so did addiction. The number of cocaine users increased by approximately 1.6 million people between 1982 and 1985 alone. So when Purdue Pharma’s OxyContin (its brand name for oxycodone) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 1995, concerns about drug addiction were prevalent—which made Purdue Pharma’s marketing of OxyContin as less addictive all the more appealing, even if it wasn’t true.

The epidemic

The major problem with OxyContin extended beyond the drug itself. In fact, studies at the time of its release showed that it wasn’t more effective than other opioid analgesics on the market. What set OxyContin apart and led to the opioid epidemic was the marketing and publicity around it.

In the five years after the FDA approved OxyContin, Purdue Pharma trained more than 5,000 medical professionals at all-expenses-paid conferences, often in resort locations, to aggressively promote the drug. While there, these clinicians were trained and recruited for a Purdue Pharma speaker’s bureau that encouraged promoting OxyContin use to colleagues in environments such as grand round presentations in hospitals. The company studied physicians’ prescribing patterns in order to better tailor their sales pitch to individual doctors—especially those with the highest rates of opioid prescriptions. Though this strategy was not unique, the amount of money spent on incentives and aggressive, misleading marketing campaigns were distinctive. The company spent $200 million in 2001 alone marketing OxyContin. Sales representatives also earned bonuses that sometimes outweighed their annually salary, incentivizing them to find physicians who would overprescribe the medication.

Before this period opioids had traditionally been reserved for severe acute pain, used in the palliative care of cancer patients, for example. But Purdue Pharma’s marketing focused on expanding the conditions for which doctors would prescribe OxyContin, leading to a tenfold increase in prescriptions for pain unrelated to cancer in just five years.

This gave rise to the targeting of rural areas such as Harlan. Mining and logging in these regions often led to workplace injuries, making them hotbeds for marketing of pain relief medications. Still, that wasn’t all that made Appalachian communities vulnerable. Since the 1990s Harlan had struggled with addiction and unemployment as the coal industry declined, with more than 25 percent of Harlan county’s population of about 25,000 falling below the poverty line as of 2025. As feelings of hopelessness spread, so did the drug epidemic.

Tom Vicini, president and CEO of Kentucky drug prevention and recovery organization Operation UNITE, explained in a 2024 interview with Encyclopaedia Britannica how this can happen. In early drug roundups law enforcement discovered that people selling opioids in the area needed money to feed their addiction, he said. If they were able to buy and resell others’ prescriptions, both parties could potentially make a profit off the drug.

Why is OxyContin called “hillbilly heroin”?

As the opioid epidemic spread, it quickly became associated with Appalachian communities. Hillbilly is a pejorative term used to describe those living in often low-income rural communities in the Appalachian Mountains. Given that OxyContin had overtaken both heroin and cocaine in becoming the new face of the drug crisis, it was often referred to as “hillbilly heroin” by national media outlets.

Though there is evidence that marketing of OxyContin may have been less aggressive in cities, they were far from immune. Doctors in New York City and other large metropolitan areas received funding from opioid giants and in turn promoted their products as a gold standard for pain relief. And with TV and other advertisements repeating claims of a 1 percent addiction rate, OxyContin advertising appealed to both new patients and longtime chronic pain sufferers. As the country would learn, the actual rate of addiction is much, much higher, with some researchers reporting it as high as 26 percent.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, prescriptions were the most common entry to opioid addiction throughout the 1990s and 2000s—up to 75 percent of all addictions began this way. And prescriptions became more prevalent: Annual opioid prescriptions grew from between 2 and 3 million in 1990 to 11 million by 1999. Even as the addictive potential of OxyContin was publicized, other pharmaceutical companies followed suit in manufacturing generic or brand name pills, including the firms Johnson & Johnson, Endo, Teva, and Allergan. By the 21st century, Purdue Pharma alone had made $1.1 billion in OxyContin sales, more than 20 times the sales of 1996.

With the War on Drugs rhetoric weighing heavily on people’s minds, there is intense stigma associated with drug use and dependency. Through the 1990s and 2000s, the public began to shift from viewing addiction as a moral failing to seeing it as a disease—but this change has been gradual. For some the spread of addiction to all corners of the country, including to cities’ most “elite” residents, prompted this change. Highly publicized deaths involving opioid overdoses—including that of Australian actor Heath Ledger, which was caused by an accidental overdose of a mix of oxycodone and other drugs—further influenced public perception, leading to a renewed awareness of the addictive potential of prescription drugs. Although drug overdoses have long plagued Hollywood, Ledger’s death hit the public differently in light of the rising opioid crisis, especially given OxyContin’s role in his death.

Despite shifting attitudes on the subject, a 2017 study by researchers from Johns Hopkins University found that nearly four in five people think that those struggling with addiction are themselves at fault. Stigma and feelings of shame not only incentivize individuas to hide their addiction, but it can also keep many people from getting help by generating of a network of barriers. Structural stigma, for example, includes negative views held by society that influence the creation of policies that discriminate against those struggling with addiction, such as limiting the development of local treatment centers and the availability of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), reducing access to quality care. Self-stigma is internalized shame that can prevent someone from seeking treatment, either because they do not feel they deserve help, are embarrassed about their addiction, or because they lack systems of support.

Long after the opioid epidemic was widely recognized in the early 2000s, rates of opioid overdoses continued an unbridled rise across the country, reaching a peak during the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath. In 2022 more than 81,000 Americans lost their lives to opioid overdose, likely because of interruptions in treatment and psychological hardships caused by isolation, boredom, illness, or loss of work. This was especially prominent in people 20 to 39 years old, with opioid overdoses causing more than 20 percent of overall deaths in this age group in 2022, according to a study in The Lancet. Overdoses were the largest accidental cause of death for this cohort.

The physical withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting opioids make it hard to recover from opioid use disorder. Withdrawal can range from extreme physical symptoms such as vomiting and muscle spasms to emotional symptoms such as anxiety and depression. To help people recover, there has been a growing movement to make MOUD accessible.

MOUD includes methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone—with the former two considered by the World Health Organization to be “essential medicines” to treat opioid use disorder. MOUD normalizes neural chemistry and blocks the euphoria of opioids and is often paired with behavioral therapy to provide a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses both the physical and psychological effects of addiction and withdrawal.

That doesn’t mean these two approaches are mutually exclusive—in fact, many people rely on multipronged approaches to treatment and community support to recover from drug addiction. In Harlan numerous peer support specialists come from their day jobs to support AA or NA group meetings, which are held every evening in a building just down the alleyway bordering a bank.

Though significant gaps still remain, the shift in understanding opioid use as a public health epidemic rather than a personal moral failing has ultimately advanced the accessibility of recovery care across the country. But meeting the urgent need for support also requires funding—and there were companies that made a lot of money as a result of mass addiction and suffering.

Lawsuits and repairing communities

Large-scale lawsuits, often initiated by state attorneys general, began in the early 2000s, when West Virginia claimed that Purdue Pharma had misled medical professionals about the addictive potential of OxyContin in their aggressive marketing of the drug. The company admitted no fault but chose to settle, paying $10 million to the state over four years, to be used for drug recovery and prevention services.

That was just the beginning. In 2007 Purdue Pharma and three of the company’s top executives were fined a total of $634 million for lying to the public about OxyContin’s risk of addiction. Later that year Kentucky sued the company, and they eventually settled, with Purdue agreeing to pay $24 million to the state. But there was a pivotal clause in that agreement: The judge granted a request to unseal the court documents, making Purdue Pharma’s strategies public and unveiling the marketing strategies that propelled the spread of addiction.

Over the next decade a series of other high-profile cases involving Purdue Pharma were settled. They were brought by state and federal governments alike, including one suit brought by Canada that took more than a decade to settle, with the company ultimately agreeing to pay $20 million to individuals and health providers. Purdue Pharma declared bankruptcy in 2019.

No single settlement was as large as the $7.4 billion agreement Purdue Pharma reached with all 50 states, Washington D.C., and four U.S. territories in June 2025, to be paid out over 15 years to support prevention, treatment, and recovery programs. This resolution to pending lawsuits came just a year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned what would have been a $6 billion settlement paid out to state and local governments. A large portion of the $7.4 billion is to come from the Sackler family, the former owners of Purdue Pharma.

Although the bell can’t be unrung, there is a breadth of research about how best to invest these abatement funds—and early evidence shows the funding may be helping to change the future of the opioid crisis. In the United States deaths from drug overdoses decreased approximately 27 percent in 2024 from the year prior, with opioid-related overdose deaths dropping by 30,365 cases. One of the states most exemplary of this change is Kentucky, where overdose deaths decreased more than 30 percent the same year.

In Harlan these abatement funds have been used to establish a position for a case manager and advocate for Casey’s Law, which allows family or friends to commit to treatment a loved one struggling with addiction. Van Ingram, executive director for the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy, told Encyclopaedia Britannica that there are more mental health resources now than ever, but that there’s never enough—not just in Harlan County, but in rural America as a whole.

What is Casey’s Law?

Officially known as the Matthew Casey Wethington Act for Substance Abuse Intervention, Casey’s Law was passed by Kentucky legislators in 2004 to allow relatives or friends of someone struggling with drug addiction to petition the court for that person to be involuntarily entered into a treatment program. The decision to admit someone to treatment without their consent remains a controversial subject, and many in the recovery space believe that someone must choose to enter recovery and cannot be forced into it. Before Casey’s Law was enacted, there was no way to force an adult to get help unless they committed a crime and were required by the court to enter treatment. The law is named for 23-year-old Casey Wethington, who died of a heroin overdose in 2002. His family believed his death could have been prevented if there had been another route to court-mandated treatment.

As Haynes, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Appalachia, and others work to provide mental health resources for their community, Ingram said he is impressed by the growth of Harlan’s recovery community.

Said Haynes: “We started a counseling program, grief counseling, before it actually became a program of Boys and Girls Clubs of America. We were doing it first because the need was there, and we couldn’t wait for them to develop a curriculum.”

Haynes and her colleagues developed a protocol for the kids if a relative died, taking them out to dinner and keeping them occupied while the family managed funeral arrangements.

She tries to mentor these children and give them opportunities that level the playing field, Haynes told Encyclopaedia Britannica: “It’s hard for some people to see beyond these mountains…especially these kids, who are seeing their parents use drugs, and they’re just hopeless.”

Simultaneously, other Harlan organizations have been working on prevention. Both Vicini and Haynes go into schools to provide education about drugs and addiction, as well as opportunities such as field trips and mentoring partnerships to keep kids engaged in their own futures.

The city’s small size enabled the opioid epidemic to spread quickly, but the intimate, close-knit relationships that the community provides have also allowed it to be a safe haven for many, including some who came there for recovery and never left.

With a combination of local efforts led by the city’s drug court and various recovery programs, including some focused on job reentry, Harlan has become an example of what an engaged recovery community can look like—and advocates believe that overdose rates are declining because of it.

Overdoses are decreasing on the national level, as well. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, 2023 marked the beginning of “a new wave of sustained deceleration [in overdose rates]…after 2 decades of increase.”

The new wave: Dangers of fentanyl

The epidemic entered a new—and perhaps even deadlier—phase with the introduction of fentanyl. Though it has been around since 1959 as a pain reliever, illicitly manufactured fentanyl has grown increasingly popular since it became a major part of the U. S. illegal drug market in 2013. Drugs such as methamphetamines or cocaine are increasingly laced with fentanyl. In 2022, 6 out of every 10 of the millions of fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills collected by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) contained a potentially lethal amount of the opioid, up 50 percent from the year before. Though a small segment of people who use drugs seek out fentanyl, many of those buying laced pills are unaware of its presence until it is too late.

Fentanyl is the one of the most potent pharmaceutical opioids and is 100 times more powerful than morphine. A dose of the drug equivalent to just five to seven grains of salt can be lethal, which is partially why it’s responsible for 70 percent of overdose-related deaths. And growing numbers of illegally obtained drugs are laced with fentanyl because its potency allows smaller doses of the pure drug to be sold while providing the same level of euphoria and even higher addictive potential, increasing both profits and demand. Even if it puts customers in danger, the money outweighs the risk for some sellers.

In a February 2025 U.S. Senate hearing, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois spoke about the growing risk of fentanyl:

In just a decade this synthetic opioid [fentanyl] has emerged as the deadliest drug in American history. All it takes is two milligrams—that’s a fraction of the size of a penny—to cause an overdose. It is so cheap that dealers are lacing lethal amounts into street drugs like cocaine and heroin, and their buyers are none the wiser.

Yet if communities can harness the growing concern about fentanyl for change, it may give a second chance to those struggling with substance use disorder. Since 2022 Harlan county has held an annual drug summit to bring together more than two dozen exhibitors with a focus on continuing to bring down overdose rates, even in the face of fentanyl.

Along with increased efforts to provide those struggling with addiction transitional housing, reemployment, and improved treatment accessibility, Harlan and other communities hit hard by opioids have another key tool: love.

“There’s people that came here for treatment and never left, because they were loved,” said Dan Mosley, Harlan county judge executive. “That’s truly what makes our place special.”

Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/How-the-Opioid-Crisis-Devasted-Families-Communities-and-Ultimately-a-Country

 

Filed under: Addiction,Drug use-various effects,Latest News,Opioids,Strategy and Policy,USA :

Press Release – Washington, DC – October 09, 2025

A popular class of therapies for treating diabetes and obesity may also have the potential to treat alcohol and drug addiction, according to a new paper published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.

The therapies, known as Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1RAs), present an encouraging approach to treating alcohol and other substance use disorders.

“Early research in both animals and humans suggests that these treatments may help reduce alcohol and other substance use,” said lead researcher Lorenzo Leggio, M.D., Ph.D., of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), both part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Md. “Some small clinical trials have also shown encouraging results.”

Current Treatment Options Are Limited

Substance use disorders are diagnosed based on criteria that can be grouped into four categories: physical dependence, risky use, social problems, and impaired control.

The negative consequences of substance use disorders represent a global problem, affecting individuals, families, communities, and societal health at large. For instance, research indicates that alcohol is the most harmful drug, with consequences that extend beyond individual health to include related car accidents as well as gun and domestic violence, researchers note.

Despite the high prevalence and consequences of alcohol and other substance use disorders, less than a quarter of people received treatment in 2023.

Underutilization is due to a variety of barriers at the patient, clinician, and organizational levels, not the least of which is the stigma associated with substance use disorders, according to the study. “Current treatments for [alcohol and other substance use disorders] fall short of addressing public health needs,” the researchers wrote.

GLP-1s and Their Potential to Treat Addiction

GLP-1 therapies have gained widespread renown in recent years for their ability to address obesity and significantly reduce weight.

In addition to its inhibitory effects on gastrointestinal systems, GLP-1 has key functions in the central nervous system, the study notes. Among them, GLP-1R activation within the central nervous system curbs appetite and encourages individuals to eat when hungry and stop eating when they are full.

Some forms of obesity have been shown to present biochemical characteristics that resemble addiction, including neurocircuitry mechanisms, the study says, acknowledging that such conclusions are controversial.

“Pathways implicated in addiction also contribute to pathological overeating and obesity,” the study says.

With this pathway in mind, researchers in recent years have looked at GLP-1s as a potential therapy to address substance use disorders. Preclinical and early clinical investigations suggest that GLP-1 therapies modulate neurobiological pathways underlying addictive behaviors, thereby potentially reducing substance craving/use while simultaneously addressing comorbid conditions.

Studies that examine GLP-1 effects on substance use disorders include:

  • Alcohol use disorder (AUD): A randomized controlled trial with exenatide, the first GLP-1receptor agonist approved for diabetes, showed no significant effect on alcohol consumption, although a secondary analysis indicated reduced alcohol intake in the subgroup of people with AUD and comorbid obesity. A more recent randomized controlled trial showed that low-dose semaglutide — a newer GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for both diabetes and obesity —reduced laboratory alcohol self-administration, as well as drinks per drinking days and craving, in people with AUD.
  • Opioid use disorder: In rodent models, several GLP-1 receptor agonists have been shown to reduce self-administration of heroin, fentanyl and oxycodone. The studies also found that these medications reduce reinstatement of drug seeking, a rodent model of relapse in drug addiction.
  • Tobacco use disorder: Preclinical data show that GLP-1 receptor agonists reduce nicotine self-administration, reinstatement of nicotine seeking, and other nicotine-related outcomes in rodents. Initial clinical trials suggest the potential for these medications to reduce cigarettes per day and prevent weight gain that often follows smoking cessation. 

Leggio and his colleagues caution that more and larger studies are needed to confirm how well these treatments work. Additional studies will help unveil the mechanisms underlying GLP-1 therapies in relation to addictive behaviors and substance use.

But that hasn’t dampened the optimism for these therapies to address the serious problems found in substance use disorders.

“This research is very important because alcohol and drug addiction are major causes of illness and death, yet there are still only a few effective treatment options,” Leggio said. “Finding new and better treatments is critically important to help people live healthier lives.”

Other study authors are Nirupam M. Srinivasan of the University of Galway in Galway, Ireland; Mehdi Farokhnia of NIDA and NIAAA; Lisa A. Farinelli of NIDA; and Anna Ferrulli of the University of Milan and Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) MultiMedica in Milan, Italy.

Research reported in this press release was supported in part by NIDA and NIAAA. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.

Source: https://www.endocrine.org/news-and-advocacy/news-room/2025/glp1s-show-promise-in-treating-alcohol-and-drug-addiction

Filed under: Addiction,Alcohol,Drug use-various effects,Latest News,Tobacco, smoking,Treatment and Addiction,USA :

by Gabrielle Humphreys &  Natalie Finch – BMC (BioMedCentral) –

Abstract

Background

Lived experience recovery organisations (LEROs) are social support services facilitated by those who have shared lived experience. Typically, they aim to build shared identity and reducing stigma in this area, although there is limited knowledge on the experiences of those using LEROs, with research rarely permitted into these groups. The current study aims to provide insight into these groups, examining the experiences of service users in a UK-based LERO focussed on substance use disorder recovery.

Methods

Fifteen service users were interviewed about their experiences attending this LERO. Transcripts from these semi-structured interviews were thematically analysed by authors, with an inductive approach adopted.

Results

Eight themes and 10 sub-themes were identified. Themes were; Feeling supported in recovery, Experiencing life outside of substance use disorder, Fun, Skills acquisition, Preventing relapse by filling time, Gaining a sense of community, Psychological impact, and Changes in public perception. Participants reported having a positive experience within this LERO, particularly in comparison to traditional treatment pathways. Specifically, participants highlighted feelings of self-worth, belongingness, and enjoyment from this LERO – experiences they felt made this treatment pathway unique.

Conclusion

This paper highlighted the importance of peer support in substance use disorder recovery. Embedding those with lived experience into services was highly valued by participants and generated a unique culture of comfort, hope and opportunity. Although the scope of this study was limited to participants only currently attending this organisation, those interviewed significantly valued this LERO, highlighting their future potential to alleviate the lack of satisfaction reported by some around traditional treatment methods.

 

To access the full article, please click on the ‘Source’ link below:

Source: https://substanceabusepolicy.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13011-025-00671-9

Filed under: Addiction,Drug use-various effects,Latest News,Treatment and Addiction,UK :

Received: 09 October 2025 

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has released new clinical consensus guidance recommending universal screening for cannabis use across all reproductive stages—pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, and postpartum—with a clear message: there is no safe level of cannabis use for mothers or infants.

Despite mounting evidence of risk, cannabis use during pregnancy and lactation is increasing, fueled by legalization, social acceptance, and a lowered perception of harm. ACOG emphasizes that no medical indications exist for cannabis use during pregnancy or after birth.

To support prevention and care, ACOG’s clinical consensus on Cannabis Use in Pregnancy and Lactation provides evidence-based guidelines for screening, counseling, and reducing use.

Below are key takeaways from ACOG’s new clinical consensus.

Risks to Fetus and Newborn

·    THC, the psychoactive component, crosses the placenta and reaches the fetus; THC also transfers into breast milk.

·    Prenatal cannabis exposure is associated with:

·    Increased risk of low birth weight, small-for-gestational-age infants, NICU admission, perinatal mortality

·    Altered neonatal behaviors (arousal, regulation, excitability)

·    Possible long-term neurocognitive, behavioral, and memory challenges, ADHD, and greater susceptibility to psychiatric disorders or substance use later in life

·    While more research is needed, existing evidence shows clear cause for concern.

Risks During Lactation

·    Data on cannabis use while breastfeeding are limited; ACOG discourages use during lactation due to THC transfer into breast milk and potential developmental impacts.

·    Clinicians should encourage cessation while continuing to support breastfeeding.

Recommendations for Clinicians

1.     Universal Screening & Counseling

·    Screen all patients (pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, postpartum) via interview or validated tools (e.g. TAPS, CRAFFT, S2BI).

·    Avoid biologic testing (urine, hair, etc.) as a routine screening tool.

·    Educate that cannabis has no medical indication during pregnancy or postpartum.

2.     Advise Cessation or Reduction

·    Encourage patients to stop or reduce cannabis use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, offering nonjudgmental support.

3.     Supportive Behavior Change Strategies

·    Use motivational interviewing, address social determinants, and identify barriers to quitting.

·    Provide access to home visits, CBT, and digital or text-based supports for behavior change.

4.     Legal, Ethical, and Equity Considerations

·    Policies on drug testing, child protective services (CPS) reporting, and criminalization vary widely.

·    Black and minority birthing people are disproportionately subject to drug testing and CPS referrals, despite similar substance use rates. 

·    Clinicians should ensure informed consent, understand local policies, and work to reduce bias in maternal care.

Source: Drug Free America Foundation | 333 3rd Avenue N Ste 200 7278280211101 | Saint Petersburg, FL 33701 US

Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana,Drug use-various effects on foetus, babies, children and youth,Latest News,Treatment and Addiction,USA :

Received from AALM Americans Against Legalising Marijuana – 09 October 2025

On The Ingraham Angle, Fox News medical contributor Dr. Marc Siegel responded to a recent video from President Donald Trump, who appeared to endorse CBD use among seniors.

Dr. Siegel’s reaction was both clear and alarming:

“Marijuana is the most dangerous drug in America.”

He cautioned that while CBD is often marketed as a harmless wellness product, the truth is far more complicated. Many CBD items sold today are unregulated and frequently contain undisclosed levels of THC, the psychoactive compound found in marijuana. Dr. Siegel explained that modern marijuana is 20 to 30 times stronger than it was in decades past, creating unpredictable effects—especially for older adults who may already be taking multiple medications. For seniors, the combination of high-potency THC and prescription drugs can lead to confusion, anxiety, and dangerous interactions.

Siegel emphasized that Americans are being lulled into a false sense of safety by clever marketing and political endorsements that blur the line between medicine and addiction. Despite being sold as “natural” and “therapeutic,” these products remain largely untested, inconsistent, and risky, particularly for vulnerable populations.

🚨 Why It Matters

President Trump’s public support for CBD among seniors raises serious concerns about normalizing drug culture under the guise of health and wellness. When national figures promote substances without FDA oversight or long-term safety data, the result is confusion, not compassion. Seniors deserve real medical protection, not another gateway to unregulated drug exposure.

At Americans Against Legalizing Marijuana (AALM), we stand with medical professionals like Dr. Siegel in calling out this dangerous trend. We are urging policymakers to investigate how CBD and marijuana marketing is targeting older Americans and to hold those responsible accountable.

To access the full article, please click on the ‘Source’ link below.

Source: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/599a426ee45a7ccab72c77d2/t/63b361cb6350f410413b2878/1672700379514/Risks+of+Marijuana+Use+%28AALM%29.9.1.2022.pdf

Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana,Drug use-various effects,Latest News,Legal Sector,Prevention and Intervention,USA :

by Amaya Rambel – Pleasanton Weekly –

Adolescence is a critical stage of growth, a time when young people begin to make their own independent choices in preparation for adulthood. However, it is also a time of vulnerability, especially when it comes to exposure to drugs and other harmful substances.

Because the brain is still developing, particularly in areas that control decision-making and impulse regulation, adolescents face unique risks that can affect their health and overall well-being. 

It is a well-established fact that the human brain does not fully mature until around the age of 25, leaving adolescents and young adults more vulnerable to the harmful effects of harmful substances. When exposure occurs during these critical years of development, it can cause both immediate harm and long-term consequences that may follow individuals well-into adulthood. 

One of the key reasons for this vulnerability lies in the development of the brain itself. According to the Harvard Health article “Adolescence: A high-risk time for substance use disorders” by Sharon Levy and Siva Sundaram, “the adolescent brain is ‘deliberately’ set up for risk-taking.” 

Areas such as the prefrontal cortex, a part of the brain which plays a central role in judgment, impulse control, and decision-making, are still “under construction” during adolescence. Because of this, younger individuals are more likely to engage in risky behaviors, including experimenting with drugs, often without fully understanding the dangers. The earlier drug use begins, the greater the potential for lasting harm. 

Substance use during this developmental period primes the brain for addiction and chronic health problems. Addiction occurs when the brain’s pleasure receptors are overstimulated, creating an artificial “reward system” that encourages repeated drug use.

For adolescents, this effect is magnified due to their still-developing neural pathways. With a heightened sensitivity to pleasure and a weaker ability to assess long-term consequences, teens are more likely to fall into cycles of use and dependency. 

What further exacerbates this issue is the limbic system, the part of the brain that processes emotions and rewards. Unlike the prefrontal cortex, the limbic system matures earlier, meaning teens often experience intense emotional responses and a stronger drive for immediate gratification.

Drugs offer that instant burst of dopamine, which quickly reinforces use through a “use-reward-repeat” pattern. 

Over time, this can disrupt the brain’s natural ability to feel pleasure, making ordinary activities less satisfying and increasing reliance on substances. 

The health risks tied to early drug use extend far beyond the brain. Adolescents who use drugs, as noted in the article “Teen drug abuse: Help your teen avoid drugs” published by Mayo Clinic, face heightened risks of heart attacks, strokes, organ damage, and worsening mental health conditions. 

Early experimentation can also serve as a gateway to more harmful substances, escalating the risks over time. Adding to the concern, research published in Neuropharmacology reports that patterns of substance use can pass down genetically, making future generations more susceptible to addiction as well.

Ultimately, drug use during adolescence is not just a temporary risk, but one that can set the stage for a lifetime of consequences. By understanding the unique vulnerabilities of the developing brain, it becomes clear why prevention and education are important. 

Protecting adolescents from early exposure to drugs is not only about safeguarding their present, but about preserving their future health as well. 

Source: https://www.pleasantonweekly.com/alameda-county/2025/10/06/how-drugs-alter-the-developing-brain-priming-adolescents-for-risk-and-dependency/

Filed under: Addiction,Age-related,Brain and Behaviour,Drug use-various effects on foetus, babies, children and youth,Latest News,Prevalence,Prevention and Intervention,USA,Youth :

 

  by Jessica Williams –  October 6, 2025

Every October, Substance Use and Misuse Prevention Month provides a reminder of the lives at stake in the fight against substance use disorders (SUDs). For New Hampshire, this year brings signs of real progress.

After nearly a decade of drug-related mortality rates falling above the national average, the Granite State is now experiencing record declines in drug-related fatalities. A closer look at the data suggests that sustained investments in prevention, treatment, and recovery may be paying off.

Drug-related deaths in New Hampshire, once among the highest fatality rates in the country, have begun to fall sharply. From 2013 to 2020, Granite Staters experienced drug-related fatality rates well above the national average, peaking in 2017 when an estimated 490 people died from drug-related causes, nearly five times higher than the number killed in traffic-related accidents in the state. But by 2024, deaths had declined to 287, the smallest number recorded since 2014 and the sharpest year-over-year decline across the previous decade. Early data suggests that this trend may continue into 2025: an estimated 77 Granite Staters died from drug-related fatalities the first half of this year, a decline from the 122 people during the same period in 2024.

These declines follow a decade of increasing state and federal investments in SUD prevention, treatment, and recovery services. Since 2014, New Hampshire has invested more than $835 million in SUD services, with spending increasing by an estimated 450% from 2014 to 2024.

Medicaid, the single largest payer of SUD services, has been vital for increasing access. The passage of Medicaid expansion in 2014, now commonly known as Granite Advantage in New Hampshire, expanded health coverage for adults up to 138% of the federal poverty guidelines. Of the almost $58 million spent on Medicaid-funded SUD services in 2024, nearly 80% was financed services under Granite Advantage. Opioid abatement funds resulting from legal settlements with drug manufacturers have also added funding support. By late 2024, New Hampshire had received close to $96 million in settlement money, although around half remained unspent. As of January 2025, it is estimated by the Kaiser Family Foundation that New Hampshire will receive more than $168 million in future payments, combined with a large continuing balance allowing for more spending flexibility across the state.

Yet despite these gains, access to treatment remains uneven, and many Granite Staters are still left behind. In 2022-2023, nearly 3 out of 4 Granite Staters who needed SUD treatment did not receive it, due in part to barriers such as provider shortages, regional disparities, coverage limits, and housing instability. Social determinants of health also play a role in which services people are able to obtain and can impact engagement with treatment and sustained recovery. Nationally, people identifying as Black or Native American experience disproportionate health outcomes from substance misuse. Research also shows that communities with greater income inequality experience higher drug-related fatality rates.

In New Hampshire, over half of drug-related deaths in 2024 occurred among people age 30 to 49, although shifting demographics have impacted fatalities, with older adults age 65 and older comprising around 13 percent of drug-related deaths. Men have accounted for around two-thirds of fatalities each year across the previous decade, and rural counties, including Coös and Sullivan counties, also report higher mortality rates, likely reflecting limited service availability resulting from workforce shortages.

In addition to better health outcomes, an investment in SUD services contributes to longer-term economic and social benefits. Increased prevention, treatment, and recovery services can reduce costly emergency health care spending, decrease burdens on the criminal legal system, and help keep more people engaged in the workforce.

However, new federal and state policy changes could undermine this progress. Although Medicaid has remained the largest source of funding for SUD services, new state and federal changes could impact access to health care across New Hampshire. Both the new federal reconciliation law and the latest state budget add work requirements for Granite Advantage adults, requiring people to prove employment or engagement in an eligible community engagement activity to obtain health coverage. While people in SUD treatment are exempt from the new requirements, differing state interpretations of the law, as well as difficulties with exemption paperwork and redeterminations could mean coverage losses for people in treatment and recovery. Early national research suggests that as many as 156,000 people across the country could lose access to medication-assisted treatment, resulting in an estimated 1,000 additional opioid-related deaths each year. These Medicaid changes come at a time when access to services is already limited.

As this year’s Substance Use and Misuse Prevention Month arrives, New Hampshire’s recent experience demonstrates that sustained investments in prevention, treatment, and recovery services can save lives. This progress, however, may be fragile. Without continued investment and innovation, the advances made in reducing drug-related deaths could stall, or even reverse, putting more families and communities at risk.

Source: https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2025/10/06/record-declines-in-drug-related-deaths-follow-decade-of-investment-in-prevention-and-treatment/

Filed under: Drug use-various effects,Latest News,Prevention and Intervention,USA :

United Nations

United Nations – Office on Drugs and Crime

07 October 2025

Practical, Digital and Tailored to Help You Grow

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has officially launched its dynamic new Learning and Innovation Programme and with it, the new powerful digital training platform called SPARK.

SPARK brings flexible, high-impact learning to professionals worldwide – from bustling capitals to remote field stations.

In many low-resource or remote settings, criminal justice institutions face significant challenges, such as fragmented access to training, language barriers and geographical isolation. As a result, many practitioners lack training altogether, while those who do receive it often rely on sporadic training or outdated courses, leaving them underprepared for rapidly evolving threats.

UNODC, through the eLearning platform SPARK, addresses these challenges by providing multilingual online and offline courses and fostering a global community of practice. This approach bridges gaps and makes knowledge on justice more accessible worldwide.

Meet SPARK: Learn Anytime, Anywhere

This new Programme reflects a growing institutional shift toward digitalization and innovation not just as tools, but as essential strategies for building safer, more secure societies.

The Learning and Innovation Programme now focuses on three core areas:

  1. Digital training delivery across all UNODC thematic areas, i.e. the world drug problem, transnational organized crime; terrorism; corruption; and criminal justice.
  2. Pedagogical support to enhance the quality and impact of training provided by partners;
  3. Digital transformation for the internal operations and processes of criminal justice institutions and academies.

“This Programme introduces a new approach to capacity-building,” said Aimée Comrie, Chief of UNODC’s Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Section. “It is practical, digital and tailored to help institutions grow stronger through innovation.”

At the heart of the Programme is SPARK – a powerful, modern digital learning platform that offers cost-effective, flexible interactive and accessible training tools for professionals across the criminal justice system. It includes self-paced eLearning courses, with interactive scenarios and simulations, as well as eClasses, which support both in-person and virtual training formats. Knowledge hubs, including webinars, online libraries, forums and podcasts are also featured. Moreover, content is localized, tailored to regional, national or local needs. 

Digital Transformation: From the Ground Up

Many criminal justice institutions, particularly in remote or underserved regions, continue to face serious barriers to modernization: limited internet access, power outages, outdated administration systems and low levels of digital literacy. These challenges not only hinder operational efficiency but also limit the ability of institutions to adapt to rapidly changing criminal justice threats.

The Programme directly addresses these obstacles by helping institutions digitalize core operations such as data management, administration, communication and training coordination. The Programme also providers basic digital literacy training, from device operation and email use to safe web navigation and online collaboration.

“Digital transformation is not just about technology – it is about empowering institutions to function more effectively, securely and inclusively,” said Nicolas Caruso, Head of the Learning and Innovation Programme. “By addressing infrastructure and skill gaps, we are helping justice institutions become more resilient and better equipped to meet the need of their communities.”

To ensure learning reaches even the most remote locations, the Programme has introduced  Mobile Training Units (MTUs) – portable kits containing a server, laptops and a router that can run for five hours without external power and be deployed in just 20 minutes. The MTUs have been deployed in 30 locations across West, Central and Eastern Africa, Latin America, South Asia and Southeast Asia, and North Africa and the Middle East.

Moreover, over 60 eLearning Centres have already been established globally, blending in-person instruction and creating local hubs for outgoing training.

Source: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/news/2025/October/unodc-ignites-innovation-with-new-learning-programme-and-spark-elearning-platform.html

Filed under: All countries,Crime/Violence/Prison,Drug use-various effects,Education,Internet,Latest News,Prevention and Intervention,Social Affairs,Social Media,Strategy and Policy :

by Flagstaff Business News, Arizona, USA –  

By Roy DuPrez – Roy DuPrez, M.Ed., is the CEO and founder of Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery in Flagstaff. DuPrez received his B.S. and M.Ed. from Northern Arizona University. Back2Basics helps men, ages 18 to 35, recover from addiction to drugs and alcohol.

The challenge is real, but so is the opportunity: together, we can make prevention a priority and create healthier, more resilient communities.

Substance abuse continues to be one of the most pressing challenges facing families and communities today. While issues such as alcohol and illicit drug use are well known, prescription drug abuse has become a growing concern in recent years. The easy access to medications in many households, combined with misconceptions about their safety, makes prevention more important than ever.

A holistic approach – grounded in education, family support and healthy development – can go a long way in reducing the risks of substance misuse, particularly with prescription drugs.

The Importance of Early Prevention

Prevention starts long before young people are confronted with the temptation to experiment with drugs or alcohol. Building resilience, confidence and strong family connections early in life can provide powerful protection against substance abuse.

Here are some proven prevention strategies:

Developing Skills and Talents
Encouraging children to pursue sports, arts, music or other hobbies gives them positive outlets for their energy and creativity. These activities not only foster a sense of accomplishment but also help build healthy peer groups, reducing the influence of negative social pressures.

Building Self-Esteem
Confidence is one of the strongest safeguards against risky behaviors. When children feel good about who they are, they are less likely to seek validation through dangerous choices like substance use.

Fostering Family Connections
Open, honest communication within families makes it easier to address difficult topics, including substance abuse. Parents who create a safe space for discussion – and even role-play peer pressure situations – can help their children feel prepared to handle real-world challenges.

Educational Programs
Schools and community organizations play a key role in prevention. Beyond simply warning about the dangers of drugs, the best programs focus on building self-esteem, strengthening family relationships and giving students practical tools to make healthy decisions.

Understanding Prescription Drug Abuse

Even with preventive measures in place, prescription drug abuse remains a significant concern. Many families underestimate the dangers of medications that may already be in their own homes.

Commonly Misused Medications

  • Painkillers: Percocet (oxycodone), Vicodin (hydrocodone)
  • Anti-anxiety medications: Valium (diazepam)
  • Stimulants: Adderall, Ritalin and other ADHD medications

Safe Practices for Families

  • Secure Storage – Medications should be kept in locked cabinets, out of reach from children, teens and visitors.
  • Proper Disposal – Use local drug take-back programs or approved disposal sites. Throwing medications in the trash or flushing them can create environmental hazards and accidental risks.
  • Education and Awareness – Families should understand that “prescribed” doesn’t always mean “safe.” Community workshops, brochures and forums can provide helpful tools to increase awareness.

A Path Forward

Substance abuse prevention – especially when it comes to prescription drugs – requires a community-wide effort. Addiction does not discriminate; it impacts families across every socioeconomic and cultural background.

By strengthening family connections, building self-esteem, encouraging positive outlets and practicing safe medication habits, we can give the next generation the tools they need to thrive.

The challenge is real, but so is the opportunity: together, we can make prevention a priority and create healthier, more resilient communities. 

Source: https://www.flagstaffbusinessnews.com/substance-abuse-prevention-and-the-challenge-of-prescription-drug-abuse/

Filed under: Addiction,Drug use-various effects,Latest News,Medicines,Prescription Drugs,Prevention and Intervention,USA :

In a world where alcoholic drinks are seemingly ever-present and sold by even the makers of Sunny D and Mountain Dew, it can seem like a daunting task to raise kids who can withstand the societal pressures and avoid the harms of substance use disorder. 

But a recent speaker in the GPS Parent Series broke down the science of prevention and offered tips parents can use to help their children grow up to be competent, engaged, and sober. 

Jessica Lahey, an author, educator, and substance use prevention expert, shared best practices from her research, focusing on risk factors for substance use disorder and ways parents can use a basic understanding of the adolescent brain to help young people steer clear. 

“Risk and prevention is like the scales of justice,” Lahey said. “If your risk is really heavy, then your protections will have to be heavier to zero those out.”

Risk factors for substance use disorder

While there is no single “addiction gene,” Lahey — who has been in recovery from alcohol use disorder for the past 10 years — said genetics accounts for between 50 and 60% of a person’s risk for developing substance use disorder. Another major risk factor is occurrences known as ACEs, or adverse childhood experiences — things like neglect, abandonment, physical or sexual abuse, trauma, violence, separation, or divorce. 

But Lahey also pointed out several lesser-known risk factors, including early childhood aggression, under-managed learning differences, academic failure, social ostracism or identifying as LGBTQ+. Certain time periods can bring about higher risk as well, such as transitional phases like summers, moves between schools, or the weeks and months when a divorce is taking place. 

Prevention tips to raise sober kids

Lahey’s talks to the GPS audience, including several groups hosting watch parties, were full of proven prevention tactics that help youth not only avoid alcohol and drugs — but protect their developing brains in the process. Here are five of the top strategies she shared: 

Start early: As early as preschool, parents can start talking about substance safety with things like toothpaste and adult medicines to help children learn “to be safe about what you’re eating, and what you’re not putting in your body,” Lahey said.

Understand the adolescent brain: “The adolescent brain is wired for novelty,” Lahey said. So when a risk factor occurs, such as moving or starting a new school, parents can reframe this to meet their teen’s need for encountering new things. This allows teens to feel “hits of dopamine, mastery and competence that give a boost to their brain,” Lahey said. 

Know that drinking is different for adolescents: Because brain development is still taking place until the early 20s, youth brains are wired to weigh the potential positives of a situation more heavily than the risks. Research proves teens are more likely to engage in risky behavior if they believe their peers are watching, Lahey said. And they’re less likely to understand how impaired they are if they do start drinking. This can be a dangerous mix, but parents can counteract it by emphasizing the value of brain development. “Your brain is too important to mess with,” Lahey said.

Have a clear and consistent message: Delaying drug or alcohol use can allow ample time for healthy brain development, and Lahey said this results in a major decrease in lifelong risk for substance use disorder. So, the message from parents should be, “I just need you to delay,” she said. This can help create a family culture in which drinking isn’t an option until it’s legal. If teens don’t like that rule because it feels arbitrary, Lahey encourages parents to try this line about drinking: “No. Not until your brain is done developing.” 

Be preventive, not permissive: Behaviors that create a permissive culture around alcohol, such as allowing children and teens to take sips of alcoholic beverages in the home, or hosting parties where young people are allowed to drink, have been proven to increase risk for substance use disorder — not encourage moderation, Lahey said. “It is not inevitable that kids are going to drink,” she said. “Permissiveness results in kids with much higher levels of substance use disorder.” 

Parenting with the science of prevention

Jordan Esser, Project Coordinator of the DuPage County Prevention Leadership Team, introduced Lahey before the free online talks she gave on Sept. 25 and thanked her for sharing “the science of motivation, parenting and substance abuse prevention — because we as adults have the power to help our kids become more competent and fulfilled.”

Source: https://www.nctv17.org/news/how-to-raise-sober-kids-outweigh-risks-with-prevention-expert-says/

Filed under: Alcohol,Brain and Behaviour,Latest News,Prevention and Intervention,USA,Youth :

 

Written by Dayana Menzoney Justiz / Photos: Rey López and courtesy of interviewees
 

 

The steady increase in drug abuse worldwide is a reality that affects us, even in the Caribbean. On this island, as in many other places, synthetic cannabinoids are the most widely available and easiest to obtain.

Why is this? Among other reasons, their low cost and the quantities available. This type of drug is more addictive and harmful to the body, yet it is consumed in greater quantities than natural drugs.

Las Tunas is no stranger to this increase. In the second half of 2024, the province saw a spike in consultations for both acute intoxication and patients addicted to cannabinoids and other types of drugs.

 

Toxicology and psychiatry experts find it encouraging that the territory is currently at a plateau. Alejandro Mestre Barroso, a toxicologist at Ernesto Guevara Hospital, explains to 26 that this means that we do not have a peak in consumption, but neither do we have a decrease.

He also notes that the detection of cases is advancing and, due to promotional activities and the support of the various factors involved in this process, a decrease in the number of patients is expected.

“We will not see it suddenly, but gradually. This plateau phase is one of the most important for achieving a decrease in the detection of acute cases and new users.”

“We predict that, starting in the last quarter of this year, these statistics will begin to decline gradually if we continue our prevention efforts, because once consumption begins, it is so difficult to quit.”

NEED TO RAISE AWARENESS

With words of encouragement and concrete actions, health specialists in this area are always seeking to reach everyone, especially young people, who are the most vulnerable when it comes to addiction.

For this reason, the University of Medical Sciences has a Multidisciplinary Chair for the Prevention of Drug Use, promoted by a group of professionals who focus on prevention-related issues.

“This chair is part of the country’s drug surveillance network,” explains Mestre Barroso, “because it provides statistics on the age groups, gender, days of the week, and times of day when substances of abuse are most commonly consumed. All this monitoring allows us to develop an action plan that makes it possible to work on eradicating these patterns.”

 

The presence and prominence of the students enable this association to have a wide reach; they can connect with the public due to their less formal and less technical language. Adriana de la Caridad López Lora, medical student

One of those voices is Adriana de la Caridad López Lora, a fourth-year medical student, who says that through her work, she can reach many young people and warn them in time.

“I enjoy giving talks, explaining, and teaching what drugs can do, because we’re not just talking about addiction, but also the excessive increase in teenage pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

“Thanks to outreach projects, we have talked to patients undergoing detoxification at the Psychiatric Hospital; we have also contributed to communities, secondary schools, and pre-university institutions. We have been able to reach large groups of people.”

Talking to her own classmates is now part of her daily routine. It is her vocation to impact as many people as possible with this issue; Adriana feels the need to raise awareness.

Through science and innovation, university professors and local experts are seeking to eradicate the use of these substances that cause so much damage to society and the body.

Source: https://www.periodico26.cu/index.php/en/principal-en/23117-prevention-the-watchword-against-drugs

 

Filed under: Addiction,Drug use-various effects,Latest News,Others (International News),Prevention and Intervention :

by Ryan Hesketh – Talking Drugs – Posted on September 15, 2025

In November, the World Health Organisation (WHO) will issue its long-awaited recommendation on whether the coca leaf should remain listed under the UN’s most restrictive drug controls.

For decades, the coca leaf has been treated in international law as little more than raw material for cocaine. The 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, following the advice of a deeply flawed 1950 WHO report, placed coca in Schedule I, equating its potential harm from use with that of heroin. This decision criminalised traditional use by Indigenous peoples in the Andes, despite millennia of practice, ignoring both its cultural and medical significance. 

Now, with WHO experts due to report their findings in September, attention is turning to whether the organisation can finally correct the record.

Critical timeline

Bolivia’s government initiated the review in 2023, arguing that coca’s scheduling was based on flawed information and infringed on indigenous rights. Since then, the WHO has tasked independent experts with conducting research on coca, its harms, and the potential impacts of change. Those experts are due to report their findings to the Executive Committee in late September, a crucial step on the pathway to potential change.

From there, the Expert Committee will meet in late October, finalising its report and recommendation in time for member states to consider ahead of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs’ (CND) reconvened session in December. The formal vote on coca’s scheduling, however, won’t take place until March 2026 in Vienna.

Luis Arce, the former president of Bolivia, holding coca leaves in 2022. Author: Vice Ministry of Communication of Bolivia

Uncertain outcomes

There are essentially three potential outcomes from the review. First, no action. Either the WHO makes no recommendation, which would result in no possibility of a vote, or states vote to maintain coca’s current Schedule I classification. Few expect the WHO to recommend keeping coca in its current schedule. “It’s hard to imagine they’d come to the conclusion that coca belongs where it is,” according to John Walsh, Director for Drug Policy and the Andes at the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA).

If the review recommends a change in Coca’s scheduling, it would likely move down to either a Schedule II or III – still keeping its classification as a ‘narcotic drug’ subject to most treaty provisions. However, such a move would allow for certain traditional uses of coca and could be seen as a political compromise between those favouring full rescheduling and those favouring prohibition. This would create a clear difference in the scheduling for Coca and cocaine, similar to how opium products and the opium poppy are scheduled. Opium poppies are in Schedule II, while heroin is in Schedule I, reflecting the differing harms of the plant and its derivatives. Though rescheduling might be the most politically expedient outcome, and may align more closely with the UN’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, it would still be very short of full removal, according to Walsh.

Finally, the result hoped for by many states and drug policy reform advocates: coca could be completely removed from the drug control treaties. This would mean that coca “would no longer be considered a controlled substance. It would open the way to legal natural commerce,” according to Walsh. 

While the size of such a market is hard to estimate, its significance would be massive. Coca teas, flours, and medicinal extracts already circulate domestically in the Andes – only legally within Bolivia as the country had left and re-joined the UN drug control conventions in 2013 – but international markets remain blocked by treaty restrictions. 

Yet there are also risks. Walsh cautions: “There’s a concern, even among those who want coca removed, that those who have guarded the tradition could be undermined.” Comparisons to the cannabis market loom large, where capital from the Global North has quickly moved into spaces originally meant by marginalised communities. The vision of a future un-criminalised market for coca opens future concerns, such as control mechanisms that avoid biopiracy and endorse fair benefit-sharing, particularly with communities that have been destroyed by the plant’s prohibition. The Nagoya Protocol, which addresses protections against the exploitation of genetic resources and Indigenous knowledge, is often cited as a model for future control.

Even in the case of full removal, coca wouldn’t be completely free of international prohibition. “Coca destined to become cocaine would still be illegal; that wouldn’t be optional,” according to Walsh. Better controls to determine the end use of coca would have to be developed.

Politics and removal

In theory, removing coca from Schedule I requires only a simple majority of CND member states. In practice, however, bloc politics loom large. “As a formal matter, there’s no veto. But in a practical matter, the EU looms large,” Walsh explains, given the bloc’s significant role in driving global demand for cocaine. If European states vote together against rescheduling, the motion would be unlikely to pass. However, if the EU allows states to vote individually, the change is much more likely to happen.

The United States’ position is also critical. As Walsh puts it, “It would be difficult to imagine if the US would be supportive of removing coca entirely.” But, though the US was once the world’s biggest supporter of draconian drug laws, its international influence may be waning. The current administration’s defunding of global aid, much of which supported harm reduction and drug prevention programmes, have reduced the US’ ability to enact soft power internationally. President Trump’s “transactional” politics, according to Walsh, may be a signal to countries that they can go their own way on policy while the US is pursuing a more isolationist approach to international relations.

Russia, too, will be notably absent. Having not achieved sufficient votes to remain part of the CND in April 2025, Russia will not be voting on UN drug-related matters from 2026 onwards. Walsh said that “Russia has taken the mantle from the US as ‘drug warrior’” and could’ve stood staunchly against coca’s reclassification. Their absence, therefore, may open new horizons.

The coca review is primarily supported by Bolivia and Colombia, with Canada, Czechia, Malta, Mexico, and Switzerland publicly supporting their position. Some coca-producing nations, notably Peru, are not in favour of reclassification. The country’s drug control agency, DEVIDA, recently argued that reclassifying coca “could become a perverse incentive to increase its diversion to the production of cocaine,” as well as increasing deforestation and food insecurity, especially for indigenous people.

But for some, Peru’s lack of support for the review has more to do with its political priorities than any attempt at harm reduction. “Peru’s denial to support this is indeed very odd, but is a reflection of the kind of political regime it is living under,” says Pien Metaal of the Transnational Institute (TNI). “The Boluarte government is the typical white Lima elite that has ruled Peru over the past decades, with no connection to the hearts and minds of the Peruvian people.”

Indigenous resistance

The roots of the current review go back to decades of Indigenous advocacy. The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples recognises the right to maintain and protect traditional medicines and cultural practices. Yet international drug treaties continue to criminalise coca chewing and related practices in many countries. 

“There has never been a credible medical or scientific basis for the prohibition of coca leaf,” according to Metaal. “Its inclusion in the 1961 Convention was a political act, not a scientific one.”

Underlying the review is a reckoning with the colonial assumptions that shape global drug control to this day. The 1950 WHO study that underpinned coca’s prohibition dismissed Indigenous practices as harmful and regressive, ignoring evidence of its benign cultural role. For many advocates, the current review is an overdue opportunity to correct that record. As Metaal argues, “This is not just about drug policy. It is about dignity, cultural survival, and Indigenous rights.”

Impending Change

For coca-using and growing communities, the implications are immediate. Continued criminalisation undermines cultural practices, justifies militarised eradication, and fuels human rights abuses. Removing the plant from international control could finally legitimise its traditional use, defund eradication policies, and unlock new economic opportunities grounded in heritage rather than prohibition.

As Walsh reflects: “In five years, I hope that we’re able to see a genuinely growing understanding of how natural coca products can really bring a lot of help to people around the world. I hope those markets can open up and can be beneficial to those communities that are most identified with coca.”

With the WHO’s deadlines fast approaching, the question is whether the international drug control system can rise to meet the moment—or whether it will once again fall back on outdated prejudices, leaving another generation of Indigenous peoples to fight for recognition of what they already know: that prohibition, not the coca leaf, is the problem.

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Source:  https://www.talkingdrugs.org/upcoming-who-coca-review-a-turning-point-for-global-drug-policy/

Filed under: Cocaine,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Latest News,Prevention and Intervention,Strategy and Policy,Treatment and Addiction :

 

Authors: Cyntia Duval, Brandon A. Wyse, Noga Fuchs Weizman, Iryna Kuznyetsova, Svetlana Madjunkova & Clifford L. Librach

Published by: Nature Communications

Published: 09 September 2025

 

Abstract

Cannabis consumption and legalization is increasing globally, raising concerns about its impact on fertility. In humans, we previously demonstrated that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its metabolites reach the ovarian follicle. An extensive body of literature describes THC’s impact on sperm, however no such studies have determined its effects on the oocyte. Herein, we investigate the impact of THC on human female fertility through both a clinical and in vitro analysis. In a case-control study, we show that follicular fluid THC concentration is positively correlated with oocyte maturation and THC-positive patients exhibit significantly lower embryo euploid rates than their matched controls. In vitro, we observe a similar, but non-significant, increased oocyte maturation rate following THC exposure and altered expression of key genes implicated in extracellular matrix remodeling, inflammation, and chromosome segregation. Furthermore, THC induces oocyte chromosome segregation errors and increases abnormal spindle morphology. Finally, this study highlights potential risks associated with cannabis use for female fertility.

Introduction

Cannabis consumption for both medicinal and recreational use and legalization have been rising globally1. Cannabis contains several classes of chemicals with cannabinoids being the most prominent; among these, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the primary psychoactive compound and the most studied2. Notably, the concentration of THC in cannabis products has increased significantly, from an average of 3% (by weight) in the 1980s to around 15% in 2020, with some strains reaching 30% of THC2. The increase in frequency, ease of availability, and escalation in potency raises concerns about broader impacts on global human health, including reproductive health. Indeed, the main apprehension regarding THC and reproductive health stems from the importance of the endocannabinoid system in human reproduction3. Endocannabinoids, including N-arachidonoylethanolamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol, are endogenous cannabinoids that play a central role in both male and female reproduction3, whereas THC is an exogenous cannabinoid. Extensive research has documented the effects of THC on male reproduction, highlighting an impact on sperm deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation  4,5,6,7 and sperm parameters8 including sperm concentration  9,10,11, morphology  12,13,14 and motility14. As for female health, literature reports the impact of cannabis use during pregnancy on pregnancy outcomes  15,16,17,18, placental development  18,19,20 and offspring health  18,20,21,22. However, to our knowledge, no studies have investigated the impact of cannabis on the human female gamete, the oocyte, a gap partly due to the challenge associated with obtaining these samples.

During in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, exogenous gonadotropins are administered in a process called “controlled ovarian hyperstimulation” which recruits multiple follicles and induces follicle growth. These recruited follicles, each containing an oocyte, are then collected by a physician in a procedure called oocyte retrieval. Oocytes are collected along with their surrounding microenvironment, including follicular fluid (FF) and supportive somatic cells (granulosa cells). The oocytes are isolated, and mature oocytes are used for subsequent in vitro fertilization. Using FF, our group has previously quantified Δ9-THC and its metabolites, 11-OH-THC and 11-COOH-THC  23,24, demonstrating that these compounds could reach the follicular niche. This is significant as it suggests that THC may directly alter the microenvironment where the oocyte matures. Furthermore, our group has shown that THC exposure altered human granulosa cell methylation in a concentration dependent manner23, and in vitro exposure modulated cannabinoid receptor dynamics in granulosa cells24. However, no human studies and only a few animal model studies have investigated the impact of cannabis directly on oocyte development with conflicting results  25,26,27,28,29.

Maturation of the oocyte is a unique and highly specialized process beginning in utero during fetal development. It is widely accepted that female neonates are born with a finite number of oocytes, which, following menarche, are recruited to mature in cohorts with each menstrual cycle30. Although oocytes are protected in the ovary by the blood-follicle-barrier, they remain highly sensitive to environmental factors31. Given their essential role in reproduction, any perturbations in their development and maturation could have profound effects on fertility and on future generations. Thus, understanding the impact of THC on oocyte health is critical for providing informed guidance and counseling to patients of the potential risks to their fertility and future offspring.

In this study, we determine the impact of physiologically relevant concentrations of THC on oocyte maturation, elucidate the transcriptomic changes induced by THC exposure and its effect on chromosome segregation, and compare our findings with a retrospective cohort study. Our investigation will aid in bridging the knowledge gap in our understanding of the sex-specific reproductive consequences of cannabis use and contribute to more effective and evidence-based patient counseling.

 

To read the full article, please click on the source link below

Source:  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-63011-2

 

Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana,Drug use-various effects,Drug use-various effects on foetus, babies, children and youth,Europe,Marijuana and Medicine,Others (International News),Prevention and Intervention,Sexual Behaviour,Treatment and Addiction,UK,USA :

by Allysia Finley       Wall Street Journal          Sept. 14, 2025

What causes a young man to spiral from success toward loneliness, self-destruction and violence?

A police officer guards Tyler Robinson’s apartment complex in Washington, Utah, Sept. 12. Photo: andrew hay/Reuters

The descent of Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old man suspected of murdering Charlie Kirk, is itself a tragedy worth mourning. How did a high-school whiz kid devolve into an assassin?

Such spirals aren’t so uncommon among young men, even if Mr. Robinson’s played out in a more calamitous and public way than most. Political violence is a problem. But so is the atomized culture in which young men retreat into confused inner worlds and virtual realities, which can be as addictive and destructive as any drug.

Mr. Robinson’s relatively normal background makes his actions jarring. He came from a good middle-class family. Having excelled in high school, he was awarded a scholarship to Utah State University, though he dropped out after one semester.

At some point, he appears to have become steeped in a dark digital world and videogames. He inscribed ammunition with obscure online memes (“Notices bulges OwO what’s this?”), lyrics to an anti-Fascist Italian song, and an apparent reference to the videogame “Helldivers 2,” a satire of a fascist interstellar empire inspired by the 1997 movie “Starship Troopers.”

Marinating in an internet cesspool can’t be good for the young and malleable male mind. Might killing villains in videogames desensitize the conscience? Studies have found an association between playing violent videogames and aggressive behavior, though most people who assume online avatars and fight monsters don’t become violent.

A broader problem, as Jonathan Haidt explains in his book “The Anxious Generation,” is that videogames cause boys to get lost in cyberspace. They have “put some users into a vicious cycle because they used gaming to distract themselves from feelings of loneliness,” Mr. Haidt notes. “Over time they developed a reliance on the games instead of forming long-term friendships.” They “retreat to their bedrooms rather than doing the hard work of maturing in the real world.”

The same is true of social-media platforms like Discord and Reddit, where young men often seek fraternity under pseudonyms. The platforms become substitutes for real-world camaraderie and can lead men down dark holes. Frequent social-media use has been found to rewire neurological pathways in young brains and compromise judgment.

Mr. Robinson’s spiral recalls Luigi Mangione, the 27-year-old University of Pennsylvania graduate who allegedly shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a New York City street. Attractive and athletic, Mr. Mangione developed an obsession with self-improvement even as he suffered bouts of excruciating back pain. He was also an avid videogame player and active on Reddit.

Prior to the shooting, he cut off communications with family and friends. Men in their late teens and 20s sometimes experience psychotic breaks. Mr. Mangione’s apparent mental-health struggles, however, seem to have gone unnoticed as he got lost in a digital wilderness.

Or consider Thomas Crooks, the 20-year-old who attempted to assassinate President Trump at a rally last summer. Crooks graduated high school with high honors and scored 1530 on the SAT, then enrolled in an engineering program at a community college. His father said his mental health began declining in the year before the shooting.

Crooks lost social connections as he started spending more time online, visiting news sites, gaming platforms, Reddit and weapons blogs. He at one point searched for information on “major depressive disorder” and “depression crisis,” suggesting he suspected he had a mental illness. Instead of psychiatric treatment, he turned to the internet.

Like drugs, the internet can fuel delusions. Patrick Joseph White, 30, last month opened fire on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta, then fatally shot himself. He was apparently exercising his rage against Covid shots, which he wrote were “always meant to indiscriminately murder as many as possible” and believed had caused his depression.

He had threatened self-harm numerous times in the previous year. In April police officers came to his home after he called a veterans’ crisis line and said he had been drinking and taking medication. White told officers he had called the crisis line “just to talk to someone.”

Videogames and the digital world may not cause mental illness, but they can be a form of self-medication that provides illusory relief from emotional troubles even as they propel antisocial behavior. The solution isn’t to ban them, but to create social structures that prevent young men from falling through the cracks.

Lost boys pose a broader cultural problem. The share of men 20 to 34 who work has been declining over the past 30 years, even as employment among young women has increased. Too many young men spend their days playing videogames, watching porn, smoking pot and trolling the internet rather than engaging with the real world.

Mr. Kirk sought to bring young people like Mr. Robinson out of their virtual caves. It’s harder to hate someone you meet in the flesh than an avatar in a digital dystopia.

Source:  Drug Watch International – www.drugwatch.org

Filed under: Addiction,Age-related,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Medicines,Mental Health,Social Media,Youth :

Publication: American Journal of Psychiatry – 10 September 2025

Authors: Lara N. Coughlin, Ph.D. , Devin C. Tomlinson, Ph.D., Lan Zhang, Ph.D., H. Myra Kim, Sc.D., Madeline C. Frost, Ph.D., M.P.H., Gabriela Khazanov, Ph.D., James R. McKay, Ph.D., Dominick De Philippis, Ph.D., and Lewei (Allison) Lin, M.D., M.S.

Abstract

Objective:

While opioid overdose has begun to decrease in recent years, stimulant overdose has continued to increase and has not been adequately addressed. Unlike opioid use disorder, there are no medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat stimulant use disorder (StUD). The most effective treatment is contingency management (CM), a behavioral intervention that provides tangible rewards to reinforce target behaviors, such as biochemically verified abstinence. Despite the effectiveness of CM on near-term substance use behaviors, the long-term impact on key outcomes such as mortality are unclear. The objective of this work was to examine whether patients with StUD who receive CM have a decreased risk of mortality.

Methods:

This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with StUD who received or did not receive CM, using linked electronic health records and death records in the largest integrated health system in the United States, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), from July 2018 through December 2020. The primary outcome was mortality in the year following the index CM visit. All-cause mortality data were obtained from the National Death Index and linked to electronic health record data. Adjusted hazard ratios were estimated using stratified Cox proportional hazards models.

Results:

A total of 1,481 patients with StUD who received CM were included alongside 1,481 matched control subjects. Over the 1-year follow-up period, those who received CM were 41% less likely to die (adjusted hazard ratio=0.59, 95% CI=0.36, 0.95) than those who did not receive CM.

Conclusions:

This study provides the first evidence that CM use in real-world health care settings is associated with reduced risk of mortality among patients with StUD.

Source:  https://www.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.20250053

Filed under: Addiction,Drug use-various effects,Latest News,Mental Health,Methamphetamine/GHB/Hallucinogens/Oxycodone,Psychiatric drugs,USA :

by Jack Fenwick – BBC Political correspondent – 16 September 2025

Hilary’s son Ben died from a heroin overdose in 2018, but his death was never included on official opioid death statistics

More than 13,000 heroin and opioid deaths have been missed off official statistics in England and Wales, raising concerns about the impact on the government’s approach to tackling addiction.

Research from King’s College London, shared exclusively with BBC News, found that there were 39,232 opioid-related deaths between 2011 and 2022, more than 50% higher than previously known.

The error has been blamed on the government’s official statistics body not having access to correct data and it is understood ministers are now working with coroners to improve the reporting of deaths.

A former senior civil servant said fewer people might have died if drug policies had been based on accurate statistics.

The number of opioid deaths per million people in England and Wales has almost doubled since 2012, but this new study means the scale of the problem is likely to be even greater.

Researchers from the National Programme on Substance Use Mortality at King’s used data from coroners’ reports to calculate a more accurate estimate of opioid-related deaths.

Opioids include drugs such as heroin that come from the opium poppy plant, as well as synthetically-made substances like fentanyl.

The Liberal Democrats have said the government needs to “urgently investigate” how the error was made.

The reliability of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) data relies on coroners naming specific substances on death certificates, something which often does not happen.

Specific substances such as heroin are instead sometimes only included on more detailed post-mortem reports or toxicology results, which the ONS does not have access to.

Government data on overall drug deaths, which does not name specific substances, is not affected by the error, but ministers’ decision-making is generally influenced by the more granular statistics.

The body that oversees police commissioners says correct data on opioid deaths could have led to more funding and better treatment for front-line services such as police forces and public health.

Sir Philip Rutnam, who was the most senior civil servant at the Home Office between 2017 and 2020, told the BBC it was “quite possible” that fewer people would have died, if the government’s drug policies had been based on accurate statistics.

He told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme: “It really does matter, first of all the level of attention given to these issues, but then specifically it will affect decisions on how much funding to put into health-related programmes, treatment programmes, or into different bits of the criminal justice system.”

“My son’s death is one of thousands missed from official stats”

Ben was 27 when he died from a heroin overdose in 2018, but his death was ruled as “misadventure” and was never included on the official opioid death statistics.

His addiction began with cannabis when he was a teenager and progressed to using aerosols and eventually heroin.

“Ben was just a very kind person. We miss him, we all miss him every day,” said his mother Hilary.

At one point, she said Ben appeared to “turn a corner”.

He was awarded a place in a rehab facility, but shortly before he was set to move in, Hilary got the phone call she had always dreaded.

“I think what happened is, he wasn’t using,” she said. “They think probably about three months and his tolerance had gone down.”

Ben’s family believe that different treatment and support for drug addicts could have helped him.

Dr Caroline Copeland, who led the new research, said drug policies “will not have the desired impact unless the true scale of the problem is known”.

She added: “We need to alert coroners to the impact that not naming specific drugs as the cause of death has on the planning and funding of public health policies.”

The research, which has been peer-reviewed and published in the International Journal of Drug Policy, focused specifically on opioid deaths, but similar undercounts are thought to exist in data about deaths from other drugs too.

Further work by King’s College London has found that 2,482 cocaine-related deaths have also been missed off ONS statistics over the last 10 years.

David Sidwick, the drugs lead for the National Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, told the BBC the organisation would “be pushing hard” for more treatment funding, in light of the faulty statistics.

Mr Sidwick, who is also a Conservative police and crime commissioner, said more accurate data would lead to “better decisions about the amount of funding required for treatment” and suggested “new treatment methods” such as buprenorphine, a monthly injection that can help heroin users overcome addiction.

Helen Morgan, the Liberal Democrat health spokesperson, said: “I dread to think of the lives that may have been lost due to damaging policies based on faulty stats.”

She added: “The government now needs to step up, launch an investigation and ensure that the ONS is given access to the data it needs so that it can never make this error again.”

The ONS, which helped with the research, said it had warned that “the information provided by coroners on death registrations can lack detail” on the specific drugs involved.

A spokesperson added: “The more detail coroners can provide about specific drugs relevant to a death will help further improve these statistics to inform the UK government’s drug strategy.”

The flaw in the ONS system is not present in Scotland, where there are no coroners and where National Records Scotland (NRS) is responsible for collating official statistics.

Unlike the ONS, the NRS does receive more detailed pathology reports, but differences in how deaths are reported across the UK make it difficult to compare.

The opioid undercounting raises further questions about the under-fire ONS, which has been accused of failing on several statistical fronts recently.

Data sets on job markets and immigration have been criticised and earlier this year a government review said the ONS had “deep-seated” issues which needed tackling.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “We continue to work with partners across health, policing and wider public services to drive down drug use, ensure more people receive timely treatment and support, and make our streets and communities safer.”

 

Source:  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg7dzmyjrjzo

 

Filed under: Addiction,Drug use-various effects,Heroin/Methadone,Latest News,Opioids,Prevalence,Strategy and Policy,UK :

by Liz Mineo – Harvard Staff Writer -September 16, 2025

Study examining potential solution to treatment gap — especially in rural areas — gets federal funding cut

Between 1999 and 2023, approximately 806,000 Americans died from opioid overdoses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Yet of the estimated 2.4 million U.S. adults with opioid use disorder, only one in four receives medications that can reduce overdose risk.

Telehealth has shown promise as a potential tool to prevent opioid overdose deaths, but funding for a study launched last year by health economist Haiden Huskamp examining its use and impact was terminated as part of the mass cancellation of federal research grants by the Trump administration in May.

“A lot of our research, including that for this grant, is looking at why so few people are getting evidence-based treatments for substance use disorder,” said Huskamp, Henry J. Kaiser Professor of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School. “Medications for opioid use disorder are highly efficacious. They reduce opioid use; they reduce overdose risk and other negative outcomes. These medications save lives.”

A shortage of clinicians specialized in treating opioid use disorders — particularly in rural areas — presents a major barrier to receiving care, she said.

“Our work has been trying to understand, since the pandemic in particular, who was using telemedicine for opioid use disorder,” said Huskamp, “and whether the availability of care, via telemedicine, has meant that clinicians who treat substance use disorders are now seeing more patients in areas where there aren’t enough doctors who do this work.”

217Americans, on average, died each day from an opioid overdose in 2023, according to the CDC

For the past five years Huskamp, Ph.D. ’97, has been studying telemedicine as a strategy to expand access to opioid use disorder treatment and life-saving medications such as methadone, buprenorphine, and the quick overdose-reversal drug naloxone.

“Given the opioid epidemic that we are still in the middle of, telemedicine might be an answer because it could address a number of barriers to treatment access,” said Huskamp.

Although in May the CDC reported that opioid overdose deaths dropped from 83,140 in 2023 to 54,743 in 2024, the death toll remains high. According to the CDC, in 2023, on average, 217 people died each day from an opioid overdose.

The goal of Huskamp’s terminated four-year study, launched last year with a team of 15 researchers, was to provide evidence-based information on the efficacy of telemedicine that can guide policymakers as they address the opioid epidemic. It was a renewal of a previous grant, which yielded 24 different publications whose findings have informed new rules by the Drug Enforcement Agency to expand telemedicine access for treating opioid dependence. Funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the latest research sought to examine quality of care and clinical outcomes by analyzing data from Medicare, Medicaid, commercial insurance, and national pharmacy claims.

Telemedicine for opioid use disorder became more widespread across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic, and researchers have been eager to probe the data to find out if it improved access to care for patients in remote areas, and how the quality of care compared to traditional in-person care.

“Anything we can do to try to improve the healthcare system to more effectively allow people to access care and to do so in a more efficient way is really important,” said Huskamp. “We need research like this to guide policymaking, so that we can improve the system as much as possible for people to get the treatment that they need.”

 

Source:  https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2025/09/only-1-in-4-addicted-to-opioids-takes-life-saving-meds-why/

Filed under: Culture,Drug use-various effects,Heroin/Methadone,Latest News,Medicines,Opioids,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,USA :

Received from DFAF – 16 September 2025

The swift legalization of marijuana across the United States is impacting the rates of use and increasing the social acceptance among veterans 65 and older. A recent study is shining a light on this group of individuals whose struggle with marijuana use had largely flown under the radar.

The study included more than 4,500 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) patients nationwide, revealing a concerning picture of marijuana use and cannabis use disorder (CUD) in this population. Over half of respondents (57%) reported having used marijuana at some point in their lives, and 1 in 10 had used it within the past 30 days—a rate nearly double the national average for adults 65 years or older in the general population. Among these recent users, more than half were frequent users (defined as using on 20 or more days in the past month), and the majority (72%) consumed marijuana by smoking.

Perhaps most concerning was the prevalence of CUD. Among those who reported recent use:

  • One-third (36.3%) met the criteria for CUD, including 10.9% with moderate CUD and 2.5% with severe disorder CUD.

The risks were even higher among those who consumed marijuana through smoking or vaping, those who reported anxiety symptoms, and those with functional impairments in daily activities. Veterans aged 65–75 were also more likely to meet criteria for CUD compared to those over 76, and risk increased among individuals who used other substances or faced economic hardship.

Geography mattered as well: veterans living in states with legal recreational marijuana use were more than twice as likely to report use compared to those in non-legal states. In contrast, living in a medical-only state did not significantly increase odds of use—suggesting that broader legalization may be a key driver of accessibility and behavior.

The findings highlight the need for veterans to understand the risks associated with use and to receive screening for CUD, which could help identify problematic use early and connect patients with evidence-based treatment.

 

Source:  Drug Free America Foundation | 333 3rd Ave N Suite 200 | St. Petersburg, FL 33701 US

Filed under: Addiction,Age-related,Culture,Latest News,USA :

By Sara Goldenberg  –  Sep. 23, 2025

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Illegal drug use continues to send young adults to the hospital.

Eighteen to 25 year olds make up 11 percent of nearly 8 million drug-related emergency room visits in the United States every year, according to a national report.

Many of those cases involve college students.

The Drug Enforcement Administration just launched a campaign to prevent drug abuse on campus.

As college students get settled into a routine for the new school year, their parents hope that routine doesn’t include illegal drugs.

Illegal drug use over the past year was highest among young adults 18 to 25 years old at 39 percent, according to a 2023 report with the most recent government data.

The report was published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a federal agency known as SAMHSA.

We spoke with Joseph Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Detroit field division, which includes Ohio.

“So those students who are, you know, transitioning from high school and going into college, being out on their own, not having as much parental oversight, we feel that it’s our duty to ensure that we’re providing them the resources and tools to ensure that they have a great college experience, but also a safe college experience,” he said.

The DEA is traveling to campuses across the state, educating students about the dangers that can be disguised in just one pill.

“Fentanyl is one of the deadliest drugs we’ve ever seen. And we know that as these young men and women begin to really grow into themselves and start to engage with these new groups that they might ask for a prescription Percocet or a Valium or a Xanax,” Dixon said.

Those prescription drugs should only be taken by the person their prescribed to.

You never know what’s in it if you’re getting those pills another way.

We asked what parents can do.

“The best tool is just to be engaged in your child’s life, now your adult’s life. Your young adult’s life. Have a conversation with them. See how things are going. You know, if they don’t sound right, ask them what’s wrong,” Dixon said.

Educators and mentors on campus can really help too.

“Have conversations, prepare your students, your future students, your future leaders, you know, your future graduates, prepare them to go out and be successful and have these conversations and just know that, you know, one pill can kill,” he said.

Nearly one quarter of college students reported using an illegal drug in the past 30 days, according to the national study we referenced above.

Source:  https://www.cleveland19.com/2025/09/23/dea-launches-campaign-campuses-across-ohio-prevent-drug-abuse/

Filed under: Education,Latest News,Prevention and Intervention,USA,Youth :

Received from DFAF –

 23 September 2025

 

A new report shows fentanyl is increasingly appearing in workplace drug tests, particularly among employees who have already passed pre-employment screening. Understanding what’s going on and taking proactive steps can help protect your team, your reputation, and your bottom line.

A recent study by Quest Diagnostics provides a clear picture of the issue. Quest analyzed over eight million workforce drug tests across the U.S. In 2024, random and unannounced drug tests (tests not tied to hiring) found fentanyl more than seven times as often as pre-employment screenings.1 Even more concerning, nearly 60% of fentanyl-positive tests also involved other substances, such as marijuana and amphetamines.1 Fentanyl use on the job, especially when combined with other substances, increases the risk of accidents, impairment, and even overdose.

The impact on small businesses can be serious. Fentanyl exposure in the workplace can lead to accidents and injuries, particularly in roles involving machinery, vehicles, or other safety-sensitive tasks.2 Beyond immediate safety risks, there are potential legal and financial consequences. If an employee under the influence causes harm, your business could face liability, workers’ compensation claims, or insurance complications. Incidents also create operational disruption, affecting productivity, morale, and your overall reputation. Substance misuse can reduce performance, increase absenteeism, and contribute to higher employee turnover, which can be especially challenging for small businesses.3

Small business owners can take practical steps to reduce these risks. Reviewing and updating your drug-free workplace policy is a critical first step. Policies should clearly outline expectations, consequences, and testing procedures, while staying compliant with state laws. Random or periodic testing can help detect fentanyl use that pre-employment screenings might miss. Employee education is equally important; staff need to understand the dangers of fentanyl, especially when combined with other substances.

Providing support is also key. Offering Employee Assistance Programs, connecting employees with treatment services, and fostering a culture where staff feel safe seeking help can make a major difference. Training supervisors to recognize signs of impairment and respond appropriately is critical to preventing accidents. Additionally, preparing for emergencies with overdose reversal tools, like naloxone, and clear response protocols can save lives. Check out this Overdose Emergency Planning Tool from the National Safety Council for help! Additionally, reviewing test data and incidents periodically will help you adapt policies and safety measures as needed, ensuring your workplace remains safe and productive.

Even one case of fentanyl exposure can have devastating consequences, but small business owners can take action now. By combining clear policies, employee education, and supportive measures, you can reduce risk, protect your employees, and maintain a safe and productive workplace.

Source:  Drug Free America Foundation | 333 3rd Ave N Suite 200 | St. Petersburg, FL 33701 US

Filed under: Fentanyl,Latest News,USA,Workplace :

Event date: 30 Sep 2025

Event location: Online

Organisers: UNODC

Event type: Meeting

The 2025 Thematic Discussions on the implementation of all International Drug Policy Commitments, following up on the 2019 Ministerial Declaration, include a session on “Prevention as a core element of the public health response to drug use”, which takes place online on 30 September.

More details can be found on the UNODC-CND webpage: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/commissions/CND/Mandate_Functions/thematic-discussions.html

Source: https://www.euda.europa.eu/event/2025/09/2025-cnd-thematic-discussions-prevention-core-element-public-health-response-drug-use_en

Filed under: All countries,Drug use-various effects,Latest News,Prevalence,Prevention and Intervention :

By Neuroscience – September 21, 2025

The findings were significant, Thanos explains, because not only did the HIIT animals exhibit a preference for the saline chamber, they exhibited a clear aversion to the cocaine chamber. Credit: Neuroscience News

Summary: A new study shows that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is more effective than moderate exercise at protecting adolescent lab animals from cocaine use. Animals exposed to HIIT developed a preference for non-drug environments and an aversion to cocaine, linked to increases in ΔFosB, a molecular switch involved in addiction.

These results suggest exercise intensity matters in shaping the brain’s reward system and its response to drugs. The findings may inform new strategies for using exercise as a personalized tool in substance use disorder prevention and treatment.

Key Facts

  • HIIT Impact: High-intensity exercise made animals avoid cocaine and prefer safe environments.
  • Molecular Mechanism: HIIT raised ΔFosB levels, a transcription factor tied to addiction pathways.
  • Personalized Tool: Exercise may act as dose-dependent medicine for addiction prevention.

Source: University at Buffalo

People with substance use disorder who participate in recovery running programs have shown improved success in maintaining their sobriety and reducing their risk for relapse.

Those observations led Panayotis Thanos, a University at Buffalo neuroscientist who studies the brain’s reward system, to try to figure out the brain mechanisms behind that phenomenon.

In a new study published today in PLOS One, Thanos, PhD, senior research scientist in the Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB, and co-authors reveal that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) was more effective than moderate exercise in making adolescent lab animals avoid cocaine.

The researchers used adolescent lab animals because this is the age when most people who develop substance use disorder begin their exposure. The study focused on male rats only because previous observations have revealed some gender differences in drug-seeking behaviors between males and females. The researchers plan a future study on how HIIT affects females with regard to cocaine. 

HIIT as personalized medicine

“The study shows that HIIT exercise, rather than moderate exercise, during adolescence may protect against cocaine abuse,” says Thanos, a faculty member in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology in the Jacobs School.

The findings provide evidence that HIIT could become a personalized medicine tool in drug abuse intervention.

“The key take-home is that not all exercise is created equal in terms of outcome,” Thanos says. “Exercise is not a binary therapeutic tool but rather we need to think about exercise as dose-dependent, the way we think of medicine as dose-dependent.”

In the study, rats exposed to HIIT exercise on a treadmill were compared to rats exposed to moderate treadmill exercise. Both groups then underwent a behavioral test called cocaine place preference, which trains the animal to discriminate between two chambers: one where they can access cocaine and one where they can access saline. Cocaine preference is when the animal spends more time in the cocaine chamber, while cocaine aversion is when the animal chooses to spend more time in the saline chamber.

The findings were significant, Thanos explains, because not only did the HIIT animals exhibit a preference for the saline chamber, they exhibited a clear aversion to the cocaine chamber.

Increase in a molecular switch for addiction

“We believe that the increase in aversion to cocaine happens in the HIIT animals,” Thanos says, “because of this exercise dose-dependent effect on the brain’s reward circuit that involves an increase we observed in ΔFosB.” ΔFosB is a transcription factor commonly referred to as a molecular switch for addiction and known to boost sensitivity to drugs of abuse.

“Our study showed that HIIT increased ΔFosB levels causing an aversion to consuming cocaine,” he adds.

The findings reveal new avenues that Thanos and his colleagues plan to explore, including how HIIT may affect brain metabolism.

“We know from recent studies in our lab with steady, moderate treadmill running that compared to sedentary animals, exercise decreased metabolism in the somatosensory cortex of the brain while activating other brain regions involved in planning and decision,” he says. “That activation may help dampen various aspects of cocaine abuse and relapse.”

The paper also discusses the need to better understand gender differences in preference for cocaine. “Future studies need to explore how HIIT affects cocaine preference in female rats,” Thanos says, adding that the literature in the field includes evidence that females seem to be more vulnerable to certain phases of addiction.

UB co-authors are Teresa Quattin, MD, UB Distinguished Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and senior associate dean for research integration in the Jacobs School; Nikki Hammond, a former graduate student; and Nabeel Rahman and Sam Zhan, former undergraduate students in Thanos’ lab. Other co-authors are from Washington University School of Medicine and Western University of Health Sciences.

Source: https://neurosciencenews.com/hiit-exercise-addiction-neuroscience-29715/

Filed under: Animals,Brain and Behaviour,Cocaine,Drug use-various effects,Latest News,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,USA :

By Sage Journals – September 19, 2025

 Abstract

This article presents a study exploring the prevention of alcohol and drug (AOD)-facilitated sexual violence. A participatory action research/appreciative inquiry method, World Café Forum, was used to take a multi-stakeholder approach to explore prevention initiatives. Thirty-two individuals from 14 stakeholder organizations attended. Analysis established five recurring themes, overlayed by power imbalances: education and training; policy-led initiatives; holding people accountable; social information campaigns; and cultural change. Responsibility for addressing the issue is contested. The greatest opportunity to address AOD-facilitated sexual violence lies with organizations, with a focus on restorative justice. Policy frameworks and place-based initiatives are required.

Introduction

Sexual violence is a global health issue mostly affecting women (World Health Organisation, 2021). In Australia, 23% of women will experience sexual violence across their lifetime, compared to 8% of men (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021). Sexual violence is reported to be higher in rural than urban areas, although prevalence is still relatively unknown, particularly for young women (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2017; Hooker et al., 2019).

The World Health Organisation defines sexual violence as “any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts to traffic, or otherwise directed, against a person’s sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim” (World Health Organisation, 2013). It has significant psychological and physical health impacts for women, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and gastrointestinal issues (Dworkin, 2020; Tarzia et al., 2017; World Health Organisation, 2014). Sexual violence is most frequently experienced by women and LGBTQ+ people (Ison et al., 2025a), and those who face intersecting forms of inequality can experience higher rates of sexual violence. For example, women with disabilities or trans women of color have experienced higher rates of sexual violence (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2024; Hindes et al., 2025; Ledingham et al., 2022).

Increasingly, it is being recognized that alcohol and drugs (AOD) are used to facilitate sexual violence. Alcohol and other drug facilitated sexual violence includes what is often colloquially known as “drink spiking” (Ison et al., 2024). Perpetration can be opportunistic, such as where the perpetrator takes advantage of a person who is intoxicated, and/or proactive, such as intentionally administering a substance to incapacitate a person (Gee et al., 2006). The victim may consume AOD voluntarily or be unaware that they have been administered them (Caluzzi et al., 2025). Alcohol and other drug facilitated sexual violence can also include the perpetrator encouraging the victim to become further intoxicated (Ison et al., 2025b). Available evidence indicates the most likely substance used by perpetrators is alcohol, but they may also use other sedative substances such as flunitrazepam (Rohypnol) or other benzodiazepines and gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) (Anderson et al., 2017; Recalde-Esnoz et al., 2024; Wolitzky-Taylor et al., 2011).

Responses to AOD-facilitated sexual violence have often been piecemeal. The service system response often lacks continuity of care, and while staff may be passionate and caring, they are often overworked and have limited knowledge or training on AOD-facilitated sexual violence (Ison et al., 2025c). There have been some attempts at programs to address AOD-facilitated sexual violence, though there have been limited rigorous evaluations. These interventions have tended to focus on bars and clubs, particularly through training bar staff as bystanders (Davis et al., 2024), including a resource for bar staff that we designed for the larger project that this study is part of (detailed below) (Hooker et al., 2024). Interventions also include “solutions” to drink spiking, such as a scrunchie to cover one’s drink, or nail polish to test whether there are substances in your drink. These supposed solutions often place the onus on women to keep themselves safe through feminized products, which have troubling victim-blaming undertones (Clinnick et al., 2024).

Beyond such examples, the vast majority of interventions are focused on alcohol consumption in US college settings. While they may have some specific focus on AOD-facilitated sexual violence, they are generally concerned with minimizing the intake of alcohol. Very few interventions are focused on prevention (Hooker et al., 2020) or on response that goes beyond individuals to consider how to change broader sociocultural contexts (Dworkin & Weaver, 2021).

Study Context

There has been growing interest in and reporting on “drink spiking” in the media. In 2021, the media highlighted “drink spiking” as an issue in a regional town in Victoria (Cunningham & Koob, 2021; Lawrence & Findlay, 2021). Some young women came forward to talk to journalists about their experiences of drink spiking in a local club and the subsequent negative interactions they had with health and justice services. These media reports also indicated that drink spiking is an issue in rural communities broadly and that victims face significant barriers when seeking assistance through health and justice services. As with sexual violence broadly, increased media reporting does not necessarily mean there is an increased prevalence, but rather that people may feel empowered to come forward (Clinnick et al., 2024). The stories of the young women in the media reports inspired the research team to conduct a study focused on regional and rural experiences of AOD-facilitated sexual violence. To date, little research has been conducted on rural and remote communities’ experiences of AOD-facilitated sexual violence. However, research has shown that rural and regional Australia have distinct issues relating to sexual violence compared to urban areas, such as dominance of rural hegemonic masculinity and sexual violence revictimization (Corbett et al., 2023; Saunders & Easteal Am, 2013). The study underpinning this paper explored how a regional community could respond to, and ultimately prevent, AOD-facilitated sexual violence (Hooker et al., 2024). This article reports the findings from one part of the study: the use of a multi-stakeholder participatory action method known as a World Café Forum.

Methods

The World Café Forum is a collaborative qualitative method used to foster “constructive dialogue, accessing collective intelligence, and creating innovative possibilities for action” (Brown, 2005). It derives from participatory action research and appreciative inquiry methods that aim to guide a large group of diverse stakeholders toward solutions (Aldred, 2011). It has been used in community development (Aldred, 2011) and where interprofessional collaboration is required, for example, in healthcare and violence against women (Breitbach et al., 2017; Forsdike & Fullagar, 2021). The method brings together multiple small conversational groups to build one collective conversation of different perspectives (Brown, 2005). To build a collective conversation, participants are required to move between groups and discussion topics, so that previous conversations are built upon and include new perspectives for action (Brown, 2005).

A World Café forum was held in 2022 in a regional town in Victoria, Australia, bringing together multiple stakeholders to consider AOD-facilitated sexual violence and how it could be prevented in the region. The forum was conducted over the course of a full day and consisted of two parts. The first half of the day included presentations by members of the research team on sexual violence and AOD-facilitated sexual violence, as well as evidence of the issue in the local community. The presentations were used to engage participants and disseminate existing knowledge about the phenomena and focus on the local region. The second half of the day, the results of which this article reports, incorporated World Café method discussion groups informed by the information provided earlier in the day. The project received ethical approval from the first author’s institution (approval reference: HEC22254).

One of the key features of the World Café method is that participants rotate around the tables every 20–30 min (Fouché & Light, 2011). A host remains at their designated table to support discussion, continuity, and the development of ideas arising from previous conversations (Brown, 2005). Such varied perspectives on issues and the ideas developed are unlikely without facilitated interaction between a broad and diverse range of participants (Brown, 2005).

There are seven principles in the method’s application which were followed on the day (see Table 1).

Firstly, two questions informed by the earlier presentations were posed to the discussion groups to introduce AOD-facilitated sexual violence and establish a collective understanding of what it is in the region and how it is currently responded to by the organizations participants were representing (Brown, 2005).

Secondly, the key question then posed to the discussion groups, and which we present in the results below, was “What can we do?” Records of participants’ ideas were pinned to the walls to enable participants to reflect upon the discussions in other groups (Fouché & Light, 2011). Research team members took photos of these records for analysis.

Analysis

Analysis was informed by the socioecological model. The model was originally developed by Bronfenbrenner to reflect the relational and multiple forces that shape experience across individual, relationship, community, and sociocultural levels (Bronfenbrenner, 1977). It was further developed by Heise to provide a framework for understanding violence against women (Heise, 1998). Heise argued that we need to understand the different levels and their integration to improve responses to a complex issue (Heise, 1998). The model has since been adapted to consider imbalances of power within and between the socioecological levels (Forsdike & Giles, 2024).

The records were transcribed by co-author Jessica Ison and thematically analyzed by co-authors Kirsty Forsdike and Elena Wilson (Braun & Clarke, 2022), with co-authors Jessica Ison and Kirsty Forsdike meeting to finalize themes once co-author Jessica Ison had reviewed the initial themes developed.

Results

Thirty-two stakeholders from 14 different organizations attended the World Café Forum, with an additional seven facilitators attending from the project team. Of the 32 stakeholder attendees, 78% (n = 25) were women. The range of organizations or services from which they derived is presented in Table 2, and included specialist violence prevention and response services, health services, police and justice representatives, students, and student services.

We generated five recurring themes through analysis: (a) training and education, (b) policy-led initiatives, (c) holding people accountable, (d) social information campaigns, and (e) cultural change. When aligning these with the socioecological model (Table 3), it is clear that forum participants considered the organizational level to be the area of greatest opportunity for initiatives, followed by the sociocultural level. The individual and relational levels of the model were not identified as providing many pathways for addressing AOD-facilitated sexual violence in the community.

Education and Training

Unsurprisingly, education and training were dominant themes in discussions. Education refers to building understanding around AOD-facilitated sexual violence, while training refers to skill capacity building to respond to AOD-facilitated sexual violence. Some of the educational measures proposed addressed how people relate with each other, aligning with the relational level of the socioecological model. Here, participants discussed parenting education, engaging with the parent–child relationship to address AOD-facilitated sexual violence. Participants also referred to embedding such education within existing education programs, such as Respectful Relationships and sexual consent: “Comprehensive sexual consent education embedded into all educational institutions, i.e., what consent looks like and the nuances around this when using AOD.”

There was a focus by participants on peer education so that boys would educate boys in understanding and addressing AOD-facilitated sexual violence. Education of AOD-facilitated sexual violence also sits within the organizational level of the socioecological model, whereby it should form part of lifelong learning throughout early years education, primary school, secondary, and tertiary education.

Skills development within organizations such as police and healthcare, and places such as the workplace, at music events, sports clubs, and LGBTQIA+ events were also identified by participants. At the individual level, training was identified as essential for those working in hospitality security specifically (including developing the skills in “identifying and acting on AOD-facilitated sexual violence”), bystander training and safe substance use training for individuals.

Policy-Led Initiatives

Participants identified an absence of policy frameworks and initiatives in relation to AOD-facilitated sexual violence and argued that this was required at the organizational level and across various domains, including hospitality, health systems, and taxation. Discussions among participants produced some specific suggestions for initiatives such as “bringing alcohol service in line with food service (quality control, etc.)” and “align planning laws with hospitality, e.g., co-located supports for AOD-facilitated sexual violence.”

The latter initiative of a co-located support referred to venues being close to support services. Participants discussed co-location at length, detailing planning applications for hospitality venues such as pubs requiring recognition of where there were support services or requiring new venues to co-locate with support services. There were several participants in attendance who worked in specialist violence prevention and response, and women’s services, and they raised that alcohol and other drug services should be integrated with family violence, sexual violence, and mental health services at both the policy and service system levels.

Threaded throughout these discussions was the need for culturally specific responses to alcohol and drug issues. Tax policy initiatives proposed related to a “big alcohol tax” and the profits from tax being “used in harm minimization.” The remaining subthemes within policy-led initiatives align more with the sociocultural level of the socioecological model. This incorporated suggestions such as decriminalizing illicit drugs, normalizing safe substance use, limiting or regulating alcohol, and reporting guidelines for the media.

Holding People Accountable

The discussions were particularly forceful when considering the need to hold people accountable. At the organizational level, participants were most concerned with holding licensed venues accountable or requiring them to take some responsibility for preventing AOD-facilitated sexual violence. Harsher enforcement of penalties for venues where AOD-facilitated sexual violence takes place was proposed alongside an independent body (“watch dog”) to hold venues accountable, which includes “access to CCTV—and allow it to be viewed openly.” But more often, the participants discussed the need for initiatives that were led by or took place in licensed venues; for example, mandated AOD-facilitated sexual violence programs for licensed venues and safety officers located at venues. Another specific initiative suggested bringing licensed venues together “to create a shared onus of responsibility/plan.” In relation to perpetrators, at the individual level, participants considered the need to hold “abusers accountable within systems that actually rehabilitate” and ensuring that there are sufficient resources “to speed up processing perpetrators of AOD-facilitated sexual violence.” Linked to this was the focus on victim-led responses, for example, local restorative justice or “alternative pathways for justice for victim survivors.”

Social Information Campaigns

Participants specified initiatives for their local region when discussing social information campaigns. While general ideas were generated and proposed for public health campaigns around male behaviors, or awareness-raising campaigns in venues and public toilets, taxis, and social media, the rural focus of the project generated interesting locations for such campaigns. The need to focus on male behaviors was emphasized rather than what was seen as the current focus on women’s behaviors. For example, participants reported on an art exhibition they had seen in the news that was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. The exhibition showcased the variety of clothing women who have been raped were wearing to dispel long-held rape myths. Participants attending the World Café Forum wanted campaigns on the back of toilet doors that directly questioned men: “have you used substances to manipulate some into sex?”

The region where the World Café was conducted has a well-known recreation area [Rosalind Park] where major events are held, and participants suggested that campaigns could be linked to popular events in this location. They suggested that including safe space tents should be required when holding an event. Similarly, participants suggested encouraging the city council “to focus on this as part of community safety week.”

Cultural Change

Cultural change, as part of the sociocultural level, was recognized across the discussion groups as difficult but necessary to address AOD-facilitated sexual violence. Cultural change was argued to be needed around gender inequality. It was well recognized by the specialist and women’s health services in the room that gender inequality is associated with sexual violence. In particular, participants highlighted male entitlement and control with the need to “address male entitlement in relation to respect for women,” “change ideas of male ownership/control,” and “believing women.” Participants also reflected on shifting narratives, for example, “shift the narrative” in relation to cultural attitudes around drugs and alcohol, “changing alcohol culture,” and “shifting student culture so people can speak out.” These narrative shifts identify two concepts: the Australian collective attitude toward AOD, and the ability of an individual within the culture to speak up, particularly in rural and regional areas. One participant group specifically noted that there was a “Reluctance among men to dob mates in and this is a bigger challenge in rural towns where men can then be ostracized from their community.”

Power

In recognition of the development of the socioecological model and its adaptation to consider imbalances of power within and between the socioecological levels, we were sensitive to this concept as we considered the themes detailed above (Forsdike & Giles, 2024).

Throughout the forum, power was a recurring topic discussed overtly in terms of who holds power over victims of AOD-facilitated sexual violence. For example, participants discussed how licensed venues hold power over their patrons, particularly over women who frequent them and are subjected to AOD-facilitated sexual violence. Alongside discussion of power imbalances, participants drew out some of the more covert power imbalances. In particular, participants talked about how the broader patriarchal cultural contexts see men holding power over women, which is at times heightened in rural communities and for minorities. We reflect on this more in the discussion below.

Discussion

The World Café method brings together people from a variety of perspectives and backgrounds to discuss an issue of importance. Our forum produced important findings on how to respond to and prevent AOD-facilitated sexual violence, particularly in regional and rural communities. Participants were candid about how AOD-facilitated sexual violence is a topic that can be challenging to tackle. Even those from specialist services can struggle to integrate the two issues of (a) alcohol and other drugs and (b) sexual violence. Those working in AOD-facilitated sexual violence need support for greater understanding of the term and to be able to tackle it from a cohesive perspective rather than from either an AOD or a sexual violence perspective.

As noted in the results, power was a recurring topic in terms of who holds power, for example, licensed venues holding power over women patrons. Yet, venues are unlikely to be expected to deal with or be held accountable for AOD-facilitated sexual violence that occurs at their venue. An unwillingness to assume responsibility is reflected in broader gender-based violence. For example, organizations such as universities or workplaces are often reluctant to acknowledge, let alone take responsibility for, preventing and responding to sexual harassment. As a result, victims struggle to find integrated service systems and are often forced to engage with multiple services when seeking support, resulting in poor continuity of care (García-Moreno et al., 2015). The issue of who is responsible for preventing, responding to, and supporting victims of AOD-facilitated sexual violence needs further exploration, discussion, and recognition, given the number of stakeholders involved (Ison et al., 2025c).

With regard to covert power imbalances, there are often troubling power imbalances that victim-survivors of sexual violence face at all levels of the socioecological model (Tarzia, 2020). This was identified through Australia’s patriarchal cultural context, recognized as particularly dominant in rural communities and for minorities. This understanding of sexual violence allowed participants to consider how to address AOD-facilitated sexual violence beyond just standard approaches of behavioral change to considering how to prevent sexual violence through broader cultural change, often referred to as primary prevention (Hooker et al., 2020).

One suggestion for addressing power imbalances was to implement transformative justice responses to victim-survivors. This reflects the demographics of the participants, with many working in the gender-based violence sector and in feminist advocacy, which has engaged in transformative justice work (Rasmussen, 2022). Transformative justice, as used in feminist advocacy, comes from anticarceral approaches, particularly those led by Indigenous people and people of color (Davis, 2019). Approaching sexual violence perpetration from a noncarceral perspective is something being taken up—though at times removed from these decolonial and antiracist approaches—by universities and other institutions (McMahon et al., 2024). To date, transformative justice for victim-survivors of AOD-facilitated sexual violence has been underexplored and offers a possible new avenue of research and advocacy. Restorative justice processes could also be an opportunity for perpetrators of AOD-facilitated sexual violence to recognize their behaviors and their impact. Transformative justice response broadly highlights the investment from those working with victim-survivors to considering alternative approaches outside of the current criminal-legal approach. Participants advocated for such an approach to focus on restoring power to victim-survivors.

Integrated prevention and response systems that are place-specific while also addressing both specific initiatives and broader issues, such as gender inequality, are key across all ages, stages, and places. Participants talked about needing responses to AOD-facilitated sexual violence that were culturally specific, particularly to the regional and rural context. Such an interconnected prevention approach system must consider the nuanced and place-specific, addressing both specific initiatives and broader issues such as gender inequality. It is crucial to develop strategies that are adaptable to the unique needs of different communities to be effective.

Given that participants were predominantly from regional areas, it is unsurprising that they advocated for location-specific responses relevant to their local community. They suggested embedding responses to and preventing AOD-facilitated sexual violence at key local events as well as having them embedded in community hubs, co-located service spaces. Community responses to sexual violence have been identified as an important approach for prevention (Hooker et al., 2021). However, to date, community-based responses have been underresourced with limited evaluations (DeGue et al., 2016). Existing programs tend to focus on troubling victim-blaming approaches such as drink cover (Clinnick et al., 2024) or training bar staff (Davis et al., 2024; Hooker et al., 2024). Given that drink spiking often garners significant media attention (Clinnick et al., 2024), including in the region where this study took place, it offers an opportunity for large-scale community engagement in prevention.

One of the limitations of the World Café Forum was the voices that were missing in the room. Despite invitations, no one from hospitality attended. Given this is a prominent location for AOD-facilitated sexual violence, it was disappointing that those working in hospitality locally did not attend, but it is perhaps reflective of their unwillingness to see a role in addressing the issue. The other limitation of a World Café Forum is the potential imbalance of power in the room. This can lead to dominant voices, reduced opportunity for dissenting voices, and the potential for certain voices to be silenced. For example, those facilitating discussions were aware that older and more experienced people in the work tended to dominate some of the conversations. This meant that facilitators based at each group discussion needed to deftly negotiate the voices, but there could have been some voices lost in the process.

Conclusion

This article reports findings from a World Café forum that brought together stakeholders from a variety of perspectives and backgrounds to discuss AOD-facilitated sexual violence. The aim of the forum was to produce conditions whereby participants could share knowledge and views on what ought to be done to respond to the issue in their regional area. The findings from discussions have implications for public health. Reflecting a shared view that sexual violence signals deeply embedded gendered power imbalances in society, participants overwhelmingly saw that responding to and preventing AOD-facilitated sexual violence should be chiefly undertaken at the organizational and sociocultural level. A dearth of policy frameworks and initiatives responding to the problem was identified, and it was evident there was a lack of agreement concerning who should assume responsibility for tackling the problem, alongside concern that powerful stakeholders such as licensed venues were rarely held to account. A range of measures were suggested, with a particular focus on the implementation of restorative justice approaches—reflecting the view that social policy and service delivery should restore power to victim-survivors. The importance of community-based responses relevant to local communities was also emphasized alongside targeting the behavior of men (not women)—a perspective that locates responsibility for AOD-facilitated sexual violence with perpetrators.

The full study can be accessed by clicking the ‘Source’ link below

Source: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10778012251379421

Filed under: Alcohol,Australia,Crime/Violence/Prison,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Latest News,Prevention and Intervention,Sexual Behaviour :

by Boston Herald editorial staff – September 17, 2025

There’s a renewed push to legalize overdose prevention centers  on Beacon Hill, with advocates touting supervised drug use as harm prevention.

That depends on how one defines harm.

At these centers, trained health care workers would supervise individuals who use pre-obtained illicit drugs — and they could intervene and prevent fatal overdoses.

Yes, addicts could avoid overdosing and live another day — another day in which they’d steal or prostitute themselves to buy drugs, another day in which opioids could further damage their mind and body, and another day to stumble through the degradation of a life ruled by drugs.

The real winners? Drug dealers and traffickers. Their clientele may have access to rehabilitative services through these centers, but that cry for help may not come for a long time. Meanwhile, they are willing customers for those “pre-obtained” drugs.

In these progressive parts, the law is to be followed except if you don’t like it. Therefore, these proposals would provide legal protections for workers, drug users accessing the facilities, government officials and other stakeholders. Because the drugs being injected are, of course, illegal.

Rep. Mindy Domb, co-chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery, said Massachusetts last year recorded fewer than 2,000 fatal overdoses, breaking a grim years-long trend.

Yes, naloxone is an amazing thing, and distribution of Narcan has saved many lives from overdoses. But making drug addiction safer with the added net of Narcan is like putting a bandage on a deep wound.

One can’t fight the opioid crisis by prolonging addiction. Keeping up the demand for drugs fuels the supply and the crime that comes with trafficking. And the drug market only gets worse.

Nitazenes have entered the chat.

Last year, a state-funded drug checking program in Massachusetts has found opioids up to 25 times stronger than fentanyl, according to WBUR. In a bulletin, public health officials say the number of drug samples testing positive for nitazenes is small — but growing quickly.

“The more that we crack down on things like fentanyl and heroin, that’s going to lead to the rise of other things that are infiltrating the drug supply,” said Sarah Mackin, director of harm reduction at the Boston Public Health Commission.

“Nitazenes is just the newest thing to come through,” after xylazine, the animal tranquilizer found in 9% of overdose deaths in 2023.

However, an investigation of records from hospital emergency departments published by the JAMA Network found it often takes more doses of naloxone to reverse an overdose when nitazene is involved than it would take to reverse a fentanyl overdose. Further study is needed.

Keeping the drug cycle going, however “safely,” isn’t a step in the right direction, it’s just another foot forward on the addiction treadmill.

We need addiction reduction, stat. We need to fund programs such as Boston Medical Center’s Faster Paths to Treatment, its substance use disorder urgent care program. And we need more of them.

True harm reduction comes from helping addicts get clean so they can live full, productive lives.

Source: https://www.bostonherald.com/2025/09/17/editorial-rehab-is-the-best-harm-prevention-for-addicts/?

Filed under: Addiction,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Prevention and Intervention,Strategy and Policy,USA :

by Renata Glavak-Tkalić, Mara Šimunović, Katarina Perić Pavišić, Josip Razum, Desirèe Colombo – – 22 August 2025

 

ABSTRACT

Background

Substance abuse (SA) imposes a significant global health burden, demanding innovative and accessible interventions. Virtual reality (VR) offers a promising approach, providing engaging and personalized treatment experiences. However, rigorous evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on VR’s efficacy in the treatment and prevention of SA remains limited. This systematic review aimed to characterize VR interventions for substance-related disorders and evaluate their effectiveness.

Methods

To conduct this review, two researchers independently performed a comprehensive literature search across four databases using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Results

Twenty RCTs met the inclusion criteria, focusing on alcohol, nicotine and illicit drug use. These studies utilized diverse VR modalities, most frequently exposure therapy (n = 10) and cognitive-behavioural therapy (n = 5), followed by approach bias modification, skills training, cognitive rehabilitation, counterconditioning and psychoeducation. Interventions varied in level of immersion and interactivity. Although the evidence was mixed, 17 studies demonstrated positive effects on at least one outcome variable. Most studies focused on proximal outcomes (e.g., craving), which frequently showed improvement. Clinically meaningful outcomes (e.g., substance use reduction and abstinence) were less frequently assessed, with seven of 10 studies reporting improvement.

Conclusions

VR shows promise in addressing substance-related disorders, particularly for alcohol and nicotine. However, substantial heterogeneity in VR interventions highlights the need for further research to standardize methodologies, optimize treatment parameters and explore the underlying working mechanisms of VR interventions. Additional research is also needed to assess VR’s application to illicit drug use.

Summary

Virtual reality (VR)–based interventions, particularly those that integrate cue exposure therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy, show significant promise in reducing cravings and improving abstinence among individuals using alcohol and nicotine.

VR intervention and prevention programmes have positively impacted attitudes, intentions, cognitive function and physiological responses in substance users, indicating a broader therapeutic potential that extends beyond simply addressing addiction symptoms.

The considerable variability among VR interventions emphasizes the need for greater standardization in methodologies, treatment parameters and outcome measures.

Additional research is necessary to evaluate the applicability and efficacy of VR in the prevention and treatment of illicit drug use.

The full article can be accessed by clicking the ‘Source’ link below:

Source: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cpp.70144?af=R

Filed under: Drug use-various effects,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,USA :

by JENNIFER PELTZ Associated Press – September 25, 2025

Every year, tons of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and other drugs flow around the world

UNITED NATIONS — Every year, tons of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and other drugs flow around the world, an underground river that crisscrosses borders and continents and spills over into violence, addiction and suffering. Yet when nations’ leaders give the U.N. their annual take on big issues, drugs don’t usually get much of the spotlight.

But this was no usual year.

First, U.S. President Donald Trump touted his aggressive approach to drug enforcement, including decisions to designate some Latin American cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and to carry out deadly military strikes on speedboats that he says said were carrying drugs in the southern Caribbean.

“To every terrorist thug smuggling poisonous drugs into the United States of America: Please be warned that we will blow you out of existence,” he boasted at the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday.

Hours later, his Colombian counterpart fired back that Trump should face criminal charges for allowing an attack on unarmed “young people who were simply trying to escape poverty.”

The U.S. “anti-drug policy is not aimed at the public health of a society, but rather to prop up a policy of domination,” Colombia’s Gustavo Petro bristled, accusing Washington of ignoring domestic drug dealing and production while demonizing his own country. The U.S. recently listed Colombia, for the first time in decades, as a nation falling short of its international drug control obligations.

The barbs laid bare, on global diplomacy’s biggest stage, the world’s wide and pointed differences over how to deal with drugs.

“The international system is extremely divided on drug policy,” said Vanda Felbab-Brown, who has followed the topic as a senior fellow at the Washington-based Brookings Institution think tank. “This is not new, but it’s really just very intense at this UNGA.”

While the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, climate change and other crises got much of the focus in the U.N.’s marathon week of speeches and meetings, the topic of drugs turned up from Trump’s and Petro’s tough talk to side events on such themes as gender-inclusive drug policy and international cooperation to fight organized crime.

Some 316 million people worldwide used marijuana, opioids and/or other drugs in 2023, a 28% rise in a decade, according to the most recent statistics available from the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime. The figures don’t count alcohol or tobacco use.

The specifics vary by region, with cocaine use growing in Europe, methamphetamine on the rise in Southeast Asia, and synthetic opioids making new inroads in West and Central Africa and continuing to trouble North America, though opioid-related deaths have been falling.

The U.N. drug office says trafficking is increasingly dominated by organized crime groups with tentacles and partnerships around the world, and nations need to think just as broadly about trying to tackle the syndicates.

“Governments are increasingly seeing organized crime and drug trafficking as threats to national and regional security and stability, and some are coming around to the fact that they need to join up diplomatic, intelligence, law enforcement and central-bank efforts to push back,” agency chief of staff Jeremy Douglas said by email.

Although organized crime hasn’t featured very prominently in top-level discussions at the General Assembly to date, he said, “we’re at a point where this needs to, and hopefully will, change.”

Nations pair up in various joint counternarcotics operations and working groups and sometimes form regional coalitions, but some experts and leaders see a need to go global.

Countries need to “pool resources in a fight that must be a common cause among all nations,” Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino told the assembly. He said his nation had seized a “historic and alarming” total of 150 tons of cocaine and other drugs this year alone.

To be sure, there is already some global-scale collaboration on drug control. The U.N. Commission on Narcotic Drugs decides what substances are supposed to be internationally regulated under decades-old treaties, and it can make policy recommendations to the U.N.’s member countries. The International Narcotics Control Board monitors treaty compliance.

But the U.N. is big-tent politics at its biggest, so even as some components of the world body deal with drug enforcement, others emphasize public health programs — substance abuse treatment, overdose prevention and other services — over prohibition and punishments.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has advocated for decriminalizing at least some drug use while clamping down on illegal markets. Given that policing hasn’t reduced substance use or crime, “the so-called war on drugs has failed, completely and utterly,” he said last year.

Separately, a U.N. Development Programme report last week said punitive drug control had led to deaths and disease among users who shied from seeking help, racial disparities in enforcement, and other societal downsides.

At a gathering marking the report’s release, former Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo deplored that “the global drug control regime has become a substantial part of the problem.”

“The question is: Do governments have the wisdom and courage to act?” asked Zedillo, now a Yale professor and a commissioner of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, a Geneva-based anti-drug-war advocacy group.

The other question is whether they could ever agree on what action to take.

Even if countries agree — or say they do — with ending the drug trade and resulting ills, “the objectives might be different, and certain means, tools, resources they’re willing to devote to them, are different,” Felbab-Brown said.

Nations’ own drug laws vary widely. Some impose the death penalty for certain drug crimes. Others have legalized or decriminalized marijuana. At least one — Thailand — legalized it only to have second thoughts and tighten the rules. Countries’ openness to needle exchange programs, safe injection sites and other “harm reduction” strategies is similarly all over the map.

As leaders took their turns at the assembly rostrum this week, observers got occasional glimpses of the world’s different views of its drug problem.

Tajikistan’s president, Emomali Rahmon, called drug trafficking “a serious threat to global security.” Guyanese President Irfaan Ali endorsed international efforts to address drug trafficking, which he counted among the ”crimes that are destroying the lives of our people, especially young people.”

Syria’s new president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, noted that his administration closed factories that produced the amphetamine-like stimulant Captagon, also known as fenethylline, during his now-ousted predecessor’s time. Costa Rican Foreign Minister Arnoldo André Tinoco said drug smuggling networks are exploiting routes traveled by migrants and “taking advantage of the vulnerability of those seeking international protection.”

“Isolated responses are insufficient,” as the traffickers just go elsewhere and create new hotspots of crime, Tinoco said.

Reviewing the challenges facing Peru, President Dina Boluarte listed transnational organized crime and drug trafficking alongside political polarization and climate change.

“None of these problems is merely national, but rather global,” she said. “This is why we need the United Nations to once again be a forum for dialogue and cooperation.”

Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/issue-drugs-showcased-general-assembly-year-125919663

Filed under: Crime/Violence/Prison,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Others (International News),Political Sector,Prevalence,Prevention and Intervention,USA :

by Kaitlin Durbin, cleveland.com  – Sep. 27, 2025

A graph from the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Officer shows that cocaine overdoses are expected to kill more residents this year than fentanyl and other opioids, marking a major shift in drug patterns that Dr. Thomas Gilson says requires new prevention and treatment strategies.(Courtesy of the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office)

CLEVELAND, Ohio — For the first time in decades, cocaine is killing more people in Cuyahoga County than opioids, including fentanyl.

The news marks a historic shift that Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas Gilson says should spark an urgent change in prevention strategies.

“This is earth-shattering,” Gilson told cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. “I don’t think that’s been true in the entire 21st century.”

His office has only certified overdose deaths for the first half of the year, representing about 169 cases, but early numbers show that cocaine was involved in 63% of them, compared with 46% involving opioids – including some overlap from drug mixtures.

Projected out for the year, Gilson’s office expects total overdose deaths will top around 415, which would be another slight drop from the year before, indicating numbers are heading in the right direction. Fentanyl overdoses, in particular, are expected to fall to a near 10-year low.

But that progress could largely be offset by an increase in cocaine deaths – again, some mixed with opioids – which is projected to kill 399 Cuyahogans by the end of the year.

“This is the problem that we’re living with now,” Gilson said of the moment. “Opiates aren’t going to go away, but if you define an epidemic as a disease that’s occurring at a higher incidence rate in the population than baseline, well, we’ve had two years of decline; so, it’s pretty hard to say, ‘I’m still living in the opioid epidemic.’”

The shift

Opioid-related deaths, especially involving fentanyl, have been falling sharply over the last three years. Last year, overdose deaths dropped below 500 for the first time in a decade. The reason still isn’t clear.

It could be that the fentanyl supply is shrinking, or that what is circulating on the street is less potent, with smaller amounts showing up in drug mixtures, Gilson said. It could also be intervention strategies and overdose reversal drugs are working to curb deaths. Gilson suspects younger generations have started shying away from the drug, after years of warnings about its lethal effects.

Regardless, he worried that the lull was only leaving the door open for something else. Something new. It turns out, it was actually something old – though thankfully less lethal: cocaine.

Gilson recalled the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s and early 1990s, which devastated many urban communities and coincided with a major crime wave. The crisis helped fuel the “tough-on-crime” era, leading to harsh sentencing laws and mass incarceration that disproportionately affected Black Americans.

Back then the drug was killing 100-150 people a year in the county – a number which pales in comparison to the 600-700 who were dying at the peak of the opioid crisis. Now, though, the numbers are ticking upward again, and faster, partly fueled by cocaine-opioid mixtures.

In August, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a report noting a rise in overdose deaths involving stimulants, like cocaine and methamphetamine, since 2011. Though it primarily attributed the increase to opioid mixtures, it noted that “stimulant-involved deaths without opioid co-involvement have also increased.”

The CDC urged expanded access to evidence-based treatment for stimulant use disorder, along with outreach to people “who might be missed by opioid-focused prevention efforts.”

After seeing the shift locally, Gilson is sounding his own alarm.

“Things are changing, and the demographics of who’s affected by it is changing, too,” Gilson said.

New strategies?

In the early phases of the opioid epidemic, particularly with prescription painkillers, white communities bore the brunt of overdose deaths. Even as the crisis evolved and overall numbers leveled out, Gilson’s office continued to record higher rates of fentanyl and opioid fatalities among white residents.

Overdose data through the first half of the year shows a rise in cocaine-related deaths, especially among Black men.(Courtesy of the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office)

However, the rise in cocaine overdoses is disproportionately affecting the Black community, echoing patterns seen in the 1980s and 1990s. In the first half of this year, overdose deaths among white residents declined compared to 2024, while the share among Black residents rose from 42% to 48%. Black men, in particular, were impacted.

“We’re reverting back to a pre-opioid phase,” Gilson said. “And that means we’re going to see another racial disparity develop like we did before.”

That makes directing prevention and treatment outreach specifically to Black communities both more urgent and more challenging, he said. He noted it was harder to reach Black communities with prevention messaging during the opioid epidemic.

And that challenge raises a bigger question: whether current prevention and treatment strategies would be adequate, given decades of opioid-focused efforts. Unlike fentanyl, which can be reversed with naloxone, there is no antidote for cocaine overdoses, which often result in sudden heart attacks or strokes.

(Earlier this year, Gilson also flagged the need for better prevention strategies to address rising suicide rates.)

One strategy Gilson said he knows can help save lives is reminding people not to use drugs alone. He reiterated a recent study by Case Western Reserve University that found that about 75% of overdose victims over a five-year period were using alone, increasing death rates.

But what other strategies may be needed to save lives remains an open question.

“The winds are changing,” Gilson said. “If we want to really be effective, we need to start pivoting to these stimulants as enemy number one.”

Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/issue-drugs-showcased-general-assembly-year-125919663

Filed under: Cocaine,Fentanyl,Prevalence,USA :
Daniel Hall   – -BBN Times – 24/08/2025

Outdated views of addiction hurt patients. Dr. Roger Starner Jones, Jr. and others are working to change that.

Despite decades of medical research, public awareness campaigns, and growing national concern, many people still see addiction through a distorted lens. “Addict” remains a pejorative label. Misconceptions persist that addiction is a choice, a character flaw, or the result of bad parenting. These outdated ideas don’t just misinform—they actively harm. They delay care, deepen stigma, and make recovery even more complicated to reach.

But addiction is not a moral failing. It is a complex brain disease, and understanding it as such is crucial to saving lives.

A Medical Diagnosis, Not a Personal Weakness

Addiction, clinically known as substance use disorder (SUD), alters brain chemistry in ways that impact decision-making, impulse control, and the experience of pleasure and reward. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), addiction is a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking, continued use despite harmful consequences, and long-lasting changes in the brain.

Yet societal attitudes lag behind the science. More than three-quarters of Americans surveyed believe that substance use disorder (SUD) is not a chronic medical illness, and more than half said they believe SUD is caused by bad character or lack of moral strength, according to findings from the 2024 Shatterproof Addiction Stigma Index Report. This belief system creates barriers to treatment by fueling shame, encouraging secrecy, and often leading families and employers to distance themselves rather than lean in with support.

The Real Risks of Misunderstanding

Misconceptions don’t just alienate people—they endanger them. Fear of judgment keeps many individuals from seeking help until their condition worsens. Delayed treatment can lead to job loss, relationship breakdowns, homelessness, overdose, and even death.

“Shame is one of the biggest enemies of recovery,” says Dr. Roger Starner Jones, Jr., a board-certified emergency and addiction medicine physician based in Nashville. “When patients think they’ll be judged instead of treated, they wait too long. They spiral. By the time they reach us, their situation is often much more severe than it needed to be.”

Dr. Jones has seen this pattern play out thousands of times. After a decade in emergency medicine, he pursued a fellowship in addiction medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, driven by both clinical experience and personal history. Starner Jones’ father, who once faced 11 DUIs in seven years, found lasting sobriety after being committed to a state hospital and undergoing physician-led detox. That experience changed the course of both their lives—and led Dr. Jones to dedicate his career to compassionate, customized addiction care.

Rewriting the Narrative: Care That Meets Patients Where They Are

Through his practices—Nashville Addiction Recovery and Belle Meade AMP—Starner Jones delivers concierge-level, judgment-free care. His model includes in-home detox, private hotel suite treatment, and office-based services designed to remove as many barriers as possible between a patient and their recovery. His focus is on meeting patients where they are, not where the system dictates they should be.

“There’s no one-size-fits-all in addiction treatment,” Dr. Jones says. “Some people need a quiet, safe space to detox privately. Others need a highly structured plan for relapse prevention. What they don’t need is bureaucracy or blame.”

Starner Jones’s approach is part of a broader shift happening in the addiction medicine field. More physicians are advocating for low-threshold treatment models—services that reduce wait times, eliminate unnecessary paperwork, and avoid rigid abstinence requirements. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), these models have been shown to increase engagement and retention in care, particularly among people with co-occurring mental health conditions.

While not a clinician in the traditional sense today, Dr. Gabor Maté is one of the most influential voices advocating for a trauma-informed approach to addiction. His book, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, explores how early childhood trauma, not moral weakness, underpins most substance use. He argues that addiction is not the problem itself, but rather a misguided attempt to solve internal pain. His philosophy underpins many treatment programs worldwide.

The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is one of the most established names in addiction treatment and has evolved to embrace an integrated model that combines medical detox, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), therapy, and mental health services. They openly reject the idea of addiction as a character flaw and emphasize long-term support and relapse prevention, rooted in compassion, not control.

Dispelling Common Myths

Several deeply ingrained myths continue to distort how addiction is viewed and treated. Let’s set the record straight:

  • Myth: Addiction is a choice.
    Reality: While the initial decision to use a substance may be voluntary, the progression to addiction is driven by changes in brain circuitry, not moral weakness.

  • Myth: You have to hit “rock bottom” to recover.
    Reality: Early intervention improves outcomes. Waiting for someone to “bottom out” can be fatal, especially in the era of fentanyl-laced street drugs.

  • Myth: Medication-assisted treatment is trading one addiction for another.
    Reality: FDA-approved medications like buprenorphine and methadone reduce cravings and withdrawal, allowing patients to stabilize their lives. They’re widely considered best practice in treating opioid use disorder.

  • Myth: Recovery is rare.
    Reality: Millions of Americans are living in recovery today. In the United States, 9.1%, or 22.35 million adults have reported resolving a substance use problem.

Compassion Is Evidence-Based

What ultimately works in addiction care isn’t punishment or shame—it’s connection. “When you treat addiction like the disease it is, you empower people to get better,” Dr. Starner Jones says. “You stop asking ‘What’s wrong with you?’ and start asking ‘What happened to you?’”

At Nashville Addiction Recovery, the ethos of compassion is baked into every interaction. From discreet intake to 24/7 physician supervision, the patient experience is defined by dignity and respect. Many of the patients Dr. Jones sees are high-profile professionals—athletes, musicians, executives—whose careers demand confidentiality. But the underlying need is universal: to be seen, respected, and supported through one of the most complex challenges a person can face.

A Call for Better Understanding

Changing how society views addiction won’t happen overnight, but it starts with how we talk about it. Swapping judgment for empathy, punishment for treatment, and generalizations for science can change not just conversations—but lives.

Source: https://www.bbntimes.com/science/what-most-people-get-wrong-about-addiction

Filed under: Addiction,Brain and Behaviour,Culture,UK :

by Jan Hoffman – Published Aug. 25, 2025

Jan Hoffman is a health reporter for The New York Times covering drug addiction and health law.

San Francisco, Philadelphia and others are retreating from “harm reduction” strategies that have helped reduce deaths but which critics, including Trump, say have contributed to pervasive public drug use.

Safe drug-consumption materials distributed in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco, including naloxone, pipes and plastic straws.Credit…Mike Kai Chen for The New York Times

As fentanyl propelled overdose deaths to ever more alarming numbers several years ago, public health officials throughout the United States stepped up a blunt, pragmatic response. Desperate to save lives, they tried making drug use safer.

To prevent life-threatening infections, more states authorized needle exchanges, where drug users could get sterile syringes as well as alcohol wipes, rubber ties and cookers. Dipsticks that test drugs for fentanyl were distributed to college campuses and music festivals. Millions of overdose reversal nasal sprays went to homeless encampments, schools, libraries and businesses. And in 2021, for the first time, the federal government dedicated funds to many of the tactics, collectively known as harm reduction.

The strategy helped. By mid-2023, overdose deaths began dropping. Last year, there were an estimated 80,391 drug overdose deaths in the United States, down from 110,037 in 2023, according to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Now, across the country, states and communities are turning away from harm reduction strategies.

Last month, President Trump, vowing to end “crime and disorder on America’s streets,” issued a far-flung executive order that included a blast at harm reduction programs which, he said, “only facilitate illegal drug use and its attendant harm.”

But his words, implicitly linking harm reduction to unsafe streets, echoed a sentiment that had already been building in many places, including some of the country’s most liberal cities.

San Francisco’s new mayor, Daniel Lurie, a Democrat who campaigned on a pledge to tackle addiction and street chaos, announced this spring that the city would step away from harm reduction as its drug policy and instead embrace “recovery first,” aspiring to get more people into treatment and long-term recovery. He banned city-funded distribution of safe-use smoking supplies such as pipes and foil in public places like parks. A year earlier, San Francisco voters had signaled their restiveness with pervasive drug use by approving a measure stipulating that some recipients of public assistance who repeatedly refused drug treatment could lose cash benefits.

Philadelphia stopped funding syringe services programs, which the C.D.C. has called “proven and effective” in protecting the public and first-responders as well as drug users. The city put restrictions on mobile medical teams that distribute overdose reversal kits and provide wound care for people who inject drugs, and stepped up police sweeps in Kensington, a neighborhood long known for its open-air drug markets and a focal point of the city’s harm reduction efforts.

Santa Ana, Calif., shut down its syringe exchanges; Pueblo, Colo., tried to do the same but a judge blocked enforcement of the ordinance.

Mayor Daniel Lurie of San Francisco, center, often walks through the Tenderloin district, where people experiencing addiction, mental illness and homelessness gather.Credit…Mike Kai Chen for The New York Times

Republican-dominated states have also been retreating from the approaches. In 2021, West Virginia legislators said that needle exchange programs had to limit distribution to one sterile syringe for each used one turned in and could only serve clients with state IDs. Last year, Nebraska lawmakers voted against permitting local governments to establish exchanges.

“Harm reduction” is a decades-old concept, grounded in the reality that many people cannot or will not stop using drugs. Since the 1980s, when AIDS activists began distributing sterile syringes to drug users to slow the spread of diseases, the expression has moved to the mainstream of addiction medicine and public health.

Over time, it has become shorthand for a wide range of approaches. Some are broadly popular and will certainly continue. In April, the White House’s office of drug control policy released priorities reaffirming support for drug test strips and naloxone, the overdose reversal medication that has become an essential item in first-aid kits in homes, restaurants and school nurse offices.

But critics contend that making drug use safer, with distribution of supplies and pamphlets directing how to use them, normalizes drug use and undercuts people’s motivation to quit and seek abstinence.

“The more you’re sort of funding and feeding the addiction, you’re going to get more addiction,” Art Kleinschmidt, now the head of the federal agency that oversees grants for substance abuse, said on a podcast last year. Such programs, he said, “definitely are breeding dependency.”

Others argue for nuance.

“Harm reduction is neither the singular solution to the overdose crisis nor a primary cause of public drug use and disorder,” said Dr. Aaron Fox, president of the New York Society of Addiction Medicine. “It’s one component of a spectrum of services necessary to prevent overdose deaths and improve the health of people who use drugs. But if communities want long-term solutions to homelessness, they need to work on expanding access to housing.”

Harm reduction supporters reject the notion that protecting people from the worst consequences of drugs encourages use.

“I don’t think the availability of sterile supplies really makes a difference about whether someone is going to start or continue using drugs,” said Chelsea L. Shover, an epidemiologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, who oversees Drug Checking Los Angeles, which tests the contents of drugs for individuals and public health agencies. “But I do think it will make a difference in terms of whether that person is going to be alive in a week or a month or a year, during which time they might get into recovery, whatever that may mean for them.”

Some addiction experts fear that a retreat from harm reduction will reverse the falloff in deaths from injection-related diseases.

“Hepatitis C and H.I.V. numbers will go up, and more people are going to die,” said Dr. Kelly Ramsey, a harm reduction consultant who practices addiction medicine at a South Bronx clinic.

While overdose deaths have fallen, it is unclear whether drug use itself has also slowed. In neighborhoods across the country, from Portland, Maine, to Portland, Ore., many residents complain that the harm to them from drug use, including crime and syringe street litter, has not been reduced.

Mr. Trump particularly called out a type of harm reduction known as “safe consumption sites” — sometimes labeled “overdose prevention centers.” They are supervised locations where people can inject drugs without fatally overdosing, found in Europe, Canada and Mexico. Often drug users can test their supplies right away and staff members can quickly administer overdose reversal medication if needed.

There are only three in the United States, and they make for easy political targets. In addition to many Republicans, prominent Democratic governors, including Gavin Newsom of California, Kathy Hochul of New York and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, oppose them. The Pennsylvania senate voted to ban them. One, in Rhode Island, is protected by state and local law. But the other two, in New York City, which provide treatment referrals and support services, operate in a legal gray zone and could face federal scrutiny.

Opponents of harm reduction offer few specifics about how to get more people to stop using drugs and into treatment. Mr. Trump’s order directs the health secretary and the attorney general to explore laws to civilly commit addicted people who cannot care for themselves into residential treatment “or other appropriate facilities.” But it is silent about how such programs would be paid for.

The administration has already made major cuts to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the federal agency that awards grants for prevention, treatment and recovery. It has slashed the agency’s staff and the grants it gives for a wide variety of prevention, intervention and treatment services.

Cuts to Medicaid included in the sweeping domestic policy bill enacted this summer are also likely to affect many people’s access to treatment and states’ ability to cover it. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health secretary, who is in recovery from a substance use disorder, has focused on nutrition, chronic disease and vaccines during his first six months in office and has said little about plans to address the drug crisis.

The battle over whether harm reduction should remain a primary goal or be secondary to getting users into treatment and restoring order to public streets has been joined most intensively in San Francisco.

There, ample social services and ferociously expensive housing had contributed to a large population living on the streets, many struggling with mental illness and addiction. Then, by 2020, fentanyl and Covid had slammed into the city.

At public meetings this spring, angry residents brandished signs, some reading “Harm Reduction Saves Lives” and others “Drug Enablism Kills.”

Although the city has adhered to regulations for state-funded Housing First programs, which offer permanent housing for homeless people without requiring them to be drug-free, Mr. Lurie recently presided over the opening of the city’s first transitional sober living residence, with 54 units for adults committed to abstinence.

The drive to adjust the city’s drug policy to recovery first has been led by Matt Dorsey, a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, who is in recovery from a substance use disorder.

In an interview, Mr. Dorsey said he supports aspects of harm reduction, including the distribution of safe supplies. But he sees the strategy as more of a floor than a ceiling. “We need to make clear that the objective of our drug policy is a healthy, self-directed life free of illicit drug use,” he said.

The difficult challenge, he said, was how to attend to the rights of pedestrians who daily confront drug use, while also trying to “help people addicted to life-threatening drugs.”

To pay for additional treatment and services, he said, city officials are working on ballot measures to redirect tax revenue.

“Part of what gives me confidence that we will ultimately find the funding,” Mr. Dorsey added, “is that the alternative is unthinkable.”

 

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/25/health/harm-reduction-san-francisco-trump.html

Filed under: Drug use-various effects,Harm Reduction,Prevalence,Social Affairs,Treatment and Addiction,USA :

By Jennie Taer – New York Post – Published Aug. 28, 2025, 6:00 a.m. ET

The US is “behind the curve” on fighting a deadly new synthetic narcotic that’s dramatically more lethal than fentanyl and resistant to Narcan, a top DEA agent warns.

Just as authorities in the US and China increase efforts to tackle the scourge of fentanyl, the drug manufacturers, who are motivated by “greed,” shifted to start producing nitazenes — an even deadlier poison, said Drug Enforcement Administration Houston Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan C. Pullen.

The Trump administration has hit Mexico and China with sanctions and tariffs to force the foreign governments to act against illicit drug producers responsible for the poisonings of thousands of Americans each year.

Nitazenes and other synthetic drugs are often disguised to look like prescription pills.Getty Images
Additionally, with President Trump’s effort to close the southern border, the feds have seen a significant drop in the flow of illicit fentanyl into the US.

But the Chinese pharma companies and cartels have already moved to introduce a new and stronger drug that many authorities are just now learning about, Pullen said.

“And if we get into a place where then we are able to issue controls or China issues more controls on the precursor chemicals that go to these, they’ll just change the analog and it’ll go to another precursor chemical. China’s already done that,” he added.

Nitazenes are produced in China, often with the help of Mexican cartels that finish the product and move it north across the border, according to Pullen.

The potent narcotic can be up to 43 times stronger than fentanyl depending on the formula, according to the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission.

Nitazenes are not included in routine drug tests or toxicology screenings, making them all the more challenging to detect.

While the feds are “making headway” to tackle the new threat, there’s still more work to be done, said Pullen.

“So it’s very very difficult to stay ahead of it, so we’ve got to continue to step up our enforcement along the border,” he said.

“I think that the number of overdose deaths being reduced in the United States is a testament to that. The enforcement is not the only reason its reduced. Naloxone [aka Narcan] is a huge piece too, but we’re definitely making some headway and we’re gonna keep pushing on that.”

There were 80,000 overdose deaths in the US in 2024 — a 27% drop from the 110,000 deaths estimated in 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While the wider use of Narcan has contributed to the drop in overdose deaths, nitazenes is often resistant to the drug antidote — adding a terrifying new pitfall, Pullen warned.

“It’s incredibly deadly and normal treatment methods like naloxone … don’t work as well on nitazenes because it’s so much stronger,” said Pullen.

“It’s really hard to overcome if you’ve taken one.”

In the Houston-area, there were 15 deaths related to nitazenes and 11 seizures of the drug between November and February, according to the DEA.

Two of the victims were best friends Lucci Reyes-McCallister, 22, and Hunter Clement, 21, who ingested pills marketed as Xanax and Percocet that actually contained N-pyrrolidino protonitazene, a form of nitazenes that is 25 times stronger than fentanyl.

An illustration that highlights the U.S. cities with the highest rates of nitazene-related overdoses.Jared Larson / NY Post Design

And their mothers are warning America’s youth in the hopes of saving lives.

“They could think something is clean or rather safe when it’s actually pressed for something that’s 20 to 40 times stronger, more deadly than fentanyl,” Lucci’s mother Grey recently told The Post.

“It just really lit a fire under me. There was no way Lucci was going to die in vain,” she added.

The drug was developed 60 years ago as a possible alternative to morphine, but was outlawed for medical use over its high overdose risk.

Authorities in Europe have already seen several overdoses from the synthetic narcotic. It was first detected in the US in 2019.

Last January, a Florida man confessed to distributing protonitazene that he received in mailed shipments from China, according to the IRS.

Customs officers at Kennedy are also seeing the drug coming through the airport “at least a few times a week in quantities ranging from just a few grams to upwards of a pound or more,” Andrew Renna, assistant port director for cargo operations at the airport, said in May.

Source: https://nypost.com/2025/08/28/us-news/america-not-ready-to-combat-nitazene-synthetic-opioids-dea-agent/

Filed under: Addiction,Drug use-various effects,Opioids,Synthetics,USA :

Marijuana is one of the most widely used drugs globally. Rising legalization has fueled greater social acceptance and lowered perceptions of risk even as research continues to highlight its harms. A recent study published in Pediatric Research reviewed years of evidence from both animal models and human studies, examining how marijuana impacts pregnant women and their babies.

How marijuana affects the body during pregnancy

One of the critical human body systems is the Endocannabinoid System (ECS), which helps regulate memory, appetite, emotions, and even fetal development. During pregnancy, the ECS is especially active, influencing hormonal signaling, fetus brain development, and placental development.

When marijuana is used, cannabinoids such as THC enter and interfere with the ECS, disrupting its natural processes. Because THC is lipophilic, meaning it binds strongly to fat, THC crosses into fatty tissues and can be stored there for weeks. This is especially concerning during pregnancy because the membrane of the placenta, which is the critical organ that supplies the developing baby with nutrients and oxygen, is mostly made of fatty molecules enabling THC to enter with ease. About one-third of the THC in the mother’s body reaches the fetus and once there, it can accumulate in the developing brain and other fatty tissues. Animal studies show that even after marijuana use stops, the developing fetus continues to be exposed to THC, potentially altering how organs and systems grow.

Long term effects extend beyond infancy

Research finds that marijuana use during pregnancy is associated with:

Fetal growth problems: Babies exposed to marijuana in the womb are more likely to be born small for their gestational age, be admitted to the NICU, and face a 75% increased risk of low birth weight. Even short-term exposure during early pregnancy can impact fetal growth.
Developmental delays: Long-term studies show that marijuana-exposed children may struggle with memory, attention, problem-solving, and emotional regulation.
Higher risk of metabolic and heart problems: Prenatal marijuana exposure may change how the body processes insulin and stores fat which could increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease later in life.
Increased vulnerability to addiction: Prenatal marijuana exposure changes the brain pathways involved in reward and impulse control which may increase the risk of substance use and mental health challenges during adolescence and adulthood.
 

In some studies, girls’ exposure to marijuana in the womb showed more behavioral problems including aggression and attention issues, as early as 18 months of age.

With the marijuana industry falsely promoting products as “natural” and safe remedies for various health conditions, it is critical that women of childbearing age understand that marijuana use is not risk-free. Research consistently shows that marijuana can affect fetal development, leading to long-lasting consequences for a child’s physical and mental health.

For science-based resources on marijuana use during pregnancy, as well as tools for parents and fathers, click here to visit our dedicated webpage on this topic. If you are in Florida, our grant program allows us to provide and distribute these resources to you free of charge. Complete this request form to access materials ranging from Go-to-Guides to Fast Facts for Fathers.

Prevention starts with education, and staying informed can help protect future generations.

Source: Drug Free America Foundation | 333 3rd Ave N Suite 200 | St. Petersburg, FL 33701 US

Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana,Drug use-various effects on foetus, babies, children and youth,Education,Prevention and Intervention,USA :
by Kyoto University –
A new non-opioid pain reliever developed in Japan shows early success in clinical trials, offering hope for safer pain management. If effective, it could help curb the opioid crisis by providing a powerful alternative. Credit: Stock

The discovery of a new painkiller offers relief with fewer side effects.

Morphine and other opioids are commonly used in medicine because of their strong ability to relieve pain. Yet, they also pose significant risks, including respiratory depression and drug dependence. To limit these dangers, Japan enforces strict rules that allow only specially authorized physicians to prescribe such medications.

In contrast, the United States saw widespread prescribing of the opioid OxyContin, which fueled a rise in the misuse of synthetic opioids like fentanyl. By 2023, deaths from opioid overdoses had exceeded 80,000, marking the escalation of a nationwide public health emergency now known as the “opioid crisis.”

A new analgesic approach

Opioids may soon face competition. Researchers at Kyoto University have identified a new analgesic, named ADRIANA, that provides pain relief through a completely different biological pathway. The drug is now moving through clinical development as part of an international research collaboration.

“If successfully commercialized, ADRIANA would offer a new pain management option that does not rely on opioids, contributing significantly to the reduction of opioid use in clinical settings,” says corresponding author Masatoshi Hagiwara, a specially-appointed professor at Kyoto University.

Targeting adrenoceptors for safer pain relief

The researchers drew their initial inspiration from compounds that imitate noradrenaline, a chemical released during life-threatening situations that activates α2A-adrenoceptors to reduce pain. While effective, these compounds carry a high risk of destabilizing cardiovascular function. By examining the relationship between noradrenaline levels and α2B-adrenoceptors, the team proposed that selectively blocking α2B-adrenoceptors could increase noradrenaline activity, stimulate α2A-adrenoceptors, and provide pain relief without triggering cardiovascular instability.

To test this idea, the scientists used a specialized method called the TGFα shedding assay, which allowed them to measure the function of different α2-adrenoceptor subtypes. Through compound screening, they succeeded in identifying the world’s first selective α2B-adrenoceptor antagonist.

Promising clinical results and future trials

After success in administering the compound to mice and conducting non-clinical studies to assess its safety, physician-led clinical trials were conducted at Kyoto University Hospital. Both the Phase I trial in healthy volunteers and the Phase II trial in patients with postoperative pain following lung cancer surgery yielded highly promising results.

Building on these outcomes, preparations are now underway for a large-scale Phase II clinical trial in the United States, in collaboration with BTB Therapeutics, Inc, a Kyoto University-originated venture company.

As Japan’s first non-opioid analgesic, ADRIANA has the potential not only to relieve severe pain for patients worldwide but could also play a meaningful role in addressing the opioid crisis — a pressing social issue in the United States — and thus contribute to international public health efforts.

“We aim to evaluate the analgesic effects of ADRIANA across various types of pain and ultimately make this treatment accessible to a broader population of patients suffering from chronic pain,” says Hagiwara.

Source: https://scitechdaily.com/the-end-of-opioids-new-drug-could-change-the-way-we-treat-severe-pain/

Filed under: Addiction,Opioids,Others (International News) :

Although I’ve been deeply concerned about this problem since my days in Sacramento, over the past nearly 8 years, I’ve focused mainly on education, on prevention, and on the need to change attitudes.

NANCY REAGAN
Remarks at the White House Conference for a Drug Free America Washington, D.C. 02/29/1988

The White House

People finally are facing up to drug abuse. They’re banding together, and they’re making real progress. And I just want to say a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to all those people out there who are working so hard to get drug abuse under control.

NANCY REAGAN
Radio Address to the Nation on Federal Drug Policy 10/02/1982

As First Lady, Nancy Reagan focused on fighting drug and alcohol abuse among youth. She expanded the drug awareness campaign to the international level when she invited First Ladies from around the world to the First Lady Conference on Drug Abuse April 24-25, 1985.

“Just Say No”

Thank you for being part of the first international ‘Just Say No’ walk. Look around at how many young people are walking with you today. And just think, there are groups as big as yours, or even bigger, doing the same thing all over the world! Can you imagine just how many children are saying ‘Just Say No’ today? Children everywhere are learning about drug abuse at an early age. And that’s a good thing.

NANCY REAGAN
Remarks at the Just Say No International Walk 05/22/1986

First Lady Nancy Reagan urged the nation’s youth to “just say no.” She appeared on television talk shows, attended rallies and sporting events, taped public service announcements, and wrote guest articles.

 

Signings

This legislation allows us to do even more. Nevertheless, today marks a major victory in our crusade against drugs – a victory for safer neighborhoods, a victory for the protection of the American family.

President Ronald Reagan
Remarks on Signing the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 10/27/1986

The United Nations

In your deliberations, I urge you not to be diplomatic for the sake of diplomacy, but to speak the truth about the effects of drugs on our peoples and our governments. I urge you to be tough and firm in the recommendations you make.

Nancy Reagan
Remarks to the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly 10/25/1988

On October 21, 1985, during the United Nation’s 40th anniversary, Nancy Reagan hosted a second international drug conference.

On October 25, 1988, she addressed the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly where she spoke about the illegal use of drugs and its impact on families.

Nancy Reagan and the Fight Against Drug Abuse: United Nations: Textual Records

The picture below shows the various trips Nancy Regan made in promoting her campaign.

Source: https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/exhibits/virtual-exhibits/nancy-reagan-and-fight-against-drug-abuse

Filed under: Addiction,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Political Sector,Prevalence,Prevention and Intervention,USA,Youth :
by: Kelley King –  Miami Valley News – Posted:

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — The Drug Enforcement Administration is launching a major campaign to combat drug abuse on college campuses.

Officials say it’s an effort to talk directly with students and raise awareness about the dangers of drugs.

“One pill can kill” is the message the Drug Enforcement Administration is pushing in a state that’s a victim of its own geography with the I-70/I-75 interchange.

“Ohio is kind of uniquely positioned. It’s great for commerce, but just like it’s great for commerce is great for drug traffickers as well,” says Brian McNeal.

Brian McNeal is the DEA’s Public Information Officer for the Detroit Division, covering Michigan, Ohio, and Northern Kentucky.

His visit to college campuses comes after a major bust in September where a large amount of drugs — including fentanyl — were seized after being brought into the region from China.

“It’s a demonstration that what happens in other parts of the world can have an impact here in Ohio,” states McNeal.

McNeal says a lot of times, you don’t know what’s in a synthetic opioid. Sometimes it’s filler — like aspirin or caffeine. But other times it’s methamphetamine or even a lethal dose of fentanyl.

McNeal says a big trend they’re seeing now are counterfeit pills, and they’re easier than ever to get.

“Gone are the days where you have to meet somebody in a weird part of town. You can just sit on your phone and order these pills,” states McNeal.

He says half of the counterfeit pills they’re seizing contain two milligrams of fentanyl, which is a deadly dose.

That’s why they’re bringing the campaign to campus to promote drug prevention and provide free resources, and in turn, decrease drug related deaths. 

“A lot of times, college students whether they’re on campus or off campus, there’s this misnomer that maybe if I pop a Percocet or an Adderall, it’ll help me study,” says McNeal. “The only pill that you should take is one prescribed by your doctor, obtained at a legitimate pharmacy, that has your name on it.”

The DEA says young adults ages 18 to 25 make up 11 percent of drug-related emergency room visits. 

Source: https://www.wdtn.com/news/local-news/dea-launches-campaign-on-campuses-warning-of-drug-dangers/

Filed under: Addiction,Drug use-various effects,Education,Prevention and Intervention,USA,Youth :
By Kyoto University –
 A new non-opioid pain reliever developed in Japan shows early success in clinical trials, offering hope for safer pain management.
If  effective, it could help curb the opioid crisis by providing a powerful alternative. Credit: Stock

The discovery of a new painkiller offers relief with fewer side effects.

Morphine and other opioids are commonly used in medicine because of their strong ability to relieve pain. Yet, they also pose significant risks, including respiratory depression and drug dependence. To limit these dangers, Japan enforces strict rules that allow only specially authorized physicians to prescribe such medications.

In contrast, the United States saw widespread prescribing of the opioid OxyContin, which fueled a rise in the misuse of synthetic opioids like fentanyl. By 2023, deaths from opioid overdoses had exceeded 80,000, marking the escalation of a nationwide public health emergency now known as the “opioid crisis.”

A new analgesic approach

Opioids may soon face competition. Researchers at Kyoto University have identified a new analgesic, named ADRIANA, that provides pain relief through a completely different biological pathway. The drug is now moving through clinical development as part of an international research collaboration.

“If successfully commercialized, ADRIANA would offer a new pain management option that does not rely on opioids, contributing significantly to the reduction of opioid use in clinical settings,” says corresponding author Masatoshi Hagiwara, a specially-appointed professor at Kyoto University.

Targeting adrenoceptors for safer pain relief

The researchers drew their initial inspiration from compounds that imitate noradrenaline, a chemical released during life-threatening situations that activates α2A-adrenoceptors to reduce pain. While effective, these compounds carry a high risk of destabilizing cardiovascular function. By examining the relationship between noradrenaline levels and α2B-adrenoceptors, the team proposed that selectively blocking α2B-adrenoceptors could increase noradrenaline activity, stimulate α2A-adrenoceptors, and provide pain relief without triggering cardiovascular instability.

  Mechanism of pain relief by ADRIANA. Credit: KyotoU / Hagiwara lab

To test this idea, the scientists used a specialized method called the TGFα shedding assay, which allowed them to measure the function of different α2-adrenoceptor subtypes. Through compound screening, they succeeded in identifying the world’s first selective α2B-adrenoceptor antagonist.

Promising clinical results and future trials

After success in administering the compound to mice and conducting non-clinical studies to assess its safety, physician-led clinical trials were conducted at Kyoto University Hospital. Both the Phase I trial in healthy volunteers and the Phase II trial in patients with postoperative pain following lung cancer surgery yielded highly promising results.

Building on these outcomes, preparations are now underway for a large-scale Phase II clinical trial in the United States, in collaboration with BTB Therapeutics, Inc, a Kyoto University-originated venture company.

As Japan’s first non-opioid analgesic, ADRIANA has the potential not only to relieve severe pain for patients worldwide but could also play a meaningful role in addressing the opioid crisis — a pressing social issue in the United States — and thus contribute to international public health efforts.

“We aim to evaluate the analgesic effects of ADRIANA across various types of pain and ultimately make this treatment accessible to a broader population of patients suffering from chronic pain,” says Hagiwara.

Reference: “Discovery and development of an oral analgesic targeting the α2B adrenoceptor” by Masayasu Toyomoto, Takashi Kurihara, Takayuki Nakagawa, Asuka Inoue, Ryo Kimura, Isao Kii, Teruo Sawada, Takashi Ogihara, Kazuki Nagayasu, Takayuki Kishi, Hiroshi Onogi, Dohyun Im, Hidetsugu Asada, So Iwata, Jumpei Taguchi, Yuto Sumida, Suguru Yoshida, Junken Aoki, Takamitsu Hosoya and Masatoshi Hagiwara, 7 August 2025, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2500006122

Funding: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development

Source:  https://scitechdaily.com/the-end-of-opioids-new-drug-could-change-the-way-we-treat-severe-pain/

Filed under: Brain and Behaviour,Drug use-various effects,Opioids,Others (International News),Treatment and Addiction :

by DAVID EVANS – 19 August 2025

There are established five schedules of controlled substances, to be known as schedules I, II, III, IV, and V.

(1) Schedule I–(A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.(B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.(C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.

(2) Schedule II–(A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.(B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions.(C) Abuse of the drug or other substances may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
(3) Schedule III–(A) The drug or other substance has a potential for abuse less than the drugs or other substances in schedules I and II.(B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.(C) Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.

(4) Schedule IV–(A) The drug or other substance has a low potential for abuse relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule III.(B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.(C) Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule III.
(5) Schedule V–(A) The drug or other substance has a low potential for abuse relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule IV.(B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.(C) Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule IV.

Moving marijuana to Schedule III would not legalize the drug, however, the change would greatly serve to benefit state legalized commercial marijuana companies who would no longer be subject to IRS Section 280E and thus could deduct business expenses and drastically increase their profit margins. This means more advertising and normalization. Not only would this mean that marijuana corporations would be able to deduct expenses for advertisements appealing to youth and the sale of kid-friendly marijuana gummies, but it would also dramatically increase the industry’s commercialization ability.

—
Source:  www.drugwatch.org  (drug-watch-international@googlegroups.com)

Filed under: Drug use-various effects,Legal Sector,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,USA :

by UNODC – 20 August 2025

For over three decades, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has supported non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in low- and middle-income countries implement substance use prevention projects that benefit youth around the world. This support has been made possible through the ongoing contributions of the Drug Abuse Prevention Centre (DAPC) in Japan since 1994. The DAPC Grants Programme enables civil society organizations to initiate and scale up prevention activities for youth and with youth aligned with the UNODC/WHO International Standards on Drug Use Prevention. The grants also empower young people to take active roles in supporting the health and wellbeing of their peers.

Following the 2024 Call for Proposals, which attracted more than 500 applications (more than double the previous year’s submissions), UNODC selected four new DAPC grant recipients through a multi-phased competitive process. Grantees from Cambodia, Iraq, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe will soon begin implementing their projects to support youth through locally grounded prevention efforts.

The Youth Aspire Development Trust, based in Zimbabwe, will be implementing their SPARK (Substance Prevention and Awareness for Resilient Knowledgeable Communities) project.  The grantee will engage with schools and communities in the Chitungwiza region of Zimbabwe targeting students, teachers and parents. Teachers from local schools will receive training on classroom-based prevention strategies, early detection of risky behaviours, and ways to foster positive school climates. Students will also be selected as peer leaders and be equipped with life skills, refusal techniques, and resilience training to lead cascade sessions and positively influence other peers. Complementing these efforts, the grantee will also engage parents to strengthen their role in creating protective home environments for their family. And finally, to expand the reach of the programme, trained teachers and parents will conduct cascade trainings within schools and communities.

The Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC) in Sri Lanka will implement the project “Peer Power: Youth-Driven Substance Use Prevention and Resilience Building” in Colombo. Youth facilitators will be trained to mentor younger peer leaders, who will deliver interactive, skills-based workshops in local communities and schools with the support of ADIC’s resource persons. The project includes a baseline survey, capacity building for youth, creation of a tailored action plan, peer-to-peer education sessions, community and family engagement activities, and social media campaigns developed by youth. By combining in-person outreach with digital platforms, the project aims to enhance youth resilience and decision-making, empower and educate youth leaders, and strengthen community support for such initiatives.

In Cambodia, the grantee Mith Samlanh will implement its “Peer Prevention: A Youth-Driven Project Against Drugs” project by combining national and community-level initiatives. A national multimedia campaign, developed together with youth, will raise awareness about the risks of drug use through videos and prevention messages, reaching young people across social media platforms. In parallel, in-person awareness sessions will engage directly with communities in vulnerable areas of Phnom Penh, helping to bridge the digital divide and reach those who may not be active online. The grantee will also develop and integrate a Drug Prevention module into Mith Samlanh’s existing soft skills training for at-risk individuals, using evidence-informed methods to build resilience and enhance life skills. Additionally, a cascade Training of Trainers modality will strengthen local capacity by preparing teachers, social workers, youth champions, and local authorities to deliver prevention messaging and trainings to support youth and families across Phnom Penh.

In Iraq, the Bestan Child Society (Bustan Association) will implement the “Building Community Power to Prevent Youth Drug Use” project. The grantee will engage with community influencers such as teachers, sports coaches, youth leaders, and journalists to strengthen the local prevention capacity. Trained as prevention champions, they will integrate drug awareness and life skills into sports, arts, and peer-led activities that will be conducted in the target communities. Youth will also take part as informal peer educators through the 3S Initiative (Sport–Smile–Sleep), which will promote resilience and healthy lifestyles in young people.  Also, youth co-created awareness materials will further extend the project’s reach through social media and community events.

UNODC is pleased to support these four new diverse projects under the DAPC Grants Programme. Each initiative reflects a strong commitment to prevention aligned with the Standards, youth engagement, and community-level action — key elements in building healthier lifestyles and safer environments for young people to grow and thrive in. For more information about the DAPC grants projects and the programme, please visit the Youth Initiative website and stay up to date through the UNODC PTRS social media channels  (X, LinkedIn, Facebook).

Source:  https://www.unodc.org/unodc/prevention/youth-initiative/youth-action/2025/August/introducing-new-dapc-grant-funded-projects.html

Filed under: All countries,Crime/Violence/Prison,Drug use-various effects,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,Youth :

Issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection  – Thu, 08/21/2025

NEW YORK — U.S. Customs and Border Protection Deputy Commissioner John Modlin delivered remarks at a National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day event today in Times Square.

The annual event, hosted by the nonprofit Facing Fentanyl, brings together impacted families and federal, state, and local law enforcement to draw national attention to the synthetic opioid epidemic.

“On behalf of the more than 65,000 fathers and mothers, and sons and daughters, who are also agents, officers and professional staff of CBP, we mourn with those who have lost a loved one to fentanyl poisoning,” said Deputy Commissioner Modlin. “Every hour of every day of the year, CBP is enforcing the law, across the land, in the air, and on the sea. Fentanyl is not just a public health threat – it’s a weapon. Any group that tries to poison Americans will face U.S. law enforcement and national security authorities.”

CBP supports the nation’s fight against fentanyl by prioritizing counter-fentanyl efforts across all operational environments. This includes stopping the ingredients, equipment, and the drug itself from entering or moving through the U.S. CBP has significantly increased its efforts to find and seize fentanyl at border crossings and checkpoints, using a variety of methods, such as officers’ instincts, drug-sniffing dogs, advanced scanning technology, artificial intelligence, and intelligence gathering to target and stop smugglers.

CBP’s approach to combatting fentanyl has grown to also include taking down the criminal groups that ship fentanyl, its ingredients, and pill-making equipment into the U.S. By working closely with law enforcement agencies both within the U.S. and in other countries, CBP helps investigate the larger criminal organizations, not just the individuals caught smuggling drugs at the border.

Fentanyl is a very dangerous drug that CBP first encountered in its final form around 2013-2014. Even a very small amount can be deadly. It’s cheap and easy to make, and there’s a high demand for it. Just one kilogram (about 2.2 pounds) of fentanyl already mixed into pills makes just over 9,000 pills. In contrast, one kilogram of fentanyl powder can make roughly 80,000 pills.

National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day serves as a vital platform to highlight the devastating impact of synthetic opioids and the ongoing efforts to combat this epidemic. CBP’s participation underscores its unwavering commitment to protecting American communities and saving lives.

For more information on National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, visit DEA Fentanyl Awareness.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is America’s frontline: the nation’s largest law enforcement organization and the world’s first unified border management agency. The 65,000+ men and women of CBP protect America on the ground, in the air, and on the seas. We enforce safe, lawful travel and trade and ensure our country’s economic prosperity. We enhance the nation’s security through innovation, intelligence, collaboration, and trust.

Source:  https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/cbp-observes-national-fentanyl-prevention-and-awareness-day

Filed under: Culture,Drug use-various effects,Fentanyl,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,USA :

 

Social media often gets a bad reputation when it comes to how much time children and teens spend glued to their phones – but there are lots of ways that social media can be a tool for good in the hands of a teen.
The Ups and Downs of Teens and Social Media

Social media issues for teenagers can be rife, and most parents are aware of the dangers. Cyber-bulling is a real problem, and studies show that too much time spent on social media can lead to feelings of low self-esteem and depression amongst teens who compare themselves to unrealistic ideals they see online.

While these are serious concerns, as a foster carer, you can make social media a positive experience for your foster teen by helping them to be aware of the risks and empowering them to take advantage of the benefits. You can also help your teen to limit the negative consequences by encouraging them to enjoy social media in moderation. Teens need time to enjoy life offline – exercise and face-to-face socialisation are both important for their growing brains and bodies.

In fact, a 2019 study found a strong link between the negative effects of social media and a lack of exercise brought about by too much time spent online. That means balancing time on devices with plenty of physical activity can help mitigate some of social media’s more harmful effects.

How to Encourage Healthy Social Media Habits for Teens?

Empower your teen to use social media safely

Talk about what is safe to share online and what isn’t, and make sure your foster teen knows what to watch out for to avoid online predators, scammers, and cyberbullies. Teach them to recognise false information and to think critically about what they read and see online.

Help them understand the risks to their mental health and self-image and decide together how to deal with these feelings if they come up. Make sure they know how to change their privacy settings on different platforms.

Looking for more guidance on internet safety? The UK Safer Internet Centre has a host of resources for teens from 11-19.

Encourage self-expression

Not only can social media be a great way for teens to explore new things like art, culture, and history, it’s also a versatile tool for self-expression. Many creative teens use social media to showcase their own art and performances, while others use it as a platform for building a unique personal brand through what they share and how they engage with online communities.

Using social media in this way can teach a teen digital skills and build an online presence that will put them in a good position for future education and job prospects. You can help your teen build their digital skills through online and in-person courses, such as photo/video editing and content creation. Check out BT’s Skills for Tomorrow portal for a host of free family resources.

Keep connected

For foster children, social media can be a useful way to keep in touch with old friends and family members and build important connections for the future. It also helps many teens strengthen friendships and build communities around shared experiences and interests – particularly when it’s not possible to see one another in person (like when schools are closed, or across long distances).

Being a teen can be lonely if you feel like you don’t fit in, but you can always find someone who’s interested in the same things you are online – whether that’s someone who loves the same band you do or someone from a similar cultural background.

Inspire your foster teen to do good

With the world more connected through social media, teens today have access to a lot more information on global issues – and many more ways to have an impact. Consider 17-year-old Greta Thunberg; in two years, she’s been able to reach a global audience with her message of fighting climate change and now has an Instagram following of over 10 million.

Help your teen find an issue that they care about and encourage them to get involved and have a positive impact, such as promoting community initiatives and organisations.

Be involved

Model healthy social media use by not looking at your phone during meals or family activities, and limit screen time close to bedtime.

Follow your foster teen on social media and make time to chat with them – in person and in a non-judgemental way – about what they and their friends are posting and seeing online. Share interesting and educational feeds with them and keep communication open so your teen knows they can talk to you if they see or experience anything upsetting online.

Teenagers can be truly inspiring with the passion and energy they bring, but many teens suffer without a safe space to grow up. If you have the room to give a young person a stable and supportive home, get in touch today. You can also read our article about fostering teenagers here.

Source:  https://www.compassfostering.com/advice/teenagers-and-social-media

 

Filed under: Culture,Social Media,USA,Youth :

by Kevin Sabet  August 22, 2025 

In 2018, 27-year-old Bryn Spejcher, an inexperienced marijuana smoker in California, killed her boyfriend Chad O’Melia by stabbing him 108 times, a crime the local district attorney described as “horrific” and “one of the worst our medical examiner has ever seen.” A jury found Spejcher guilty of involuntary manslaughter, but she received only probation at sentencing because of a compelling presentation of her defense of cannabis-induced psychosis. Prior to the violent incident, Spejcher had taken two hits of legal marijuana from a bong, and claimed that she began “seeing things that weren’t there” and lost touch with reality. She also stabbed herself repeatedly in the neck, and stabbed her own dog. Law enforcement agents called to the scene had to break her arm with a metal baton to get her to let go of the knife; multiple Taserings had no effect. 

Cases like Spejcher’s illustrate the stakes involved in the federal reclassification of marijuana. If President Trump follows through with such a move, the drug would remain illegal on the federal level, but would receive an imprimatur of being safer and face fewer restrictions, with significant commercial and social implications.  

Yet voices across public discourse persist in asking: why should anyone care if President Trump does just that? 

Celebrities like Mike Tyson and Joe Rogan and hedge-fund bosses like Andrew Lahde tell us that marijuana is no big deal. Numerous states have already legalized it for medical and recreational usage, and they claim to be regulating it well. If we are to believe the advocates, marijuana is a miracle cure for PTSD, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder — not to mention an unbeatable salve for the pain suffered by cancer patients.

So what sense does it make for this drug to sit in the same federal category as PCP and heroin? Isn’t marijuana’s placement in Schedule I, the most serious category, merely a relic of discredited thinking from the bad old days of the War on Drugs? It isn’t. To understand why it isn’t, and why a Trump move to reclassify weed would risk unmitigated harm to American health and safety, it’s first important to clear up some common misunderstandings around how and why drugs end up classified as they do.  

Under the Controlled Substances Act of 1971, a five-part schedule was established for classification of potentially dangerous drugs. This schedule is emphatically not an index either of a drug’s “hardness” or a kind of unofficial charging and sentencing guide for prosecutors and judges. Placement is earned specifically through consideration of a drug’s accepted medical use and its abuse risk. Drugs with no accepted medical use and a high risk of abuse get placed in Schedule I.  

That’s the commonality between marijuana and heroin; under federal law, the relevant agencies necessarily view them that way.  

Neither has an accepted medical use, though both drugs have approved medicines derived from them that remain in lower schedules (the medicine dronabinol, for example, is synthesized THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, and is in Schedule III). Both have high risks of abuse. The argument that one is a “hard” drug and the other is not  — which is debatable, especially given today’s ultra-high-potency weed — simply doesn’t come into play.  

Nor does the criminal-justice question. Keeping marijuana in Schedule I isn’t, as critics have it, a carceral strategy; conversely, moving it into Schedule III isn’t a de-carceral one. Under a move to Schedule III, the drug would remain federally illegal, still subject to the enforcement power of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Department of Justice. No low-level offender would see his sentence commuted. This is sort of beside the point anyway, since most low-level marijuana users never receive a sentence for anything. 

But how can it be, another objection runs, that the drug has no medical use? Most US states currently allow doctors to recommend it. 

That, again, is technically correct. But the decisions those states made to allow doctors (and in some cases, “designated caregivers”) to recommend marijuana to treat pain and other issues were political decisions, not medical or scientific ones. Voters stated a preference; that has no effect on how federal agencies are required by current law to view the question. The facts of just how those recommendations get handed out drive home that political aspect. In 2022, Pennsylvania saw some 132,000 medical-marijuana certifications, a third of the state’s total for that year, issued by only 17 doctors.

Those decisions, taken in the aggregate, don’t constitute an accepted medical use. Or at least, they didn’t until October 2022. That was the month the Biden administration directed its Department of Health and Human Services to look into a possible reclassification of the drug.  

“This schedule is emphatically not an index either of a drug’s ‘hardness’ or a kind of unofficial charging and sentencing guide.”

Again, history is important here. Before the Biden process, the federal government had used an eight-factor test to determine how to schedule various drugs. Those factors focus on what the current and historical patterns of its abuse look like, as well as what that means for individual users, what risk it presents to public health, how likely it is to cause dependence (either physical or psychological), the state of the science around the drug and its pharmacology, and whether it’s a chemical precursor or “analogue” of another controlled substance.  

By these metrics, marijuana is precisely where it belongs in Schedule I. The best science shows that it isn’t an effective medical treatment. One of the most frequent conditions it’s used to treat is chronic pain. But the 2017 study cited to prove its efficacy there has seen dozens of subsequent meta-analyses and reviews fail to support its conclusions; a 2022 study of a decade’s worth of surgical records from a Cleveland hospital even found that using marijuana actually increases pain after surgery. 

The data also demonstrate that marijuana poses a significant risk of dependency: addiction rates are around 30% of all users and rising. Addiction in this case means exactly what it does for other substances: inability to quit, a need for ever more of the drug to achieve the same effect, and even withdrawal symptoms. Given the recent avalanche of data cataloguing marijuana’s harms specifically to cardiac and mental health — like a June British Medical Journal review  connecting it to a two-fold risk of cardiovascular death or the massive Danish study from 2023 suggesting that as much as 30% of schizophrenia cases among men between 21 and 30 were linked to cannabis-use disorder — its wider public-health risks are glaringly clear.  

The Biden administration supplanted the eight factors with a new system seemingly designed to push the drug into a less restrictive schedule. The Biden recommendation — likely a political compromise between the status quo and full legalization, timed just before Joe Biden’s re-election bid — also incorporated the shaky argument that because so many states have made political decisions to allow medical marijuana, that constitutes an accepted medical use.

An incisive article in JAMA Neurology, by the Harvard addiction scientist Bertha Madras, took a hard look at the process and found disturbing evidence of politicization. This included the fact that a high-ranking Biden DOJ official, Acting Assistant Attorney General Peter Hyun, argued that “cannabis has not been proven in scientific studies to be a safe and effective treatment for any disease or condition” — six months before the rescheduling directive appeared. Yet the science Hyun cites certainly had not changed in the interim.  

The federal government has long held the position Hyun laid out. Under the Obama administration, Jay Inslee and Gina Raimondo — then the governors of Washington and Rhode Island, respectively — petitioned the federal government to reclassify marijuana. The administration’s response made clear that federal drug schedules reflect what the science says, not “danger” or “severity.” Obama’s then-DEA chief, Chuck Rosenberg, announcing the denial of the petition, used language Hyun would later echo: “This decision isn’t based on danger. This decision is based on whether marijuana, as determined by the FDA, is a safe and effective medicine . . . and it’s not.”

Suggested reading

I have seen the damage cannabis does

By Peter Hurst

But let’s assume, for the sake of argument, that Trump reverses years of federal precedent to follow the logic of the rescheduling argument. What happens then? 

The truth: no one knows.  

It’s clear that the marijuana industry believes that rescheduling will be an enormous benefit to its shareholders. In one sense, that’s likely correct. Businesses selling substances in Schedule I face severe commercial restrictions under the tax code. A provision of the tax code prevents any such business from taking normal deductions at tax time on expenses like advertising. Lifting those restrictions seems sure to provide an enormous boost to revenues and reach for businesses selling marijuana products.

The impact on society is a different matter. The available evidence suggests that this will be a significant negative for society, especially given the research around how the young start using the drug: data published in June by researchers from the University of Southern California and Rutgers University show that exposure to marijuana social-media content plays a huge role in teens initiating use.  

But there are other externalities in play.  

If marijuana moves into Schedule III, it will be the only substance there without Food and Drug Administration approval. Will that play out in a similar way to the case of opium-poppy straw (i.e., the entirety of the plant, as it exists prior to the processes that turn it into heroin or opium)? Poppy straw is listed in Schedule II, but it also lacks an FDA approval — and it’s regularly seized by drug and border authorities, with a massive shipment grabbed up just in May. Though weed entrepreneurs clearly expect smooth sailing after a reclassification, they may well be in for a rough ride.

Then there’s the fact that substances listed in Schedule III face additional regulatory and enforcement power: Not only from the DEA and DOJ, but also from the FDA. There are strict rules around what sellers of Schedule III substances can and can’t say in advertisements. They’re forbidden from advertising off-label uses — and since marijuana lacks an FDA approval, all therapeutic uses are off-label. It’s easy to imagine another operator in the Schedule III space filing a lawsuit demanding precisely that kind of enforcement. 

In other words, rescheduling opens the door to regulatory chaos, even as it seems certain to add commercial firepower to an industry whose products, on the evidence, are extraordinarily harmful. How this combination will produce the benefits promised by proponents of rescheduling also remains unclear. 

The federal government shouldn’t signal to the American people that a drug that lacks medical or scientific imprimatur somehow possesses such approval. Others disagree — and vocally. They have a lot of money riding on it. But we should be crystal clear about what their preferred policy would  actually mean for American society — nothing good. 

Kevin Sabet, a former three-time White House senior drug-policy adviser, is president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana.

Source:  https://unherd.com/2025/08/the-illusion-of-safe-marijuana/?edition=us?

Filed under: Brain and Behaviour,Cannabis/Marijuana,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,USA :

by

  • Thomas Kennedy GreenfieldSenior Scientist, Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute
  • Libo LiPublic Health Institute, Alcohol Research Grouphttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7147-9838
  • Katherine J. Karriker-JaffeResearch Triangle Institutehttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2019-0222
  • Cat MunroePublic Health Institute, Alcohol Research Grouphttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6950-7200
  • Deidre PattersonPublic Health Institute, Alcohol Research Grouphttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6775-9682
  • Erica RosenCalifornia State University, Long Beachhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1343-7554
  • Yachen ZhuPublic Health Institute, Alcohol Research Grouphttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8192-6168
  • William C. Kerr Centre Director, Scientific Director, Public Health Institute, Alcohol Research Grouphttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6612-9200

August 22, 2025

This study from PHI’s Alcohol Research Group and RTI International evaluated the associations between a seven-item summative burden scale and different types of harms attributed to someone else’s use of alcohol, cannabis or other drugs.

There is a growing body of research on the second-hand harms from alcohol and drug use that points to the negative health impacts of substance use extend beyond the individual engaged in the behavior. The literature on alcohol-related harms has explored the connections between secondhand alcohol and drug harms (ADH) and their impact on quality of life, well-being and mental health issues among those affected, often including family members, but there hasn’t been any specific research done on the family burden related to alcohol and other drug harms until now.

This study from PHI’s Alcohol Research Group and independent scientific research institute RTI International evaluates the familial burden of the secondhand ADHs, investigating associations between a seven-item summative burden scale and different types of harms attributed to someone else’s use of alcohol, cannabis or other drugs. The findings reveal the need for family support interventions and policy remedies to mitigate these burdens.

You can view the study here:

Background: Family burden has not been studied in relation to alcohol and other drug harms from others. We adapted a family burden scale from studies of caring for those with mental health conditions for use in the US Alcohol and Drug Harm to Others Survey (ADHTOS). We investigated associations between a seven-item summative burden scale and different types of harms attributed to someone else’s use of alcohol, cannabis, or another drug: (a) being assaulted/physically harmed; (b) having family/partner problems; (c) feeling threatened or afraid; and (d) being emotionally hurt/neglected due to others’ substance use.

Methods: A survey of adults aged 18 years and over conducted between October 2023 and July 2024 (n = 8,311), involved address-based sampling (n = 3,931 including 193 mail-backs) and web panels (n = 4,380), oversampling Black (n = 951), Latinx (n = 790) and sexual or gender minority (SGM) respondents (n = 309). Data from seven items on types of burdens experienced from other people’s alcohol or drug use were provided by those harmed by someone else’s alcohol or drug use and were used to create a burden scale. Analyses used negative binomial regression on burden sum adjusting for covariates, such as age, gender, race and ethnicity, marital status and years of education.

Results: The single factor burden scale showed good internal consistency (α = .91). Components assessing being emotionally drained/exhausted and family friction/arguments were endorsed by 38–39% of participants; finding stigma of the other’s substance use upsetting was affirmed by 33%. Fewer endorsed feeling trapped in caregiving roles (22%), problems outside the family (26%), neglect of other family members’ needs (16%), and having to change plans (14%). In adjusted regression models, seven of eight harm exposures were significantly associated with burden scores.

Discussion: People reported substantial burden from others’ use of alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs. Family support interventions and policy remedies to mitigate these burdens are needed.

About RTI International

RTI International is an independent scientific research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Our vision is to address the world’s most critical problems with technical and science-based solutions in pursuit of a better future. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach—one that integrates expertise across social, statistical, data, and laboratory sciences, engineering, and other technical disciplines to solve the world’s most challenging problems.

Originally published by International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research

Source:  https://www.phi.org/thought-leadership/study-evaluating-family-burden-among-us-adults-experiencing-secondhand-harms-from-alcohol-cannabis-or-other-drug-use/

 

Filed under: Alcohol,Cannabis/Marijuana,Drug use-various effects,Harm Reduction,Marijuana and Medicine,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,USA :

by: Clare Gehlich ABC8 News – Aug 10, 2025 

Drug prevention education expands in Charles City County

CHARLES CITY COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The Charles City County Elementary School will soon re-introduce a program focused on drug prevention and awareness for the 2025-26 academic year.

According to a release from the sheriff’s office, the program, DARE — Drug Abuse Resistance Education program — will come to the elementary school for the upcoming school year.

SRO Corporal Tramayne Mayo, who developed a curriculum to teach the program, reportedly attended a two-week training course as required by DARE to instruct.

“We are excited to get this program back into our school system,” said Jayson Crawley, Sheriff of Charles City County. “We feel that early education of the dangers of drugs should be taught to our youths and can have a significant positive impact on the decisions they make when faced with drugs. This is just part of our continued efforts to deter illegal drug activity in our county.”

Opioid settlement money awarded to all jurisdictions in the Commonwealth from a reported lawsuit filed against prescription drug companies will help fund the program, per the sheriff’s office.

8News previously reported that, in June, Virginia joined all other states and some U.S. territories in agreeing to sign a $7.4 billion settlement with Purdue Pharma and members of the Sackler family who own the company for their part in perpetuating the opioid crisis.

As a result, the state will receive as much as $103.8 million from this settlement over the next 15 years — funding which will go toward local prevention, treatment and recovery efforts, as previously reported by 8News.

Source:  https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/charles-city-county/dare-program-charles-city-elementary-2025-2026/

Filed under: Brain and Behaviour,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Education,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,USA,Youth :
by Emily Murray – August 11, 2025

Fake pills remain a threat, with 5 out of 10 pills tested containing potentially lethal doses of fentanyl.

OMAHA, Nebraska – As students across the state prepare to return to school, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Division is encouraging families to have open conversations about the potentially lethal consequences of drug experimentation and the threat posed by drug dealers on social media.

In Nebraska, DEA has seized more than 145,000 fentanyl pills in the first seven months of 2025. This number is more than triple the amount seized by DEA in Nebraska in all of 2024 and represents close to 85,000 deadly doses of fentanyl removed from communities.

Social media plays a significant role in the life of students and cartels are taking advantage of this audience. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to emphasize the dangers associated with buying pills online. In Nebraska, DEA has seized fentanyl pills made to resemble common prescription medications such as Xanax ®, Adderall ® and Oxycodone ®. Never trust your eyes to determine if a pill is legitimate or counterfeit. The only safe medications are prescribed by a trusted medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist.

“We know that a lot of families sit down at the start of a new school year to go over things like dealing with bullies, taking precautions when walking home and staying organized with classes,” DEA Omaha Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Rafael Mattei said. “We want families to engage on the tough topics including the use of social media for buying and selling drugs. One pill can kill. Let’s raise awareness in our communities and prevent families from suffering a tragic loss of life.”

For families unsure how to begin a conversation on the dangers of drug use, the DEA has resources and fact sheets available online: https://www.dea.gov/onepill/partner-toolbox. Conversation starters, information on drugs including street names and side effects, and helpful tips on ways to stay engaged in these important conversations year-round, are available based on age and grade.

Source:  https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2025/08/11/drug-enforcement-administration-encourages-open-conversations-dangers

Filed under: Culture,Drug use-various effects,Prevention and Intervention,USA,Youth :

by Nathan Mol­loy – 14 Aug 2025

PREVENTION is Bet­ter is a sub­stance abuse pre­ven­tion train­ing pro­gramme. Their mis­sion is to break the cycle of sub­stance use dis­order by provid­ing evid­ence based pre­ven­tion edu­ca­tion in schools, work­places, and com­munit­ies world­wide.

Its CEO and founder, Ryan Ulrich, has over 20 years of exper­i­ence work­ing in addic­tion and treat­ment and drug pre­ven­tion space. Speak­ing to the Sligo Week­ender, Ryan says that he uses his own lived exper­i­ence of over­com­ing addic­tion to treat people and that he has worked in this field across many dif­fer­ent coun­tries.

Its CEO and founder, Ryan Ulrich, has over 20 years of exper­i­ence work­ing in addic­tion and treat­ment and drug pre­ven­tion space. Speak­ing to the Sligo Week­ender, Ryan says that he uses his own lived exper­i­ence of over­com­ing addic­tion to treat people and that he has worked in this field across many dif­fer­ent coun­tries.

“I have my own lived exper­i­ence of over­com­ing my own sub­stance use addic­tion and I’ve been in healthy recov­ery for over 24 years. I’ve been work­ing in this field in the US and I spent quite a long time, 16 years in China, work­ing there and about four years here in Ire­land. So I’ve worked with many schools and in dif­fer­ent coun­tries across the world deliv­er­ing these kind of pro­grams.”

The ideal Pre­ven­tion is Bet­ter pro­gramme in a school accord­ing to its CEO is one which is run over the course of a week. After that, Ryan says that he hopes either schools or cor­por­a­tions keep them on for a period of three years as that is when they can note the changes in atti­tude in people towards sub­stance abuse.

The ideal Pre­ven­tion is Bet­ter pro­gramme in a school accord­ing to its CEO is one which is run over the course of a week. After that, Ryan says that he hopes either schools or cor­por­a­tions keep them on for a period of three years as that is when they can note the changes in atti­tude in people towards sub­stance abuse.

“Ideally, we would love to work with the school or cor­por­a­tion over a two to three year period. That’s where we can really see the changes in atti­tudes and beha­vior just to really pre­vent and make an impact. That’s really our mis­sion. So it’s quite flex­ible depend­ing on the needs of the school or the cor­por­a­tion.”

“Ideally, we would love to work with the school or cor­por­a­tion over a two to three year period. That’s where we can really see the changes in atti­tudes and beha­vior just to really pre­vent and make an impact. That’s really our mis­sion. So it’s quite flex­ible depend­ing on the needs of the school or the cor­por­a­tion.”

Pre­ven­tion is bet­ter than the cure is a com­monly used pro­verb defined by that it is bet­ter to stop something bad hap­pen­ing than to deal with it after it has happened. Ryan believes that in his field, it is massively import­ant to pre­vent someone get­ting addicted to alco­hol or drugs as it can have a dev­ast­at­ing impact not only them but their fam­ily and friends.

“I think it’s very import­ant and it’s abso­lutely pos­sible [to pre­vent sub­stance abuse].

“I think it’s very import­ant and it’s abso­lutely pos­sible [to pre­vent sub­stance abuse].

“There’s a very evid­ence based way to go about that as well because as we all know when some­body’s addicted to even vap­ing or cigar­ettes or alco­hol, it’s dev­ast­at­ing, not only for the indi­vidual, but for the fam­ily and the com­munity.

“From a health per­spect­ive, each euro inves­ted in pre­ven­tion saves about nine times that in terms of costs over­all, jails or health care. That doesn’t even include the impact on the com­munity. So it’s kind of an over­looked but extremely import­ant part of the broader part of health care and treat­ment over­all.”

Efforts to stop people using drugs has changed over the years. In the 1970s, the phrase “War on Drugs” was pop­ular­ised by then US Pres­id­ent

Efforts to stop people using drugs has changed over the years. In the 1970s, the phrase “War on Drugs” was pop­ular­ised by then US Pres­id­ent

Richard Nixon when he declared drug abuse “pub­lic enemy num­ber one” in June 1971. Accord­ing to Ryan, sub­stance abuse pre­ven­tion has changed a lot since then and that now they’re using a trauma based approach which is more evid­ence based.

“I think even longer, maybe about 40 years ago from the US there was kind of just say no or these scare tac­tics in terms of pre­ven­tion, which was shown sci­en­tific­ally to not work at all. And then there more of an edu­ca­tion approach, which is good.”

“But now we’re mov­ing more towards a trauma-informed approach, where we under­stand the impact both on the fam­ily and the com­munity, the impact on the body in car­ry­ing the trauma. So we take all those evid­ence-based approaches into the classroom. And that’s shown to be more and more effect­ive and have greater impact.”

“But now we’re mov­ing more towards a trauma-informed approach, where we under­stand the impact both on the fam­ily and the com­munity, the impact on the body in car­ry­ing the trauma. So we take all those evid­ence-based approaches into the classroom. And that’s shown to be more and more effect­ive and have greater impact.”

The rise of AI has also help Pre­ven­tion is Bet­ter to get more data to help with their pro­grammes.

“I think the rise of AI and data has had a sig­ni­fic­ant impact as well. So now we can col­lect more GDPRcom­pli­ant data. We can make more impact assess­ments. And that’s part of everything that we do, very datadriven as an organ­iz­a­tion.”

Earlier this year, the HSE’s clin­ical lead on addic­tion, Pro­fessor Eamon Keenan said that approx­im­ately 20% of young people show­ing up to addic­tion ser­vices are using HHC, syn­thetic marijuana. Accord­ing to Ryan, his organ­isa­tion are see­ing this becom­ing more of a prob­lem along with dual addic­tion issues which affects people’s men­tal health.

“So we’re see­ing, espe­cially with the leg­al­iz­a­tion of marijuana in the US, in other coun­tries, that’s become more of a prob­lem. There’s new sub­stances, new psy­cho­act­ive sub­stances that are com­ing into the mar­ket. Dual addic­tion and issues around addic­tion and men­tal health, which has always been there.

“These are becom­ing more pre­val­ent. And so these are just some of the trends that we’re see­ing and the changes over the years.”

Vap­ing and cocaine use has caught the national media’s atten­tion over the past few years. Accord­ing to the rehab­il­it­a­tion facil­ity, Rut­land Centre, women rep­res­ent one of the fast­est grow­ing groups seek­ing treat­ment for cocaine. Treat­ment for the drug as a primary addic­tion rose from 17% in 2023 to 23% in 2024, sig­nalling one of the sharpest single year increases recor­ded for any sub­stance at the centre.

Accord­ing to Ryan, both vap­ing and cocaine have a lot of mis­in­form­a­tion online which makes people think they’re not harm­ful.

“Young women look­ing at cocaine, cocaine has no cal­or­ies, is the typ­ical thing they’ll say. And sure, but that’s not, it’s not a healthy option, to say the least. So there’s these mis­per­cep­tions about these sub­stances being safe or not very harm­ful. There’s a tre­mend­ous amount of mis­in­form­a­tion, espe­cially with things like Tik­Tok or social media. The same with vap­ing as well.”

“For the young kids, they see celebrit­ies vap­ing or blow­ing smoke rings. It looks very attract­ive and all the dif­fer­ent fla­vors. That’s abso­lutely not the case.

“Nicot­ine is one of the most addict­ive sub­stances. Even using a vape one or two times with a high con­cen­tra­tion of nicot­ine is enough to get some­body addicted for life. It’s dif­fi­cult to quit after that.”

“Nicot­ine is one of the most addict­ive sub­stances. Even using a vape one or two times with a high con­cen­tra­tion of nicot­ine is enough to get some­body addicted for life. It’s dif­fi­cult to quit after that.”

Source:  https://www.pressreader.com/ireland/sligo-weekender/20250814/281977498705333

Filed under: Culture,Education,Others (International News),Prevention and Intervention,Youth :
OPINION: Eric Adams is right 
by Charles Fain Lehman – Aug. 14, 2025
Charles Fain Lehman is a fellow at the Manhattan Institute and senior editor of City Journal.
Rampant drug use in and around the Hub by 149th street and 3rd avenue in the south Bronx.                           photo:Stephen Yang

Can New York clean up its public drug-use problem?

Mayor Eric Adams aims to try: On Thursday, he called on the state Legislature to allow clinicians and judges to compel people into treatment when their drug use is hurting them and the city.

“We must help those struggling finally get treatment, whether they recognize the need for it or not,” Adams said at an event hosted by the Manhattan Institute (where I work).  

“Addiction doesn’t just harm individual users; it tears apart lives, families and entire communities, and we must change the system to keep all New Yorkers safer.”

Adams’ proposed state law, the Compassionate Interventions Act, may face an uphill battle in Albany, as “harm reduction” advocates assail it as coercive and dangerous.

But involuntary treatment should be a tool in New York’s arsenal for dealing with the public drug use that has plagued it for years.

Last year it reported nearly 4,000 homeless residents with a history of chronic substance use — probably an undercount, as such people are less likely to be identified by the city’s annual late-night census.

Regardless, it’s not hard to find people shooting up on New York’s streets — just visit the Hub in The Bronx or Washington Square Park in Manhattan.

Such behavior makes whole swaths of the city unlivable.

Public drug use hurts both users — there were more than 2,100 overdose deaths in the five boroughs last year — and the places where they use.

It deters commerce, and creates environments conducive to more serious crime.

Too often the city has responded to these situations with benign neglect, exemplified by its two “supervised consumption sites,” which give people a place to use with Narcan-wielding staff standing by.

These sites continue to operate, in spite of the fact that they don’t work and violate federal law.

Leaving people free to abuse drugs, it turns out, doesn’t save lives.

 

 

 

 

Involuntary treatment, by contrast, tries to correct the behavior that drives drug users to hurt both themselves and others.

That’s why 37 other states already permit it — and why New York under Adams’ plan would join them.

Critics will insist that involuntary drug treatment doesn’t work, and that people have to want to change.

But the balance of the evidence suggests that involuntary treatment performs as well as voluntary treatment.

That’s backed up both by older research on California’s involuntary-treatment scheme, and by strong indications that drug courts, which route drug offenders into treatment instead of prison, can reduce recidivism.

Opponents will also say that it’s immoral to compel people to get treatment they don’t want, and that it violates their “bodily autonomy.”

But there’s no right to shoot up in public spaces, or to ruin your body with fentanyl. And New Yorkers should have the right to expect their public spaces to be free from disorder, including public drug use.

The biggest challenge for Adams, though, may be the state’s limited treatment capacity.

New York state as a whole has only 134 long-term residential treatment facilities.

As of 2023, the most recent available data, they were serving 2,935 clients — fewer than the city’s tallied homeless drug-addict population.

Implementing the Compassionate Interventions Act will almost certainly require more funding for treatment beds, much as Adams’ previous efforts to institutionalize the seriously mentally ill did. That will have to be part of any ask in Albany.

But the mayor’s proposal will also allow diversion to outpatient treatment programs, including a new $27 million investment in contingency management therapy — an evidence-based intervention that has been shown to help treat drug addiction.

What happens if Albany says no to Adams’ proposal? Or if Adams is out of the mayoralty come the next legislative session?

The NYPD can still work to clear encampments. And the city can still try to divert drug users into its drug-courts system, which, while useful, faces administrative problems and lacks transparency.

But actually getting drug users the help they need, rather than just cycling them through the city’s jails, will be hard — much as the administration struggled to handle the seriously mentally ill before it had the power to compel them into treatment.

SOURCE: https://nypost.com/2025/08/14/opinion/involuntary-treatment-can-solve-the-public-drug-scourge/

Filed under: Addiction,Brain and Behaviour,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Harm Reduction,HIV/Injecting-Drug-Users,Legal Sector,Needle Exchange,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,USA :
  •  Sunday, August 3, 2025 8:30 PM

 

ABU DHABI, 3rd August 2025 (WAM) — The International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM) has praised the federal decree-law issued by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan establishing the National Anti-Narcotics Authority, describing it as a vital and effective tool that enhances the UAE’s quality of efforts in combating narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and eliminating their sources.

In a statement, ISAM affirmed that the decree issued by the UAE President reinforces the country’s comprehensive and precise approach in tackling the global threat of drug abuse.

It stated that the UAE has continually updated its legislation to combat narcotics, while simultaneously advancing its security, prevention, treatment and awareness efforts, which have significantly contributed to curbing this menace.

Dr. Hamad Al Ghafri, President of ISAM and Board member of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASMA), stated that the establishment of the National Anti-Narcotics Authority provides a holistic framework for developing policies and strategies to combat drug abuse, including mechanisms for prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.

He added that the legal powers granted to the authority would play a key role in enhancing the UAE’s national efforts and institutions, which work relentlessly to eliminate drug sources and confront those who target the country’s youth.

Dr. Al Ghafri explained that the authority’s mandate is built around several core pillars, including reducing both the supply and demand for drugs by tracking and dismantling trafficking networks, bolstering treatment and rehabilitation systems to reintegrate recovered individuals into their families and communities, and advancing legislative frameworks alongside dedicated research.

“These efforts will support community-based prevention initiatives, establish a unified national monitoring system, and promote international collaboration in training and capacity-building. These pillars are central to achieving an integrated approach that combines preventive, security and therapeutic dimensions to effectively tackle all facets of the drug issue,” he added.

Dr. Al Ghafri reaffirmed ISAM’s commitment to supporting all initiatives and programmes related to combating narcotics and psychotropic substances, while enhancing cooperation and coordination and adopting efforts that contribute to building safe and drug-free societies.

Source: https://www.wam.ae/en/article/bl0dfij-isam-praises-uae-presidents-decree-law

Filed under: Drug Specifics,Others (International News),Strategy and Policy :

 

From CDC Media Relations – August 5, 2025
Illustration: Free Mind Campaign

The back-to-school season is a great time to engage with youth about mental health and substance use to promote their well-being throughout the academic year. To support these conversations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched Free Mind, a new national campaign that provides youth ages 12-17 and their parents and caregivers with resources and information about substance use, mental health, and the connection between the two.

The drug overdose crisis is constantly evolving and remains an important public health issue. In 2024, more than 80,000 Americans died from a drug overdose. From 2020 to 2024, 75% of overdose deaths among youth ages 10–19 involved illegally made fentanyl. In addition, the number of teens reporting poor mental health has increased in the past decade. In 2023, 40% of high school students stopped regular activities because of persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness and one in five students seriously considered attempting suicide.

“Teens may use alcohol and other substances to help them cope with stress, anxiety, and depression,” said Dr. Allison Arwady, Director of the CDC National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. “Talking openly about mental health and substance use, and knowing when to get professional help, is critical to helping teens stay healthy. That’s why this campaign supports youth, parents, and caregivers in having those conversations early, before an issue arises.”

CDC spoke directly with youth about their knowledge and perceptions regarding substance use to develop messages, branding, and tactical strategies for Free Mind. The campaign seeks to resonate with this age group by addressing the connections between substance use and mental health, risk factors that contribute to drug use, and strategies to keep them safe. CDC also has created resources for parents and caregivers about the latest substance use and mental health challenges youth may face.

Source:  https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2025/2025-cdc-launches-new-campaign-to-address-youth-substance-use-and-mental-health.html

Filed under: Drug use-various effects,Mental Health,Prevention and Intervention,USA,Youth :

From Emory University – Aug 6 2025

While overdose deaths in the U.S. sharply declined in 2024, they remain high. Almost 90,000 Americans died from drug overdoses between October 2023 and September 2024. Overdose death rates are particularly high in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people.

The earlier someone starts substance use, the more likely they are to have substance use problems later in life. So, it is important to work with young people to prevent substance use early in life. Researchers at Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health recently partnered with Cherokee Nation Behavioral Health to design and implement programs to help prevent youth substance use in their community. 

They created two programs. Connect Kits for Family Action delivers activity kits to families of teens in 10th to 12th grade to help strengthen family relationships. Connect Brief Intervention uses technology to deliver individualized coaching to high school students.

Testing the programs

A randomized trial of the interventions, with results published in the American Journal of Public Health, found that they worked to reduce alcohol and other substance use in high school students in rural Oklahoma.

In the trial, Cherokee Nation Behavioral Health implemented the programs at 10 high schools. Ten other schools did not receive programming to serve as a comparison. The 10 high schools that did not receive the programs during the trial received them after the study ended. Most students at participating schools were either white or AI/AN.

The trial lasted for three years, and students completed surveys every six months to report on their alcohol and substance use.

What they found

Students at the schools that received the intervention had lower alcohol and other substance use than students at the comparison schools.

Every six months, these students reported:

  • 18% less alcohol use
  • 26% less binge drinking
  • 11% less cannabis use
  • 40% less prescription opioid misuse

Why this matters

Adolescent substance use poses serious risks to health, academic achievement, and long-term well-being. Therefore, protecting teens from substance use is key to helping them thrive. Our prevention programs have demonstrated measurable success in reducing alcohol and drug use among high school students. We’re proud of the results and excited to share these adaptable, effective solutions with other communities.”

Kelli Komro, PhD, professor of behavioral, social, and health education sciences at Rollins and project co-lead

“We believe our children are our most valuable resource,” she says. “This project allowed us to work within our own reservation to find ways that affect change in our youth. Our partnership with Emory University and area high schools was vital in making this happen. We learned so much from the challenges we encountered during this trial, making it more effective and sustainable. The improved outcomes from this trial will last into the future generations of our Cherokee families and communities.”

Source: Emory University
Filed under: Prevention and Intervention,USA,Youth :

From Shane Varcoe –

Physical activity emerges as a powerful ally in exercise addiction recovery, offering hope and healing for those struggling with substance dependency. Recent groundbreaking research reveals how structured exercise programmes can reshape both body and mind, providing a natural pathway to wellness that supports long-term recovery goals.

The Science Behind Exercise Addiction Recovery

Two comprehensive studies from leading institutions demonstrate the remarkable impact of physical activity on individuals recovering from substance dependency. Research involving 90 participants in opioid substitution treatment and 43 individuals in drug rehabilitation centres reveals compelling evidence for physical activity recovery benefits.

Neurohormonal Changes Through Exercise

Exercise creates profound changes in the brain’s chemistry that directly counteract the damage caused by substance abuse. When individuals engage in regular moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, their bodies experience:

Increased β-endorphin production: These natural “feel-good” chemicals help restore the brain’s reward system, reducing cravings and improving mood without relying on substances.

Reduced cortisol levels: Exercise helps normalise stress hormone production, which is typically elevated during early recovery phases. This reduction helps manage anxiety, insomnia, and psychological distress.

Enhanced immune function: Regular exercise addiction recovery programmes boost white blood cell and neutrophil counts, strengthening the body’s natural defence systems weakened by substance abuse.

Physical Transformations Supporting Recovery

Body Composition Improvements

Research participants following structured exercise programmes showed remarkable physical changes after 24 weeks:

  • Significant reduction in body fat percentage
  • Increased skeletal muscle mass
  • Improved overall body composition
  • Enhanced physical strength and endurance

These improvements aren’t merely cosmetic—they represent fundamental changes that support sustained recovery by improving self-esteem and physical capability.

Fitness and Functional Capacity

Physical activity recovery programmes deliver measurable improvements across multiple fitness domains:

Cardiovascular health: Participants experienced substantial increases in vital capacity and overall cardiovascular function, supporting better oxygen delivery throughout the body.

Strength and endurance: Upper body and core muscle strength showed significant improvements, enabling individuals to engage more fully in daily activities and work responsibilities.

Flexibility and balance: Enhanced balance control and flexibility reduce injury risk whilst improving quality of life and confidence in physical activities.

Mental Health Benefits of Exercise Addiction Recovery

Anxiety and Depression Relief

The research demonstrates that structured exercise provides substantial mental health benefits:

  • 20% reduction in anxiety scores within 12 weeks
  • Significant decrease in depression symptoms sustained throughout the programme
  • Improved emotional regulation and stress management
  • Enhanced self-confidence and body awareness

The Mind-Body Connection

Exercise programmes that emphasise mind-body integration, such as Pilates, show particular promise. These activities combine physical movement with breath control and mental focus, helping individuals:

  • Develop greater body awareness
  • Learn effective stress management techniques
  • Build emotional resilience
  • Establish healthy coping mechanisms

Types of Exercise for Addiction Recovery

Aerobic Exercise

Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise performed at approximately 70% of maximum heart rate proves most effective for exercise addiction recovery. Activities include:

  • Treadmill walking or running
  • Cycling
  • Swimming
  • Group fitness classes

The key lies in consistency—training three times per week for 20-minute sessions produces measurable neurohormonal improvements.

Mind-Body Practices

Research specifically highlights the benefits of Pilates training for individuals in recovery:

  • Progressive intensity programmes that adapt to improving fitness levels
  • Emphasis on core strength and stability
  • Integration of breathing techniques with movement
  • Low injury risk suitable for deconditioned individuals

Creating Sustainable Exercise Addiction Recovery Programmes

Professional Supervision

Successful physical activity recovery requires proper oversight:

  • Medical clearance before beginning exercise
  • Trained supervision during sessions
  • Heart rate monitoring to ensure appropriate intensity
  • Progressive programme design that prevents overexertion

Long-Term Commitment

The research emphasises that benefits accumulate over time. Participants showed:

  • Initial improvements within 4-6 weeks
  • Significant changes by 12 weeks
  • Maximum benefits achieved after 24 weeks of consistent training

Integration with Comprehensive Care

Exercise works best as part of a holistic recovery approach that includes:

  • Professional counselling and therapy
  • Medical support as needed
  • Peer support networks
  • Structured daily routines

Practical Implementation Strategies

Starting an Exercise Programme

For individuals beginning their recovery journey, successful exercise addiction recovery programmes typically include:

Foundation Phase: Week 1-4:

  • Low-intensity activities focusing on movement quality
  • 40-50% maximum heart rate
  • Emphasis on learning proper techniques

Development Phase: Week 5-12

  • Moderate intensity training
  • 60-70% maximum heart rate
  • Increased session duration and frequency

Maintenance Phase: Week 13-24

  • Sustained moderate-intensity exercise
  • Focus on long-term habit formation
  • Integration of preferred activities

Monitoring Progress

Successful programmes track multiple indicators:

  • Physical fitness improvements (strength, endurance, flexibility)
  • Mental health assessments (anxiety and depression scales)
  • Body composition changes
  • Adherence to exercise schedule

The Role of Exercise in Long-Term Recovery

Preventing Relapse

Physical activity recovery programmes address key relapse triggers:

  • Providing healthy stress relief mechanisms
  • Improving mood naturally through endorphin release
  • Building structured daily routines
  • Enhancing self-efficacy and confidence

Social Benefits

Group exercise activities offer additional advantages:

  • Peer support and accountability
  • Shared goals and achievements
  • Reduced isolation and loneliness
  • Development of healthy social connections

Building Support Networks

Family and Friends

Loved ones play crucial roles in supporting exercise addiction recovery:

  • Encouraging consistent participation
  • Participating in activities together when possible
  • Celebrating milestones and achievements
  • Understanding the importance of exercise in recovery

Professional Support Teams

Effective programmes involve multidisciplinary teams:

  • Exercise physiologists or qualified fitness professionals
  • Mental health counsellors familiar with addiction recovery
  • Medical professionals monitoring overall health
  • Peer support specialists with recovery experience

Evidence-Based Outcomes

The research provides compelling evidence for physical activity recovery effectiveness:

  • 96% programme adherence rates in supervised settings
  • Significant improvements in all measured physical parameters
  • Sustained mental health benefits throughout intervention periods
  • Strong correlations between physical improvements and psychological wellbeing

These outcomes demonstrate that exercise isn’t merely an adjunct therapy—it’s a fundamental component of comprehensive recovery strategies.

Moving Forward with Exercise Addiction Recovery

The evidence overwhelmingly supports integrating structured exercise addiction recovery programmes into comprehensive treatment approaches. By addressing both physical and mental health simultaneously, exercise provides a natural, sustainable foundation for long-term recovery success.

For individuals and families affected by substance dependency, understanding the transformative power of physical activity offers hope and practical steps towards healing. The journey may be challenging, but with proper support, professional guidance, and commitment to consistent exercise, lasting recovery becomes not just possible but probable.

The path to recovery through exercise requires dedication, but the rewards—improved physical health, enhanced mental wellbeing, and sustained freedom from substance dependency—make every step worthwhile.

Filed under: Addiction,Australia,Brain and Behaviour,Crime/Violence/Prison,Drug use-various effects,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction :

by Herschel Baker – Director Queensland Director, Drug Free Australia – 03 August 2025 

Story by Kat Lay, Global health correspondent

Avatars smoke in an image shared on social media of a gathering in the metaverse. A packet of Djarum LA cigarettes, an Indonesian brand, sit on the table. Photograph: iceperience.id Instagram via Canary© Photograph: iceperience.id Instagram via Canary

In the image, a group of friends is standing in a bar, smoke winding upwards from the cigarettes in their hands. More lie in an open packet on the table between them. This is not a photograph taken before smoking bans, but a picture shared on social media of a gathering in the metaverse.

Virtual online spaces are becoming a new marketing battleground as tobacco and alcohol promoters target young people without any legislative consequences.

A report shared at the World Conference on Tobacco Control last month in Dublin set out multiple examples of new technologies being adopted to promote smoking and vaping, including tobacco companies launching digital tokens and vape companies sponsoring online games.

It comes from a monitoring project known as Canary – because it seeks to act as the canary in a coalmine – run by the global public health organisation Vital Strategies.

“Tobacco companies are no longer waiting for regulations to catch them up. They are way ahead of us. We are still trying to understand what we’re seeing in social media, but they’re already operating in unregulated spaces like the metaverse,” says Dr Melina Magsumbol, of Vital Strategies India. “They’re using NFTs [non-fungible tokens]. They’re using immersive events to get our kids to come and see what they’re offering.”

In India, one tobacco company made and promoted an NFT, which represents ownership of digital assets, to celebrate its 93rd anniversary.

Canary scans for and analyses tobacco marketing on social media platforms and news sites in India, Indonesia and Mexico. It is expanding to more countries, including Brazil and China, and to cover alcohol and ultra-processed food marketing.

Digital platforms are being used to bypass traditional advertising restrictions and target young audiences

Melina Magsumbol, Vital Strategies India

It is not set up to scan the metaverse – a three-dimensional, immersive version of the internet that uses technology such as virtual reality headsets to enable people to interact in a digital space. But it has picked up references to what is going on there via links and information shared on older social media sites.

Researchers say that children are likely to be exposed to any tobacco marketing in the new digital spaces given the age profile of users – more than half of the metaverse’s active users are aged 13 and below.

Social media companies have deep knowledge of how to drive engagement and keep people coming back for more views, says Dr Mary-Ann Etiebet, chief executive of Vital Strategies.

“When you combine that with the experience and the knowledge of the tobacco industry on how to hook and keep people hooked … those two things together in a space that is unknown and opaque – that scares me.”

Mark Zuckerberg, metaverse’s prominent backer, says in future “you’ll be able to do almost anything you can imagine” there. Already, that includes shopping and attending virtual concerts.

But Magsumbol describes it as “a new battleground for all of us” that is “being taken over by corporate entities that actually push health-harming products”.

“My daughter is very quiet, she’s an introvert. But online, on [gaming platform] Roblox, when she is killing zombies and ghosts, she morphs into a different avatar – she’s like Alexander the Great mixed with Bruce Lee and John Wick. She is so bloodthirsty,” she says.

“Online we behave differently. Social norms change … the tobacco industry knows that very well. And it’s so easy to subtly sell the idea that you can be anything, anyone you want.”

The metaverse art the team saw in Indonesia was shared on an Instagram account for electronic music lovers linked to Djarum, one of Indonesia’s largest cigarette companies. Another example showed a group having coffee, and looking for a lighter.

It all amounts to efforts to “normalise” smoking and vaping, says Magsumbol. “This kind of behaviour is happening and being done by your avatars, but is it seeping into your real life?

“Digital platforms are being used to bypass traditional advertising restrictions and target young audiences,” she says. “What we’re seeing here is not just a shift in marketing, it’s a shift in how influence works.”

Other researchers have set out examples of alcohol being promoted and even sold in virtual stores.

Online marketing is a global issue. At the same conference, Irish researchers shared findings that 53% of teenagers saw e-cigarette posts daily on social media.

A World Health Organization official (WHO) says a rise in youth smoking in Ukraine is due, in part, to Covid and the war pushing children “too much online” and exposing them to marketing.

Related: Vapes threaten to undo gains in tackling dangers of tobacco, health leaders warn

In India, Agamroop Kaur, a youth ambassador at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, includes social media marketing when speaking to schoolchildren about the dangers of tobacco and vaping. She has seen vapes suggested as a “wellness” item.

“I think educating youth on what an advertisement looks like, why it’s false, how you might not even see that it’s from the tobacco industry and it’s [content posted by an] influencer is really powerful because then that builds a skill – so that when they’re on social media, because they are digital natives, they’re able to see all of that and know that it’s fake and it’s not something they should be attracted by. I think building those skills early from high school to middle school, and even younger, is really important.”

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control requires countries to implement bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. Last year, signatories agreed that action was needed to tackle the increasing focus on “digital marketing channels such as social media, which increases adolescent and young people’s exposure to tobacco marketing”.

But there is no easy answer, says Andrew Black at the framework’s secretariat.

“The challenge of regulating the internet is not a problem that’s unique to tobacco. It’s a real challenge for governments to think about how they can provide the protections that society is used to in a world where borders are broken down because of these technologies.”

Nandita Murukutla, who oversees Canary, says regulators should take note: “What starts out small and you ignore, rises up to a certain point when you’ve got critical mass, and after that, it just explodes, and dialing something back is virtually impossible.”

Herschel Baker

International Liaison, Director Queensland Director, Drug Free Australia – Web https://drugfree.org.au/

Source:  https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/smoking-avatars-and-online-games-how-big-tobacco-targets-young-people-in-the-metaverse/ar-AA1J2WHU?

Filed under: Australia,Drug use-various effects,Nicotine,Tobacco, smoking,Vaping,Youth :

by  Shalini Ramachandran  and Betsy McKay – Wall Street Journal – July 31, 2025

Hundreds of thousands of veterans with PTSD have been prescribed simultaneous doses of powerful psychiatric drugs. The practice, known as “polypharmacy,” can tranquilize patients to the point of numbness, cause weight gain and increase suicidal thoughts when it involves pharmaceuticals that target the central nervous system, according to scientific studies and veterans’ accounts. 

The VA’s own guidelines say no data support drug combinations to treat PTSD. The Food and Drug Administration warns that combining certain medications such as opioids and benzodiazepines can cause serious side effects, including death.

Nonetheless, prescribing cocktails of such drugs is one of the VA’s most common treatments for veterans with PTSD, and the number of veterans on multiple psychiatric drugs is a growing concern at the agency, according to interviews with more than 50 veterans, VA health practitioners, researchers and former officials, and a review of VA medical records and studies.

Polypharmacy has multiple definitions when it comes to central nervous system drugs. The VA defines it as taking five or more medications at the same time, while some medical researchers say it’s two or more and the American Geriatrics Society defines it as three or more. 

There is an emerging medical consensus among VA doctors and researchers that taking multiple central nervous system drugs can wreak havoc on patients. Interactions between such drugs aren’t well understood, and their effects in combination can be unpredictable and extreme.

SOME CASE HISTORIES …

Mark Miller

U.S. Navy, Security Forces (1992-2007)

In 2007, Mark Miller was diagnosed with PTSD. The military put him on fluoxetine, otherwise known as Prozac. He became suicidal. Miller eventually weaned himself off medications and used “neuroplasticity” therapy which forms new connections in the brain. This April, returning suicidal thoughts prompted Miller to visit a VA hospital in San Antonio. A nurse practitioner prescribed a powerful antipsychotic in a five-minute appointment. Six days later, Miller returned, stepped off a shuttle bus and fatally shot himself in the head. “He did it clearly to speak for all the veterans who have no voice,” his father said.

  • Aripiprazole
  • Bupropion
  • Cyclobenzaprine
  • Fluoxetine
  • Lithium
  • Quetiapine
  • Tramadol

‘They did not even listen to anything I said — just prescribed stuff. Unreal’— Text from Mark Miller to his father days before his suicide

The VA maintains that the best treatment for PTSD is talk therapy. But therapists are scarce and wait times are long, so overwhelmed doctors default to pills. Because there is no single drug designed specifically to treat PTSD, veterans often end up on drug cocktails as multiple specialists try to ease a variety of symptoms and prevent harm or suicide, according to VA clinical staff, studies and veterans. 

“When it comes to the challenge of polypharmacy in these populations, it’s constantly chasing your tail,” said Dr. Ryan Vega, a chief healthcare innovation official at the VA until 2023, who still treats veterans. “It is where medicine is more art than science. We have medications that treat those symptoms but are we addressing the root cause?”

Nearly 60% of VA patients with PTSD were taking two or more central nervous system drugs at the same time in 2019, the latest year for which data are publicly available, according to a VA study. That works out to more than 520,000 patients, up 62% from a decade earlier, driven by a near doubling of the number of VA patients with PTSD due to more combat tours and better screening. 

One silver lining highlighted by the study was that the percentage of PTSD veterans on five or more CNS medications declined to 7% from 12%, largely due to internal efforts to deprescribe opioids and benzodiazepines. (Central nervous system drugs affect the brain and spinal cord; psychiatric medications are a subset of CNS drugs). The VA declined requests from The Wall Street Journal to provide more recent polypharmacy numbers for veterans in its care. 

The VA has long been aware of the risks of overprescribing, and has internal research since at least 2016 showing the potential harms, including increased risk of suicide. The internal polypharmacy data “was pretty concerning,” said Dr. Shereef Elnahal, who headed the VA health system until early this year. He recalled a veteran advocate who told him about three veterans on more than five psychiatric drugs each who died by suicide, one after the other. They had been “walking around like zombies” before they took their own lives, the advocate told him. 

The VA’s use of psychiatric drugs has come under scrutiny from members of Congress and advocacy groups as the veteran suicide rate is roughly double that of U.S. adults who didn’t serve. Studies by VA researchers link the simultaneous use of multiple psychiatric drugs to suicide risk among veterans, including a 2016 paper that found Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans taking five or more central nervous system drugs faced higher risks of overdose and suicidal behaviors.

Lucas Hamrick

U.S. Army, Special Forces (1996-2019)

Lucas Hamrick was diagnosed with PTSD in the Army. There, and then at the VA, he was prescribed multiple central nervous system drugs. Some put him in a daze, others made him feel like he might want to kill himself. After losing 12 friends on similar drug combinations to suicide, Hamrick quit all the medications by 2023 and turned to meditation, mindfulness and breathing exercises. “It’s about structuring life around how not to let things spill over,” he said.

  • Chlordiazepoxide
  • Diazepam
  • Gabapentin
  • Hydrocodone-acetaminophen
  • Lorazepam
  • Naltrexone
  • Paroxetine
  • Phenobarbital
  • Prazosin
  • Propranolol
  • Rizatriptan
  • Sertraline
  • Trazodone

‘The quality of mental health care made me feel like I was there to check a box and complete the process instead of working toward any type of changes in perspective or disposition.’

Yet the agency has been slow to mandate changes. It has failed to implement nationwide electronic systems to alert doctors when they prescribe multiple psychiatric drugs, despite evidence from its own studies that these alerts improve care. The VA doesn’t uniformly require written informed consent for all psychiatric drugs with suicide risk, something that veterans groups and some members of Congress are urging. Some veterans who have resisted taking cocktails of drugs say they were warned by VA and military doctors that refusing them could jeopardize their eligibility for disability benefits, which can reach $4,500 a month.

“I’ve been mortified by practically every veteran I’ve seen having been prescribed multiple psychiatric medications, often without a timely referral to therapy or without any referral at all,” said Janie Gendron, a therapist who worked for the Defense Department and has seen hundreds of active-duty service members and veterans in the past 25 years.

A VA spokesman said the agency is looking into the issues raised by the Journal, and that the Trump administration is seeking to address serious problems it has identified in veterans’ healthcare that weren’t solved by the Biden administration. 

VA Secretary Doug Collins said at a congressional hearing in May that the agency is pursuing the potential use of alternative therapies, such as psychedelics, to offer more options and reduce the risk of suicide among veterans. 

The rise of the combat cocktail for PTSD has its roots in the overreliance on a single class of drugs: benzodiazepines. By the 1970s, the military and VA relied heavily on Valium and, later, Xanax as a primary treatment for traumatized service members and veterans returning from deployment. But in the 1990s, Defense Department researchers observed that high doses often yielded poor clinical outcomes, and, along with the VA, ultimately advised against their long-term use on veterans in 2004.

Still, against the guideline, the VA has doled out benzodiazepines to more than 1.7 million patients with PTSD diagnoses since 2005, its own data show. It took nearly a decade for the use of those drugs to start to decline.

At the same time, prescriptions to veterans with PTSD rose for other powerful psychiatric drugs.

VA doctors and patients say that existing tools to limit the number of psychiatric drugs a patient takes, and guidance to avoid the use of benzodiazepines and certain antipsychotics for veterans with PTSD, are frequently ignored.

A friend’s suicide

After his best friend’s suicide in 2013, Iraq war veteran Doug Gresenz was diagnosed with PTSD and borderline personality disorder and eventually put on six psychotropic drugs. After one medication’s dosage was increased, he attempted suicide and was hospitalized. When he protested the volume of medications there, he said VA doctors questioned his commitment to recovery and told him he needed the pills to lead a normal life. “I was guilt-tripped,” he said. 

Doug Gresenz

U.S. Marine Corps, Assaultman (2006-2010)

  • Baclofen
  • Bupropion
  • Citalopram
  • Clonazepam
  • Clonidine
  • Cyclobenzaprine
  • Divalproex
  • Doxepin
  • Erenumab-aooe
  • Eszopiclone
  • Gabapentin
  • Hydroxyzine
  • Melatonin
  • Methocarbamol
  • Mirtazapine
  • Olanzapine
  • Oxycodone
  • Prazosin
  • Propranolol
  • Sumatriptan
  • Quetiapine
  • Tizanidine
  • Tramadol
  • Trazodone
  • Venlafaxine
  • Zolpidem

‘I remember thinking: I’m literally poisoning myself.’

In 2016 alone, VA doctors prescribed him more than a dozen drugs, including antidepressants, antipsychotics, muscle relaxants and medications for nightmares, anxiety, pain and sleep, medical records show. Over little more than a decade, he received more than two dozen central nervous system medications. He recalled complaining to VA doctors that he was “so doped up” he would have accidents before getting to the bathroom.

“I remember thinking: I’m literally poisoning myself,” he said. In 2018, he quit benzodiazepines cold turkey and began to taper off the other drugs.

Within a couple of weeks, he collapsed, unable to use his legs. He developed a stutter and extreme light sensitivity. Violent spasms led to another fall, which caused complications that resulted in a severe foot injury and, eventually, an amputation last year.

The VA recommends any one of three antidepressants for PTSD—sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil) and venlafaxine (Effexor). But doctors are free to prescribe other additional drugs off-label—and many do.

“It’s super normal to see someone on five or six medications,” said Mary Neal Vieten, a retired Navy psychologist who has worked with thousands of members of the military and veterans. “That’s like an everyday thing.” Trauma has been medicalized, she said. “They’re acting as if the problem is in the person,” she said. Instead, it’s a normal response to an overwhelming experience, she said.

‘Stop-and-go’ pills

The culture of combat cocktails begins for some who are diagnosed with PTSD while still on active duty. In the military, too, drugs have long been given priority over psychotherapy, according to many veterans, former VA officials and therapists. 

One Navy chaplain said his repeated calls to the Navy for more mental health resources went unanswered despite his documentation of more than 70 critical events, including suicide attempts, at a high-stress installation with nuclear submarines. When the chaplain himself grew suicidal, Navy doctors suggested that refusing the three-medication cocktail they prescribed could lead to discharge without benefits, instead of medical retirement with care. 

Some veterans enter VA care dependent on psychiatric drugs that they were prescribed to improve combat readiness. They include Air Force veterans given “stop-and-go” pills—stimulants followed by sleeping pills. 

Michael Valentino, who was chief pharmacist at the VA until 2021, said he grew alarmed by the rising numbers of service members entering VA care on stimulants without a diagnosis justifying it. “Then the VA has the burden of trying to undo it.”

Heather King

U.S. Air Force, Aircraft Maintenance Craftsman (2001-2010)

Heather King struggled with sleep after the Air Force prescribed Ambien following long flights. After her discharge, she was diagnosed with PTSD, and the VA added eight central nervous system drugs by 2020. King begged for help weaning off. Her VA doctor’s response: “Heather, under no circumstances are you ever going to be a person who is going to operate without meds.” She’s lately been sleeping soundly without pills for the first time, thanks to cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia—something the VA only told her about recently.

  • Amitriptyline
  • Buspirone
  • Cyclobenzaprine
  • Doxazosin
  • Doxepin
  • Duloxetine
  • Fluoxetine
  • Gabapentin
  • Hydroxyzine
  • Lamotrigine
  • Lorazepam
  • Mirtazapine
  • Prazosin
  • Propranolol
  • Ramelteon
  • Trazodone
  • Zaleplon
  • Zolpidem

‘It was like a death sentence. All these medications, they just made me numb. I wanted to feel my feelings, I wanted to actually heal.’

A Pentagon official said several medications at once are sometimes necessary for patients with multiple medical problems or who are treatment-resistant, adding that “records are reviewed to determine if the treating provider has provided clinical justification for the use of polypharmacy.” Service members and their families are offered “a robust and comprehensive array” of mental health programs, the official said.

Chemical messengers

Psychiatric drugs work by affecting levels of chemical messengers in the brain called neurotransmitters, which send signals between nerve cells and other cells in the body. For instance, many antidepressants increase levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with mood. Benzodiazepines enhance the activity of a neurotransmitter called GABA, while some antipsychotics block dopamine receptors. Layering on several of these central nervous system agents at once can magnify their effects. 

Combining an antipsychotic drug that activates dopamine receptors with one that blocks dopamine can exacerbate psychosis, said Dr. Sanket Raut, a research fellow specializing in polypharmacy at Gallipoli Medical Research in Brisbane, Australia. By the same token, benzodiazepines and opioids taken together can increase the risk of overdose. “Polypharmacy is a big problem,” said Raut. “There are many side effects: cognitive impairment, dizziness and the risk of falls.”

Erika Downey

U.S. Army, Military Police (2007-2013)

Amphetamine-Dextroamphetamine

  • Clonazepam
  • Erenumab-aooe
  • Fluoxetine
  • Lorazepam
  • Trazodone

‘They give out these giant paper bags filled with medicine after your first psychiatrist appointment.’

“They give out these giant paper bags filled with medicine after your first psychiatrist appointment,” said Erika Downey, a 35-year-old retired Army sergeant with PTSD. Women are more likely to be prescribed multiple drugs concurrently against guidelines, VA researchers have found. 

Downey’s bouts of suicidal ideation while taking antidepressants, benzodiazepines and stimulants were so bad she once called a friend to come take away her gun. After that, she decided talk therapy would be the best medicine. She weaned herself off the drugs on her own over two years. She had to wait three years for a VA psychotherapy appointment. “At the VA, you are more quick to get into a psychiatrist”—someone who can prescribe meds—“than a psychologist,” she said. Gray for WSJ

Only 15% of veterans diagnosed with depression, PTSD or anxiety are offered psychotherapy in lieu of medication, according to a 2019 report by the Government Accountability Office. “They’re really leveraging the prescribing to keep up with patient demand,” said Derek Blumke of the Grunt Style Foundation, a nonprofit veterans’ care group. Many VA providers’ impulse is to “get them in and get them out,” said Chris Figura, a patient advocate at a VA in St. Louis.

Navy veteran Dick Johnson, in the VA system for three decades and diagnosed with PTSD and bipolar disorder, was prescribed more than 25 different central nervous system drugs, including antipsychotics, antidepressants and epilepsy medications, sometimes on six concurrently, his medical records show. He blames them for the collapse of his two marriages. “They pretty much destroyed my life,” Johnson said. When he worsened on one antipsychotic and experienced intense withdrawal tapering off, VA doctors tried to patch him up with a cocktail of other medicines including benzodiazepines. In 2006, he started a prolonged dose of Seroquel, a powerful antipsychotic, to get off benzodiazepines, because doctors said it was supposed to be easier to stop. His weight soared and he developed diabetes. Quitting Seroquel “nearly killed” him, as he suffered intense vomiting, diarrhea and a near-inability to digest. He’s still tapering off Paxil and Tegretol today, using a jewelry scale and sandpaper.

Drugged for Decades

Dick Johnson, who joined the Navy in 1989, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. After he was medically discharged in 1994, the VA put him on a heavy regimen of psychiatric drugs that made matters worse.

  • Medications prescribed, by class and date
  • Mood Stabilizers Anti- Psychotics Anti- Anxiety Anti-Depressant Medicated with lithium, which makes him severely ill 1995
  • Lithium Divorce with first wife  2000
  • Second marriage ’05 PTSD diagnosis
  • Divorce with second wife Seroquel ’10
  • Retires with disability from power plant ’15
  • Side effects of medications lead to ICU visit. Seeks help outside VA to taper off meds ’20
  • After cutting backmeds, joinssupport groupsand shares hisexperience
  • Note: Does not include all medications, including those prescribed for short durations.

Dr. Saraswathy Battar, a VA geriatrician, launched a passion project in 2016 to decrease the use of potentially inappropriate medications. After noticing veterans suffering from debilitating symptoms that she attributed to overprescription, she developed an electronic tool that has helped providers discontinue more than three million prescriptions. About half of VA providers are using the optional tool, she said, but they’re mostly caring for older veterans or those in palliative care, while it’s been hard to get mental health providers to adopt the tool. Some said they were unaware of its existence. “Suicide and homicide get attention,” but “there’s no penalty for not prioritizing polypharmacy reduction,” she said.

A path forward

After years on psychiatric drug regimens prescribed by military and VA doctors, a growing number of veterans are taking healing into their own hands, often exploring unconventional treatments. Many veterans said they are frustrated and angry that the country spends heavily training them to be lethal, but there’s little support for their fragile mental health as they reintegrate back into society.

Scott Griffin, the former special operations soldier who contemplated suicide last year, reached out to a group called Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions, or VETS, after the episode. Their suggestion: ibogaine, a powerful psychedelic derived from an African plant and illegal in the U.S., but only after tapering off his current medications. When Griffin asked his VA prescriber for help tapering, “he point-blank refused,” Griffin said.

He embarked on a gruelling self-taper. “I was white knuckling. I broke my teeth from clenching,” he recalled, battling intense vertigo and suicidality.

After 12 hours of altered consciousness on ibogaine in Mexico, Griffin took 5-MeO-DMT, a psychoactive compound most famously found in Colorado River toads’ poison, which he says was a profound spiritual experience. Since returning home in March, he has discarded his pills, prays daily and spends time with family, reconnecting after years of being “consumed by panic and anxiety.”

A Stanford study of 30 special operations forces veterans published last year found that ibogaine sharply reduced PTSD and related symptoms. A bipartisan bill in the House aims to fund VA research into psychedelics, which doctors caution remain largely unproven in clinical trials. 

Says Griffin, “How does bark from a tree and venom off the back of a toad beat all this crap, all these pharmaceuticals they push down your throat?”

Source:  Maggie Petito – www.drugwatch.org

Filed under: Culture,Drug use-various effects,Health,Mental Health,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,USA :

by Rebecca H. Johnson, Ashley Speckhart, Franklin Chien, Archie Bleyer – Academia Oncology – June 06, 2025

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to test the a priori hypothesis that the increasing incidence of testis and breast cancer in adolescent and young adult (AYA) Americans correlates with their increasing cannabis use. 

Methods: The overall study design involved comparing breast and testis cancer incidence trends in jurisdictions that had or had not legalized cannabis use. Cancer incidence was assessed for the U.S. using the U.S. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data, and for Canada, using Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation data. 

Results: In the U.S., both breast carcinoma in 20- to 34-year-old females and testis cancer in 15- to 39-year-old males had annual incidence rate increases that were highly correlated (Pearson’s r = 0.95) with the increase in the number of cannabis-legalizing jurisdictions during the period 2000–2019. Both were significantly greater during the period 2000–2019 in the SEER registries of cannabis-legalizing than non-legalizing states (Joinpoint-derived average annual percent change, AAPC1.3, p << 0.001 vs. 0.7, p << 0.001, respectively, for breast cancer, and AAPC1.2, p << 0.001 vs. no increase during the period 2000–2011 for testis cancer). During the period 2000–2019, registries in cannabis-legalizing versus non-legalizing states had a 26% versus 17% increase in breast carcinoma and 24% versus 14% increase in testis cancer. In the same age groups, Canada had a greater increase in both breast and testis cancer incidence than the U.S., and in both countries, breast and cancer trends were both correlated with the country’s cannabis use disorder prevalence by age. 

Conclusions: North America shows evidence that cannabis is a potential etiologic factor contributing to the rising incidence of breast carcinoma and testis cancer in young adults. Canada’s greater increases than in the U.S. are consistent with its earlier and broader cannabis legalization. Given the increasing use and potency of cannabis facilitated by jurisdiction legalization and expanded availability, cannabis’ potential as a cause of breast and testis cancer merits national consideration.

Source:  https://www.academia.edu/2998-7741/2/2/10.20935/AcadOnco7758

Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana,Drug use-various effects,Health,Prevention and Intervention,USA,Youth :

Opening statement by Herschel Baker

Sent: 31 July 2025 23:41 – 1 August 2025

It does appear that America is taking important action regarding Fentanyl but it’s also very important for America to make nitazene.

https://www.utmb.edu/mdnews/podcast/episode/even-worse-than-fentanyl

<https://www.utmb.edu/mdnews/podcast/episode/even-worse-than-fentanyl>   a Schedule I drug.

<https://www.cadca.org/advocacy/president-trump-signs-halt-fentanyl-act-into-law/>

This important legislation attached permanently designates all fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs.

<https://www.cadca.org/advocacy/president-trump-signs-halt-fentanyl-act-into-law/>

<https://www.cadca.org/advocacy/terrance-cole-sworn-in-as-new-administrator-of-the-drug-enforcement-administration/>

It does appear that Terrance Cole is the right choice Sworn in as New Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration

<https://www.cadca.org/advocacy/terrance-cole-sworn-in-as-new-administrator-of-the-drug-enforcement-administration/> 

Terrance Cole Sworn in as New Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration | CADCA

<https://www.cadca.org/advocacy/terrance-cole-sworn-in-as-new-administrator-of-the-drug-enforcement-administration/>

This Fentanyl Act is a good example that The Australian Federal Government needs to review and implement as a new Act to help keep The Australian community safe:

  1. Alcohol And Drug Foundation https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/fentanyl/

https://adf.org.au/insights/fentanyl-and-nitazenes/

  1. What are nitazenes?

https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/what-are-nitazenes

  1. AFP warn over alarming potent synthetic opioids in 2024

https://www.afp.gov.au/news-centre/media-release/afp-warn-over-alarming-pote

nt-synthetic-opioids-2024

  1. Weak response from TGA

https://www.tga.gov.au/products/medicines/prescription-medicines/prescriptio

n-opioids-hub/prescription-opioids-what-changes-are-being-made-and-why

  1. Weak response from NIDA

https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/fentanyl#addictive

  1. Lethal synthetic opioids found in Australian wastewater

https://news.uq.edu.au/2025-03-19-lethal-synthetic-opioids-found-australian-wastewater

  1. Warning of potentially deadly synthetic opioid

https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/about+us/news+and+media/all+media+releases/warning+of+potentially+deadly+synthetic+opioid

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

PUBLIC LAW 119–26—JULY 16, 2025
HALT ALL LETHAL TRAFFICKING OF FENTANYL ACT

To access the full document:

  1. Click on the ‘Source’ link below.
  2. An image  – the front page of the full document will appear.
  3. Click on the image to open the full document.

Source:  HALT ALL LETHAL TRAFFICKING OF Fentanyl Act

Filed under: Fentanyl,Political Sector,Prevention and Intervention,USA :
by Lindsey Culli – Department of Health Policy and Management – July 30, 2025

A new study from researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health sheds light on how people who inject drugs (PWID) are responding to the growing instability and danger in the U.S. illicit drug supply. Despite facing structural vulnerabilities, participants in the study demonstrated a keen awareness of changes in drug quality and content, and many are taking proactive steps to reduce their risk of overdose, injury, and other harms.

Published July 24, 2025, in the journal Health Promotion International, the qualitative study explores the experiences of 23 PWID in Baltimore City, where a growing number of opioid-related deaths and the emergence of new, harmful adulterants like xylazine have made drug use increasingly perilous. Participants reported encountering potent and unpredictable drug combinations and described cognitive, behavioral, and social strategies they use to navigate this new reality. Notably, the paper’s publication comes just two weeks after a mass overdose in Baltimore’s Penn North neighborhood sent dozens of people to the hospital in the span of a few hours and tests revealed unfamiliar ingredients.

“We found that people who inject drugs are not indifferent to the risks they face,” said lead author Abigail Winiker, PhD, MSPH, an assistant scientist in Health Policy and Management and program director for the Bloomberg Overdose Prevention Initiative. “They are making conscious decisions every day to protect their health, whether that’s testing a small dose, avoiding injecting alone, switching to less risky methods of use, or sharing safety information with peers. These are intentional harm reduction strategies grounded in knowledge and a desire to stay safe.”

The U.S. continues to grapple with a historic overdose crisis, with over 107,000 deaths reported in 2022 alone. Fentanyl and its analogs now dominate the opioid supply, but new substances, often unknown to users, are increasingly present. Participants in the study described a “wildcard” market where real heroin has been replaced by unpredictable blends, sometimes laced with benzodiazepines, dissociative agents, or tranquilizers like xylazine, which are not meant for human consumption.

The uncertainty has led to intense fear and physical harm among PWID, with many recounting a range of adverse reactions from illicit substance use, including blackouts, seizures, severe wounds, and overdose. Despite the increasing risk associated with these drug market changes, most participants reported having no access to a reliable source of information about the composition of the drug supply, making it challenging to adapt in the face of new additives. Most knowledge about specific risks or harmful batches was passed on through word of mouth, which could perpetuate rumors and the spread of misinformation.

Individual and Collective Adaptations 

The study highlights the wide array of harm reduction strategies participants use to mitigate risk. Cognitively, many indicated thinking about their drug use in terms of personal health and family responsibilities, with some expressing a motivation to seek treatment or abstain from use entirely in the face of an increasingly risky drug supply.

Behaviorally, PWID described strategies such as taking smaller test doses, sniffing instead of injecting, and having someone present who could administer naloxone if needed. Socially, trust played a critical role; participants emphasized returning to known sellers who warned them about potent batches and relying on peer networks to spread information about adverse events or dangerous batches in circulation. 

“These strategies reflect a deep sense of agency and adaptability,” said Winiker. “Our findings debunk the dangerous myth that individuals who use drugs are reckless or disconnected from their health. This false narrative perpetuates stigma and limits our ability as a society to recognize the incredible resilience and strength of people who use drugs.” 

Policy and Programmatic Implications 

The authors argue that these findings should inform more responsive public health policies and harm reduction programming. While fentanyl test strips can be an effective intervention, many participants noted that fentanyl’s presence is now expected, but what they fear are the unknown additives they cannot identify or test for, such as those that were found in the case of the mass overdose two weeks ago. Universal drug checking services, real-time supply surveillance, and mobile harm reduction outreach are critical next steps, the study concludes.

The research also points to the urgent need to remove structural barriers to harm reduction. In many states, drug checking equipment is still considered illegal paraphernalia. Criminalization and stigma continue to limit access to lifesaving services, especially among those who are unhoused or medically underserved. 

“People who inject drugs are doing their part to reduce harm,” said Winiker. “It’s time to reform our systems so they stop making it harder for them to do so, by legalizing drug checking, ensuring individuals with lived experience have leadership roles in overdose prevention and response efforts, investing in safer supply programs, and ensuring that stigma and punitive laws don’t block access to care.”

The study was conducted as part of the SCOPE Study, a project led by Susan Sherman, PhD, MPH, to design an integrated drug checking and HIV prevention intervention. It was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and reflects growing interest in how PWID are adapting to the post-fentanyl era.

Source:  https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/in-the-face-of-a-volatile-drug-supply-people-take-harm-reduction-into-their-own-hands

Filed under: Addiction,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Harm Reduction,Mental Health,Strategy and Policy,USA :

by Rachel Girarda, PATHS Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA

Background: American Indian communities consistently identify adolescent substance use as a major concern. However, limited empirical work has examined how culturally specific protective factors – such as family disapproval and cultural affiliation – interact to influence substance use behavior. Given the importance of kinship networks and cultural continuity, understanding these dynamics is critical for informing culturally grounded prevention strategies.

Objectives: This study examines the moderating role of cultural affiliation in the association between family disapproval of substance use and actual use among American Indian adolescents, a population often excluded from national health datasets.

Methods: Secondary analysis was conducted using self-report data from the Our Youth, Our Future study, a nationally representative sample of American Indian adolescents attending schools on or near reservations (N = 8,950; 51% female; Mage = 14.64 years, SD = 1.77).

Results: Multilevel analyses revealed that family disapproval was negatively associated with lifetime alcohol (b = −0.15, p < .001) and cannabis use (b = −0.34, p < .001), controlling for age. Among adolescents who endorsed use, cultural affiliation moderated the relationship between family disapproval and past-year alcohol and cannabis use. Specifically, family disapproval was significantly associated with lower alcohol use at high (b = −0.01, p = .002) but not low (b = −0.07, p = .48) levels of cultural affiliation. For cannabis use, the association was stronger at high (b = −0.51, p < .001) versus low (b = −0.32, p = .005) levels.

Conclusions: Cultural affiliation strengthens the protective effects of family disapproval on substance use among American Indian youth. Findings support culturally responsive, family-based prevention efforts that promote cultural identity and intergenerational communication.

Source: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00952990.2025.2535557?src=

Filed under: Culture,Prevention and Intervention,USA :

by Emily Caldwell – Ohio State News – Jul 08, 2025

Almost 1 in 10 workers in their 30s uses alcohol, marijuana or hard drugs like cocaine while on the job in the United States, a new study has found. 

The risk for substance use among young employees was highest in the food preparation/service industry and in safety-sensitive occupations including construction – a sector linked in previous research with a high risk for drug overdose deaths. 

Based on their prior studies of workplace strategies related to employee substance use, the researchers say these new findings suggest comprehensive substance use policies and supportive interventions could improve safety and help reduce workers’ misuse of alcohol and drugs. 

“Especially for those working in blue-collar or heavy manual jobs, they often have limited access to support to address substance use,” said lead author Sehun Oh, associate professor of social work at The Ohio State University. “It’s easy to blame someone for using substances, but we want to pay attention to understanding their working conditions and barriers at the workplace.” 

Oh completed the study with Daejun “Aaron” Park, assistant professor of social work at Ohio University, and Sarah Al-Hashemi, a recent Ohio State College of Public Health graduate. 

The research was published recently in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 

Previous research has suggested that substance use is common among people who work long hours or evening shifts and earn low wages, or who experience life stressors such as low annual household income and limited education. But few studies have been able to report on substance use during work hours, and the occupations at highest risk for on-the-job alcohol and drug use, because the data is hard to come by. 

“There are many studies looking at specific occupations and their risks, and the prevalence of substance use outside work,” Oh said. “There is very limited evidence on workplace substance use, which is more concerning in terms of occupational safety, not just for the workers but also colleagues or others exposed to the workplaces. This is the only data we know of to inform this issue.” 

The study sample included 5,465 young employees who participated in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997, a nationally representative sample of men and women who were aged 12-17 in 1997 and were interviewed regularly until 2022. The NLSY surveys were conducted by Ohio State’s Center for Human Resource Research. Data for this study came from the 2015-16 survey, the most recent wave to collect information on substance use behaviors. 

Results were based on participants’ reports of substance use immediately before or during a work shift in the past month. Among respondents, 8.9% of workers reported any substance use in the workplace, including 5.6% drinking alcohol, 3.1% using marijuana and 0.8% taking cocaine or other hard drugs, a category that also included opioids. 

Statistical modeling showed a higher risk for all types of on-the-job substance use among food-industry workers, higher alcohol use among white-collar workers (linked in prior research to drinking while cultivating business relationships or celebrating accomplishments), and elevated alcohol and marijuana use in safety-sensitive occupations.

“We’re really concerned to see the findings for safety-sensitive occupations – not just in construction, but also installation, maintenance, repair, transportation and material movement,” Oh said. “In many federal-level transportation occupations, there are policies prohibiting operating under the influence. So we’re surprised to see that still 6% of material moving workers are working under the influence, and 2% of them are using marijuana – this was striking, because other than drug testing policies, it’s hard to implement interventions for workers moving from place to place.” 

Both Oh and Park said these new findings shed light on the impact that comprehensive employer substance use policies and supportive programs for workers could have.  

Variations in workplace substance-use policies may be one explanation for industry differences in risk for employee alcohol and drug use on the job, Park said. In a 2023 study he led, 20% of survey participants reported their workplaces had no substance use policy. The research showed that comprehensive workplace substance use policies – which included recovery-friendly initiatives – were linked to a significant decrease in employee drug and alcohol use across many employment sectors. 

“The work categories least likely to have substance use policies tend to be those managed individually by owners or workers,” he said. “Also the arts, food service, entertainment, recreation – those kinds of workplaces don’t tend to have polices in place.” 

And Oh found in a 2023 study that only half of workers in a national sample had access to support services for substance use problems, such as counseling, at their places of employment. Availability of workplace support services led to lower rates of marijuana and other illicit drug use among workers. 

“What I found was policy alone can’t be effective in reducing substance use problems – policies need to be accompanied by support services,” he said. “That’s one thing we propose in this paper – that combining alcohol and other drug policies with supportive services produces the greatest benefits, rather than relying on either alone.” 

The analysis also showed substance use in the workplace had strong associations with off-work substance misuse: Users of marijuana on the job were more likely to report daily cannabis use and were more than twice as likely to be heavy drinkers compared to those not using marijuana at work, and employees on cocaine or other hard drugs while working were more likely to drink heavily, use marijuana more frequently, and report frequent illicit drug use. 

“Our research shows that those under adverse working conditions with many barriers to economic and well-being resources tend to use substances as a coping mechanism, whether that relates to an emotional toll or physical demands of not just working conditions, but their life circumstances,” Oh said. “There is a need for more structural support to address these huge implications for the health of workers and others, and to reduce the stigma associated with substance use.” 

Source: https://news.osu.edu/9-of-young-us-employees-use-alcohol-drugs-at-work-study-finds/

Filed under: Alcohol,Drug use-various effects,Prevention and Intervention,USA,Workplace,Youth :
by Pat Aussem, L.P.C., M.A.C. – Vice President, Consumer Clinical Content Development – July 2025
Inhalants

Inhalants are ordinary household products that are inhaled or sniffed to get high. Hundreds of products can be misused as inhalants.

“There’s no ID required. It’s odorless. It’s everything kids look for. They can afford it, they can get it, and it doesn’t show in mom and dad’s drug test.” 

Dana O’Rourke lost her 19-year-old daughter to “dusting,” a trend popularized on social media.1 Dusting is one of the many slang terms used to describe the use of inhalants. As O’Rourke says, inhalants are easy to get and generally undetectable, making it appealing to young people. Below, learn more about dusting and huffing, the signs of inhalant misuse, and how to keep your child safe.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Inhalant misuse: Huffing and dusting involve inhaling substances like aerosol sprays or household chemicals, posing serious health risks.
  2. Warning Signs: Look for unusual chemical odors, headaches, dizziness, slurred speech, and behavioral changes.
  3. Prevention: Educate loved ones, keep chemicals out of reach, monitor activities, and seek professional help if needed.

What Are Inhalants?

 Inhalants are everyday household products that some people misuse to get high. This dangerous practice has many slang names including “huffing,” “dusting,” “sniffing,” “whippets,” and “huff.” (see other terms at the end of this article) These products were never meant to be breathed in on purpose and using them this way can cause serious harm or even death.2

Common household items that get misused include:3

  • Computer keyboard cleaners (canned air)
  • Spray paint
  • Nail polish remover
  • Certain types of glue
  • Markers and correction fluid
  • Hair spray and deodorant
  • Cooking spray
  • Cleaning fluids
  • Gasoline
  • Whipped cream dispensers (the propellant)
  • Air conditioner fluid (Freon)

Why This Is Happening More Often

 Inhalant misuse has become more visible, especially among younger teens. There are several reasons why this is concerning:

Easy to Find: Unlike other substances, these products are legal and found in almost every home, school, and store. Kids don’t need to buy anything special or find a dealer.

Social Media Influence: Some social media challenges and videos show people using inhalants, making it seem normal or fun. These videos don’t show the real dangers or the people who get seriously hurt.

False Safety: Because these products are sold in stores, some people think they must be safe to use in any way. This is far from the truth. (There are stores dedicated to the sale of alcohol, for example, and alcohol comes with many health risks.)

Quick Effect: Inhalants work very fast – within seconds of breathing them in, a person feels intoxicated with effects similar to being drunk on alcohol. This quick effect can make them appealing to curious teens, but it’s also what makes them so dangerous. 

The Real Dangers

 Using inhalants is extremely risky, even the first time. Here’s what can happen:

  • Immediate Effects: Within seconds, users may experience slurred speech, inability to coordinate movements, dizziness, confusion, delirium, nausea, and vomiting. They may also have lightheadedness, hallucinations, and delusions.
  • Sudden Death: This can happen to anyone, even healthy people using inhalants for the first time. It’s called “sudden sniffing death syndrome.”
  • Brain Damage: Inhalants can permanently damage parts of the brain that control thinking, moving, seeing, and hearing. Effects can range from mild problems to severe dementia.
  • Heart Problems: These chemicals can cause irregular heartbeat and heart failure.
  • Suffocation: People can pass out and stop breathing.
  • Dangerous Behavior: Because the high only lasts a few minutes, people often keep using inhalants over several hours to maintain the feeling. This greatly increases the risk of losing consciousness and death.
  • Long-term Problems: Regular use can cause weight loss, muscle weakness, disorientation, trouble paying attention and other problems related to thinking, lack of coordination, irritability, and depression. After heavy use, people may feel drowsy for hours and have lasting headaches.  Their use can also lead to addiction.

Warning Signs Parents Should Watch For

 Parents and other caregivers should look out for these signs of inhalant misuse:

Physical Signs:

  • Chemical smell on breath or clothes
  • Paint stains on face, hands, or clothing
  • Red or runny nose and eyes
  • Spots or sores around the mouth
  • Drunk-like behavior without alcohol smell
  • Loss of appetite

Behavioral Changes:

  • Sudden mood swings
  • Becoming secretive or isolated
  • Declining grades
  • Loss of interest in hobbies or friends
  • Finding hidden cans, bottles, or rags

Items Around the House:

  • Empty spray cans or bottles
  • Missing household products
  • Rags or clothing that smell like chemicals
  • Hidden bags or balloons

What Parents Can Do

 Talk Early and Often: Have honest conversations about drugs and inhalants before problems start. Explain that legal doesn’t mean safe. Other important messages are:

    • No temporary feeling is worth risking your life or permanent brain damage.
    • Real friends won’t pressure you to try dangerous things. It’s okay to say no.
    • Remember that social media doesn’t show the whole story. Videos don’t show the people who got seriously hurt or died.
  • Secure Products: Keep inhalants locked up or in hard-to-reach places, especially if you suspect a problem.
  • Stay Involved: Know your child’s friends, activities, and where they spend time.
  • Monitor Online Activity: Be aware of what your kids see on social media and talk about dangerous trends.
  • Get Help: If you suspect inhalant misuse, contact your doctor, school counselor, or an addiction professional immediately.

If you discover that your child is under the influence of inhalants:

  • Don’t leave them alone if they seem confused or sick
  • Call 911 if they pass out or have trouble breathing
  • Encourage them to talk about why they are using inhalants
  • Connect with Partnership to End Addiction for guidance and resources 

Additional Terms and Information

 The following provides more information on inhalants from “The Clinical Assessment and Treatment of Inhalant Abuse”:4

  • Bagging: inhaling fumes from a soaked cloth sprayed with euphoria-inducing substances and deposited inside a paper or plastic bag.
  • Ballooning: inhaling a gas (usually nitrous oxide) from a balloon.
  • Chroming: spraying paint from an aerosol can into a plastic bag and then breathing the vapors from the bag.
  • Dusting: spraying an aerosol directly into the nose or mouth.
  • Gladding: inhaling air-freshener aerosols sprayed near the face.
  • Glue sniffer’s rash/huffer’s rash: refers to a skin condition that occurs around the mouth and midface. Glue or other chemicals dry out the skin and dissolve its natural oils, leading to inflammation, redness, and sometimes infections.
  • Huffing: inhaling a substance from a cloth or rags that have been soaked and are held close to the face.
  • Poppers/snappers: amyl nitrite packaged in small bottles that are opened to release the vapors; sold under trade names Super Rush, Locker Room, Bolt, Jungle Juice, Quick Silver, and Extreme Formula.5
  • Popper’s maculopathy: is damage to vision in the central part of the retina caused by using alkyl nitrites, which are chemicals often found in certain inhalants.
  • Sniffing/snorting: inhaling a substance from an open container directly through the mouth or nose.
  • Snotballs: inhaling smoke from the burning of rubber cement, where the adhesive is rolled into balls then burned to release the fumes.
  • Whippets: vials of nitrous oxide gas, most commonly from whipped cream aerosol canisters. The nitrous oxide can be extracted following whipped cream discharge, after which the released gas can be inhaled at close range or transferred to a balloon and then inhaled.

The Bottom Line

 Inhalant use might seem harmless because these products are common household items, but it’s one of the most dangerous forms of substance use. The risk of serious injury or death is real from the very first use. By understanding the dangers, staying informed, and learning how to spot the signs of inhalant misuse, parents can better protect their families.

Remember: There is no safe way to use inhalants. The only safe choice is not to use them at all. If you’re concerned about your loved one, don’t hesitate to reach out to us for support.

Source: https://drugfree.org/article/huffing-dusting-signs-of-inhalant-misuse-parents-should-know/

Filed under: Culture,Drug use-various effects,Drugs and Accidents,Environment,Parents,Prevention and Intervention,Solvent abuse,USA :
by Jac Charlier, Executive Director, Center for Health and Justice, TASC, and Jason Kew, Centre for Justice Innovation, UK

July 23, 2025.

Lessons from a Decade of Police, Drug Treatment, and Community Partnerships

Ten years ago, an article appeared in the September 2015 issue of IACP’s Police Chief magazine that would introduce a new word into the U.S.  police and justice lexicon: deflection. Eventually, the word also would make its way into the public health world of drug treatment and recovery, as well as move into global usage. In the article, “Want to Reduce Drugs in Your Community? You Might Want to Deflect Instead of Arrest,” author Jac Charlier described a model of crime reduction and crime prevention in which police would “deflect” people who use drugs to substance use treatment rather than arresting and charging them, thereby addressing the root of the problem—that person’s drug use—and, in turn, reducing drug-related offenses in the community. Further, in the case of opioids, police also were seeking to prevent overdoses.

“This scenario is ripe for innovation,” wrote Charlier, adding that deflection lays the groundwork for “comprehensive solutions that work in a variety of jurisdictions.”1

A decade later, the benefits suggested in the 2015 article have borne out, and the practice of deflection indeed has exploded into the emergence of a global field and movement. Reflecting on the impact of deflection over the past decade, many additional lessons and benefits have become evident as well.

What’s In a Name?

At first appearance, the need for a word to describe what was a small and disparate set of police departments working with local drug treatment agencies to address overdoses might have seemed unnecessary. With only a handful of departments across the United States known to be doing what would become called deflection, and with departments each developing their own processes ad hoc, the need for a new word was anything but obvious. Now, 10 years on, the word itself, while still new to some, has stuck. That is in part because of the simplicity and logic of the term: while diversion moves people away from the justice system after they have already entered it, deflection happens earlier, before they even enter it, moving them into community-based services instead. In other words, diversion is post-filing, and deflection is always pre-filing, whether or not an arrest occurs.

At the time the deflection term was coined, it was becoming clear that (1) something new and different was happening between police and drug treatment that had not been seen formally before; (2) when looked at closely, even in those early days, it appeared that what other parts of the justice system (prosecutors, jails, courts, prisons, probation, and parole) had been doing for many years (working closely with drug treatment) had now arrived for police; and (3) this was more than a move upstream to the police now doing diversion; rather, this was something very different because it relied not on the justice system solving the problem, but first and foremost on community, treatment, and recovery as co-problem-solving partners with the police.

“When one thinks about when and where they can have the greatest impact with the fewest resources, including costs, it is always best and better to act first at prevention and then early intervention”

Another aspect of deflection that easily could be overlooked yet deserves to be acknowledged for the tremendous innovation that it represents is this: deflection emerged not from the treatment or recovery movement, but from—almost exclusively at first—police, sheriffs, and other law enforcement agencies. The birth of deflection was in large part, but not exclusively, a response to the overdose crisis, and the maxim that “we can’t arrest our way out of this” is due to the courage, willingness, and creativity of police, sheriffs, law enforcement, and prosecutors to seek alternative solutions.

 While one-off versions of deflection have existed here and there since the 1990s, deflection now is practiced across departments, in multicounty approaches, and even at the level of state police. Deflection exists in training, practice, policy, legislation, research, and funding and continues to expand into new areas. It is here to stay and (together with its older sibling diversion, which also works at the intersection of public safety and public health) forms an entirely new way of understanding a practice-based, community-first-approach to reducing drug use and drug use–related crime, while promoting recovery and well-being.

Another way to think about the emergence of deflection is that whereas before, prevention and diversion of drug-related offenses happened through models such as treatment courts, there now exist new opportunities to reduce drug use and drug-related behaviors earlier than previously practicable by thinking of prevention–deflection–diversion, each offering opportunities to act.

Today, 9 U.S. federal agencies; 41 states; and innumerable counties, cities, foundations, researchers, universities, police training units, and—most importantly—police practitioners, recognize deflection. From those original few sites (and with federal, state, and local funding streams for deflection) it is now estimated that more than1,600 deflection initiatives exist, not including any of the  sites outside the United States.

Deflection on an International Scale

Deflection has evolved in concert with parallel international advances in related drug- and crime-reduction policies grounded in public safety and public health working together. For instance, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in the past several years, has hosted Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) side events focused specifically on deflection. Outside of the United States, deflection initiatives have emerged in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, South Africa, Italy, Tanzania, and other countries as communities seek efficient and cost-effective means to reduce substance use and its consequences.2 Just as has occurred in the United States, these initiatives are growing organically and according to local needs and resources. As one example, deflection practice in the UK incorporates a vast menu of options, from children’s referrals from schools, to veterans, mental health co-response, and women-only pathways. Each program is coordinated through the local authority’s community safety partnership, and each local authority is very different from another.

10 Lessons Learned from 10 Years of Deflection

With these roots, 10 major lessons have emerged as deflection has become formalized and has grown across the United States and globally:

  1. Police–treatment partnerships are effective. The first and most important lesson is that police and drug treatment can work together, side by side, with a shared mission and vision, to make a positive difference for the community. This idea, prior to deflection, was not routinely seen nor practiced. Policing and drug treatment historically have had misgivings about working together, starting with not considering how it might benefit them both to work together. Thanks to deflection, this has now changed. Through locally driven efforts unique to each community, where police departments have flexibility and control over processes, along with treatment partners who offer clinical and outreach expertise, deflection offers mutually rewarding solutions whereby both the justice system and public health system benefit from shared goals through a collaborative working relationship. In practical terms, police officers on the street now have a new “partner” working alongside them to figure out how to handle situations for which police were neither trained nor equipped, and the treatment and recovery communities now have earlier-than-before access to people with problem drug use who were not yet, in all but overdose cases, at the point of crisis. Of course, for the deflection participant, they benefit from a supportive “warm handoff” to treatment and services as a way to stop continued drug use.
  2. Police–recovery partnerships are growing. The second lesson, which stems from the first, is that police and people in recovery from addiction could work well together. If the first lesson was a hill to overcome, then this lesson was the mountain. Indeed, the credit of deflection actually working on the ground, day in and day out, goes to the line officers and people in recovery who have learned to work together by understanding and respecting why the other does what they do. Deflection creates a situation where they need each other. This is because while the police previously may have had the contact with the person using drugs, deflection offered a way to build trust that mattered. Through what is known in the field as “relentless engagement,” the partnerships seek to ensure the person knows that both the officer and treatment/services/recovery supports are there to assist them.
  3. The community is on board. The third lesson is that communities can accept deflection, especially and importantly when key community partners are consulted and included from the outset. Binary notions such as “tough on drugs” versus “let people use drugs” are politicized statements that do not reflect the reality on the ground of what the public wants—a response that leads to a solution that actually works for their family members, neighbors, businesses, and the community alike, and then allows their local police to focus more on serious and violent crimes, including, not coincidently, drug trafficking. Limited resources require efficient use of those resources.
  4. Deflection is effective. The fourth lesson underscores all the others: deflection works. From early evaluations to research to now second and even third site evaluations, it is clear that this entirely new field and movement, which sits between drug prevention and justice diversion (post-filing and entry into the justice system), was indeed called for and needed. As anticipated when it came into being a decade ago, deflection evaluations have shown it can reduce drug use and reduce drug use–related behaviors and crime, while also promoting recovery, well-being, and community safety.3
  5. Deflection’s community focus is rooted in the history of policing. Deflection fits naturally within the history and role of policing. Sir Robert Peel, who established the first organized police force in London, England, in 1829, and August Vollmer, who became known as the “father of modern policing” in the United States a century later, each contended that a foundational principle of policing is to prevent crime before it occurs and that this happens in partnership with the community. They both proposed that, by addressing underlying reasons for criminal behavior, policing practices can mitigate the harm caused by crime and reduce its occurrence. Indeed, Vollmer practically described deflection exactly when he suggested at a 1919 IACP meeting that police collaborate with social service agencies as a crime prevention strategy.4
  6. Police want to help people recover from drug use. The sixth lesson is that the police want to learn more about drug use, misuse, and addiction; about drug treatment and how it works; and most importantly, how they can be part of helping people to recover from addiction. Every day, police see people who use drugs. They see them getting worse, not better, and they see the harmful impact of drug use on families and the community at large. Through deflection, police get to see people reduce and then stop and recover from drug use. This is critical to a profession that otherwise often sees only bad and negative things. Police can see in deflection the role they play in reducing the scourge of addiction and how helpful they and their profession can be. They are not asked to provide treatment nor do the case management, but they kick off the entire process. It is said within the field that while police may be only the first step of many to recovery from drugs, without law enforcement, deflection would never get started. (Deflection is now practiced by EMS and fire departments, as well as by others, including second responders, but police deflection still makes up the majority of sites.)
  7. Local, community-based designs, decisions, and control are vital. Deflection is a framework, not a program. This is often heard in the field with the idea being that while some critical elements that make deflection work, and work better, are known, it is and always will exist only within the context of the local community in which it operates. Deflection is a multisystems approach to addressing a complex, often chronic problem: addiction. That means the local community has a say in how it is designed and looks; police have a say in how it operates; and treatment and recovery providers have a say into how it will focus their limited resources. The complexity of deflection, understood within the design of a specific community, is what gives meaning to the statement, “If you’ve seen one deflection initiative, you’ve truly seen only one deflection initiative.”
  8. Deflection is good public policy. The combined voice of police, drug treatment, and community together makes for good, community-grounded public policy, and as a result, is much more powerful when speaking to drug policy, funding, and practice than any of them would be alone. This lesson comes from the work of each of the deflection sites themselves, which figures out how to make it work on the ground and from that, find their shared voice to do more and do better to share deflection insights with neighboring communities.
  9. Barriers to treatment persist. The ninth lesson is that deflection has required greater adjustments for treatment than it has for the police. For police, any initial hesitancy about deflection usually relates to the practical side of how this will work. For treatment, recovery, and health partners, working alongside the police is often a new endeavor altogether. Interestingly, treatment partners will state they know this can be done but do not know how. Deflection creates a bridge between public safety and public health and the resulting connection provides guidance; instruction; training; and most important, one-on-one relationships between officers, people who treat those who use drugs, and people in recovery.
  10. The efficiency of deflection: Why wait for an arrest? The tenth lesson comes directly from the motto of the deflection field: “Why wait for an arrest?” Deflection offers an opportunity to get people to treatment before they reach the point of entering the justice system, and often before addiction has set in at full force. Deflection creates pathways, six to be exact, to connect people to treatment, housing, recovery, and services.5)

This matters because when one thinks about when and where they can have the greatest impact with the fewest resources, including costs, it is always best and better to act first at prevention and then early intervention. This is, of course, where deflection operates. In cases of overdose, its focus is preventing the next potential overdose. Deflection is an early, upstream strategy. This means that deflection is efficient in addressing issues before they become crises or happen again.

First national deflection and pre-arrest diversion summit, held at IACP in Alexandria, VA, 2017.
Photo courtesy TASC’s Center for Health and Justice.

As the decade since the introduction of the term deflection closes out and stakeholders reflect on these 10 lessons learned, the future of this field and movement is nothing but positive. It is growing nationally and globally; it is now common; it has funding and legislative support; researchers and policymakers are doing more of it; the demands to show more and better outcomes by the public are underway; and there is much more to come. Most important, the idea attached to the word deflection—this foundational change in how police and drug treatment work together, in and with the community—is no longer unusual, something not understood. Rather, the communities  practicing it show that deflection can be done, and the field indeed is doing it!

Finally, as deflection celebrates its 10th anniversary with a celebration at the Police, Treatment, and Community Collaborative (PTACC) 2025 International Deflection and Pre-Arrest Diversion Summit in New Orleans, Louisiana, from December 2–4, deflection sites will share their own lessons learned. Police professionals are invited to join PTACC in New Orleans. After that, it’s time to get ready for the next 10 years. Many possibilities exist of where this work will go, but this field and movement, once unheard of, will be more, do more, and achieve more. Indeed, police, treatment, and communities alike are counting on deflection to do just that! d

 

 

Source: https://www.policechiefmagazine.org/deflection-turns-10/

Filed under: Crime/Violence/Prison,Drug use-various effects,Prevention and Intervention,UK,USA :

by Shane Varcoe – Executive Director for the Dalgarno Institute, Australia – Jul 23, 2025

Alcohol affects 15 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, yet remains one of the most overlooked barriers to global progress. Behind the marketing messages and cultural acceptance lies a stark reality: alcohol is a Group 1 carcinogen causing seven types of cancer, with no safe level of consumption.

This week on the Unnecessary Harm Podcast,  we welcomed Kristina Sperkova , President of Movendi International , a global network of over 170 organizations across 63 countries working to reduce alcohol-related harm. Kristina shared powerful insights from her decade of leadership at the forefront of international alcohol policy advocacy, including her recent work at the World Health Assembly.

Kristina reveals how alcohol undermines everything from poverty reduction to gender equality, the predatory tactics of Big Alcohol at UN meetings, and the groundbreaking policy wins that are reshaping how the world views alcohol taxation and regulation.

 Key Takeaways From This Episode 

  • Massive Global Impact: Alcohol directly affects 15 of 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, from perpetuating poverty cycles to fueling intimate partner violence (50-80% of violent acts are alcohol-related).
  • Environmental Devastation: Producing one liter of beer requires 270 liters of water, highlighting alcohol’s massive environmental footprint through water depletion and agricultural monocultures.
  • Cancer Connection: Since 1988, alcohol has been classified as a Group 1 carcinogen alongside tobacco and asbestos, yet public awareness remains dangerously low.
  • Industry Deception: Big Alcohol uses front groups, creates dependency through corporate partnerships, and spreads lies about employment impacts and illegal production to derail effective policies.
  • Policy Solutions Work: WHO’s “best buys” – availability restrictions, marketing bans, and public health taxation – are proven, fast-acting interventions that reduce consumption and generate revenue.

Recent Victory: After 10 years of advocacy, alcohol taxation was officially recognised as a source of domestic resource mobilisation at the Financing for Development conference – a major breakthrough for global policy.

Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/alcohols-global-impact-fight-evidence-based-policy-shane-varcoe-fmc8c

Filed under: Alcohol,Australia,Environment,Health,Strategy and Policy :

 

OPENING REMARK BY NDPA:

Dianova presents itself as a “Swiss NGO recognized as a Public Utility organization, committed to social progress”. Examination of their publications places them as an organisation which is less committed to primary prevention than to reactive approaches, such as harm reduction. A telling quote in this context comes in their publication entitled “Between Music and Substances: a Look at Drug Use at Festivals” … they introduce this by saying “Drug use is a common occurrence at most music festivals: how can we promote self-care and harm reduction among participants?” – there is no mention of prevention as a policy option.

In their ‘history’ Dianova take a position found not infrequently in some other other critics of prevention i.e. any prevention program which does not achieve 100% success is deemed a failure … but no such assessment is made of reactive or accepting policies.

In this publication they dismiss the ‘Just Say No’ program as “…focusing mainly on white, middle-class children, it simply pointed the finger at others, particularly black communities, who were held responsible for the problem.” And yet immediately below this statement they include a photo of a White House ‘Just Say No’ rally, with Nancy Regan surrounded by black youngsters.

Dianova make judgemental remarks – without supporting evidence – in several places, and NDPA take would issue with several of these, but we have elected to retain this paper complete with their judgemental remarks, to illustrate their position on the ‘history’ as they see it.

by the Dianova.org team – 

From the early 20th century to the present day, an overview of the origins of drug use prevention, past mistakes and the current situation in this field

By the Dianova team – Over the past 40 years, prevention has become a key focus of public intervention in many areas, including responses to social issues such as alcohol and other drug use. Prevention strategies are now most often part of a comprehensive approach combining prevention, treatment and harm reduction, and taking into account the needs of people who use drugs and those of society as a whole.

These initiatives are developed on the basis of applied research in the humanities and social sciences, and their implementation and evaluation are based on scientifically validated strategies designed to answer one key question: do they work?

Understanding risk factors is crucial in modern drug prevention interventions, as it enables us to address the root causes of substance use and promote protective factors such as strong family bonds, engagement with school, and community support – Image by stokpic from pixabay, via Canva

Rather than raising awareness of the ‘dangers of drugs’, most initiatives today prefer to target risk factors and protective factors at the individual, family, community and environmental levels. These interventions are designed to be person-centred, while taking into account the many complex interactions between personal and environmental factors that may make certain populations more vulnerable to substance use or addiction. However, this has not always been the case. So what was prevention like before? Is prevention today so different from what it was in the past?

The origins of prevention: combating the ravages of alcohol

All forms of prevention stem from the 19th-century school of thought influenced by Pasteur’s work on the spread of disease: hygienism. This developed in a society plagued by diseases such as tuberculosis and cholera, which were widespread in most European countries, as well as in India, the United States and Canada.

With regard to substance use, it was alcohol that initially became the focus of efforts in Western countries. . In the countries concerned, the Industrial Revolution caused a profound change in drinking habits and exacerbated related problems. The advent of industrialization precipitated a period of exponential growth in the production, transportation and commercialization of alcohol. In urban areas, which experienced a significant increase in population following the rural exodus, millions of workers, reliant on their employers and lacking in social rights, found solace in alcohol, which had become readily available and inexpensive. Alcohol consumption increased significantly, as did the associated problems.

At the time, excessive drinkers were seen as a threat to their jobs, their families and society as a whole. In response, the temperance movement gained strength in America and Europe in an effort to combat alcoholism.

The temperance movement, a group of religious associations and leagues committed to combating the social ills of alcoholism, fought against the consumption of alcohol in the name of morality, good manners and the protection of the family unit. The influence of this movement grew until it reached its zenith in the early 20th century with the advent of alcohol prohibition laws, not only in the United States, but also in Canada, Finland and Russia – with the results we all know.

“The voluntary slave” – press illustration published in “La Fraternité” (France) for the Popular Anti-alcoholic league, author Adolphe Willette – circa 1875 – Adapted from screenshot from L’histoire par l’image

What about illegal drugs?

At the dawn of the 20th century, the concept of ‘illegal’ drugs had yet to be established. Europe and America had recently discovered a ‘remarkable substance’ – cocaine – lauded for its medicinal properties, touted as a panacea for all maladies. Initially imported in small quantities for medical research, its use grew rapidly, particularly within the medical community, and it was prescribed to treat a wide range of ailments, from toothache to morphine addiction. Sigmund Freud himself considered at the time cocaine to be a highly effective medicine for depression and stomach problems without causing addiction or side effects. With regard to cannabis and hashish, these were still available for purchase in all reputable pharmacies, while heroin, a registered trademark of the Bayer pharmaceutical company, was regarded as a sovereign remedy for… coughs.

It should be noted that the issue of substance addiction had not yet manifested itself in the context of affluent, colonizing nations. Elsewhere, the perspective was somewhat different: in a distant country – China – opium had already been wreaking havoc for several decades.

Introduced and marketed by Europeans, it had become a pervasive national scourge affecting millions of Chinese people. Opium  addiction is a prime example of the impact of colonialism on local societies: not only did it trigger two wars against Western powers concerned solely with their economic interests (profits from the opium trade), but it also had profound social and political consequences that are still felt today.

The Western countries’ ‘honeymoon’ with drugs was not to last. The problems they posed became apparent rapidly and, under the influence of American temperance leagues, they swiftly transitioned from being regarded as a universal remedy to being perceived as a threat to society and moral values. This marked the beginning of American policies predicated on drug control (or the war on drugs, depending on one’s perspective), which would shape global policies in this domain for over a century.

The demonization of ‘drugs’

The demonisation of drugs, the effects of which were felt from the beginning of the 20th century, is closely associated with a set of social, racial, political and economic dynamics that resulted in the stigmatization of both the substances themselves and the people who consumed them. As early as 1906, the United States initiated the legislative process, and the phenomenon grew until it culminated in a particularly restrictive and repressive international drug control policy – but that is another matter.

In the 1930s, the American government initiated a media offensive involving the use of racist stereotypes, sensationalist media, and political propaganda to portray cannabis as a dangerous substance that led to violence, insanity, and moral decay.

The process of demonizing drugs was gradual yet unstoppable. The discourse surrounding narcotics such as morphine, opium and heroin was initially shaped by their association with specific demographic groups, namely minorities, the economically disadvantaged, and migrants. This demonization continued over the following decades, fuelled by media sensationalism and public panic, particularly around the use of cocaine and cannabis – substances that were claimed to be the root cause of criminal behaviour and moral corruption.

The criminalization and stigmatization of substances and those who use them have had a profound impact. Not only have they perpetuated and reinforced racist prejudices against Afro-descendant, Latin American and other historically marginalized communities, but they have also completely distorted the approaches and prevention efforts implemented subsequently.

Early drug prevention initiatives

Before the 1960s, the ‘drug phenomenon’ was virtually non-existent in industrialised countries. Apart from a few opium enthusiasts, alcohol and tobacco reigned supreme in the field of substance addiction.

From the 1960s onwards, there was a rapid increase in the use of illegal drugs in the United States, particularly among the counterculture movement. The use of LSD and cannabis – and, to a lesser extent, amphetamines and heroin – spread and became a symbol of rebellion against authority, as part of a broader movement focused on social change.

Within the collective imagination, the 1960s are often regarded as the golden age of illegal drug use. This period was characterised by widespread use of cannabis, as well as the significant distribution of heroin among children in impoverished neighbourhoods. Notable figures such as Timothy Leary, a prominent Harvard professor, popularised the effects of LSD. However, an analysis of historical data reveals that the phenomenon was not as widespread as is commonly believed. Conversely, however, there was a marked increase in the perception of risk associated with drugs. For instance, in 1969, a mere 4% of American adults reported having used cannabis at least once. However, 48% of respondents indicated that drug use was a serious problem.

While many current prevention efforts have a solid theoretical basis and evidence of effectiveness, historic prevention strategies were often based on intuition and guesswork, with an emphasis on such scare tactics as the one depicted above (“Your brain on drugs” campaign, initially launched in 1987)

The notion of prevention as a concept was first developed in the early 1960s within the domain of mental health and behavioural disorders. In the context of drug policy, the first initiatives were echoing the pervasive fear of drugs that was prevalent in both America and Europe during that period. Logically, the primary initiatives were consistent with the propaganda campaigns initiated in previous decades with the objective of demonizing cannabis. The objective of these initial prevention initiatives was not to promote education, but rather to instil a sense of fear and intimidation.

‘People of my generation were taught that cannabis caused acne, blindness and sterility. It was a tactic based on fear, not on educating people.’

Children and young people in the 1960s and 1970s were no more stupid than anyone else and just as observant. They quickly realised that the messages promoted by schools and families did not correspond to reality.

So simple, ‘Just Say No’.

In 1971, Richard Nixon declared drug abuse ‘public enemy number one’ and launched a widespread campaign against drug use, distribution and trafficking. This marked the beginning of a government policy that led to the incarceration of both traffickers and users. The policy would have far-reaching consequences for many countries, whilst in the United States it would have a disproportionately negative impact on the Black community.

The notion that one should ‘Just Say No’ to drugs is predicated on a rudimentary interpretation of the rational choice model, according to which people choose their behaviour in order to maximize rewards and minimize costs (negative consequences).

Nancy Reagan at a “Just Say No” rally at the White House in May 1986 – White House Photographic Collection, public domain

The D.A.R.E. programme: information is not enough

From 1983 onwards, this concept became central to the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) programme. Initially implemented in Los Angeles, this school-based programme aimed to help young people understand that the harmful consequences of drug use far outweigh any perceived benefits. Young people can therefore avoid these consequences by refusing to take drugs.

The D.A.R.E programme’s model was based on three key elements: 1) drugs are bad; 2) when children understand how bad drugs are, they will avoid using them; and 3) the message is more effective when delivered by police officers, who are considered credible.

The programme was subsequently developed in the United Kingdom, and a similar model was adopted elsewhere in Europe during the same period — notably by associations of rehabilitated individuals — which replaced the credibility of police officers with that of former drug users ‘who could speak from experience’.

In response to findings on the ineffectiveness of the DARE programme, a new curriculum was developed (2009) with a stronger focus on interactive activities and decision-making skills, moving away from the traditional lecture-based approach by a police officer – AI-generated image, via Canva

Over the years, the programme has been the subject of extensive study. One study found that people who completed the programme had higher levels of drug use than those who did not. Another study found that teenagers enrolled in the D.A.R.E programme “were just as likely to use drugs as those who received no intervention”.

The impact of popular culture

The aim here is not to portray the D.A.R.E. programme or similar interventions solely in an unfavourable or ridiculous light. Even though it has lost its central position, the programme is still implemented in most US states, and according to its website, it has been developed in 29 countries since its creation. It is true that the programme has since been adapted to incorporate various aspects, such as resistance to peer pressure and the development of social skills.

However, these initiatives face a major difficulty from the outset. As we know, experimentation and risk-taking are part of normal adolescent development, which is why providing young people with detailed information about different substances is likely to arouse their interest in these drugs, especially if the information is not presented in an appropriate manner. Secondly, this type of strategy only has an impact on young people who are susceptible to alarmist messages because of their cognitive patterns, and is not effective for everyone else, as we now know.

Officers in the DARE programme would sometimes arrive in sports cars seized from drug traffickers to exemplify their message on drugs and crime (Crime does not pay) – A Pontiac Firebird in D.A.R.E. livery in Evesham Township, New Jersey – image: Jay Reed – Flickr, licence: CC BY-SA 2.0

Furthermore, when talking about drugs, one must also consider the influence of popular culture, which, without openly glorifying substance use, often portrays alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs in a favourable light, particularly at an age when young people are most receptive.

We now know that providing information about drugs is not enough to make for a good prevention policy. While education and awareness can always play an important role, they are not sufficient, nor even necessary, to prevent addiction.

Should we talk about drugs to prevent drug use?

According to Dr Rebecca Haines-Saah, who spoke at a webinar organised by Dianova last May, the most effective drug prevention strategies do not focus on drugs, but on much broader social issues, such as reducing poverty, combating discrimination and implementing targeted community programmes.

Some prevention strategies even choose not to mention drugs at all, yet they have proven effective in reducing substance use by focusing on broader social, environmental and behavioural factors.

These approaches aim to create conditions that indirectly discourage drug use, particularly by strengthening social skills and improving people’s living conditions. For example, programmes focused on improving the school environment, teaching social skills or promoting healthy lifestyles can have a positive impact on reducing substance use without explicitly targeting drugs.

Similarly, family interventions that strengthen parent-child relationships and improve communication can also help prevent substance misuse by targeting underlying risk factors. These strategies highlight the importance of a holistic approach to prevention that goes far beyond direct drug education.

Prevention is a science

Preventing substance use – i.e. the use of all psychoactive substances regardless of their legal status –  involves helping people, particularly young people, to avoid using substances. If they have already used substances, the objective is to prevent them from developing substance use disorders (problematic use or dependence).

However, the overall objective is much broader, as highlighted by the UNODC in the second edition of the International Standards on Drug Use Prevention. It also involves ensuring that children and adolescents grow up healthy and safe, so they can fulfil their potential and become active and productive members of society.

Drug prevention is now grounded in research and evidence-based practices. This multi-disciplinary field has developed over the last forty years, aiming to improve public health by identifying risk and protective factors, assessing the efficacy of preventive interventions, and identifying optimal means for dissemination and diffusion –  AndreyPopov from Getty Images, via Canva

There is now a vast body of literature on substance use prevention. Its aim is to highlight effective and less effective strategies based on scientific evidence in order to guide decision-makers and practitioners in the field in their choices. Despite this, prevention activities are still sometimes poorly prepared and based primarily on beliefs or ideologies rather than scientific knowledge.

At Dianova, we believe that addiction prevention, particularly among young people, must take into account societal changes (new drugs, new patterns of use, changes in legislation, etc.) using scientifically validated strategies based on standards and methodological guidelines.

These strategies are based in particular on:

  • The acquisition of psychosocial skills (problem solving, decision-making, interpersonal skills, stress management, etc.),
  • Interventions aimed at developing parenting skills (e.g. communication skills, conflict management, setting boundaries, etc.),
  • Prevention strategies tailored to young people with vulnerability factors (e.g. those whose parents suffer from substance use disorders) and taking into account gender perspectives, abandoning androcentric strategies that obscure the situation of girls and LGBTQI+ communities.

In conclusion, we must bear in mind the mistakes of the past so as not to repeat them and, above all, understand that no prevention system is sufficient on its own. Whatever approach is chosen, effective prevention systems must be evidence-based and integrated into broader, balanced systems that focus on health promotion, the treatment of substance use disorders, risk and harm reduction, and countering drug trafficking.

Effective, science-based programmes that can make a real difference to people’s lives can only be developed by integrating all these elements.

Source: https://www.dianova.org/publications/a-brief-history-of-drug-prevention/

Filed under: Addiction,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Harm Reduction,Health,Others (International News),Parents,Prevalence,Prevention and Intervention,Strategy and Policy,Treatment and Addiction,Youth :

 

Report to Congressional Committees – July 2025  / GAO-25-107845 – United States GAO – (Government Accountability Office)

Highlights

A report to congressional committees.

For more information, contact: Triana McNeil – United States Government Accountability Office

What GAO Found

The 12 experts in a forum which GAO convened said that to develop effective media campaigns and evaluate media campaigns, whether on drug misuse prevention or other topics, campaigns need to consider the following: 

Graphical user interface, text, application AI-generated content may be incorrect.

·         Identify and understand intended audience. Once a campaign has identified who it wants to reach, it needs to understand the intended audience—including by identifying the underlying causes of the behavior the campaign wants to change. For example, experts noted that campaigns may decide to target the underlying reasons why people misuse drugs rather than developing campaigns to target specific drugs.

·         Create content, select messengers, and decide on delivery methods. Campaigns need to create content to deliver their messages, which need to be credible and relevant for the intended audience. Campaigns also need to select messengers to deliver their messages, such as community leaders. Additionally, campaigns need to decide how to deliver their messages. For example, campaigns may use print and social media, among other options.

·         Test messages. Campaigns need to test their messages with the intended audience to ensure that the messages are relevant and resonate with the intended audience. This testing can include using focus groups, interviews, or surveys, among other methods.

·         Define the intended outcome. Campaigns need to have a clear understanding of what they are trying to achieve. Then, evaluators can decide what data are needed to determine whether a campaign is meeting its goals.

·         Select qualified evaluators. Campaigns need independent evaluators who can speak to campaign managers about a campaign’s effectiveness using evidence from evaluations. Evaluators need expertise in research methods, evaluation, and other disciplines and need to understand the campaign substance.

·         Decide when and how to measure effectiveness. Campaigns need to decide if they will evaluate the campaign while it is ongoing or after the campaign has concluded. They also need to decide what they want to measure and what data collection methods they will use.

To access the full document:

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Source: https://files.gao.gov/reports/GAO-25-107845/index.html?

Filed under: Drug Specifics,Drug use-various effects,Internet,Prevention and Intervention,Social Affairs,Strategy and Policy,USA :

Posted July 21, 2025 by Mark S Gold, M.D.

Key points

  • Youth overdose deaths are high as illicit drugs are often contaminated with fentanyl and other synthetics.
  • The “One Pill Can Kill” initiative warns—especially youth and parents—of counterfeit pills with fentanyl.
  • Recent Baltimore mass casualties remind us the overdose landscape is changing, but fentanyl is a constant.

On July 10, 2025, first responders in Baltimore discovered numerous individuals simultaneously overdosing in the same neighborhood. Twenty-five people ages 25-55 were hospitalized, five in critical condition. There were no deaths. All victims had bought and used a neighborhood street sample of opioids, and testing revealed the drug mixture included fentanyl, N‑methylclonazepam (a benzodiazepine not approved in the United States), acetaminophen, mannitol, quinine, and caffeine. The benzodiazepine caused prolonged unconsciousness, even after naloxone was given.

Baltimore has one of the highest overdose rates of any city in the United States. One reason for this is that illicit drug manufacturers constantly add new substances, prolonging the drug’s effects, making users feel different or more powerful. Adding xylazine or medetomidine created the zombie drug crisis in Philadelphia. But combining opioids with benzodiazepines is dangerous because both drugs cause sedation, making it harder to breathe. In 2021, nearly 14 percent of fatal opioid overdoses in the United States involved benzodiazepines, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Most recently, fentanyl has been used with methamphetamine, the synthetic speedball, or cocaine, but more recently, Canadians have reported that their fentanyl has become contaminated with benzodiazepines. This synthetic benzodiazepine-laced opioid concoction is often called “benzodope.” It poses amplified risks for people who use fentanyl.

While national overdose fatalities declined in 2024, fentanyl alone or in combination remains a leading cause of preventable death in young people. Over the past decade, drug overdoses among young people have surged, killing 230,000+ people under 35 years old. Opioids, particularly fentanyl and other synthetics, are driving the high overdose death rate among adolescents and adults.

Julie Gaither, Ph.D., from the Yale School of Medicine, analyzed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data on children and teens under 20. She found that 13,861 youths died from opioids from 1999-2021—about 37.5 percent of those deaths involved fentanyl. Teens ages 15-19 years made up 90 percent of the fentanyl deaths. In about 17 percent of cases, the child or teen also had ingested benzodiazepines. Yale’s analysis showed there were 175 pediatric opioid deaths in 1999, and 5 percent involved fentanyl. In 2021, there were 1,657 pediatric opioid deaths, and 94 percent (1,557) involved fentanyl.

This frightening trend was confirmed in a recent 2025 study in Pediatrics, which reported on synthetic opioid–involved youth overdose deaths in the United States over 2018–2022. This study proved fentanyl alone is the primary and fastest-rising cause of overdose deaths in adolescents. Worse, overdose rates among young adults ages 20–24 were even higher: a 168 percent increase in deaths involving synthetic opioids alone (primarily fentanyl).

There have been some changes in the victims. In 2018, white non-Hispanic youth had the highest synthetic opioid–only death rates. But by 2022, synthetic opioid–only death rates surged among Black, American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN), and Hispanic youth, surpassing opioid deaths of white youth.

Overview by Age Group: Some Good News

Accidents/unintentional injuries remain the leading cause of death among adolescents and youth, with continued high risks from vehicles and firearms. The good news is that alcohol, cannabis, and nicotine use remained at historic lows in 2024. Also, in the first significant drug decline since the pandemic, overdose deaths plummeted from about 110,000 in 2023 to 80,000 in 2024.

In the Monitoring the Future (MTF) study of adolescents (8th, 10th, 12th graders), prescription narcotics misuse among 12th graders was less than 1 percent (0.6 percent), a record low. Factors driving this decline were the extended effects of COVID-19 (reduced peer pressure/socializing), rising health risk awareness, increased health consciousness, and shifts toward online engagement.

Sean Esteban McCabe, Ph.D., at the University of Michigan, and colleagues analyzed data from the annual MTF study from 2009 to 2022. This data revealed that the nonmedical use of prescription opioids, benzodiazepines, and stimulants significantly declined over that time frame.

McCabe and colleagues provided solid explanations for the decline in medical and nonmedical use of prescription opioids. For example, over the past decade, treatment guidelines and other sources have discouraged prescribing of opioids for chronic pain and sometimes even acute pain. Also, they have recommended limited quantities of drugs if opioids are prescribed.

One question is whether the much more circumscribed prescribing of opioids is solely responsible for current declines in use, or if the key factor is changing attitudes toward using opioids among adolescents. Additional research is needed.

The One Pill Can Kill Initiative

The “One Pill Can Kill” (OPCK) initiative was launched by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in September 2022 as part of a public safety prevention initiative to alert Americans to a surge in counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl. DEA lab analyses had revealed an alarming trend: In 2021, around 4 of every 10 fake pills contained potentially lethal fentanyl doses; by 2022, that number rose to 6 of 10. In 2024 alone, U.S. law enforcement intercepted 60+ million fentanyl-laced pills.

The OPCK campaign includes social media tools, educational materials, partnerships (e.g., NFL Alumni Health), and urging people to trust only prescribed pills dispensed by licensed pharmacists.

The initiative is credited with raising public awareness and increasing demand for interventions like fentanyl test strips and naloxone.

CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America) supports a network of 5,000+ community-based coalitions spanning all states, territories, and 30+ countries that actively embrace the DEA’s One Pill Can Kill messaging through educational materials, public health toolkits, and visible co-branding at national events. CADCA reinforces messages and embeds core warnings from the DEA initiative within its broader community prevention strategies. Nationally, award-winning coalitions have reported measurable reductions in youth substance misuse and environmental changes supporting prevention strategies.

These combined interventions may be contributing to reductions in opioid overdose deaths. A notable illustrative case comes from Laredo, Texas, where fentanyl-related deaths dropped by half, from 67 in 2023 down to 34 in 2024.

Summary

New data reveal fentanyl is the principal driver in adolescent overdose deaths. Adolescent substance use has declined to levels not seen in decades. However, overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids only (predominantly fentanyl) rose significantly in youths. Methamphetamine is also a growing concern, and 70+ percent of drug poisonings involving methamphetamine in both 2023 and 2024 included one or more opioids. These findings highlight the urgent need for age-specific and culturally informed prevention strategies like the One Pill Can Kill Initiative.

Source:  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/addiction-outlook/202507/increased-youth-overdose-deaths-from-fentanyl

About the Author
Mark Gold M.D.

Mark S. Gold, M.D., is a pioneering researcher, professor, and chairman of psychiatry at Yale, the University of Florida, and Washington University in St Louis. His theories have changed the field, stimulated additional research, and led to new understanding and treatments for opioid use disorders, cocaine use disorders, overeating, smoking, and depression.

Filed under: Fentanyl,USA,Youth :

OPENING COMMENT by NDPA:

This file comes in three parts:

A. Post from Minister Mark Butler

B. Response to Minister Butler by Herschel Baker

C. Press Interview by Minister Butler

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

A. Post from Minister Mark Butler

Sent: 16 July 2025 10:16

Subject: Good news from Australia Regarding both Vaping and Border Control success stopping illegal drugs importance.

Please find attached Vaping Update from MARK BUTLER, MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGEING, MINISTER FOR DISABILITY AND THE NDIS; Chris Picton, the Minister for Health in South Australia, and Andrea Michaels who has responsibility for enforcement in South Australia. Also joined by Assistant Commissioner. Tony Smith from the ABF and Professor Becky Freeman from the University of Sydney.

 

  1. First of all, we put in import control to ban the import of

disposable vapes. And the work that Border Force and the TGA have done in

particular has been exemplary. Today, we can say that more than 10 million

vapes have been seized by those two Commonwealth agencies, and I want to

thank the officials at Border Force and TGA for their hard work. We have

resourced them to do that job, and they have provided a great return to

the community on that investment and I thank them for it.

  1. More broadly though, and most importantly perhaps, the research

that Professor Freeman and some others have done is showing that this is making

a difference for young Australians. As I said, vaping rates were exploding

year on year when we were coming to Government. We can now say that the

peak of vaping is behind us, and most research is showing that fewer young

people are vaping and fewer young people are smoking as well. Professor Freeman

will talk about the latest wave of the research she leads out of the

University of Sydney, research that’s supported by the Commonwealth

Government as well as the New South Wales Government and the Cancer

Council.

3.Big Tobacco on the one hand and serious organised crime that is

determined to continue to make money from these very dangerous products, vaping but

also illicit tobacco as well. We know it’s going to be a tough fight. We

know there’s a lot more to do, and we have to do that in close concert

between the Commonwealth and the state governments and territory

governments. But I’m really pleased to say that it looks like we have

turned the corner and at least stopped the explosion in vaping among young

Australians that was emerging as one of the most significant public health

challenges for our community.

  1. BECKY FREEMAN, PROFESSOR UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY: Thanks so much for

having me here today. Young people were sold a lie. They were told that

vapes were harmless, they were fun, they were part of a young person’s

lifestyle, and they didn’t need to worry about any impacts on their

health.

That was a lie.  We know that young people now, when they look at vaping,

their attitudes have changed. Just a few short years ago when we started

the Gen Vapes study, young people thought, you know, everyone vapes. “It’s

something just young people do. It’s for us, it’s not like your

grandfather’s stinky cigarette.” When we talk to young people now, those

attitudes have shifted. They’re almost ashamed of the fact that they’re

addicted. They can’t believe that something that they were just using at

parties for fun on the weekends, that they were told if they took to music

festivals or used with their friends at parties would be a great way to

enhance their good time.  Now their wellbeing is being impacted. They’re

waking up with a vape under their pillow. They can’t believe they can’t go

all day at their lectures or at school without having a vape. I think it’s

really important to remember those public health impacts.

BUTLER: The Gen Vape research? The really pleasing thing about the latest

wave of research from Gen Vape is it shows fewer young people are vaping

and fewer young people are smoking. When we introduced this package of

measures in concert with Ministers like Chris Picton, there was a concern that if

we stopped young people vaping that they might turn to smoking cigarettes.

And I think the really pleasing thing we’re seeing from a number of different

pieces of research is that twin achievement of fewer young people vaping

and fewer young people smoking.

Now, again, I say and I stress this fight is far from over. We still have

a long way to go. The explosion in illicit tobacco around the country,

cheap, illegal cigarettes, is probably now, I think, the biggest threat we have

to our most important public health objective, which is to stop people

smoking.

It’s still the biggest preventable killer of Australians, 60 or 70

Australians will die today and tomorrow and the day after because of

cigarettes. We’ve got a lot more to do to get to those very, very low

rates of smoking that are set out as targets in the National Tobacco Strategy

across all age cohorts, including young Australians. But the fact we

haven’t seen smoking rates increase markedly as we’ve started to clamp down on

vaping rates among young people, I think is one of the really heartening

things that comes out of Gen Vape. I’m not sure whether Professor Freeman

wants to add to that.

FREEMAN: I fully agree. The only thing I would add is let’s remember that

vaping is actually a risk factor for future smoking as well. We know from

the Gen Vape study that young people who vape are at five times the risk

of going on to smoke. So if you can prevent vaping, you’re also going to

prevent future smoking. And this is why you can’t really consider them as

separate behaviours, really, as well. Let’s remember, it’s the same industry

often behind these products as well. There’s a great quote from the study

from a young person. She said: “you know, when I was a young teen, I

absolutely hated smoking. I could not believe anyone would smoke. I’d had

it drilled into me from a very young age, those gross packets. And then I

tried vaping, and it sort of loosened me up. And I thought, oh, well, if I’m

going to vape, maybe I could smoke too.” So I think that prevention of vaping

and prevention of smoking together is super important.

Kind Regards  – Minister Mark Butler

 

B. Response to Minister Butler by Herschel Baker

Herschel Baker

International Liaison Director

Queensland Director

Drug Free Australia

M: 0412988835Prevent.

Don’t Promote Drug

mailto:drugfreeaust@drugfree.org.au

mailto:drugfree@org.au

Web https://drugfree.org.au/

 

C. Press Interview by Minister Butler

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Source:  Good news from Australia Regarding both Vaping and Border Control

 

 

 

Filed under: Australia,Political Sector,Vaping :

 

by Charles Fain Lehman – Wall Street Journal – July 2, 2025

President Trump should halt Biden’s attempt to make pot a ‘Schedule III’ substance.

Whether to loosen the government’s ultra-tight controls on marijuana is among the matters President Trump inherited from Joe Biden.

Under law, marijuana is a Schedule I substance, meaning it has no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Mr. Biden initiated a process to move pot to Schedule III, thereby labelling it a medicine with only moderate abuse potential. Mr. Trump must decide whether to move ahead with the change.

He shouldn’t. Rescheduling would bolster a socially disastrous legal weed industry that has spread crime and disorder in the streets. Containing that chaos instead of spreading it would be in line with the president’s mandate.

Rescheduling wouldn’t mean legalization. Marijuana would still be a federally controlled substance, subject to the same restrictions as drugs like ketamine and anabolic steroids. Rescheduling also wouldn’t mean increasing the medical availability of marijuana. Medical cannabis is legal in 40 states, and the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment, which became law in 2014, prohibits spending money to enforce federal laws against these operations. Marijuana is already more available to “medical” users than other Schedule III substances.

The primary effect of rescheduling, as the Congressional Research Service has shown, would be a tax break to fuel the growth of state-legal marijuana businesses. That’s because a provision of the tax code, Section 280E, which provides that businesses can’t deduct the costs of trafficking in Schedule I or II controlled substances. But that’s not the case for Schedule III.

That affects state-legal marijuana businesses. Because of 280E, these firms can pay effective tax rates as high as 70%. Shifting pot to schedule III would alleviate the tax burden, and give the firms more room to operate. That would be good if these were normal companies, and if their business wasn’t socially and individually harmful. But the state-legal marijuana business has been a catastrophe.

Legalization has increased rates of marijuana addiction—typically called “marijuana use disorder”—including rates of heavy use among teens. State-legal businesses have a profit-motivated reason to nurture addiction. Due to legalization, today’s pot is far more potent than it was decades ago. Research links marijuana use, especially in young adulthood, to IQ loss, schizophrenia, heart attacks, strokes and lung disease.

As important, legalization is already socially toxic. Research by the Kansas City Federal Reserve found it has increased homelessness, addiction and arrests by double-digit percentages. Other research, on Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia, finds that dispensary proximity causally reduces property values. There’s also the odor, which nearly half of New York City residents reported smelling “often” in a recent poll.

Legalization hasn’t even killed the black market. By expanding the consumer base while regulating the supply, it has made the illicit alternative more appealing than ever. Cannabis forecaster Whitney Economics has projected that in 2026 the black market will still account for 60% of sales.

Much of that money flows to Chinese criminal groups, which “have come to dominate the cultivation and distribution of marijuana throughout the United States,” according to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s recent National Drug Threat Assessment. Maybe that is why a majority of Americans now say that pot is bad for its users and society, according to Gallup.

The rescheduling decision rests with the Justice and Health and Human Services departments, which both take marching orders from the president. Mr. Trump should end Mr. Biden’s dangerous social experiment.

Source: https://www.wsj.com/opinion/legal-marijuanas-disastrous-legacy-policy-law-7c727c22

Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana,Drug use-various effects,Political Sector,Prevalence,Prevention and Intervention,USA :

Opening comment by John Coleman – DWI.

This article raises some good points. While it’s reasonable to compare today’s commercial cannabis industry with the Big Tobacco industry of the 20th century – indeed there are many similarities – we should also consider comparing it to the prescription opioid “epidemic” (as the White House called it) of the 2000s. We will not be alone in drawing the comparisons –  I’m sure the cannabis industry and their lawyers understand the history and chronology as well as we do but, of course, they are looking at it from a different perspective.

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Putatively, the “first” pill mill was discovered in June 2001 at a “pain clinic” in Myrtle Beach, SC. The official name of the clinic was the Comprehensive Care and Pain Management Center and it was run by a group of physicians led by the owner, David Michael Woodward, MD. In 1994, Woodward opened a sleep center but quickly found that there was more money to be made prescribing opioids and switched his operation to a pain clinic. When his medical license was suspended in 1996 for improper relationships with female patients, he turned to hiring physicians facing difficult personal and financial problems to write his opioid prescriptions for him.

Myrtle Beach is a small seaside summer resort with a permanent population of 35,000 but, as would later be shown in court, it led the region and entire state in Purdue’s sales of OxyContin – mostly the result of Woodward and his band of troubled docs. In June 2001, DEA raided the clinic, arrested Woodward and eight other physicians and charged them with “conspiracy to distribute controlled substances [and] unlawfully distributing and dispensing … oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance,[etc.]”(USA v. Woodward)

One of the docs subsequently took his life, another ran off to New Zealand, was captured, and returned to face the music. Most cooperated and testified against Woodward who was sentenced to 15 years in prison (later reduced to 13 years). The others received lesser sentences of two years or more.

Woodward was not the first or only entrepreneur looking to cash in on the burgeoning prescription opioid craze. There were people thinking of doing the same thing in Florida, a state that had few, if any, restrictions on pain clinics. It wasn’t long before Florida became the epicenter of the pain clinic aka pill mill industry. Its pill dispensing docs often had dozens and dozens of people lined up before the mill opened each morning. Some, as shown on TV news, drove to the Florida clinics from as far away as Ohio and further west.

“Patients” would often exit the mills carrying gallon-sized clear Ziploc bags of hundreds of loose pills, mostly OxyContin tablets or a generic form of a 30mg oxycodone tablet made and sold by Mallinckrodt. This was a blue tablet with the company’s traditional “M” logo and quickly became known on the street as “M&Ms.”

For several years, Florida and its lax pharmacy and medical laws led the nation in pill mill activity. At the same time, it was becoming a national scourge, with parents and policymakers from surrounding states demanding action. Even the Florida media mocked the state as depicted in this cartoon (my favorite) from the South Florida Sentinel:

The Florida pill mill era came to an abrupt halt in July 2011 when the state legislature enacted an emergency health act that immediately closed down about half of the state’s estimated 1,000 pill mills and severely affected the status of the other half. The emergency legislation prohibited physician-dispensing of controlled substances, meaning the pill mills no longer could prescribe and dispense pills from the same location at the same time.

Florida’s anti-pill mill act increased penalties for dispensing drugs on an invalid prescription and turned misdemeanor pharmacy offenses into felonies. Pharmacists were required to call the local sheriff to report all fraudulent prescriptions. Clinics were required to have a medical director, a medical physician, in residence or in ownership.

Importantly, Florida’s emergency legislation requires distributors of controlled substances to inform the state health department when distributions over a set amount of drugs are delivered to customers.

The results were dramatic:

While the pill mill era was centered in Florida, corrupt medical professionals in other states operated similar “pain clinics” but with a much lower exposure. Over time, many of these were identified via complaints or PDMPs that revealed improper prescribing practices.

Now, how does this brief history of the U.S. pill mill industry compare with what we now see in the commercial cannabis industry? Several similarities come to mind and I’ll mention them briefly to save time:

  1. The pharmaceutical industry, led by Purdue Pharma, spent huge sums of money generating the notion that pain in America was not treated or undertreated;
  2. Medical schools in the 1990s were still teaching in the 1940s mode that narcotics should be used only in terminal cancer patients;
  3. Modern opioids, like Purdue’s new extended-release OxyContin, were promoted as less addictive;
  4. Pain patients, according to JAMA (“Porter & Jick”), rarely became addicted to their opiates;

The industry successfully “sold” these ideas to the public and to Congress, subtly suggesting that obsolete government regulations might be why chronic pain was undertreated in the U.S. Feeling the heat, if not the pain, the government caved and became the pharmaceutical industry’s new best friend. On Halloween (October 31), 2000, industry lobbyists were successful in getting President Bill Clinton to sign into law a bill creating the Decade of Pain Control and Research.

 (Ironically, by the end of the “pain” decade some ten years later, FDA records would show that of 219 drugs and biologics designated and approved during the decade as “new molecular entities,” only nine were indicated for treating acute pain, including three for treating migraine. Only one, Tapentadol®, was indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe acute pain. NONE was indicated for treating chronic pain. Later, after the decade was over, an extended-release form of Tapentadol would receive an additional indication for treating chronic pain.)

 The same month, October 2000, perhaps to curry favor with the President, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a 57-page booklet titled, “Pain as the 5th Vital Sign Toolkit.” Authorship was given in the booklet to James Campbell, MD, president of the American Pain Society. Next on industry’s list of who’s nice was the Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), a professional organization of medical experts who certify hospitals and clinics in the U.S. Its “best practices” are viewed as important for attracting federal grants and other forms of federal aid for treating the elderly, disabled, and poor under Medicaid or Medicare. Performance reviews of hospital facilities are conducted regularly by JCAHO members and certification is considered a requisite for continued operation.

In 2001, JCAHO issued new standards for pain care in response to what it called “the national outcry about the widespread problem of undertreatment.” Henceforth, upon admission to the hospital, each patient was to receive as assessment of their “fifth vital sign – pain” along with the normal assessment of their other four vital signs.

With the government squarely in the pocket (literally) of the industry, the private sector was covered. Not to be undone by the competition, the prestigious Institute of Medicine (IOM, since renamed National Academy of Medicine) was commissioned by HHS to study pain in America. Its publication, “Relieving Pain in America: A Blueprint for Transforming Prevention, Care, Education, and Research,” was published in 2011 and reported, among other things, that 100 million Americans suffered from chronic pain.

Later, several watchdog groups would show that many of the experts associated with these and other famous public and private pain organizations were secretly on the payroll of the pharmaceutical industry.

By 2011, when the IOM published its report, the industry was moving rapidly and cashing in on the media’s trashing of anyone who dared to be “anti-pain.” It was a movement, an ideology, a belief system, that threatened to excommunicate anyone who differed in any way with the orthodoxy of pain treatment.

Agencies like the DEA that regulated the manufacture, distribution, prescribing, and dispensing of controlled substances was the enemy and the physicians the agency cited were often called “martyrs” by their peers and the public. To counter this, DEA published a booklet for several years (since discontinued) that was titled, simply enough, “Cases Against Doctors.” This booklet was available on the DEA website and catalogued charges and errant behaviors of hundreds of registrant-doctors each year charged and convicted of state or federal law violations involving the prescribing and/or dispensing of controlled substances. (I have an archived copy of this publication if anyone wants to email me for a copy.)

What brought this to an end (or at least to a manageable state) were several factors that can be reduced to these (there may be more but these are what come to mind):

  1. The emergency legislation in 2011 in Florida closing up half the state’s 1,000 pill mills overnight and the strict regulation of the remaining 500 clinics to prohibit physician-dispensing of controlled substances;
  2. The rising death toll attributed to prescription opioid overdoses (ironically, this was miscalculated by the CDC that until 2016 mistakenly counted all fentanyl-related death cases as involving prescribed or administered pharmaceutical fentanyl, not the street version);
  3. The prosecution and conviction of Purdue Pharma and its top three executives (President, Chief Medical Officer, and General Counsel) for federal criminal law violations by the United States Attorney for the Western District of VA in 2007;
  4. Item #3 set the stage for the 2017 Multi-District Litigation (MDL) case involving approximately 3,000 plaintiffs, including state attorneys general, private and public health plans, unions, towns, cities, municipalities, individuals, Indian tribes, etc., brought against Purdue and other companies involved in making, distributing, and dispensing prescription opioids. This case was assigned to the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Ohio (Cleveland) and is currently in negotiations for an omnibus settlement along the lines of what came out of the Big Tobacco settlement of the 1990s. A number of companies have settled individual “pilot” cases thus far and the total settlement is estimated to eventually reach the $26 billion mark;
  5. Purdue and Mallinckrodt entered and exited bankruptcy as a result of settlements and judgments related to the MDL;
  6. The companies have largely abandoned the freewheeling and unlawful sales of opioids that they promoted in the heyday of the previous decade;
  7. Personnel changes at the top of many defendant companies have resulted in folks at the top being more responsible today than ever for what the company is doing at the retail level;
  8. While prescription opioid overdose deaths are down substantially compared with what they once were, unfortunately the craving for a substitute drug in the form of heroin or fentanyl-laced heroin has increased leading to only a modest decrease in overdose opiate-involved deaths.

Conclusion:

From the above brief (and this is brief for a story that took almost two decades to happen) analysis, the comparisons with today’s commercial cannabis industry are stark and unmistakable. We have been led (or more correctly, misled) by the previous HHS leadership that our control of cannabis for medical purposes was outdated, too narrow, and did not comport with modern ways of evaluating the safety and efficacy of medicinal drugs.

This, by the way, from the same crowd that told us pain was our “Fifth Vital Sign.” States that have approved commercial cannabis “dispensaries” have done so in the finest tradition of helping entrepreneurs in the early 2000s establish pill mills to care for undertreated pain.

And the DEA? Congress has enjoined appropriations for the agency that might be directed against medical marijuana. The FDA? Forget it. The agency’s “Warning Letters” to online cannabinoid dealers are used by the dealers and published online in some cases, to boast about the high THC/CBD content of their products, according to cited FDA lab tests.

As in the cases of Big Tobacco and Big Opiates, at some point, the commercial cannabis industry will reach a point where going after its resources will take it down or reduce it considerably. The analogy I’ve used before compares this with the fermentation of yeast, a process that any home maker of wine or beer understands well. The single cell yeast consumes the sugars of the starting material and in the process excretes alcohol. This continues until the amount of alcohol in the mix reaches a certain level at which time it kills off the yeast producing it. At some point in the future, hopefully soon, the commercial cannabis industry will reach a point whereby its success kills it off – just as in the Big Tobacco and Big Opiates cases.

Source: drug-watch-international – P.O. Box 45218, Omaha, NE 68145-0218, USA

 

Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana,Economic,Medicines,USA :

OPENING REMARK BY NDPA.

This article involves several prestigious authors – not least Bertha K Madras. We therefore recommend readers to its contents, albeit they are lengthy and sometimes complex.

To access the full document:

  1. Click on the ‘Source’ link below.
  2. An image  – the front page of the full document will appear.
  3. Click on the image to open the full document.

 

Source: Rescheduling Cannabis – Medicine or Politics

Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana,Drug use-various effects,Marijuana and Medicine,Political Sector,Prevalence,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction :

OPENING STATEMENT BY NDPA

We repeat this 2004 article by Stanton Peele as a useful position statement for us all.  Peele’s classic 1975  text ‘Addiction and Love’ (Peele and Brosky – Published: Taplinger, New York) is also well worth reading in this context.

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By Stanton Peele Ph.D. published May 1, 2004

More people quit addictions than maintain them, and they do so on their own. People succeed when they recognize that the addiction interferes with something they value—and when they develop the confidence that they can change.

Change is natural. You no doubt act very differently in many areas of your life now compared with how you did when you were a teenager. Likewise, over time you will probably overcome or ameliorate certain behaviors: a short temper, crippling insecurity.

For some reason, we exempt addiction from our beliefs about change. In both popular and scientific models, addiction is seen as locking you into an inescapable pattern of behavior. Both folk wisdom, as represented by Alcoholics Anonymous, and modern neuroscience regard addiction as a virtually permanent brain disease. No matter how many years ago your uncle Joe had his last drink, he is still considered an alcoholic. The very word addict confers an identity that admits no other possibilities. It incorporates the assumption that you can’t, or won’t, change.

But this fatalistic thinking about addiction doesn’t jibe with the facts. More people overcome addictions than do not. And the vast majority do so without therapy. Quitting may take several tries, and people may not stop smoking, drinking or using drugs altogether. But eventually they succeed in shaking dependence.

Kicking these habits constitutes a dramatic change, but the change need not occur in a dramatic way. So when it comes to addiction treatment, the most effective approaches rely on the counterintuitive principle that less is often more. Successful treatment places the responsibility for change squarely on the individual and acknowledges that positive events in other realms may jump-start change.

Consider the experience of American soldiers returning from the war in Vietnam, where heroin use and addiction was widespread. In 90 percent of cases, when GIs left the pressure cooker of the battle zone, they also shed their addictions—in vivo proof that drug addiction can be just a matter of where in life you are.

Of course, it took more than a plane trip back from Asia for these men to overcome drug addiction. Most soldiers experienced dramatically altered lives when they returned. They left the anxiety, fear and boredom of the war arena and settled back into their home environments. They returned to their families, formed new relationships, developed work skills.

Smoking is at the top of the charts in terms of difficulty of quitting. But the majority of ex-smokers quit without any aid––neither nicotine patches nor gum, Smokenders groups nor hypnotism. (Don’t take my word for it; at your next social gathering, ask how many people have quit smoking on their own.) In fact, as many cigarette smokers quit on their own, an even higher percentage of heroin and cocaine addicts and alcoholics quit without treatment. It is simply more difficult to keep these habits going through adulthood. It’s hard to go to Disney World with your family while you are shooting heroin. Addicts who quit on their own typically report that they did so in order to achieve normalcy.

Every year, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health interviews Americans about their drug and alcohol habits. Ages 18 to 25 constitute the peak period of drug and alcohol use. In 2002, the latest year for which data are available, 22 percent of Americans between ages 18 and 25 were abusing or were dependent on a substance, versus only 3 percent of those aged 55 to 59. These data show that most people overcome their substance abuse, even though most of them do not enter treatment.

How do we know that the majority aren’t seeking treatment? In 1992, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism conducted one of the largest surveys of substance use ever, sending Census Bureau workers to interview more than 42,000 Americans about their lifetime drug and alcohol use. Of the 4,500-plus respondents who had ever been dependent on alcohol, only 27 percent had gone to treatment of any kind, including Alcoholics Anonymous. In this group, one-third were still abusing alcohol.

Of those who never had any treatment, only about one-quarter were currently diagnosable as alcohol abusers. This study, known as the National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Survey, indicates first that treatment is not a cure-all, and second that it is not necessary. The vast majority of Americans who were alcohol dependent, about three-quarters, never underwent treatment. And fewer of them were abusing alcohol than were those who were treated.

This is not to say that treatment can’t be useful. But the most successful treatments are nonconfrontational approaches that allow self-propelled change. Psychologists at the University of New Mexico led by William Miller tabulated every controlled study of alcoholism treatment they could find. They concluded that the leading therapy was barely a therapy at all but a quick encounter between patient and health-care worker in an ordinary medical setting. The intervention is sometimes as brief as a doctor looking at the results of liver-function tests and telling a patient to cut down on his drinking. Many patients then decide to cut back—and do!

As brief interventions have evolved, they have become more structured. A physician may simply review the amount the patient drinks, or use a checklist to evaluate the extent of a drinking problem. The doctor then typically recommends and seeks agreement from the patient on a goal (usually reduced drinking rather than complete abstinence). More severe alcoholics would typically be referred out for specialized treatment. A range of options is discussed (such as attending AA, engaging in activities incompatible with drinking or using a self-help manual). A spouse or family member might be involved in the planning. The patient is then scheduled for a future visit, where progress can be checked. A case monitor might call every few weeks to see whether the person has any questions or problems.

The second most effective approach is motivational enhancement, also called motivational interviewing. This technique throws the decision to quit or reduce drinking—and to find the best methods for doing so—back on the individual. In this case, the therapist asks targeted questions that prompt the individual to reflect on his drinking in terms of his own values and goals. When patients resist, the therapist does not argue with the individual but explores the person’s ambivalence about change so as to allow him or her to draw his own conclusions: “You say that you like to be in control of your behavior, yet you feel when you drink you are often not in charge. Could you just clarify that for me?”

Miller’s team found that the list of most effective treatments for alcoholism included a few more surprises. Self-help manuals were highly successful. So was the community-reinforcement approach, which addresses the person’s capacity to deal with life, notably marital relationships, work issues (such as simply getting a job), leisure planning and social-group formation (a buddy might be provided, as in AA, as a resource to encourage sobriety). The focus is on developing life skills, such as resisting pressures to drink, coping with stress (at work and in relationships) and building communication skills.

These findings square with what we know about change in other areas of life: People change when they want it badly enough and when they feel strong enough to face the challenge, not when they’re humiliated or coerced. An approach that empowers and offers positive reinforcement is preferable to one that strips the individual of agency. These techniques are most likely to elicit real changes, however short of perfect and hard-won they may be.

Source:  https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/articles/200405/the-surprising-truth-about-addiction

Filed under: Addiction,Brain and Behaviour,Culture,Treatment and Addiction,UK :
 

Cannabis dependence affects millions globally, with over 23 million people worldwide struggling with problematic use patterns. As treatment demand continues rising, understanding which psychological interventions for cannabis dependence work best has become increasingly important. This comprehensive guide examines the latest evidence on therapeutic approaches that help individuals overcome cannabis-related difficulties.

Understanding Cannabis Dependence and Treatment Needs

Cannabis use becomes problematic when it significantly interferes with daily life, relationships, and responsibilities. The World Health Organisation recognises that whilst brief interventions may help casual users, those with established dependence require specialised psychological treatments for cannabis problems.

Recent statistics reveal the growing need for effective interventions:

  1. Treatment admissions in Europe increased by 30% between 2010 and 2019
  2. Young adults aged 20-24 show the highest rates of problematic use
  3. Cannabis is now the most frequently cited substance among those entering treatment programmes

Evidence-Based Psychological Interventions for Cannabis Users

A major systematic review from the University of Bristol analysed 22 clinical trials involving over 3,300 participants, providing crucial insights into which therapeutic approaches demonstrate real effectiveness.

Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy with Motivational Enhancement

The most extensively researched approach combines cognitive restructuring with motivation-building techniques. This integrated therapy helps individuals:

  1. Identify triggers and high-risk situations
  2. Develop practical coping strategies
  3. Build internal motivation for change
  4. Master skills to prevent relapse

Research demonstrates this approach can increase abstinence rates nearly threefold compared to no intervention, establishing it as a cornerstone of evidence-based care.

Third-Wave Therapies: DBT and ACT Approaches

Newer psychological interventions for cannabis problems incorporate mindfulness and acceptance-based strategies. These therapies teach:

  1. Mindfulness skills for managing cravings
  2. Emotional regulation techniques
  3. Distress tolerance without substance use
  4. Values clarification and committed action

Studies show these approaches can quadruple abstinence rates when compared to basic psychoeducation alone.

Community Reinforcement Strategies

This approach restructures the individual’s environment to support recovery through:

  1. Leveraging community resources
  2. Building substance-free social networks
  3. Creating natural reinforcements for positive change
  4. Addressing multiple life domains simultaneously

Effectiveness of Psychological Treatments for Cannabis Dependence

The research reveals important findings about treatment outcomes:

Abstinence Achievement

Structured psychological interventions significantly improve abstinence rates. Individuals receiving cognitive-behavioural therapy are 18 times more likely to achieve abstinence compared to those awaiting treatment.

Reducing Use Frequency

For individuals not ready for complete abstinence, certain therapies effectively reduce consumption patterns. Acceptance-based approaches can decrease usage frequency by approximately 60%.

Treatment Duration and Structure

Effective programmes typically include:

  1. 6-52 sessions (average of 14)
  2. Weekly meetings over 2-6 months
  3. Individual or group formats
  4. Structured, manualised approaches

Key Components of Successful Psychological Interventions for Cannabis

Research identifies several critical elements that enhance treatment effectiveness:

Skills Training

Teaching practical techniques for managing triggers, cravings, and high-risk situations proves essential for lasting change.

Motivational Enhancement

Building intrinsic motivation through personalised feedback and collaborative goal-setting improves engagement and outcomes.

Relapse Prevention

Comprehensive planning for potential setbacks helps maintain gains achieved during active treatment.

Environmental Modification

Addressing social and environmental factors that maintain problematic use patterns enhances long-term success.

Challenges in Delivering Effective Treatment

Despite proven effectiveness, several challenges affect treatment delivery:

Engagement and Retention

Maintaining participant engagement throughout treatment remains challenging, with completion rates varying significantly across different approaches.

Individual Differences

Treatment response varies based on:

  1. Severity of dependence
  2. Co-occurring mental health conditions
  3. Social support availability
  4. Personal motivation levels

Access to Services: Many individuals face barriers accessing evidence-based psychological treatments for cannabis problems, including geographical limitations and resource constraints.

Future Directions for Cannabis Treatment Research

As cannabis potency increases and use patterns evolve, treatment approaches must adapt accordingly. Priority areas include:

  1. Developing age-specific interventions for adolescents
  2. Creating culturally adapted treatments
  3. Integrating technology-enhanced delivery methods
  4. Addressing co-occurring conditions simultaneously

Implications for Treatment Seekers

For individuals considering treatment, research suggests:

  1. Evidence-based psychological interventions offer genuine hope for recovery
  2. Different approaches suit different individuals
  3. Professional assessment helps match treatment to personal needs
  4. Persistence often proves necessary, as initial attempts may not succeed

The growing evidence base confirms that specialised psychological interventions for cannabis dependence can produce meaningful, lasting change when properly implemented and tailored to individual needs.

Conclusion: Current research provides strong support for several psychological approaches in treating cannabis dependence. Whilst cognitive-behavioural therapy with motivational enhancement shows the most consistent evidence, acceptance-based therapies and community reinforcement approaches also demonstrate effectiveness. As our understanding grows, these evidence-based treatments offer real pathways to recovery for those struggling with cannabis-related problems.

Source: https://nobrainer.org.au/index.php/resources/i-need-to-stop-this-help/1471-psychological-interventions-for-cannabis-dependence-latest-research-on-effective-therapies?

Filed under: Addiction,Australia,Brain and Behaviour,Cannabis/Marijuana,Drug use-various effects,Mental Health,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction :
 

New allegations have emerged about China’s role in the global fentanyl supply chain, highlighting the complex nature of international drug trafficking and the urgent need for comprehensive prevention strategies.

What We Know About Project Zero

According to Yuan Hongbing, a former Chinese academic now living in Australia, sources within Beijing’s political circles have described a coordinated effort called “Project Zero.” This alleged initiative represents one aspect of the broader China fentanyl crisis that has contributed to America’s ongoing opioid epidemic.

Yuan’s claims suggest that some Chinese officials view the current drug crisis through the lens of historical grievances, particularly the 19th-century Opium Wars. Whether accurate or not, these allegations underscore the complexity of the Chinese fentanyl trade and its impact on communities worldwide.

The Evolution of Supply Routes

The China fentanyl crisis has evolved significantly since 2019, when Beijing officially banned fentanyl production under international pressure. Rather than ending the problem, this led to a shift in tactics within the Chinese fentanyl trade.

Companies began focusing on precursor chemicals instead of finished products. These substances travel from manufacturing facilities to Mexico, where they’re processed into fentanyl before reaching American markets. This indirect approach complicates efforts to address the China fentanyl crisis at its source.

Impact on Communities

The human cost of the ongoing crisis is staggering. More than 107,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2023, with synthetic opioids like fentanyl being the primary cause. These deaths represent families torn apart and communities struggling with the consequences of widespread addiction.

The China fentanyl crisis affects people from all backgrounds. Parents lose children, children lose parents, and entire neighbourhoods face increased crime and social instability. Understanding these impacts is crucial for developing effective Chinese fentanyl trade prevention strategies.

Government Responses and Investigations

Congressional investigations have revealed concerning patterns in how some aspects of the Chinese fentanyl trade operate. The House Select Committee found evidence that certain companies receive government benefits for exporting precursor chemicals, raising questions about official oversight.

These findings suggest that addressing the China fentanyl crisis requires diplomatic engagement alongside enforcement measures. The complexity of international trade makes it challenging to distinguish between legitimate chemical exports and those intended for illicit use.

Economic Measures and Trade Relations

The current trade tensions between the US and China reflect broader concerns about the Chinese fentanyl trade. Recent tariffs include specific measures targeting fentanyl-related commerce, with most Chinese goods facing increased duties.

These economic responses acknowledge that the China fentanyl crisis extends beyond traditional criminal justice approaches. However, trade measures alone cannot solve the underlying issues that drive demand for these substances in affected communities.

International Cooperation Challenges

Addressing the Chinese fentanyl trade requires unprecedented international cooperation. Different legal systems, varying enforcement capabilities, and complex diplomatic relationships all complicate efforts to tackle the China fentanyl crisis effectively.

Success depends on finding common ground between nations with different perspectives on regulation, enforcement, and prevention. This includes sharing intelligence, coordinating investigations, and developing consistent approaches to precursor chemical controls.

The Role of Prevention

Prevention remains the most effective long-term response to the China fentanyl crisis. Community-based programmes that educate young people about the dangers of substance use can reduce demand for these deadly drugs.

Effective prevention strategies address the root causes that make individuals vulnerable to addiction. This includes mental health support, educational opportunities, and strong community connections that provide alternatives to substance use.

When communities invest in prevention, they create protective factors that help people resist the appeal of drugs, regardless of their source. The Chinese fentanyl trade thrives where demand exists, making prevention efforts crucial for breaking this cycle.

Treatment and Recovery

For those already affected by the China fentanyl crisis, accessible treatment services provide hope for recovery. Evidence-based approaches that combine medical treatment with psychological support offer the best outcomes for people struggling with addiction.

Recovery programmes that involve families and communities tend to be more successful than those focusing solely on individual treatment. This holistic approach recognises that addiction affects entire social networks, not just individual users.

The Path to Prevention and Recovery

The allegations about Chinese involvement in fentanyl trafficking highlight the need for sustained international cooperation on drug prevention. Whether through diplomatic channels, trade measures, or community-based initiatives, addressing this crisis requires coordinated action.

Prevention must remain at the centre of any effective response to the China fentanyl crisis. By reducing demand through education and community support, we can address the root causes that make these supply chains profitable in the first place.

The Chinese fentanyl trade represents a complex challenge that requires nuanced solutions. Success will depend on combining international cooperation with strong local prevention efforts that protect vulnerable individuals and strengthen community resilience.

Only through sustained commitment to prevention, treatment, and community support can we hope to reduce the devastating impact of the China fentanyl crisis on families and communities worldwide.

Source: https://nobrainer.org.au/index.php/resources/wheelbarrows/1469-china-fentanyl-crisis-a-global-challenge-requiring-prevention?

Filed under: Australia,Fentanyl,Others (International News),Prevention and Intervention,Strategy and Policy,Treatment and Addiction :

Email From: Drug Free America Foundation – 11 July 2025

Some hopeful news has come to light in the latest Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Annual Report: overdose deaths dropped more than 20% nationwide in 2024, which is the largest yearly decrease in four decades of tracking. Although this decrease in overdose deaths is good news, it does not mean the crisis is over. Changes in drug mixtures, independent regional shifts in overdose patterns, and the alarming rise in new chemical contaminants—many of which users don’t even know they’re taking—makes this ever-evolving issue complex and increasingly more dangerous than ever before.

The DEA found that 1 in 8 samples of methamphetamine now contains fentanyl, and 1 in 4 samples of cocaine samples are similarly contaminated. And while deaths from fentanyl may be decreasing, fentanyl is increasingly being mixed into other drugs, often with deadly result.

In a regional assessment of fentanyl-related deaths, stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine were found to be contaminated with fentanyl and linked to 1 out of every 2 drug-related deaths in the west and 1 out of every 3 drug-related deaths in the east. Contaminated drug mixtures are especially dangerous given that naloxone, one of the key measures in reducing opioid overdose deaths, is ineffective against non-opioid drugs such as stimulants.

Among the surprising findings was that between 2018 and 2022, fentanyl-only overdose among 15-24 year olds increased approximately 168%. This age group, which is one that generally does not seek fentanyl, are suspected to be unknowingly consuming drugs laced with it. The low production cost of fentanyl continues to fuel the shift between already dangerous plant-based drugs to lab-made substances. The emergence of additives that cause prolonged sedation such as xylazine and medetomidine increase the dangers associated with the consumption of these drugs as some these mixtures may also render naloxone ineffective.

Despite the drop in overall overdose deaths the U.S. still has the highest drug overdose rate in the world, with 324 deaths per million people. Most states are showing promising progress with decreases in drug-related deaths. However, Nevada is an exception, experiencing an increase largely driven by methamphetamines, which have now surpassed fentanyl as the leading cause of drug-related deaths in the state.

Although overall trends seem to show a positive promising future, the drug supply is evolving faster than available tools can manage. And overdose risks are no longer about misuse, but also about unknowing exposure to potent synthetic chemicals hidden in recognizable drugs.

Source: Drug Free America Foundation | 333 3rd Ave N Suite 200 | St. Petersburg, FL 33701 US
Filed under: Cocaine,Drug use-various effects,Fentanyl,Methamphetamine/GHB/Hallucinogens/Oxycodone,Prevalence,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,USA :
by Cairo Scene   Jul 13, 2025
A nationwide campaign has launched to raise awareness among drivers about the dangers of drug use, aiming to boost road safety and reduce traffic accidents across Egypt.

The initiative – spearheaded by the Fund for Drug Control and Treatment of Addiction (FDCTA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Solidarity – is active at taxi stands, transport hubs, and major public squares, where educational materials are being distributed to both professional and private drivers. Volunteers and officials are engaging directly with motorists, offering information and support services.

This move is part of Egypt’s broader strategy to combat drug-related traffic accidents and promote a culture of safety on the roads. In addition to awareness efforts, the government continues to carry out random drug testing campaigns targeting drivers of school buses, commercial vehicles, and public transport.

Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine El-Qabbaj emphasised that prevention through awareness is a key part of Egypt’s anti-drug policy, particularly amongst high-risk groups like transport workers.

Source: https://cairoscene.com/Buzz/New-Anti-Drug-Awareness-Campaign-Targets-Drivers-in-Egypt

Filed under: Addiction,Crime/Violence/Prison,Others (International News),Prevalence,Prevention and Intervention :

by Yousef al Habsi – Oman Observer – Muscat, Jul 13, 2025

6,741 narcotic cases recorded in Oman between 2023 and 2024

The Public Prosecution disclosed that 6,741 drug cases were recorded in the Sultanate of Oman between 2023 and 2024, warning of an increase in drug abuse among various society segments including women.

The Public Prosecution called for increased awareness and family monitoring to protect children from falling into drug addiction.

Dr Rashid al Kaabi, the official spokesperson for the Public Prosecution, said that international criminal networks use social media to lure young people, turn them into addicts and then exploit them in drug trafficking or committing crimes. He explained that drugs are smuggled into the country via land, sea and air, noting that the Sultanate of Oman’s strategic location makes it a potential transit point for drugs.

The most common types of drugs are: hashish, shabu, heroin and painkillers, he said, pointing to the devastating health, social and economic impacts of drugs including psychological and physical illnesses, family disintegration, theft and violence as well as the economic loss. He called for a greater role for the family, educational, religious and media institutions.

He added that the Sultanate of Oman is applying the national strategy (2023–2028) for combating drugs and is intensifying prevention, treatment and rehabilitation efforts. He praised the role of the Royal Oman Police, the Ministry of Health, the Public Prosecution, the Ministry of Education, and other relevant authorities in combating the drug phenomenon.

The Public Prosecution spokesman stressed the importance of monitoring children, adding that families should not hesitate to seek treatment when necessary as addiction is not just a deviation but a disease that requires early and comprehensive intervention.

The Sultanate of Oman had taken a series of important legislative and regulatory steps, the first of which was passing the Law on Combating Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances pursuant to Royal Decree No 99/17.

In addition, the National Strategy for Combating Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances (2023-2028) was laid out, outlining the policies, programmes and regulatory activities necessary to address contemporary challenges in this field, the Public Prosecution spokesman said.

The Royal Oman Police (ROP), through the Directorate-General for Combating Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances, continues making significant efforts to implement the necessary security measures to prevent drug smuggling across land, sea and air. The ROP has significant capabilities to confront cross-border smuggling networks.

In the same context, the Public Prosecution is responsible for handling drug and addiction cases through the Drug Cases Department, he said, adding that the number of drug cases reported in 2024 saw a significant increase compared to 2023.

Source: https://www.omanobserver.om/article/1173442/oman/call-for-awareness-as-drug-abuse-hits-a-high

Filed under: Addiction,Drug use-various effects,Health,Others (International News),Prevalence,Prevention and Intervention :

by WRD News Team –  July 17, 2025

Australia has achieved a remarkable milestone in youth substance abuse prevention, with border authorities seizing over 10 million vapes since implementing world-leading import controls in January 2024. The comprehensive crackdown has successfully turned the corner on what was described as “one of the most significant public health challenges” facing Australian communities.

Vaping Rates Plummet as Enforcement Delivers Results

Health Minister Mark Butler confirmed that “the peak of vaping is behind us,” with research showing fewer young people are now vaping and fewer young people are smoking. When the current government took office three years ago, vaping was “exploding as a public health menace,” with year-on-year increases at “alarming rates”.

School communities had reported vaping as their “number one behavioural concern,” with suspensions climbing and schools implementing extraordinary measures including “rostering teachers to stand inside school toilets during recess and lunchtimes” to combat the crisis.

Young Australians Recognise They Were “Sold a Lie”

Professor Becky Freeman from the University of Sydney, who leads the landmark Gen Vapes research study, revealed the dramatic shift in youth attitudes: “Young people were sold a lie. They were told that vapes were harmless, they were fun, they were part of a young person’s lifestyle”.

The research shows young people’s attitudes have fundamentally changed. Freeman noted: “They’re almost ashamed of the fact that they’re addicted. They can’t believe that something that they were just using at parties for fun on the weekends… Now their wellbeing is being impacted. They’re waking up with a vape under their pillow”.

Coordinated Government Response Targets Criminal Networks

The comprehensive strategy included banning imports of disposable vapes and outlawing retail sales outside therapeutic settings. Previously, “nine out of 10” vape stores were located “in walking distance of schools because they knew that was their target market”.

Assistant Commissioner Tony Smith from the Australian Border Force emphasised the criminal elements involved: “Every vape and every cigarette that is illegally purchased fuels the black market… and sends profits into the hands of organised crime”.

Border Force officers now make “on average 120 detections a day,” contributing to the 10 million vapes seized alongside “2.5 billion cigarette sticks and 435 tonnes of illicit tobacco”.

South Australia Leads Enforcement Excellence

South Australia has emerged as the national leader in enforcement, receiving top marks in an independent assessment. The state has seized over 100,000 vapes worth $4.5 million in just 12 months.

Minister Andrea Michaels revealed the state now has “the ability to shut stores for 28 days” and has already “closed almost 20 stores for 28 days” since the enhanced powers took effect in June 2025. Penalties for violations can reach up to $6.6 million for repeat offences.

Research Confirms Gateway Effect Prevention

Critical research findings demonstrate that vaping serves as a gateway to smoking, with “young people who vape are at five times the risk of going on to smoke”. As one young participant in the study explained: “when I was a young teen, I absolutely hated smoking… And then I tried vaping, and it sort of loosened me up. And I thought, oh, well, if I’m going to vape, maybe I could smoke too”.

The success in reducing both vaping and smoking rates simultaneously addresses earlier concerns that restricting vapes might drive young people toward cigarettes instead.

International Partnerships Disrupt Supply Chains

Australia has deployed Border Force officers internationally, including to “the UK, to Thailand and also through to Hong Kong” to work with international partners to stem the flow of vape products. Recent referrals contributed to the seizure of “over 630,000 vapes from reaching our borders”.

The products are arriving from multiple countries including “China, from the UAE, Singapore” and “other locations such as the UK as well”, often using “mis-declaration or mis-description of goods” to evade detection.

Ongoing Challenges Acknowledged

Despite the remarkable progress, officials stressed the fight continues. Minister Butler acknowledged: “We know it’s going to be a tough fight. We know there’s a lot more to do… We’re up against two very strong opponents, Big Tobacco on the one hand and serious organised crime”.

Professor Freeman emphasised the need for sustained action: “We always have to be mindful of the tobacco industry tactics and what product they’re going to bring in next. We know that they are not going to give up on this market”.

Global Implications for Youth Protection

Australia’s comprehensive approach demonstrates that decisive government action can successfully combat youth substance abuse epidemics. The combination of import controls, retail restrictions, enforcement measures, and international cooperation provides a blueprint for other nations grappling with similar challenges.

The transformation from a crisis where vaping was “exploding year on year” to confirmed evidence that “the peak of vaping is behind us” offers hope for communities worldwide seeking effective prevention strategies.

Source:  https://wrdnews.org/australia-seizes-10-million-vapes-world-leading-crackdown-shows-dramatic-results-in-youth-prevention/

Filed under: Addiction,Australia,Prevalence,Prevention and Intervention,Vaping,Youth :

by The Daily Telegraph, London, UK –

Sadiq Khan wants to decrim­in­al­ise the Class-B drug, but fam­il­ies and doc­tors warn that smoking it is ‘play­ing Rus­sian roul­ette with your brain’. By Gwyneth Rees

For retired char­ity dir­ector Terry Ham­mond, 78, the issue of can­nabis-induced psy­chosis has come to dom­in­ate his life. About 25 years ago, his teen­age son Steven, now 42, began smoking skunk – a highly potent strain of the drug – at friends’ houses, without his par­ents know­ing.

For retired char­ity dir­ector Terry Ham­mond, 78, the issue of can­nabis-induced psy­chosis has come to dom­in­ate his life. About 25 years ago, his teen­age son Steven, now 42, began smoking skunk – a highly potent strain of the drug – at friends’ houses, without his par­ents know­ing.

“He was like so many young boys,” recalls Ham­mond from his home in Leicester­shire. “He was binge­ing on it in secret and thought it would be fine.” But around six months later, in the autumn of 1999, Steven sud­denly became para­noid. “We were watch­ing the BBC news, and he turned to me and accused me of ringing them. He was con­vinced the presenters were talk­ing about him.”

The psy­chosis didn’t stop there. “He began to think ali­ens had taken over every­body,” adds Ham­mond. “Then he began mum­bling in an incom­pre­hens­ible lan­guage, shout­ing at the walls and lock­ing him­self in his room. He was a boy gripped by abso­lute fear and ter­ror, and his beau­ti­ful mind had just been des­troyed.”

The psy­chosis didn’t stop there. “He began to think ali­ens had taken over every­body,” adds Ham­mond. “Then he began mum­bling in an incom­pre­hens­ible lan­guage, shout­ing at the walls and lock­ing him­self in his room. He was a boy gripped by abso­lute fear and ter­ror, and his beau­ti­ful mind had just been des­troyed.”

At 21, and with no fam­ily his­tory of men­tal health prob­lems, Steven was dia­gnosed with para­noid schizo­phrenia – psy­chosis that con­tin­ues indef­in­itely. He spent three months in the depart­ment of psy­chi­atry at the Royal South Hants Hos­pital in Southamp­ton, where he was put on the anti­psychotic drug Olan­za­pine and given talk­ing ther­apy. But even now – two dec­ades on – Steven, who lives in a stu­dio flat in his par­ents’ garden, is still affected by his early drug use.

At 21, and with no fam­ily his­tory of men­tal health prob­lems, Steven was dia­gnosed with para­noid schizo­phrenia – psy­chosis that con­tin­ues indef­in­itely. He spent three months in the depart­ment of psy­chi­atry at the Royal South Hants Hos­pital in Southamp­ton, where he was put on the anti­psychotic drug Olan­za­pine and given talk­ing ther­apy. But even now – two dec­ades on – Steven, who lives in a stu­dio flat in his par­ents’ garden, is still affected by his early drug use.

At 21, and with no fam­ily his­tory of men­tal health prob­lems, Steven was dia­gnosed with para­noid schizo­phrenia – psy­chosis that con­tin­ues indef­in­itely. He spent three months in the depart­ment of psy­chi­atry at the Royal South Hants Hos­pital in Southamp­ton, where he was put on the anti­psychotic drug Olan­za­pine and given talk­ing ther­apy. But even now – two dec­ades on – Steven, who lives in a stu­dio flat in his par­ents’ garden, is still affected by his early drug use.

“He can­not work and struggles socially,” says Ham­mond, who has Steven’s per­mis­sion to share his story and has also writ­ten a book, Gone to Pot, to help oth­ers in sim­ilar cir­cum­stances. “He is still on anti­psychotic drugs but con­tin­ues to hear voices, although he now has the skills to ration­al­ise them.

“He can­not work and struggles socially,” says Ham­mond, who has Steven’s per­mis­sion to share his story and has also writ­ten a book, Gone to Pot, to help oth­ers in sim­ilar cir­cum­stances. “He is still on anti­psychotic drugs but con­tin­ues to hear voices, although he now has the skills to ration­al­ise them.

“It has com­pletely ruined his life, and as par­ents we have had to suf­fer the bereave­ment of los­ing our son. Fun­da­ment­ally, it has dam­aged his brain for good. Young people need to know smoking can­nabis is play­ing Rus­sian roul­ette with brain dam­age.”

It is a har­row­ing story. But the issue of how to tackle the grow­ing prob­lem of ever-more potent can­nabis on our streets divides those in power. Sir Sadiq Khan, Lon­don’s mayor, has backed a report by the Lon­don Drugs Com­mis­sion stat­ing that pos­ses­sion of small amounts of can­nabis should be decrim­in­al­ised. He said there was a “com­pel­ling, evid­ence­based case” for decrim­in­al­isa­tion.

It is a har­row­ing story. But the issue of how to tackle the grow­ing prob­lem of ever-more potent can­nabis on our streets divides those in power. Sir Sadiq Khan, Lon­don’s mayor, has backed a report by the Lon­don Drugs Com­mis­sion stat­ing that pos­ses­sion of small amounts of can­nabis should be decrim­in­al­ised. He said there was a “com­pel­ling, evid­ence­based case” for decrim­in­al­isa­tion.

But on July 7, Bri­tain’s lead­ing police chiefs rejec­ted this and urged their officers to crack down on the drug. Last month, David Sid­wick, the Con­ser­vat­ive police and crime com­mis­sioner for Dor­set, wrote a let­ter to the police min­is­ter Diana John­son – signed by 13 other police and crime com­mis­sion­ers – call­ing can­nabis a “chron­ic­ally dan­ger­ous drug” that is as harm­ful as cocaine and crack.

Evid­ence shows that can­nabisin­duced psy­chosis has sub­stan­tially increased in recent years. A 2019 study pub­lished in The Lan­cet by Prof Marta Di Forti shows that can­nabis is respons­ible for 30 per cent of first-time psy­chosis cases in south Lon­don (it is 50 per cent in Ams­ter­dam).

Evid­ence shows that can­nabisin­duced psy­chosis has sub­stan­tially increased in recent years. A 2019 study pub­lished in The Lan­cet by Prof Marta Di Forti shows that can­nabis is respons­ible for 30 per cent of first-time psy­chosis cases in south Lon­don (it is 50 per cent in Ams­ter­dam).

Fur­ther research, not yet pub­lished, by Dr Diego Quat­trone and Dr Robin Mur­ray, pro­fess­ors of psy­chi­at­ric research at King’s Col­lege Lon­don, reveals that can­nabis-induced psy­chosis in the

‘In Amer­ica, the THC con­tent is so strong, you can go psychotic in one night’

UK is three times more com­mon than in the 1960s. Their research sug­gests that 75 per cent of this increase is down to the use of skunk, which accounts for 94 per cent of can­nabis on the UK mar­ket.

“Viol­ence is also asso­ci­ated with psy­chosis, and of the psychotic people who go on to kill, 90 per cent are using either alco­hol or can­nabis,” says Mur­ray.

More experts are now link­ing can­nabis use to viol­ence, which they attrib­ute to a chem­ical com­pon­ent in the plant – tet­rahy­drocan­nabinol (THC) – which can trig­ger hal­lu­cin­a­tions and para­noid ideas in vul­ner­able indi­vidu­als. Wor­ry­ingly, THC levels in can­nabis have been rising sharply. In the 1960s, THC levels in “weed” were around 3 per cent. Today, most UK can­nabis has THC levels of 16 to 20 per cent. In Hol­land, the fig­ure is between 30 and 40 per cent, and in Cali­for­nia, where can­nabis is legal, levels can reach 80 per cent.

“It is not easy to get psy­chosis,” says Mur­ray. “Typ­ic­ally, someone may smoke skunk for five years before it kicks in. But in Amer­ica, the THC is so strong, you can go psychotic in one night. It will hit those who already have a his­tory of men­tal health prob­lems the worst. We are braced for an epi­demic of psy­chosis.”

Dr Niall Camp­bell, a con­sult­ant psy­chi­at­rist at the Roe­hamp­ton Pri­ory Clinic, believes looser can­nabis reg­u­la­tion com­bined with increased potency have led to more patients suf­fer­ing psy­chosis. “I don’t think this rise is that sur­pris­ing given how easy skunk is to buy online, and how ubi­quit­ous it has become,” he says.

“Psy­chosis often begins with young people smoking a few joints and feel­ing a bit para­noid. But if they don’t stop, over time they can reach a psychotic state which won’t go away, even if they stop smoking. Sadly, this psy­chosis may last a life­time and once people are told that they can get very depressed or sui­cidal.”

“Psy­chosis often begins with young people smoking a few joints and feel­ing a bit para­noid. But if they don’t stop, over time they can reach a psychotic state which won’t go away, even if they stop smoking. Sadly, this psy­chosis may last a life­time and once people are told that they can get very depressed or sui­cidal.”

Lin­sey Raf­ferty, 42, from Pais­ley near Glas­gow, is one of those to have exper­i­enced dam­age firsthand. She had three short psychotic epis­odes over the dec­ades she smoked, but in 2020, dur­ing the Covid lock­down, she suffered an extreme epis­ode. “I was hear­ing things and writ­ing all over the walls of my home,” she says. “I threw my phone away because I thought it had been tapped and was eat­ing out of bins. It all made total sense to me at the time, and I can under­stand why people go viol­ent.”

Lin­sey Raf­ferty, 42, from Pais­ley near Glas­gow, is one of those to have exper­i­enced dam­age firsthand. She had three short psychotic epis­odes over the dec­ades she smoked, but in 2020, dur­ing the Covid lock­down, she suffered an extreme epis­ode. “I was hear­ing things and writ­ing all over the walls of my home,” she says. “I threw my phone away because I thought it had been tapped and was eat­ing out of bins. It all made total sense to me at the time, and I can under­stand why people go viol­ent.”

Raf­ferty was sec­tioned and put on anti­psychot­ics. Five years on, she has stopped smoking.

“When I stopped smoking, the psy­chosis went away,” she says. “But still, the epis­ode was deep and long-last­ing, and the scars haven’t gone. I never real­ised it could make me so vul­ner­able. I used to think drugs should be leg­al­ised, but not any­more.”

Source: https://www.pressreader.com/uk/features/20250716/281548001918086?
Filed under: Brain and Behaviour,Cannabis/Marijuana,Drug use-various effects,Mental Health,UK,Youth :

Sponsored by Summit County Health

Photo: Jimmy Dean // Unsplash

Parents are the No. 1 influence in their child’s life and in their decisions regarding alcohol, making early conversations and clear expectations essential for keeping kids safe

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah — Parents and caregivers play a crucial role in helping kids stay safe from alcohol and other drug use. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends talking to kids about underage drinking as early as age 9. Kids are making up their minds about alcohol between the ages of 9 and 13. If your child is older, it’s never too late to start the discussion. Often, though, we don’t know where to begin. Here are some ideas and resources.

Know the harms

Research from the National Library of Medicine indicates that alcohol can harm the developing brain, impairing memory, learning, and judgment.

Have fun together

When you spend quality time with your child, you build strong bonds – this creates trust between you and your child so that they come to you and you can talk with them about the difficult things in life, like underage drinking and drug use.

Set clear expectations

Parents Empowered reports that “Most children naturally become more independent as they mature. Yet parental involvement drops by half between the 6th and 12th grades when kids need their parents’ help most to stay alcohol-free. Parents are the No. 1 influence in their child’s life and in their decisions regarding alcohol, too.”

“We urge parents to be clear with their children that underage drinking and drug use are never acceptable, especially not in their own home,” says Betty Morin, Substance Abuse Prevention Program Specialist at Summit County Health Department. “Children should also know what to do if they find themselves in a risky situation.”

Keeping your kids in a safe, alcohol-free environment is essential because we know that the folks we hang out with influence our choices. Brainstorm ways for your child to have fun with their friends without using substances, encourage them to avoid situations where there might be drugs or alcohol, and never allow underage use in your own home.

Teach refusal skills

You can practice “refusal skills” with your child by role-playing different situations and helping them say “no” in various ways. They can change the subject, suggest an alternative activity, create an excuse, or even walk away.

Be a safe place for your child. Let them know that they could text or call you if they’re in a situation where drugs or alcohol are present and that you will pick them up. It’s even a great idea to have a safe word with your child that they can call, say the word, and they know you’re on your way.

Be involved in your child’s life

In addition to setting expectations, parents can foster safety by getting to know their child’s friends and their families, attending school events, staying engaged with their child’s online activities, and consistently enforcing agreed-upon rules.

Source: https://townlift.com/2025/07/underage-drinking-prevention-5-essential-strategies-every-parent-needs/

Filed under: Alcohol,Education,Health,USA,Youth :

by Hailey M. Warner and Kelly Corr

ESSAY — Volume 22 — July 17, 2025

Although cigarette use among high school students and adults has declined since its peak in 1997, in North Dakota, nearly 1 in 3 high school students instead use e-cigarettes, and approximately 1 in 5 adults continue to smoke (1). The prevalence of tobacco and nicotine dependence poses substantial public health challenges, especially in rural communities (2).

More than 480,000 people, equivalent to the average capacity of 8 professional football stadiums, die from cigarette smoking annually in the US (3). In North Dakota, 1,000 adult deaths annually are attributed to cigarette use (1). Of cancer-related deaths in North Dakota, approximately 1 in 4 are associated with smoking (1). Cigarette use results in a high economic burden: in 2018, it cost the US more than $600 billion, including $240 billion in health care spending and nearly $185 billion in lost productivity due to smoking-related illnesses and health conditions (4). In 2021, health care expenditures attributed to tobacco use in North Dakota totaled $326 million, approximately equivalent to spending $421 for each person living in the state that year (1). Annual smoking-related lost productivity equates to nearly $185 billion in the US and $233 million in North Dakota (1,4). It is clear why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cites cigarette smoking as the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the US (3).

Smoking is a behavior that can harm nearly every organ in the human body, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, lung disease, diabetes, and cancer, and resulting in a substantial impact on population health (3). This essay explores and promotes providing tobacco and nicotine dependence treatment in the community pharmacy setting to increase patient care opportunities and improve health outcomes, particularly in rural areas.

The Profession of Pharmacy

Pharmacists are highly accessible and trusted health care professionals (5). Community pharmacies are a key component of the health care system, especially in rural, medically underserved areas, and they present an opportunity to help people quit using tobacco and nicotine products (5). Our ethnographic graduate research focuses on piloting an education-based intervention to assist independent community pharmacies in North Dakota in addressing tobacco and nicotine use among their clients. Our preliminary research results support the concept that in smaller communities, people often have close relationships with each other, including their local pharmacist. In one of our research pilot sites, a pharmacy in a rural town, a staff pharmacist said, “We care about our patients, and we want the best for their health.” To expand their scope of practice and fill gaps in access to health care services, independent community pharmacies are increasingly offering clinical services and improving patient outcomes (6).

Tobacco and Nicotine Dependence Treatment

Smoking cessation, the process of quitting the use of cigarettes, is more formally called tobacco dependence treatment (7). To encompass cigarette use as well as use of other tobacco or nicotine products, we use the term “tobacco and nicotine dependence treatment.” The main components of this treatment are behavioral therapies and medications. Among the behavioral therapy options are cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, mindfulness practices, and support from technology-based options such as telephone quitlines, text message communications, or online media platforms (7). Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products are offered in various formulations, including patches, gum, lozenges, and nasal spray. All NRT products are deemed equally effective and are estimated to increase treatment success by 50% to 70% (7). Multiple NRT products can be used concurrently and are thought to provide better relief of withdrawal symptoms and cravings (7). The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved bupropion and varenicline as oral tobacco cessation medications. Bupropion and NRT have been shown to be equally effective, and some studies suggest varenicline is more effective than bupropion alone or the use of a single form of NRT (7). Bupropion and varenicline can be used in combination with NRT, which allows prescribers to tailor a person’s tobacco and nicotine dependence treatment plan to their individual needs (7).

Implementing Tobacco and Nicotine Dependence Treatment in Community Pharmacies

The implementation of tobacco and nicotine dependence treatment in community pharmacies can bolster the clinical capabilities and public health impact of community pharmacies. As of March 2025, eighteen states had implemented legislation allowing pharmacists prescriptive authority to provide patients with tobacco and nicotine dependence treatment medications (8). Of these, 9 states allow pharmacists to prescribe all medications approved by the FDA for smoking cessation, and the other 9 allow NRT only (8). In 2021, pharmacists in North Dakota were granted the authority to independently prescribe all FDA-approved medications, including varenicline, bupropion, and NRT (9). In the following year, the state’s Medicaid program expanded their coverage to include tobacco and nicotine dependence counseling provided by pharmacists (10). This expanded coverage broadened the impact of pharmacists on the adult Medicaid population in North Dakota, whose prevalence of smoking is more than double the prevalence among all adults in the state (39.1% vs 17.4%) (10).

Other insurers permit pharmacists to become recognized as medical providers, which allows them to submit reimbursement claims for tobacco and nicotine dependence treatment consultations as well as for the medications and NRT products they prescribe (5). These additional incentives may increase the number of encounters between pharmacists and people who smoke and lead to a reduction in cigarette use. During an unstructured interview conducted as part of our ethnographic graduate research, a pharmacist offering tobacco and nicotine dependence treatment services said, “These people have control over it [their tobacco and nicotine use]. If we can get them to stop, they can have such a better life. I honestly . . . I feel very strongly about this.”

Some independently owned community pharmacies in North Dakota have become pioneers in offering tobacco and nicotine dependence treatment to their patients. They use Ask-Advise-Refer/Connect, a method that combines the approaches of Ask-Advise-Refer and Ask-Advise-Connect (11). Both approaches share the steps of engaging patients by asking about tobacco use and advising them to quit. The difference lies in what actions are taken in the last step. In Ask-Advise-Refer, the patient is given a referral to a resource for quitting, whereas in Ask-Advise-Connect, the patient is directly connected to a resource for quitting (11). A pharmacist using Ask-Advise-Refer/Connect can choose to make a referral or connect with the patient to provide treatment at the pharmacy, whichever the patient prefers (11). Referrals can be made to state quitlines or local public health units, which assist in providing behavioral counseling and free NRT products. Because pharmacists in North Dakota have the authority to prescribe tobacco and nicotine dependence treatment medications, patients who are ready to quit can be immediately connected to pharmacists and receive treatment at the pharmacy. Regardless of whether a patient is provided with a referral or a connection, the pharmacist should follow up with patients on their progress toward cessation during future pharmacy visits. The second author (K.C.) developed a flowchart describing how a patient progresses through a tobacco and nicotine dependence treatment support process.

Figure.
Basic pharmacy workflow for tobacco and nicotine dependence treatment in North Dakota. NDQuits is the state tobacco quitline. Over-the-counter (OTC) products refer to nicotine replacement products that can be acquired without a prescription. [A text version of this figure is available.]

Call to Action

Pharmacists are called to be public health professionals and capitalize on opportunities to provide tobacco and nicotine dependence treatment for their patients, especially in rural areas. This expansion of services necessitates strengthening knowledge of tobacco and nicotine dependence treatment medications, learning how to provide behavioral counseling, and completing the requirements to be recognized as a provider of tobacco and nicotine dependence treatment services by health insurers.

The training of pharmacy students should be studied to ensure they can take the initiative to offer new services, apply population health strategies, and as a result, better serve their patients’ health care needs. Practicing pharmacists may need to refresh their knowledge and skills to provide tobacco and nicotine dependence treatment. Continuing education is a professional requirement, and pharmacists should actively seek opportunities to learn about topics such as motivational interviewing, tobacco and nicotine dependence treatment counseling, and current trends in tobacco use. In states where tobacco and nicotine dependence treatment provided by pharmacists is not yet authorized, pharmacists are encouraged to work with their board of pharmacy and local pharmacy organizations to advocate for expanding patients’ access to clinical services in community pharmacy settings.

Billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of lives are lost to cigarette smoking every year in the US. Promoting pharmacy services and ensuring future pharmacists’ readiness for success should be a top priority for the profession. The next step toward preventing the disease, disability, and death attributable to tobacco use lies with pharmacists implementing tobacco and nicotine dependence treatment in community pharmacies across the country.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2025/25_0088.htm

Filed under: Addiction,Brain and Behaviour,Nicotine,Tobacco, smoking,USA :

by Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 2025, 

Authors: Josh Aleksanyan, Zobaida Maria, Diego Renteria, Adetayo Fawole, Ashly E. Jordan, Vanessa Drury, … Charles J. Neighbors

Abstract:

Introduction: Transition-age (TA) adults, aged 18-25, have the highest prevalence of substance use disorder (SUD) among all age groups yet they are less likely to seek treatment and more likely to discontinue it than older adults, making them a high-priority treatment population. While structural barriers and varying expectations of recovery may affect treatment initiation, insights from providers working with TA adults can reveal what further impels and impedes treatment engagement.

Methods: We conducted two focus groups with 14 front-line treatment providers, representing urban and rural outpatient, residential, and inpatient SUD care settings across New York State. Providers were selected through stratified sampling using restricted-access treatment registry data. A semi-structured interview guide facilitated discussions, and transcripts were analyzed to identify key themes.

Results: Providers report that TA adults prefer briefer, innovative treatment approaches over traditional modalities like A.A./12-step recovery, driven by a desire to rebuild their lives through education and career. Post-pandemic social disruptions were cited as exacerbating engagement challenges and increasing the need for integrating mental health support. Providers highlighted the potential of technology to enhance treatment engagement, though expressed concerns regarding social isolation and the fraying of childhood safety nets and support systems (e.g., housing) undermining successful treatment outcomes and transitions to adulthood more broadly.

Conclusions: Providers report and perceive various challenges-unmet mental health needs, social alienation, and housing insecurity-that impede TA adults from successful SUD treatment. Understanding providers’ perceptions of the needs of young adults can inform patient and clinical decision-making, lead to the development of innovative treatment approaches tailored to TA adults and contribute to improved health outcomes over the life course.

To read the full text of this article, please visit the link below:

Source: https://drugfree.org/drug-and-alcohol-news/research-news-roundup-july-17-2025/

Filed under: Addiction,Brain and Behaviour,Mental Health,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,USA,Youth :

by Vivek Ramaswamy <news@editor.thepostmillennial.com>  01 July 2025 14:34

THE KIDS WILL BE OK

You will never guess what’s happening with young people.  ‌ Believe it or not, the younger generation is finally rejecting woke and radical leftism. You saw this during Trump’s election – a major shift in the 18-29 year old voters.‌ ‌ And the media hates it! ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

Here’s a major reason why this is happening … an organization called Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) is identifying, recruiting, and training college students to Make Liberty Win. YAL is the most active and effective pro-liberty youth organization advancing liberty on campus. …..

YAL is doing this, first and foremost, by reaching students where they’re at. By focusing on the issues important to twenty-year-olds – affordable groceries and gas, healthcare, and guns, YAL is able to show young people that socialism is not the answer to all of their life’s problems.

Here are a few of the articles, supporting  this initiative, published in other publications:
  • “America’s Youngest Voters Turn Right” – Axios;
  • “The Not-So-Woke Generation Z” – The Atlantic;
  • “Are Zoomers Shifting Right?” – Newsweek; and
  • “Analysis: Young and Non-White Voters Have Shifted Right Since 2020” – Washington Post.

Below is a step-by-step layout showing how Young Americans for Liberty is advancing the ideas of freedom with college students.
 

STEP 1: Expand the number of YAL chapters across the country to over 500 nationwide. America’s college campuses are covered with YAL chapters actively recruiting and educating hundreds of thousands of students.
 

STEP 2: Recruit 10,000 NEW YAL members and collect more than 150,000 student sign-ups. YAL is building a massive network and a strong foundation to reach the next generation for years to come.
 

STEP 3: Train an ELITE group of top 1,7000 student leaders on how to WIN ON PRINCIPLE. YAL’s top student leaders receive exclusive training on the strategies and tactics to win and advance the ideas of liberty.

STEP 4: Mobilize YAL-trained activists who have knocked on more than 6,000,000 doors to promote liberty causes and candidates. It’s called OPERATION WIN AT THE DOOR, and through it, YAL-trained students have knocked doors to help nearly 400 pro-liberty legislators win crucial races and push for important pro-liberty legislation.
 

STEP 5: Fight tyrannical campus policies and college administrators through YAL’s Student Rights Campaign. YAL chapters and members have made major policy changes on free speech, self-defense, and defunding woke campus programs, which now impact more than 3,100,000 students every year.

Young Americans for Liberty, 3267 Bee Cave Rd, Ste 107-65, Austin, TX 78746, United States

Source:  Post Millennial, 2515 Waukegan Road #1ABC, Deerfield, IL 60015

Filed under: Strategy and Policy,USA,Youth :

Dear Surgeon General Adams,

I am an Australian Professor of Addiction Medicine and researcher at the University of Western Australia and Edith Cowan University both in Perth, Western Australia.

I have been becoming increasingly concerned at the implications of cannabis legalization across USA for patterns of congenital anomalies both in USA and across the world.

The incidence of many congenital anomalies are rising in many places.  This rise is even more marked if therapeutic early termination for anomaly (ETOPFA) are taken into account.

In 2007 the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a position statement which noted that cannabis was a known teratogen for cardiovascular anomalies based on three studies.  They cited ASD, VSD and Ebstein’s anomaly in particular as major concerns.  This is also important as cardiovascular anomalies form the largest single group of congenital anomalies.  As you would be well aware foetal anomalies is the single major cause of death in the first year of life.  The aetiological pathway is further strengthened by the fact that the endocardial cushions have high density expression of CB1R’s cannabinoid type 1 receptors from very early in embryonic life.  This fits with the significant association of cannabis with defects of structures derived from the endocardial cushions and the associated conoventricular ridges including the cardiac valves and the interatrial and interventricular septa.

Prof. Peter Fried in Ottawa has headed up a comprehensive, careful and detailed longitudinal study of brain damage in children exposed to cannabis in utero.  They have been publishing positive findings from this study for forty years showing documented deficits of executive and higher brain function, the need to recruit more brain to perform tested tasks documented on fMRI, in primary school, middle school, high school and even into young adulthood.  It has now been convincingly demonstrated that endocannabinoids send the “off” signal halting synaptic neurotransmission at both stimulatory and inhibitory synapses and hence shutting down the brain’s normal oscillatory processes.  Brain oscillations are known to form a key an pivotal function early in brain development guiding the migration and axonal projection of developing neuronal progenitor cells, and also guiding synapse formation. 

As you would be aware many neural progenitor cells fail to integrate into the neural network and die due to lack of circuit stimulated connectivity.  This applies to both stimulatory and inhibitory synapses.  Hence synaptic firing is therefore critical for synapse formation and integration and survival of the new nerve cells.  Since cannabis and its constituent cannabinoids shut down this firing and resultant neural oscillations they necessarily impede brain development both in the cortex and in key subcortical major centres including the thalamus and hypothalamus.    Hence the demonstration by the Fried group that cannabis users have smaller cortical thickness and hippocampal volumes – the hippocampus first encodes memory – fits well with the known developmental biological mechanisms.

Given that cannabis in Colorado now is commonly at or above 30%, and was historically only 1-2% when most of its epidemiological studies were done; and given also that cannabis oils at up to 99% THC content are also increasingly widely available the conclusion becomes inescapable that the vast majority of children significantly exposed to these concentrations of cannabis in utero will be adversely and permanently affected.  Importantly no population measure of this very important damage I easily accessible.

10 studies have linked cannabis exposure to incidence or severity of gastroschisis.  This case is strengthened by the high density of CB1R’s on the omphalovitelline artery, and the many studies now which implicate vasoactive drugs in the pathogenesis of this condition.  Indeed although the activity of cannabinoids on arterial structure is not widely understood is has been documented in minute detail by no lesser a resource that Nature Reviews of Cardiology.   And obviously cannabis arteriopathy underlies the elevated rate of both myocardial infarction and stroke seen in adults with cannabis exposure about which Dr Nora Volkow, Director of NIDA has commented in New England Journal of Medicine.

A spectacular study from Hawaii in 2007 demonstrated that cannabis use was associated with Down’s syndrome incidence at a rate 526% elevated above background.

This is significant for several reasons.  Firstly a substantial body of evidence shows that cannabis has been known to test positive in the micronucleus assay since the 1960’s.  This is a major test for genotoxicity.  The implications of this devastating genetic damage were worked out for the whole world to see by David Pellman’s lab in New York and links cannabis exposure directly with abnormalities of cellular division including the three major clinical trisomies – trisomies 21, 18 and 13 – and Turner’s syndrome, XO.

Furthermore this implies that since cannabis is linked with cardiovascular, neuropsychiatric and chromosomal defects, these being the three major groups of congenital disorders.

If one goes to Colorado as a rather obvious test case indeed one finds a rise there of 70% in both total major congenital anomalies, and also cardiovascular anomalies, especially atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defects, which are the most common, exactly as predicted by the embryology.

Indeed, the particular thoroughness of the way in which all kinds of social and health data is collected and made available in the USA, together with the very considerable spread in attitudes to drug legalization in different states, make USA the perfect teratological laboratory to study the mutagenic and genotoxic effects of cannabinoid exposure.  My colleagues in addiction medicine and I at my university, aided by some of the top statisticians in this country have now commenced the enormous task of analyzing the US cannabis exposure data by state from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, together with cannabis concentration data quoted by Dr Nora Volkow the Director of NIDA in New England Journal of Medicine, together with projections of the applicable therapeutic termination rates taken from the Western Australian Register of Developmental Anomalies are analyzing this data at this time.

Whilst our findings have not been finalized the following remarks can already be made:

  1. In socially conservative states cannabis use is falling or flat whilst it is rising in more liberal states;
  2. When one takes into account the dramatically increased cannabis concentration – to only 15% in 2015 in this series  – the population exposure to cannabinoids has risen in all states regardless of social ethos;
  3. The rate of almost all congenital anomalies in the USA has risen when reasonable estimates for ETOPFA rates are employed;
  4. Cannabis exposure is significant for all 62 anomalies combined considered as a group;
  5. Not only are congenital anomalies uniformly rising against time, they are also rising against this metric of community cannabis exposure – defined as the product of the national mean cannabis concentration and the state based cannabis use rates;  
  6. If one considers the groups of:
    1. Cannabis related disorders (as defined by the Hawaiian investigators);
    2. Chromosomal defects;
    3. Cardiovascular defects;
    4. Derivatives of the endocardial cushions

The population exposure to cannabinoids remains highly significant including consideration of state and year

  1. Considering all 62 defects collected by the US National Birth Defects Prevention Network :
    1. In 43 cases (69.3%) the community cannabinoid exposure remains significant on linear regression testing before correction for multiple testing;
    2. When one adjusts for multiple testing 38 defects (61.3%) remain significant – mostly as described by the Hawaiian researchers;
    3. For example the national rate of the effect of cannabis exposure on Ebsteins anomaly is P<0.0001 for the effect of cannabis exposure alone and P<0.0001 for the interaction between cannabis exposure and time (multiple testing corrected results).  The beta estimate for this effect is 18%, and the P value is much less than P < 10 -16 .

Please note that none of these metrics quantitate what I regard as the most serious area of all – the neurobehavioural toxicology so carefully documented and chronicled with every imaginable psychological and imaging test at every developmental stage into young adult by the methodical Ottawa investigators referenced above.

I am aware of course of the signal service performed in this area by your predecessor Dr Murthy in relation to his report on “Facing Addiction in America.”

Naturally I am very concerned indeed that the USA, having avoided the horrors of thalidomide directly due to the due diligence of your FDA staff at the time, is sailing directly into an even worse teratological morass related to the legalization of cannabis in your country, which apparently even your President appears to be powerless to avert.  It is of the greatest concern to me that the carefully orchestrated US cannabis legalization campaign seems to be operating is such a manner as to at once bypass and simultaneously intimidate the FDA quality control and checks and safety balances processes.

The medical conclusion appears inescapable to me that cannabis use should be avoided by males and females in the reproductive age group especially if involved in pregnancy or even considering pregnancy – because of the long half lives involved and its sluggish release from the body’s fat stores.  It is well known that these same young adults is the group most keen to use cannabis products!  Indeed it is well documented that cannabis both increases sexual libido and reduces inhibitions; albeit after time and habituation it reduces both sexual desire and performance.  This sets up an inescapable and unavoidable reproductive and genotoxic paradox – which also greatly escalates the present discussion beyond the arena of personal civil liberties to the future of our coming generations.

Naturally I am particularly keen to discuss these issues with yourself at your earliest available opportunity. 

The teratological aspects of this epidemic seem to have been completely and systematically overlooked in the current discussions.

Please help me assist your wonderful, beautiful, noble and courageous nation at this critical juncture in your history.

And I am sure it will be self-evident to you that anything that happens in USA has enormous ramifications around the world, as you are obviously that world’s leading democratic nation.

Hence USA is not only legislating for America – but for all citizens of the planet – present and future.  Because of the epigenetic implications – not discussed above but very well substantiated nonetheless – for the next four generations – this is the next 100 years.

In such a circumstance – truth can be your only meaningful defence.  And it must be your final bastion – and the last great hope of civilization.

I am very keen to set up a time which would be suitable to yourself to discuss these issues on the phone.

Oddly it seems to me that few professionals understand these issues thoroughly.

And even more strangely – it seems to me strange that USA, having alone amongst the family of nations done so extremely well with thalidomide, at the present time gives every appearance of acting before she has thought carefully, methodically and deeply about the ramifications of her present actions in this field.

With very best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Stuart Reece,

Australia.

Email sent in copy to Drug Watch International June 2018 drug-watch-international@googlegroups.com

Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana,Drug use-various effects on foetus, babies, children and youth,Genes,Global Drug Legalisation Efforts,Health,Legal Sector,Political Sector,USA :

Alcohol damages the brain, heart, liver and pancreas, and it increases the risk of some cancers, such as mouth and bowel cancer. It also weakens the immune system, making people more vulnerable to infectious diseases, such as pneumonia and tuberculosis. Taken in excess, it can kill.

Given these significant health consequences, it’s not surprising that many people who are addicted to the substance, try to quit. However, if it’s not done properly, withdrawal from alcohol can have terrible health consequences of its own, including death.

The body adapts to long-term change in order to survive. An example of this is angina, where the vessels supplying the heart with blood become narrow. Evidence suggests that people with the condition can slowly improve and adapt to the reduced blood flow by developing new blood vessels.

Similarly, there are physiological changes as a result of long-term alcohol abuse.

Alcohol suppresses the production of certain neurotransmitters (chemicals that carry messages between nerve cells). After a while, the body adjust to the continual presence of high amounts of alcohol by producing more of these neurotransmitters and their receptors – the proteins on the surface of nerve cells that neurotransmitters latch on to.

When people who are dependent on alcohol suddenly quit drinking, there is a surge in neurotransmitters, way above what the body needs. This surge explains many of the symptoms of sudden withdrawal, including sweating, racing heart, restlessness and feelings of anxiety.

Alcohol affects neurotransmitters – the chemicals that send signals between nerve cells. Andrii Vodolazhsky/Shutterstock.com

The sudden removal of alcohol can cause fatal arrhythmias, where the heartbeat becomes so irregular the heart fails. This complicated biological process is due to the fact that alcohol interferes with the balance of GABA (an inhibitory neurotransmitter) and glutamate (an excitatory neurotransmitter).

The excitatory and inhibitory pathways in the brain control the central nervous system and heart. Once alcohol is removed, the huge levels of neurotransmitters that are present can overstimulate organs, including the heart.

This is often made worse by the fact that the heart’s structure changes with long-term alcohol use. Muscle strength and thickness, for example, are significantly reduced in people who consume more than 90g of alcohol per day (one unit of alcohol is equal to 8g of pure alcohol) over a period of five years or more.

The sudden removal of alcohol can also cause kidney failure. Alcohol has to be broken down and cleared from the body as urine. This needs water, as the products of the breakdown have to be in solution.

Alcohol also inhibits the production of an anti-diuretic hormone, so large quantities of alcohol make you urinate a lot and become dehydrated. Electrolytes in the body, such as sodium, magnesium, calcium and potassium, are usually in solution (water) and excessive amounts of alcohol can cause an imbalance in these electrolytes as well as an acid-base imbalance. These imbalances can eventually lead to acute kidney failure.

Dangerous drug

The risk of dying from sudden alcohol withdrawal are very real and very high, with estimates ranging from 6% to 25%, depending on their symptoms. Sadly, the unpleasant experience of withdrawal – both physical and mental – causes many addicts to relapse to heavy drinking.

If you drink alcohol, it is advisable that you stick to the government guidelines of not drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week, which equates to about six pints of lager or six glasses of wine (175ml).

Source: https://theconversation.com/alcohol-withdrawal-can-be-deadly-heres-why-96487 June 2018

Filed under: Alcohol,Health :
Some hopeful news has come to light in the latest Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Annual Report: overdose deaths dropped more than 20% nationwide in 2024, which is the largest yearly decrease in four decades of tracking. Although this decrease in overdose deaths is good news, it does not mean the crisis is over. Changes in drug mixtures, independent regional shifts in overdose patterns, and the alarming rise in new chemical contaminants—many of which users don’t even know they’re taking—makes this ever-evolving issue complex and increasingly more dangerous than ever before.

 

The DEA found that 1 in 8 samples of methamphetamine now contains fentanyl, and 1 in 4 samples of cocaine samples are similarly contaminated. And while deaths from fentanyl may be decreasing, fentanyl is increasingly being mixed into other drugs, often with deadly result.

In a regional assessment of fentanyl-related deaths, stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine were found to be contaminated with fentanyl and linked to 1 out of every 2 drug-related deaths in the west and 1 out of every 3 drug-related deaths in the east. Contaminated drug mixtures are especially dangerous given that naloxone, one of the key measures in reducing opioid overdose deaths, is ineffective against non-opioid drugs such as stimulants.

 

Among the surprising findings was that between 2018 and 2022, fentanyl-only overdose among 15-24 year olds increased approximately 168%. This age group, which is one that generally does not seek fentanyl, are suspected to be unknowingly consuming drugs laced with it. The low production cost of fentanyl continues to fuel the shift between already dangerous plant-based drugs to lab-made substances. The emergence of additives that cause prolonged sedation such as xylazine and medetomidine increase the dangers associated with the consumption of these drugs as some these mixtures may also render naloxone ineffective.

 

Despite the drop in overall overdose deaths the U.S. still has the highest drug overdose rate in the world, with 324 deaths per million people. Most states are showing promising progress with decreases in drug-related deaths. However, Nevada is an exception, experiencing an increase largely driven by methamphetamines, which have now surpassed fentanyl as the leading cause of drug-related deaths in the state.

 

Although overall trends seem to show a positive promising future, the drug supply is evolving faster than available tools can manage. And overdose risks are no longer about misuse, but also about unknowing exposure to potent synthetic chemicals hidden in recognizable drugs.

 

 

Source:  Drug Free America Foundation | 333 3rd Ave N Suite 200 | St. Petersburg, FL 33701 US

 
Filed under: Drug use-various effects,Prevention and Intervention,Strategy and Policy,Treatment and Addiction,USA :

Every year the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes releases the World Drug Report (WDR) on World Drug Day, which is observed annually on June 26th. The WDR provides updates on international drug markets, policy changes across the world, and summarizes gathered data on ongoing issues caused by drugs on all fronts.

This year’s report calls for communities around the world to break the cycle and #StopOrganizedCrime, stressing the intricacy and ever-expanding reach of organized crime networks on a global scale currently exacerbated by increased global instability. 

Among this year’s highlights, the World Drug Report finds a 28% increase in people who use drugs over the past 10 years, with marijuana the top used substance with 244 million users, followed by opioids, amphetamines, cocaine, and ecstasy.

The report also highlights a 13% increase in people suffering from drug use disorders over the past 10 years and the disproportionate imbalance among men and women with substance use disorders (SUD) who receive treatment. While 1 in 7 men with a substance use disorder receive treatment, only 1 in 18 women with SUD receive treatment.

But the most sobering reality is that youth continue to show a steady rise in drug use over the past decade. Vulnerable populations are bearing the brunt of illegal exploits and are falling prey to the cycle of poverty and crime created by underfunded systems and increased criminal activity.

Stimulant-related criminal activity is growing at an alarming rate. Between 2013-2023, global cocaine production rose 34%, global cocaine seizures rose 68%, and the number of people who use cocaine jumped from 17 million to 25 million. The steady expansion of cocaine use and rise in production continues to break records year after year. Additionally, the synthetic drug market led by methamphetamines and captagon continues to grow with drug and human trafficking feeding criminal networks that are constantly adapting to new intelligence and technological advances. The influence of this global drug crisis is reflected not only on the financial costs to communities, but on health systems, the environment, public safety, and above all, the loss of life.

Now more than ever, prevention plays a vital role in breaking the harmful cycles created by substance use. While local organizations witness the impact of drugs firsthand in their communities, and governments work to address supply and demand on a global scale, civil society is uniquely positioned to listen, respond, and offer immediate support to local leaders and at-risk populations.

By collaborating with organizations and building a network of support, we can empower individuals with evidence-based resources that strengthen protective factors, promote education, and foster long-term resilience.

Drug Free America Foundation leads the Global Task Force, uniting international non-governmental organizations with this shared mission. If you are interested in joining, please reach out to clincoln@dfaf.org .

If you would like to read the full World Drug Report click here 

Source:  Drug Free America Foundation | 333 3rd Ave N Suite 200 | Saint Petersburg, FL 33701 US
Filed under: All countries,Strategy and Policy,USA :

Key points

  • Substance use prevention is not just focused on the absence of a disease or illness but on promoting wellness.
  • Funding cuts from DOJ for substance use and treatment services may have long-term consequences.
  • These cuts represent the latest cycle of punitive sentiments towards substances use.

On April 22, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the termination of 365 awards that “no longer effectuate Department priorities.” Among these cuts were $88 million in Office of Justice Programs (OJP) funded programs administering substance use and mental health services. During Preisdent Trump’s first term, we witnessed a shift away from behavioral health models toward scare tactics and increased law enforcement activities — strategies known to be ineffective at preventing substance use. This term appears to be following that same trajectory.

America has a long history of reactively and emotionally addressing substance use in ways inconsistent with research and best practices. Large swings in political views and funding are not new and have detrimental effects on prevention efforts and communities. This latest rollback represents a reversion back to failed, punitive models, which threatens to unravel decades of progress in promoting community health and wellness.

Substance Use Prevention

Today’s substance use prevention activities are not the mass media scare campaigns seen during the 1960s to the 1990s or as simple as “Just Say No.” Substance use prevention takes a public health approach to promoting wellness and preventing substance use problems.

Unlike early iterations of “prevention,” the ultimate goal of prevention activities today is to promote wellness. Promoting wellness is not the same as advocating for the absence of a disease or illness but the presence of purpose in life, involvement in satisfying work and play, having joyful relationships, a healthy body and living environment, as well as general happiness. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), drawing on Swarbrick’s wellness approach, describes wellness as having eight different dimensions – emotional, spiritual, intellectual, physical, environmental, financial, occupational, and social.

Effective prevention programs work across these dimensions to reduce factors that put people at risk of developing behavioral health disorders (i.e., risk factors) as well as promote or strengthen factors that protect people from these disorders (i.e., protective factors).

The Cycle of Prevention Activities

The way we have responded to substance use has always been reactionary and punitive. Responses to substance use in the U.S. has stretched back over a century and followed a repeating cycle of panic, punishment, and progress. A new drug “hits the streets,” a news article highlights the death of a young, innocent victim, or a new political ringleader will enter the scene spouting “tough on crime” rhetoric that causes a moral panic among the masses and calls for increased punishment. Those sentiments take hold for several years and lead to prison overcrowding and an increase in arrest rates. Eventually, scientific advancements push responses to substance use back into the behavioral health realm. Then, a political campaign or story regresses the U.S. back to failed models of addressing substance use with punishment and the cycle repeats.

The 1950s/1960s are generally seen as the beginning of the modern era of prevention — an era dominated by fear-based approaches. School talks aimed at “scaring kids straight” and media campaigns and movies painted exaggerated horror stories about drug use. But scare-based tactics never work, particularly when youth can see that the lessons don’t reflect their lived experience. By the 1970s, the “War on Drugs” had been launched, and President Nixon had called drugs America’s “public enemy number one” and ushered in a wave of punishment over support. One of the most popular mantras of prevention originated in the 1980s with Nancy Reagan’s famous phrase: ‘Just Say No.’ It was catchy, simple, and widespread, but ultimately ineffective.

In the 1990s, science began to shape prevention and we saw large drops in youth substance use rates ever since. Researchers began to examine risk and protective factors associated with substance use. These studies led to a more structured approach to prevention. New, evidence-based school curricula focused on building life skills, resilience, and relationships were implemented. Community coalitions like the Communities That Care model gained traction. This progress continued in the early 2000s, when prevention finally got a seat at the table in public health. Prevention efforts became evidence-based and multi-layered. Programs began to see substance use as due to a complex interaction between systems and started addressing the risk at the family-, peer-, school-, and individual-level, such as the Seattle Social Development Project.

But this progress is often undermined by political agendas.

The punitive spirit of the War on Drugs remains deeply embedded in U.S. policy. The first Trump administration marked a clear pivot away from behavioral health and back toward criminal justice responses. Law enforcement became the answer while programs focused on research and wellness were deprioritized. Youth substance use trends began to stabilize despite the steady decline they had been on since the 1980s, marking an early sign that prevention was losing its momentum. The Biden-Harris administration brought in a new wave of the War on Drugs by naming a specific adulterated substance, fentanyl combined with xylazine, as an “emerging threat to the United States,” a term traditionally held for matters of homeland security.

Why This Matters Now

This new Trump administration brings new challenges and likely worse consequences as we witness an unprecedented time of widespread cuts to federal funding. Many communities rely heavily on these programs to help their fellow residents promote wellness in their area. Without these programs, improvements in trends in substance use will likely plateau, then potentially worsen. The challenge is that the consequences of cutting prevention are long-term, not immediate. As a result, many will turn to this time period in the next year to point out that there was no visible crisis or dramatic increase in substance use but that is based on a deep misunderstanding in evaluation research. The kids that would have relied on these programs will reach adulthood in the next few years which will be when we see the effects of not having these programs. People who relied on federally funded programs for treatment and support will experience worsening symptoms and rates of fatal overdoses will rise. Our schools will likely witness lower rates of attendance and a higher number of students dropping out or failing. Issues of overcrowding in jails and prisons will continue to worsen as increases in law enforcement activity will lead to greater arrests.

The defunding of mental health and substance use programming is a mistake. When prevention works, it’s invisible — no one sees the overdoses that didn’t happen, hears the fights that were avoided, or reads headlines about the crisis that never occurred. The invisibility of its effects does not mean it is not important.

Mobilizing the Community

We are at risk of repeating history by cutting prevention and returning to failed punitive models. Communities must lead where the federal government is failing. The momentum for prevention has always lain in the power of the community. The earliest substance use prevention movements started with everyday people who cared. Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) and other grassroots organizations started taking an active role in prevention in the 1980s, and ever since we have seen more communities taking the reins when it comes to promoting wellness in their area. Prevention is not an activity reserved solely for those in power; it is the duty and responsibility of every individual. Prevention is more than a policy or program; it is a promise to keep showing up for each other. If you are not sure where to start, start by telling your story and making space for others to lead. Prevention is strongest when it is shared.

Source:  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-nature-of-substance-use/202505/defunding-prevention-a-setback-for-science-and-public

 

Filed under: Drug use-various effects,Political Sector,Prevention and Intervention,Strategy and Policy,Treatment and Addiction,USA :

 

A police officer said that no motive is currently known and that Chesser was compliant at the time of her arrest. Police believe he was killed around midnight on Tuesday, June 17.

Australian Reality Star Charged With Murder After Boyfriend's Headless Body Found
Tamika Sueann-Rose Chesser, a 34-year-old former Australian reality TV star, has been charged with murdering her 39-year-old boyfriend, Julian Story. According to a report by The Telegraph, authorities discovered Mr Story’s headless body at their South Australia home in Port Lincoln on June 19, following a report of a small fire. The investigation led to Chesser’s arrest and murder charge after his dismembered remains were found at the apartment. Police are still searching for Mr Story’s severed head.

“It was a confronting scene for police and emergency services personnel as Julian’s body had been dismembered. Julian’s head had been removed during the dismemberment and, despite extensive searches, has not yet been located,” South Australia Police said in a statement Friday. 

Police believe he was killed around midnight on Tuesday, June 17.

A witness reported seeing smoke coming from the apartment and approached Chesser, who claimed she was doing nothing. She then took her dogs for a walk and locked the door. Police released surveillance footage showing a woman, believed to be Chesser, dressed in black and walking with three dogs, just hours after the alleged murder on June 17, around midnight. 

Police are urging residents to review their surveillance or dashcam footage to aid in the ongoing investigation.

“I can only imagine, and I want you to imagine, the grief this news is causing Julian’s family. Recovering Julian’s head to return it to his family so they can have a peaceful outcome, have a funeral and lay him to rest is a really important aspect for us,” Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke added. 

She was taken into custody after police found her in a catatonic and unresponsive state in the backyard of the crime scene, according to court documents. Mr Fielke said there was no obvious motive at this stage, and Chesser was cooperative at the time of the arrest, the ABC reported.

A spokesperson for Mr Story’s family said they were “navigating an unimaginable loss” as they thanked police and first responders for their “compassion and professionalism during this devastating time”.

“We are also deeply grateful to our family and friends and this extraordinary community, whose kindness and support have helped carry us through. Your prayers, presence, and quiet strength mean more than words can say,” the statement added. 

Chesser was the runner-up on the 2010 season of Beauty and the Geek and later modelled for men’s magazines including Playboy, Ralph and FHM. 

She remains in custody under a mental health detention order and due to appear in court again in December.

Sources:

India news: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/australian-reality-star-charged-with-murder-after-boyfriends-headless-body-found-8795479

Australia news: https://www.aol.com/australian-reality-tv-star-charged-121626759.html

Filed under: Australia,Brain and Behaviour,Crime/Violence/Prison,Drug use-various effects :
By Angela Hart – KFF Health News – 
Los Angeles — Inside a bright new building in the heart of Skid Row, homeless people hung out in a canopy-covered courtyard — some waiting to take a shower, do laundry, or get medication for addiction treatment. Others relaxed on shaded grass and charged their phones as an intake line for housing grew more crowded.

The new Skid Row Care Campus offers homeless people health care and a place to rest, charge their phones, grab some

food, or even get connected with housing.Angela Hart / KFF Health News

 

The Skid Row Care Campus officially opened this spring with ample offerings for people living on the streets of this historically downtrodden neighborhood. Pop-up fruit stands and tent encampments lined the sidewalks, as well as dealers peddling meth and fentanyl in open-air drug markets. Some people, sick or strung out, were passed out on sidewalks as pedestrians strolled by on a recent afternoon.

For those working toward sobriety, clinicians are on site to offer mental health and addiction treatment. Skid Row’s first methadone clinic is set to open here this year. For those not ready to quit drugs or alcohol, the campus provides clean syringes to more safely shoot up, glass pipes for smoking drugs, naloxone to prevent overdoses, and drug test strips to detect fentanyl contamination, among other supplies.

As many Americans have grown increasingly intolerant of street homelessness, cities and states have returned to tough-on-crime approaches that penalize people for living outside and for substance use disorders. But the Skid Row facility shows Los Angeles County leaders’ embrace of the principle of harm reduction, a range of more lenient strategies that can include helping people more safely use drugs, as they contend with a homeless population estimated around 75,000 — among the largest of any county in the nation. Evidence shows the approach can help individuals enter treatment, gain sobriety, and end their homelessness, while addiction experts and county health officials note it has the added benefit of improving public health.

“We get a really bad rap for this, but this is the safest way to use drugs,” said Darren Willett, director of the Center for Harm Reduction on the new Skid Row Care Campus. “It’s an overdose prevention strategy, and it prevents the spread of infectious disease.”

Despite a decline in overdose deaths, drug and alcohol use continues to be the leading cause of death among homeless people in the county. Living on the streets or in sordid encampments, homeless people saddle the health care system with high costs from uncompensated care, emergency room trips, inpatient hospitalizations, and, for many of them, their deaths. Harm reduction, its advocates say, allows homeless people the opportunity to obtain jobs, taxpayer-subsidized housing, health care, and other social services without being forced to give up drugs. Yet it’s hotly debated.

Politicians around the country, including Gov. Gavin Newsom in California, are reluctant to adopt harm reduction techniques, such as needle exchanges or supervised places to use drugs, in part because they can be seen by the public as condoning illicit behavior. Although Democrats are more supportive than Republicans, a national poll this year found lukewarm support across the political spectrum for such interventions.

Los Angeles is defying President Trump’s agenda as he advocates for forced mental health and addiction treatment for homeless people — and locking up those who refuse. The city has also been the scene of large protests against Mr. Trump’s immigration crackdown, which the president has fought by deploying National Guard troops and Marines.

Mr. Trump’s most detailed remarks on homelessness and substance use disorder came during his campaign, when he attacked people who use drugs as criminals and said that homeless people “have no right to turn every park and sidewalk into a place for them to squat and do drugs.” Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reinforced Mr. Trump’s focus on treatment.

“Secretary Kennedy stands with President Trump in prioritizing recovery-focused solutions to address addiction and homelessness,” said agency spokesperson Vianca Rodriguez Feliciano. “HHS remains focused on helping individuals recover, communities heal, and help make our cities clean, safe, and healthy once again.”

A comprehensive report led by Margot Kushel, a professor of medicine at the University of California-San Francisco, this year found that nearly half of California’s homeless population had a complex behavioral health need, defined as regular drug use, heavy drinking, hallucinations, or a recent psychiatric hospitalization.

The chaos of living outside, she said — marked by violence, sexual assault, sleeplessness, and lack of housing and health care — can make it nearly impossible to get sober.

Skid Row Care Campus

The new care campus is funded by about $26 million a year in local, state, and federal homelessness and health care money, and initial construction was completed by a Skid Row landlord, Matt Lee, who made site improvements on his own, according to Anna Gorman, chief operating officer for community programs at the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Operators say the campus should be able to withstand potential federal spending cuts because it is funded through a variety of sources.

Glass front doors lead to an atrium inside the yellow-and-orange complex. It was designed with input from homeless people, who advised the county not just on the layout but also on the services offered on-site. There are 22 recovery beds and 48 additional beds for mostly older homeless people, arts and wellness programs, a food pantry, and pet care. Even bunnies and snakes are allowed.

John Wright, 65, who goes by the nickname Slim, mingled with homeless visitors one afternoon in May, asking them what they needed to be safe and comfortable.

“Everyone thinks we’re criminals, like we’re out robbing everyone, but we aren’t,” said Wright, who is employed as a harm reduction specialist on the campus and is trying, at his own pace, to stop using fentanyl. “I’m homeless and I’m a drug addict, but I’m on methadone now so I’m working on it,” he said.

Nearby on Skid Row, Anthony Willis rested in his wheelchair while taking a toke from a crack pipe. He’d just learned about the new care campus, he said, explaining that he was homeless for roughly 20 years before getting into a taxpayer-subsidized apartment on Skid Row. He spends most of his days and nights on the streets, using drugs and alcohol.

The drugs, he said, help him stay awake so he can provide companionship and sometimes physical protection for homeless friends who don’t have housing. “It’s tough sometimes living down here; it’s pretty much why I keep relapsing,” said Willis, who at age 62 has asthma and arthritic knees. “But it’s also my community.”

Willis said the care campus could be a place to help him kick drugs, but he wasn’t sure he was ready.

Research shows harm reduction helps prevent death and can build long-term recovery for people who use substances, said Brian Hurley, an addiction psychiatrist and the medical director for the Bureau of Substance Abuse Prevention and Control at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. The techniques allow health care providers and social service workers to meet people when they’re ready to stop using drugs or enter treatment.

“Recovery is a learning activity, and the reality is relapse is part of recovery,” he said. “People go back and forth and sometimes get triggered or haven’t figured out how to cope with a stressor.”

Swaying public opinion

Under harm reduction principles, officials acknowledge that people will use drugs. Funded by taxpayers, the government provides services to use safely, rather than forcing people to quit or requiring abstinence in exchange for government-subsidized housing and treatment programs.

Los Angeles County is spending hundreds of millions to combat homelessness, while also launching a multiyear “By LA for LA” campaign to build public support, fight stigma, and encourage people to use services and seek treatment. Officials have hired a nonprofit, Vital Strategies, to conduct the campaign including social media advertising and billboards to promote the expansion of both treatment and harm reduction services for people who use drugs.

The organization led a national harm reduction campaign and is working on overdose prevention and public health campaigns in seven states using roughly $70 million donated by Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York.

“We don’t believe people should die just because they use drugs, so we’re going to provide support any way that we can,” said Shoshanna Scholar, director of harm reduction at the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. “Eventually, some people may come in for treatment but what we really want is to prevent overdose and save lives.”

Los Angeles also finds itself at odds with California’s Democratic governor. Newsom has spearheaded stricter laws targeting homelessness and addiction and has backed treatment requirements for people with mental illness or who use drugs. Last year, California voters approved Proposition 36, which allows felony charges for some drug crimes, requires courts to warn people they could be charged with murder for selling or providing illegal drugs that kill someone, and makes it easier to order treatment for people who use drugs.

Even San Francisco approved a measure last year that requires welfare recipients to participate in treatment to continue receiving cash aid. Mayor Daniel Lurie recently ordered city officials to stop handing out free drug supplies, including pipes and foil, and instead to require participation in drug treatment to receive services. Lurie signed a recovery-first ordinance, which prioritizes “long-term remission” from substance use, and the city is also expanding policing while funding new sober-living sites and treatment centers for people recovering from addiction.

“Harm encouragement”

State Sen. Roger Niello, a Republican who represents conservative suburbs outside Sacramento, says the state needs to improve the lives of homeless people through stricter drug policies. He argues that providing drug supplies or offering housing without a mandate to enter treatment enables homeless people to remain on the streets.

Proposition 36, he said, needs to be implemented forcefully, and homeless people should be required to enter treatment in exchange for housing.

“I think of it as tough love,” Niello said. “What Los Angeles is doing, I would call it harm encouragement. They’re encouraging harm by continuing to feed a habit that is, quite frankly, killing people.”

Keith Humphreys, who worked in the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations and pioneered harm reduction practices across the nation, said that communities should find a balance between leniency and law enforcement.

“Parents need to be able to walk their kids to the park without being traumatized. You should be able to own a business without being robbed,” he said. “Harm reduction and treatment both have a place, and we also need prevention and a focus on public safety.”

Just outside the Skid Row Care Campus, Cindy Ashley organized her belongings in a cart after recently leaving a local hospital ER for a deep skin infection on her hand and arm caused by shooting heroin. She also regularly smokes crack, she said.

She was frantically searching for a home so she could heal from two surgeries for the infection. She learned about the new care campus and rushed over to get her name on the waiting list for housing.

“I’m not going to make it out here,” she said, in tears.

Source:  https://www.cbsnews.com/news/los-angeles-harm-reduction-drugs-homelessness/

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.

 

Filed under: Addiction,Brain and Behaviour,Crime/Violence/Prison,Drug use-various effects,Harm Reduction,Needle Exchange,Prevention and Intervention,Strategy and Policy,USA :

by Robyn Oster – Associate Director, Health Law and Policy – July 2025

Reminder: The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), an expert panel, evaluates preventive services and recommends which should be provided at no cost.

  • Why it’s important: Services currently required to be covered at no cost include certain mental health screenings, drug/alcohol screenings, PrEP for HIV, etc.
  • A group of conservative Christian employers in Texas led a lawsuit challenging the requirement. They argued that having the independent panel determine national health coverage violated the appointments clause of the Constitution and that covering PrEP violated religious freedom (though the Supreme Court only weighed in on the appointments clause argument).

The details:

  • The employers argued that USPSTF members were not appointed as either of two types of executive branch officers that the Constitution allows to make certain national policy decisions. They argued that the task force recommendations requiring them to cover certain preventive services in their employer-sponsored health plans were unconstitutional because task force members are not confirmed by the Senate.
  • The government defended the task force, arguing that it is constitutional because HHS officials appoint USPSTF members, and the HHS secretary can remove members at will and veto recommendations.
  • The Supreme Court agreed with the government and affirmed that the HHS secretary has these powers over USPSTF and its recommendations.

The bigger context:

  • The decision is a win for health advocates, who wanted to maintain the no-cost coverage requirement for preventive services. Providing preventive services at no cost is key to increasing access to and receipt of important screenings and other preventive services. Decreasing access to such services would lead to worse health outcomes.
  • But: The ruling could challenge USPSTF’s independence and credibility. It cements a strong role for the HHS secretary in overseeing the USPSTF, including removing members and modifying its rulings. This paves the way for HHS Secretary Kennedy to reject recommendations he disagrees with, allowing insurers to charge for those services or avoid covering them in some cases. It also opens the door for Kennedy to remove all the task force members and appoint new people, and a new task force could reject previous recommendations.

Source:  https://drugfree.org/drug-and-alcohol-news/supreme-court-upholds-aca-preventive-care/

Filed under: Drug use-various effects,Health,Legal Sector,Mental Health,Prevention and Intervention,Strategy and Policy,Treatment and Addiction,USA :

In Christian Daily – Forum 2025 – News & Stories  – July 9, 2025

According to a report in ChristianDaily.com, a June 2025 study published in a peer-reviewed journal of the British Medical Association, found that daily cannabis users are 34% more likely to develop heart failure than non-users.

The study by researchers from France drew on data from over 150,000 U.S. adults tracked over several years, and also linked marijuana use with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. The objective was to evaluate the possible association between major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and the use of cannabis or cannabinoids.

Dr. Matthew Springer, a heart disease biologist at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), told the New York Times that marijuana inhalation delivers “thousands of chemicals deep into the lungs,” potentially increasing cardiovascular risk. His lab recently found that both edible and inhaled forms of marijuana were associated with comparable levels of blood vessel dysfunction.

An accompanying editorial by researchers from California USA said about the study:

Legalisation of medical and recreational cannabis commerce is spreading around the world, associated with increased use1 and falling perception of the risk. Frequent cannabis use has increased in several countries, and many users believe that it is a safe and natural way to relieve pain or stress. In contrast, a growing body of evidence links cannabis use to significant harms throughout life, including cardiovascular health of adults. The robust meta-analysis of cannabis use and cardiovascular disease by Storck et al4 in this issue of Heart raises serious questions about the assumption that cannabis imposes little cardiovascular risk.

This study is backed up by a March 2025 publication by the American College of Cardiology which revealed that cannabis users under the age of 50 are six times more likely to suffer a heart attack and three times more likely to die from cardiovascular causes compared to non-users.

According to a review article in JACC: Journal of the American College of Cardiology – “Marijuana is becoming increasingly potent, and smoking marijuana carries many of the same cardiovascular health hazards as smoking tobacco.”

As reported by Christian Daily International, in 2019, the Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA) — a U.S.-based nonprofit representing thousands of Christian healthcare professionals — issued a position statement cautioning against recreational and medicinal marijuana use. “[T]here is a need for limiting access to marijuana,” the CMDA said. It warned of addiction, cognitive impairment, psychosis, and long-term health effects, especially among youth. “The adolescent brain is still developing and more vulnerable to the adverse effects of marijuana,” the statement emphasised.

Source: https://www.christiandaily.com/news/new-study-links-marijuana-to-heart-failure-echoing-christian-medical-professionals-long-standing-warnings-against-recrea

Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana,Drug use-various effects,Health,Marijuana and Medicine,Mental Health,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,USA :

Two large-scale surveys of California high school students found that teens who saw cannabis and e-cigarette content were more likely to start using those substances or to have used them in the past month

Teens who see social media posts showing cannabis or e-cigarettes, including from friends and influencers, are more likely to later start using those substances or to report using them in the past month, according to surveys done by researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Viewing such posts was linked to cannabis use, as well as dual use of cannabis and e-cigarettes (vapes). Dual use refers to youth who have used both cannabis and e-cigarettes at some point. The results were just published in JAMA Network Open.

The findings come amid a decline in youth e-cigarette use, reported in 2024 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, teen vaping, cannabis use and the dual use of e-cigarettes and cannabis remain a problem. 

“While the rate of e-cigarette use is declining, our study shows that exposure to e-cigarette content on social media still contributes to the risk of using e-cigarettes with other substances, like cannabis,” said Julia Vassey, PhD, a health behavior researcher in the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine.

The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, also helps clarify how certain types of social media posts relate to teen substance use. Researchers surveyed more than 7,600 teens across two studies: a longitudinal study to understand whether viewing cannabis or e-cigarette posts on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube relates to a teen’s later choice to start using either substance or both, and a second survey looking at whether an association exists between the source of the content— friends, influencers, celebrities or brands—and substance use.  

“Answering these questions can help federal regulators and social media platforms create guidelines geared toward preventing youth substance use,” Vassey said.

Links across substances

Data for the study came from California high school students, with an average age of 17, who completed questionnaires on classroom computers between 2021 and 2023. Researchers conducted two surveys, one focused on teens who used cannabis, e-cigarettes or both for the first time, the other focused on use during the past month.

In the first survey, which included 4,232 students, 22.9% reported frequently seeing e-cigarette posts on TikTok, Instagram or YouTube, meaning they saw at least one post per week. A smaller portion—12%—frequently saw cannabis posts.

One year later, researchers followed up with the students. Teens who had frequently seen cannabis posts—but had never tried cannabis or e-cigarettes—were more likely to have started using e-cigarettes, cannabis or both. Teens who had frequently seen e-cigarette posts on TikTok were more likely to have started using cannabis or started dual use of both cannabis and e-cigarettes. No such pattern was found for Instagram or YouTube. The data collected allowed researchers to look at platform-specific results for e-cigarettes posts, but not for cannabis posts.

“This is consistent with previous research showing that, of the three platforms, TikTok is probably the strongest risk factor for substance use,” Vassey said. That may be because TikTok’s algorithm pushes popular content broadly, including posts that feature e-cigarettes, even to users who don’t follow the accounts.

In the second survey, researchers asked 3,380 students whether they saw cannabis or e-cigarette posts from brands, friends, celebrities, or influencers with 10,000 to 100,000 followers. Teens who saw e-cigarette or cannabis posts from influencers were more likely than their peers to have used cannabis in the past month. Those who saw e-cigarette posts from friends were more likely to have been dual users of cannabis and e-cigarettes in the past month. Those who saw cannabis posts from friends were more likely to have used cannabis in the past month or to have been dual users of cannabis and e-cigarettes.

The link between e-cigarette posts and cannabis use is what researchers call a “cross-substance association” and may be explained by the similar appearance of nicotine and cannabis vaping devices, Vassey said. 

The risks of influencer content

Influencer posts deserve special attention because they often slip through loopholes in federal rules and platform guidelines. For example, the FDA can only regulate content when brand partnerships are disclosed, but influencers—consciously or not—may skip disclosures in some posts.

Studies show that these seemingly unsponsored posts are seen as more authentic, Vassey said, making them particularly influential.

Most social media platforms already ban paid promotion of cannabis and tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. Some researchers say those bans should be extended to cover additional influencer content. Others want platforms to partner with regulators to find a comprehensive solution.

“So far, it’s a grey area, and nobody has provided a clear answer on how we should act and when,” Vassey said.

In future studies, Vassey plans to further explore cannabis influencer marketing, including whether changes to social media guidelines impact what teens see and how they respond.

About this research

In addition to Vassey, the study’s other authors are Junhan Cho, Trisha Iyer and Jennifer B. Unger from the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California; Erin A. Vogel from the TSET Health Promotion Research Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City; and Julia Chen-Sankey from the Institute for Nicotine and Tobacco Studies and the School of Public Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey.

This work was supported by National Institutes of Health [R01CA260459]and the National Institute on Drug Abuse [K01DA055073].

Source:  https://keck.usc.edu/news/e-cigarette-and-cannabis-social-media-posts-pose-risks-for-teens-study-finds/

Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Marijuana and Medicine,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,USA,Vaping,Youth :

itvx news – Tuesday 24 June 2025

Cannabis activists and entrepreneurs, hold cannabis plant as they march to Government House in Bangkok, Thailand in 2024.Credit: AP

Thailand is moving to pass new legislation banning cannabis for recreational use in a major reversal, three years after the country became the first in Asia to decriminalise the drug, local media reports.

On Tuesday, Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said he had signed an announcement limiting cannabis to medical use only, Bangkok news site Khaosod confirmed.

Under the changes, people wishing to purchase cannabis must have a doctor’s prescription and a medical certificate indicating their illness.

Operators selling the drug will need to have a doctor present at the shop to renew or apply for a license to sell.

Somsak also said that in the future, cannabis will return to being considered a narcotic.

It is not clear when the regulation will take effect or when it will be re-listed.

Banged up abroad: How many Brits are being arrested over alleged drug smuggling?

Thailand to crack down on cannabis after smuggling cases involving UK tourists

Is cannabis legal in Thailand?

Medical marijuana has been legal in Thailand since 2018, but decriminalisation in 2022 took things a step further, making it no longer a crime to grow and trade marijuana and hemp products, or to use any parts of the plant to treat illnesses.

It was a rarity in the region where many countries give long jail terms and even death sentences for people convicted of marijuana possession, consumption or trafficking.

Smoking marijuana in public remained illegal even under the relaxed laws.

Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning.

What happened when cannabis was decriminalised?

The relaxed laws saw a lucrative cannabis industry catering to locals and foreigners alike boom across the Southeast Asian nation, with thousands of cannabis dispensaries sprouting up across Thailand, as well as other cannabis-themed businesses like weed cafes and hemp spas, and beauty treatment.

Cities like Chiang Mai and the capital Bangkok have even held weed festivals, and decriminalisation has been a major draw for tourists.

Pro-legislation advocates have argued that the cannabis boom across Thailand has helped many Thais, from farmers to small business owners and workers behind the counter.

Critics say the decriminalisation was rushed through, causing confusion about the regulations.

Last year, a new conservative government vowed to tighten the rules around the drug after a string of alleged smuggling cases involving tourists.

Hundreds of British citizens are currently detained across the world, accused of narcotics smuggling offences.

Prisoners Abroad – a charity assisting Britons who are arrested and detained overseas – told ITV News it is currently supporting 431 people around the globe who are facing drugs charges.

This includes 22 people in Thailand.

 

Source:  https://www.itv.com/news/2025-06-24/thailand-to-ban-recreational-cannabis-three-years-after-decriminalisation

Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana,Crime/Violence/Prison,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Legal Sector,Marijuana and Medicine,Others (International News),Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction :

from KFF Health News – Jul 8 2025

Inside a bright new building in the heart of Skid Row, homeless people hung out in a canopy-covered courtyard — some waiting to take a shower, do laundry, or get medication for addiction treatment. Others relaxed on shaded grass and charged their phones as an intake line for housing grew more crowded.

The Skid Row Care Campus officially opened this spring with ample offerings for people living on the streets of this historically downtrodden neighborhood. Pop-up fruit stands and tent encampments lined the sidewalks, as well as dealers peddling meth and fentanyl in open-air drug markets. Some people, sick or strung out, were passed out on sidewalks as pedestrians strolled by on a recent afternoon.

For those working toward sobriety, clinicians are on site to offer mental health and addiction treatment. Skid Row’s first methadone clinic is set to open here this year. For those not ready to quit drugs or alcohol, the campus provides clean syringes to more safely shoot up, glass pipes for smoking drugs, naloxone to prevent overdoses, and drug test strips to detect fentanyl contamination, among other supplies.

As many Americans have grown increasingly intolerant of street homelessness, cities and states have returned to tough-on-crime approaches that penalize people for living outside and for substance use disorders. But the Skid Row facility shows Los Angeles County leaders’ embrace of the principle of harm reduction, a range of more lenient strategies that can include helping people more safely use drugs, as they contend with a homeless population estimated around 75,000 — among the largest of any county in the nation. Evidence shows the approach can help individuals enter treatment, gain sobriety, and end their homelessness, while addiction experts and county health officials note it has the added benefit of improving public health.

“We get a really bad rap for this, but this is the safest way to use drugs,” said Darren Willett, director of the Center for Harm Reduction on the new Skid Row Care Campus. “It’s an overdose prevention strategy, and it prevents the spread of infectious disease.”

Despite a decline in overdose deaths, drug and alcohol use continues to be the leading cause of death among homeless people in the county. Living on the streets or in sordid encampments, homeless people saddle the health care system with high costs from uncompensated care, emergency room trips, inpatient hospitalizations, and, for many of them, their deaths. Harm reduction, its advocates say, allows homeless people the opportunity to obtain jobs, taxpayer-subsidized housing, health care, and other social services without being forced to give up drugs. Yet it’s hotly debated.

Politicians around the country, including Gov. Gavin Newsom in California, are reluctant to adopt harm reduction techniques, such as needle exchanges or supervised places to use drugs, in part because they can be seen by the public as condoning illicit behavior. Although Democrats are more supportive than Republicans, a national poll this year found lukewarm support across the political spectrum for such interventions.

Los Angeles is defying President Donald Trump’s agenda as he advocates for forced mental health and addiction treatment for homeless people — and locking up those who refuse. The city has also been the scene of large protests against Trump’s immigration crackdown, which the president has fought by deploying National Guard troops and Marines.

Trump’s most detailed remarks on homelessness and substance use disorder came during his campaign, when he attacked people who use drugs as criminals and said that homeless people “have no right to turn every park and sidewalk into a place for them to squat and do drugs.” Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reinforced Trump’s focus on treatment.

“Secretary Kennedy stands with President Trump in prioritizing recovery-focused solutions to address addiction and homelessness,” said agency spokesperson Vianca Rodriguez Feliciano. “HHS remains focused on helping individuals recover, communities heal, and help make our cities clean, safe, and healthy once again.”

A comprehensive report led by Margot Kushel, a professor of medicine at the University of California-San Francisco, this year found that nearly half of California’s homeless population had a complex behavioral health need, defined as regular drug use, heavy drinking, hallucinations, or a recent psychiatric hospitalization.

The chaos of living outside, she said — marked by violence, sexual assault, sleeplessness, and lack of housing and health care — can make it nearly impossible to get sober.

Skid row care campus

The new care campus is funded by about $26 million a year in local, state, and federal homelessness and health care money, and initial construction was completed by a Skid Row landlord, Matt Lee, who made site improvements on his own, according to Anna Gorman, chief operating officer for community programs at the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Operators say the campus should be able to withstand potential federal spending cuts because it is funded through a variety of sources.

Glass front doors lead to an atrium inside the yellow-and-orange complex. It was designed with input from homeless people, who advised the county not just on the layout but also on the services offered on-site. There are 22 recovery beds and 48 additional beds for mostly older homeless people, arts and wellness programs, a food pantry, and pet care. Even bunnies and snakes are allowed.

John Wright, 65, who goes by the nickname Slim, mingled with homeless visitors one afternoon in May, asking them what they needed to be safe and comfortable.

“Everyone thinks we’re criminals, like we’re out robbing everyone, but we aren’t,” said Wright, who is employed as a harm reduction specialist on the campus and is trying, at his own pace, to stop using fentanyl. “I’m homeless and I’m a drug addict, but I’m on methadone now so I’m working on it,” he said.

Nearby on Skid Row, Anthony Willis rested in his wheelchair while taking a toke from a crack pipe. He’d just learned about the new care campus, he said, explaining that he was homeless for roughly 20 years before getting into a taxpayer-subsidized apartment on Skid Row. He spends most of his days and nights on the streets, using drugs and alcohol.

The drugs, he said, help him stay awake so he can provide companionship and sometimes physical protection for homeless friends who don’t have housing. “It’s tough sometimes living down here; it’s pretty much why I keep relapsing,” said Willis, who at age 62 has asthma and arthritic knees. “But it’s also my community.”

Willis said the care campus could be a place to help him kick drugs, but he wasn’t sure he was ready.

Research shows harm reduction helps prevent death and can build long-term recovery for people who use substances, said Brian Hurley, an addiction psychiatrist and the medical director for the Bureau of Substance Abuse Prevention and Control at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. The techniques allow health care providers and social service workers to meet people when they’re ready to stop using drugs or enter treatment.

Swaying public opinion

Under harm reduction principles, officials acknowledge that people will use drugs. Funded by taxpayers, the government provides services to use safely, rather than forcing people to quit or requiring abstinence in exchange for government-subsidized housing and treatment programs.

Los Angeles County is spending hundreds of millions to combat homelessness, while also launching a multiyear “By LA for LA” campaign to build public support, fight stigma, and encourage people to use services and seek treatment. Officials have hired a nonprofit, Vital Strategies, to conduct the campaign including social media advertising and billboards to promote the expansion of both treatment and harm reduction services for people who use drugs.

The organization led a national harm reduction campaign and is working on overdose prevention and public health campaigns in seven states using roughly $70 million donated by Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York.

“We don’t believe people should die just because they use drugs, so we’re going to provide support any way that we can,” said Shoshanna Scholar, director of harm reduction at the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. “Eventually, some people may come in for treatment but what we really want is to prevent overdose and save lives.”

Los Angeles also finds itself at odds with California’s Democratic governor. Newsom has spearheaded stricter laws targeting homelessness and addiction and has backed treatment requirements for people with mental illness or who use drugs. Last year, California voters approved Proposition 36, which allows felony charges for some drug crimes, requires courts to warn people they could be charged with murder for selling or providing illegal drugs that kill someone, and makes it easier to order treatment for people who use drugs.

Even San Francisco approved a measure last year that requires welfare recipients to participate in treatment to continue receiving cash aid. Mayor Daniel Lurie recently ordered city officials to stop handing out free drug supplies, including pipes and foil, and instead to require participation in drug treatment to receive services. Lurie signed a recovery-first ordinance, which prioritizes “long-term remission” from substance use, and the city is also expanding policing while funding new sober-living sites and treatment centers for people recovering from addiction.

‘Harm encouragement’

State Sen. Roger Niello, a Republican who represents conservative suburbs outside Sacramento, says the state needs to improve the lives of homeless people through stricter drug policies. He argues that providing drug supplies or offering housing without a mandate to enter treatment enables homeless people to remain on the streets.

Proposition 36, he said, needs to be implemented forcefully, and homeless people should be required to enter treatment in exchange for housing.

“I think of it as tough love,” Niello said. “What Los Angeles is doing, I would call it harm encouragement. They’re encouraging harm by continuing to feed a habit that is, quite frankly, killing people.”

Keith Humphreys, who worked in the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations and pioneered harm reduction practices across the nation, said that communities should find a balance between leniency and law enforcement.

“Parents need to be able to walk their kids to the park without being traumatized. You should be able to own a business without being robbed,” he said. “Harm reduction and treatment both have a place, and we also need prevention and a focus on public safety.”

Just outside the Skid Row Care Campus, Cindy Ashley organized her belongings in a cart after recently leaving a local hospital ER for a deep skin infection on her hand and arm caused by shooting heroin. She also regularly smokes crack, she said.

She was frantically searching for a home so she could heal from two surgeries for the infection. She learned about the new care campus and rushed over to get her name on the waiting list for housing.

“I’m not going to make it out here,” she said, in tears.

Source:  https://www.news-medical.net/news/20250708/In-a-nation-growing-hostile-toward-drugs-and-homelessness-Los-Angeles-tries-leniency.aspx

Kaiser Health NewsThis article was reprinted from khn.org, a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF – the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.
Filed under: Crime/Violence/Prison,Drug use-various effects,Harm Reduction,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,USA :

by  James White – Jul 7, 2025

Transporting (widening) the effect of the ASSIST school-based smoking prevention intervention to the Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use Among Young People in England Survey (2004-2021): A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Aims: To conduct exploratory analyses into the transported effect of the ASSIST (A Stop Smoking in Schools Trial) school-based smoking prevention intervention on weekly smoking in young people between 2004 and 2021.

Design: Secondary analysis of a cluster randomized control trial (cRCT).

Setting: England and Wales.

Participants: ASSIST trial participants comprised 8756 students aged 12-13 years in 59 schools assigned using stratified block randomization to the control (29 schools, 4193 students) or intervention (30 schools, 4563 students) condition. The target population was represented by 12-13-year-old participants in the Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use Among Young People in England Survey (SDDU) in 2004 (n = 3958), 2006 (n = 3377), 2014 (n = 3145), 2016 (n = 4874) and 2021 (n = 3587), which are randomly sampled school-based surveys with student response rates varying between 85% and 93%.

Intervention and comparator: The ASSIST intervention involved 2 days of off-site training of influential students to encourage their peers not to smoke over a 10-week period. The control group continued with their usual education.

Measurements: The outcome was the proportion of students who self-reported weekly smoking 2 years post-intervention.

Findings: The prevalence of weekly smoking at the 2-year follow-up in the ASSIST trial in 2004 was 4.1%, 49.5% of students were girls, and 7.8% ethnic minorities. In the SDDU in 2004, the prevalence of weekly smoking was 3.6%, 47.6% students were girls and 14.4% ethnic minorities and in 2021 0.2% were weekly smokers, 48.6% girls and 27.8% ethnic minorities. The odds ratio of weekly smoking in the ASSIST trial in 2004 was 0.85 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 0.71-1.02]. The estimated odds ratio in the SDDU target population in 2004 was 0.90 (95% CI = 0.72-1.13), in 2014 was 0.89 (95% CI = 0.70-1.14), and by 2021 was 0.88 (95% CI = 0.60-1.28). The confidence interval ratio was used to estimate precision in the transported estimates in the target population and was 1.57 in 2004, 1.63 in 2014 and 2.13 in 2021, reflecting increasing uncertainty in the effect of ASSIST over time. Subgroup analyses showed effects were comparable when restricted to only English schools in the ASSIST trial.

Conclusions: These exploratory analyses indicate the effect of the ASSIST school-based smoking prevention intervention reported in the original trial may not have been replicated in the target population over the 17-year period of its licensing and roll out.

Keywords: generalizability; prevention; randomized controlled trial; real world evidence; smoking; transportability.

Filed under: Addiction,Alcohol,Cannabis/Marijuana,Drug use-various effects,Mental Health,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,UK,Youth :
Drug and Alcohol Dependence

Drug and Alcohol Dependence – Volume 273, 1 August 2025, 112714

by Gustave Maffre Maviel,  Camilla Somma, Camille Davisse-Paturet, Guillaume Airagnes,  Maria Melchior.

A systematic review and meta-analysis

Highlights
  • •
    Studies reveal a significant association between cannabis use and suicidality, independent of depression.
  • •
    Existing research is inconsistent regarding whether the association differs between individuals with and without depression.
  • •
    More research is needed to identify the pathways linking cannabis use to suicidality.

Abstract

Background

Depression has been cited as a possible confounder, moderator, and mediator of the relationship between cannabis use and suicidal behaviours. We aimed to assess the role of depression in the relationship between cannabis use and suicidal behaviours by systematically reviewing existing literature in the general population.

Methods

We systematically searched PubMed, Science Direct and Psych Articles from database inception to May 20th 2024, for quantitative observational studies investigating the role of depression in the association between cannabis use and suicidal behaviours. We conducted a meta-analysis to examine the confounding role of depression and search for qualitative arguments in favour of moderating and/or mediating roles of depression.

Results

We screened 1081 articles, selected 43 for full-text screening and finally included 25. Among adolescents, cannabis use was associated with suicidal ideation (OR = 1.46 [1.17, 1.83]) and suicide attempts (OR = 2.17 [1.56, 3.03]) in studies adjusting for depression. Among adults, cannabis use was associated with suicidal ideation (OR = 1.78 [1.28, 2.46]) in studies adjusting for depression. 12 out of 25 studies found no association between cannabis use and suicidality after adjustment for depression. Six studies investigated a potential moderating role of depression, with four reporting significant but conflicting results. No article investigated the mediating role of depression.

Discussion

There is a clear relationship between cannabis use and suicidal behaviours, which is partly confounded by depression. Studies investigating a moderating role of depression did not agree about the direction of moderation. Further research using methodologies that consider the chronology of events is needed. 

Keywords

Cannabis
Cannabis use
Cannabis use disorder
Suicidal behaviours
Suicide
Depression
Source:  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037687162500167X?
Elsevier Science has two locations: one in New York, United States, and the other in Amsterdam, Netherlands.  

Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana,Drug use-various effects,Europe,Health,Mental Health,Prevention and Intervention,USA :

 by Shane Varcoe  – Executive Director – Dalgarno Institute

Wine has long been a symbol of sophistication, celebration, and relaxation. From vineyard tours to candlelit dinners, it’s often associated with nature, tradition, and wellness. However, a closer look uncovers the hidden dangers in wine. A recent report reveals that wine is not just about ethanol; today’s bottles are also tainted with toxins like trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and synthetic pesticides, posing significant risks to both health and the environment.

The findings force us to confront the polished image of wine and reconsider its real impact. Below, we explore these “hidden dangers in wine,” how they’ve arisen, and what they mean for consumers and the planet.

Toxic Truths Unveiled: A groundbreaking report from PAN Europe (Pesticide Action Network Europe) investigated 49 wines from ten European countries. Their findings reveal an alarming rise in TFA contamination. Known as a persistent and toxic chemical derived from PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), TFA builds up in water, soil, plants, and now, wine.

Elin Engdahl, an expert on environmental toxins at the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, highlighted the gravity of this contamination. “We are seeing an explosive increase, especially in the last ten years,” she stated.

Key findings of the report include:
• Wines produced between 2021 and 2023 contain an average of 122 micrograms of TFA per litre.
• Some bottles spike to over 300 micrograms per litre.
• Wines from earlier vintages, particularly before 1988, were completely free of TFA.
“TFA is found all over the planet today. We have high concentrations in water, soil, plants, and even human blood,” explained Ioannis Liagkouridis, a PFAS researcher at the Swedish Environmental Institute IVL.
These concerning levels demand urgent attention, as TFA meets the criteria for posing a risk to vital planetary boundaries. 

 Source:  https://www.dalgarnoinstitute.org.au

Filed under: Alcohol,Australia,Drug use-various effects,Environment,Health :

Opinion by Kevin Sabet – SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana) – July 10, 2025, 

President Donald Trump is facing a pivotal decision: whether to ease national restrictions on marijuana, a policy shift he hinted at during his 2024 campaign. But a major federal bust this week in Massachusetts — where the FBI arrested seven Chinese nationals connected with a multimillion-dollar pot-growing conspiracy — shows why loosening the rules would be a soft-power disaster.

First, some context.

The federal government, under the Controlled Substances Act, uses a five-part schedule to classify various drugs and other potentially addictive items. Drugs with no accepted medical use and high potential for abuse get listed on Schedule I.

That’s where marijuana is now placed — right where it belongs.

FDA-approved marijuana-based medications are rightly classified on lower schedules.

Raw weed, however, has no accepted medical use (whatever may be claimed in states that have legalized it), and addiction rates are around 30% and rising, with younger people hit hard.

That didn’t concern President Joe Biden’s Health and Human Services Department, which recommended moving cannabis to Schedule III, the list of drugs with an accepted medical use and a lower risk of abuse.

Now celebrities, star athletes and some MAGA influencers are pushing Trump to follow the Biden-era recommendation.

But this president — who correctly grasps the multifaceted strategic threat China poses to the United States — should reject their urgings.

Look at this week’s Justice Department charges.

Federal law enforcement on Tuesday rolled up a network of marijuana grow houses in Massachusetts and Maine, allegedly run by Chinese nationals and staffed with illegal immigrants pressed into what amounts to indentured servitude.

The operations generated millions of dollars in profits, which the growers sank into assets like jewelry, cars and real estate that expanded their criminal enterprise.

Chinese criminals played a major role in the US fentanyl crisis by manufacturing the drug’s precursor chemicals and selling them to Mexican cartels. Trump slammed China with a 20% tariff over that very fact.

Marijuana is looking like another big-time business unit for Beijing.

But it gets worse: China’s communist government appears to have significant links with these criminal weed enterprises.

Two Chinese nationals charged with running an illegal grow operation in Maine in 2023 had deep links to the Sijiu Association, a Brooklyn-based non-profit reportedly connected to China’s New York consulate and to the United Front Work Department — the branch of the CCP’s Central Committee that handles influence operations abroad.

Another report in 2024 tracked the connections of Zhu Di, one of China’s top US diplomats, to an Oklahoma cultural association that Sooner State authorities investigated for its links to the illicit weed business.

It’s beyond clear that Beijing smells the skunky funk of a tactical play against the United States rising from the red-hot marijuana trade.  

That’s what makes rescheduling weed such a risk.

Moving marijuana to Schedule III would supercharge the pot market, letting canna-businesses take regular deductions — including on advertising — at tax time, and easing their access to banking and credit.

In other words, it would be a major step towards commercially normalizing Big Weed, and a massive boost for Chinese organized criminals with apparent CCP connections.

Worse — as New York has seen first-hand — far from eliminating the drug dealers, a juiced-up legal weed market leads to a bigger illegal market.

Post-legalization in the Empire State, New York City alone contains an estimated 3,600 illegal pot stores, dwarfing the mere dozens of legal ones. California and Michigan have seen a similar trend.

That’s yet another way rescheduling would hand an unforced victory to China, which is already elbow-deep in illegal weed operations stateside.

The worst part is that there’s no domestic benefit to this trade-off.

If weed goes on Schedule III, it will do nothing except help addiction profiteers get rich — and damage public health irreparably, even as a flood of new data confirms that marijuana is as bad as it gets for users’ mental and physical well-being.

Heart disease, schizophrenia, dementia, even tooth rot: Weed truly is the drug that does it all.

Yes, the American public seems to be waking up. Every state considering recreational marijuana at the ballot box in 2024 rejected it.

But Trump should remember that Beijing will exploit any and every policy misstep we make to the utmost.

That’s as true of spy balloons as it is of public-health policies with nothing but negative domestic implications.

Rescheduling marijuana would put Americans last, at home and abroad — and usher in the very opposite of the Golden Age the president has so memorably promised.

Kevin Sabet is president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana and a former White House drug policy adviser.

Source:  https://nypost.com/2025/07/10/opinion/easing-weed-rules-will-harm-golden-age-and-boost-china/

Filed under: Addiction,Cannabis/Marijuana,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Methamphetamine/GHB/Hallucinogens/Oxycodone,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,USA :

Opening Remark by NDPA:

This news item came from the website for a Kissimmee (Orlando, Fla) residents website for the Lindfields division.

The item is of general interest because although it is ostensibly limited to Florida, it introduces a tougher education course for new drivers, specifically including education on drinks/drugs and driving.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<FLA>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

STATEMENT IN LINDFIELDS DIVISION RESIDENTS’ WEBSITE – JULY 2025

Florida is phasing out the old 4-hour course and introducing a new, more in-depth requirement for teen drivers under age 18. This affects anyone applying for a learner’s permit or first-time driver’s license. ????

Key Dates and What’s Required July 1 to July 31, 2025 (Transition Period) If you’re under 18 and applying for your learner’s permit or license: You may take either of the following: TLSAE/DATA: Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education Also known as Drugs, Alcohol, Traffic Awareness A 4-hour course currently required for all new drivers in Florida DETS: Driver Education and Traffic Safety A new 6-hour course required for teen drivers beginning in 2025 August 1, 2025 and After Only DETS (Driver Education and Traffic Safety) will be accepted for drivers under 18 The TLSAE/DATA course will no longer be valid for minors applying for a learner’s permit Adults (18+) may still use TLSAE/DATA to meet the education requirement ????

What is DETS and Why the Change? The new 6-hour DETS course is designed to:

  • Strengthen defensive driving habits I
  • mprove hazard recognition
  • Cover DUI prevention and traffic laws in more detail
  • Reduce teen crash risks by offering a broader education experience

Summary:

  • Date Range Under-18 Requirements July 1–31, 2025 TLSAE/DATA or DETS accepted August 1, 2025 onward
  • Only DETS accepted Age 18+ Can continue using TLSAE/DATA.

Source:  LINDFIELDS DIVISION RESIDENTS’ WEBSITE – JULY 2025

Filed under: Brain and Behaviour,Drug use-various effects,Drugs and Accidents,Harm Reduction,Prevention and Intervention,USA,Youth :
by EUDA (European Union Drugs Agency) – Lisbon – 02.07.2025

Exactly one year ago today, we became the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) and embarked on our new mission to strengthen EU preparedness on drugs. Building on the work of the EMCDDA, and with a more proactive mandate, we set off to support the EU and its Member States in addressing emerging drug issues in an ever-changing world. Our work contributes to making Europe’s streets safer and to saving lives. Our motto — ‘Acting today, anticipating tomorrow’.

In our role, we help policymakers anticipate and respond effectively to drug-related threats. We issue health and security alerts and risk communications, share knowledge and recommend evidence-based policies and actions to address problems efficiently.

This first year has been one of many milestones. Among our achievements in these 12 months as the EUDA, we have:

  • Established the European Drug Alert System
  • Set up a European network of forensic and toxicological laboratories
  • Strengthened the Early Warning System on new substances
  • Organised the first European conference on drug-related violence, issued a call to action and launched the Safe futures project
  • Issued a call to action on new synthetic opioids
  • Supported Member States with our first pilot threat assessment on highly potent synthetic opioids in the Baltic region
  • Expanded our foresight work allowing us to envision possible scenarios to help our stakeholders make forward-thinking decisions
  • Adopted a new brand identity and communication strategy
  • Adopted a new international cooperation framework
  • Worked closely with our partners to develop new products and services (such as a cannabis policy toolkit)
  • Helped shape evidence-based drug policies across Europe

Transforming from the EMCDDA into the EUDA marked the most significant organisational shift in the agency to date. To rise to this challenge, we accelerated our business transformation to build the capabilities needed to deliver innovative, future-oriented services while providing core monitoring services to support EU drug policy.

With a renewed baseline vision of being ‘your European Union Drugs Agency’, we enter our second year with a clear commitment to lead, innovate and partner in tackling drug-related challenges — for a healthier, safer and more resilient Europe.

Source:  https://www.euda.europa.eu/news/2025/first-anniversary-euda-delivers-key-gains-strengthening-europes-preparedness-drugs_en

Filed under: Drug use-various effects,Europe,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction :
by Nada Hassanein, Stateline reporter – ‘News from the States ‘- New Jersey – Jul 03, 2025
Carlos Santiago, an ambassador and driver for the Greater Hartford Harm Reduction Coalition (now known as the Connecticut Harm Reduction
Alliance), works at a mobile overdose prevention event in 2022 in New Haven, Conn. (Photo courtesy of Connecticut Harm Reduction Alliance,
formerly known as Greater Hartford Harm Reduction Coalition)

A study published Wednesday in the medical journal JAMA Network Open found that emergency room clinicians were much less likely to refer Black opioid overdose patients for outpatient treatment compared with white patients.

The researchers looked at the medical records of 1,683 opioid overdose patients from emergency rooms in nine states: California, Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Pennsylvania.

About 5.7% of Black patients received referrals for outpatient treatment, compared with 9.6% of white patients, according to the researchers, who received a federal grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to conduct the analysis.

While the nation saw a decrease in opioid overdose deaths in white people between 2021 and 2022, overdose death rates increased for American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian, Black and Hispanic people. Patients visiting ERs for opioid overdoses are more likely to die from an overdose after the visit, the authors wrote, underscoring the importance of gaining “an improved understanding of disparities in [emergency department] treatment and referral.”

In total, roughly 18% of the patients received a referral for outpatient treatment, 43% received a naloxone kit or prescription, and 8.4% received a prescription for buprenorphine, the first-line medication for treating opioid use disorder.

The researchers used records from 10 hospital sites participating in a national consortium collecting data on overdoses from fentanyl and its related drugs. The patient records were from September 2020 to November 2023.

Another study in JAMA Network Open, released last week, found similar disparities: Black and Hispanic patients were significantly less likely than white patients to receive buprenorphine. Black patients had a 17% chance, and Hispanic patients a 16% chance, to be prescribed the therapy, compared with a 20% chance for white patients.

The authors of that study, from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, looked at data from 176,000 records of opioid-related events between 2017 and 2022 across all 50 states.

Source:  https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/new-studies-find-wide-racial-disparities-opioid-overdose-treatment-referrals

Filed under: Addiction,Drug use-various effects,Harm Reduction,Opioids,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,USA :

by Joshua Rivera,  Alameda County Junior Journalist Program – J

However, that artificial dopamine forces the brain to adapt to opioids and, as a result, produces less natural feelings of dopamine. Thus, it creates a reliance and dependence on these opioids, demonstrating how these short-term pain reliefs lead to life-threatening problems. 

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) highlights how opioid use affects our crucial brain circuits, which leads to an alteration of our decision-making, self-control, stress levels, and behavior. Opioids have everlasting effects because the drug not only alters behavior but also damages brain and mental perspective. Thus, people continue relying on addictive opioids for dopamine and cognitive security, making the drug both the problem and the perceived solution.

In response to this epidemic, the Alameda County Health Department is fighting the opioid crisis by building solutions that address and allow communities to thrive without opioids.

In March 2025, the county partnered with the Three Valleys Community Foundation and 12 community-based organizations by granting $2.7 million, allowing for new and creative solutions to save lives. By understanding the importance of community during this crisis, the county is encouraging programs that focus on reducing harm, expanding treatment access and rehabilitation programs. Their coexistence of science and community innovation allows a healing space for opioid addiction, addressing the heart of the opioid crisis to overcome this crisis.

This article was written as part of a program to educate youth and others about Alameda County’s opioid crisis, prevention and treatment options. The program is funded by the Alameda County (California) Behavioral Health Department and the grant is administered by Three Valleys Community Foundation.

Source:  https://www.pleasantonweekly.com/alameda-county/2025/07/04/opioid-science-and-alameda-countys-response/

Filed under: Addiction,Opioids,Prevention and Intervention,USA,Youth :

From: Herschel Baker – International Liaison Director, Drug Free Australia – 06 July 2025

Drug Free Australia forwarded this paper by Dr Ross Colquhoun, Executive Committee Member and Research Fellow for DFA.

The paper runs to 105 pages; was written on  April 12, 2025 and was posted on 2 May 2025

https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:AP:23cb5790-410e-4a7b-be9d-0d6d9a30bdaa?

Abstract

This paper presents a critical evaluation of opioid agonist treatment (OAT), particularly methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), compared with opioid antagonist therapy using naltrexone. Drawing on a broad body of literature including randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and government reports, the paper questions the longstanding assumptions regarding the effectiveness and safety of methadone. It highlights serious concerns regarding methadone-related mortality-especially during induction and cessation phases-long-term dependency, limited efficacy in preventing illicit drug use, and poor impact on the transmission of blood-borne viruses such as HIV and hepatitis C. The review also exposes methodological weaknesses and selective reporting in key studies supporting MMT. In contrast, evidence is presented to support the safety and effectiveness of long-acting naltrexone implants, which offer lower relapse rates, improved social functioning, and the potential for complete abstinence without ongoing opioid dependency. The paper argues that the continued privileging of methadone by public health institutions may be driven more by ideology and institutional inertia than evidence. It calls for a re-evaluation of harm reduction policies and urges greater accessibility to abstinence-focused, naltrexone-based treatment options, along with ancillary psychological and medical support. Recommendations include transparency in data reporting, broader dissemination of naltrexone research, and a policy shift toward full recovery rather than prolonged maintenance.

 

Keywords: Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT), Naltrexone, Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT), Harm Reduction, Opioid Dependency, Relapse Prevention, Public Health Policy, Overdose Mortality, Evidence-Based Treatment

Colquhoun, Ross, A Comparative Study of the Use of Methadone and Naltrexone in the Treatment of Opioid Dependency (April 12, 2025). Available at SSRN (formerly known as Social Science Research Network: )https://ssrn.com/abstract=5238680 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5238680

To access the full document:

  1. Click on the ‘Source’ link below.
  2. An image  – the front page of the full document will appear.
  3. Click on the image to open the full document.
Source: Naltrexone v Methadone – SSRN

Filed under: Australia,Effects of Drugs (Papers),Heroin/Methadone,Medical Studies,Opioids,Treatment and Addiction :
Nigeria |  1 week ago
The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN)

has advocated  urgent, coordinated, and sustained actions

to combat drug abuse which has constituted

a major public health menace.

by Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

In his message to mark the International Day Against Drug, the National Chairman of ACPN,  Ezeh Ambrose Igwekamma, said that focus should now be home prevention, education, early intervention, and rehabilitation.

“As the National Chairman of ACPN, I join millions around the world to reaffirm our commitment to the fight against drug abuse and to call for urgent, coordinated, and sustained actions to combat this public health menace in our dear country,” he said.

 Igwekamma said the theme for this year’s celebration, “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention,” resonates deeply with our vision at the ACPN.

“It reminds us that we must shift our focus from reaction to prevention. As community pharmacists—trusted, accessible healthcare providers on the frontlines—we witness firsthand the silent crisis of substance abuse in our communities, especially among our youth.” 

He said ACPN for more than  a decade has demonstrated a concerns on massive awareness creation through  the National Anti-Drug abuse competition among students in secondary school nationwide.

According to him, the essence of the annual competition is for prevention and also to dis abused the minds of younger generations against the consequences of drug abuse which Align with the same with the  UNODC Strategic plan for substance Abuse 

He added: “Every tablet sold without prescription, every codeine cough syrup diverted, and every hard drug traded illegally is not just a crime—it is a threat to our collective future. 

“Drug abuse fuels mental health disorders, crime, school dropout, family breakdown, and premature deaths. It cripples dreams and sabotages national development”.

The ACPN president  called on all stakeholders—government, civil society, security agencies, religious and traditional leaders, parents, and educators—to intensify their roles in prevention, education, early intervention, and rehabilitation.

Source:  https://www.thisdaylive.com/2025/06/27/drug-abuse-attention-must-now-shift-to-prevention-says-acpn/

Filed under: Medicines,Others (International News),Prevention and Intervention,Strategy and Policy :
  • by Oritro Karim (United Nations) – 

UNITED NATIONS, Jun 27 (IPS) – Since 1989, the United Nations (UN) has recognized June 26 as the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in an effort to raise awareness around the global drug problem and foster a more compassionate world, free of drug abuse. Through this year’s campaign, “Break the Cycle. #StopOrganizedCrime”, the UN underscores the importance of addressing the root causes of global drug abuse and illegal drug trading, and investing in reliable systems that prioritize prevention, education, and health.

Concurrently, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released its annual World Drug Report, in which it analyzed the current trends in global drug abuse amid a “new era of global instability”. In the report, UNODC emphasizes the wide ranging implications of drug use on the economy, the environment, global security, and human society.

According to the report, roughly 316 million people used drugs (excluding tobacco and alcohol) around the world in 2023. UNODC also estimates that nearly half a million people around the world die annually as a result of drug use disorders, indicating a “global health crisis”. Roughly 28 million years of life are lost annually from disabilities and premature deaths due to addiction. Furthermore, there is an overwhelming lack of healthcare and education resources for individuals with drug use disorders, as only one in twelve people are estimated to have received treatment in 2023.

Cocaine has been described as the world’s fastest growing illicit drug in terms of global usage, production, and seizures. In 2023, approximately 3,708 tons of cocaine were produced, marking a 34 percent increase from the previous year. Roughly 2,275 tons were seized in 2023, a 68 percent increase from 2019’s figures. Additionally, global usage of cocaine has inflated to 25 million users in 2023.

As nations began to implement harsher crackdowns on drug production, the use and transportation of synthetic drugs, such as fentanyl and methamphetamine, has reached record-highs, accounting for nearly half of all global drug seizures. Drug trafficking groups have found ways to chemically conceal these drugs, making distribution much easier.

UNODC Executive Director Ghada Fathi Waly states that organized drug trafficking groups around the world continue to exploit global crises, disproportionately targeting the most vulnerable communities. With worldwide synthetic drug consumption having surged in recent years, the UNODC forecasts that civilians displaced by armed conflicts face heightened risks of drug abuse and addiction.

Although the cocaine market was once contained in Latin America, trade has extended through to Asia, Africa, and Western Europe, with Western Balkans having greater shares in the market. This is a testament to the influence of organized crime groups in areas facing instability, natural disasters, and economic challenges.

According to the report, since the end of the Assad regime in Syria and the subsequent political transition, nationwide use of fenethylline — also known as captagon, a cheap, synthetic stimulant — has soared. Although the transitional government of Syria has stated that there is zero tolerance for captagon trade and consumption, UNODC warns that Syria will remain a significant hub for drug production.

Angela Me, the Chief of Research and Analysis at UNODC, states that captagon use in the Arabian peninsula was spurred by regional violence, with members of terrorist organizations using it on battlefields to stay alert. Due to its highly addictive properties, as well as its severe impacts on physical and mental health, the drug has seen widespread consumption over the past several years.

“These groups have been managing Captagon for a long time, and production is not going to stop in a matter of days or weeks,” said Me. “We see a lot of large shipments going from Syria through, for example, Jordan. There are probably still stocks of the substance being shipped out, but we’re looking at where the production may be shifting to. We’re also seeing that the trafficking is expanding regionally, and we’ve discovered labs in Libya.”

Global drug trafficking is estimated to generate billions of dollars per year. National budgets to combat drug trafficking, in terms of law enforcement and prosecution, cost governments millions to billions annually as well. Healthcare systems, which are often underfunded for addiction-related treatments, are overwhelmed by the vast scale of needs. Furthermore, damages related to theft, vandalism, violence, and lost productivity in the workplace have significant impacts on gross domestic products.

Additionally, increased rates of deforestation and pollution are linked with global drug cultivation. Additional adverse environmental impacts include ecosystem damage from drug waste, which yields notable costs in environmental restoration efforts.

It is imperative for governments, policymakers, and other stakeholders to invest in programs that disrupt illicit drug trafficking groups and promote increased security, especially along borders, which are critical hubs for transporting concealed substances. Furthermore, cooperation at an international level is instrumental for the transfer of information and promoting a joint and multifaceted approach.

“We must invest in prevention and address the root causes of the drug trade at every point of the illicit supply chain. And we must strengthen responses, by leveraging technology, strengthening cross-border cooperation, providing alternative livelihoods, and taking judicial action that targets key actors driving these networks,” said Waly. “Through a comprehensive, coordinated approach, we can dismantle criminal organizations, bolster global security, and protect our communities.”

Source:  https://www.globalissues.org/news/2025/06/27/40295

Filed under: Addiction,All countries,Brain and Behaviour,Crime/Violence/Prison,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction :

 by Andrew Yockey, Assistant Professor of Public Health, University of Mississippi July 3, 2025

Speedballing kills nearly 35,000 people in the U.S. every year

Once associated with high-profile figures like John Belushi, River Phoenix and Chris Farley , this dangerous polysubstance use has become a leading cause of overdose deaths across the United States since the early- to mid-2010s.

I am an assistant professor of public health who has written extensively on methamphetamine and opioid use and the dangerous combination of the two in the United States.

As these dangerous combinations of drugs increasingly flood the market, I see an urgent need and opportunity for a new approach to prevention and treatment.

Why speedballing?

Dating back to the 1970s, the term speedballing originally referred to the combination of heroin and cocaine. Combining stimulants and opioids – the former’s “rush” with the latter’s calming effect – creates a dangerous physiological conflict.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, stimulant-involved overdose fatalities increased markedly from more than 12,000 annually in 2015 to greater than 57,000 in 2022, a 375% increase. Notably, approximately 70% of stimulant-related overdose deaths in 2022 also involved fentanyl or other synthetic opioids, reflecting the rising prevalence of polysubstance involvement in overdose mortality.

Users sought to experience the euphoric “rush” from the stimulant and the calming effects of the opioid. However, with the proliferation of fentanyl – which is far more potent than heroin – this combination has become increasingly lethal. Fentanyl is often mixed with cocaine or methamphetamine, sometimes without the user’s knowledge, leading to unintentional overdoses.

The rise in speedballing is part of a broader trend of polysubstance use in the U.S. Since 2010, overdoses involving both stimulants and fentanyl have increased 50-fold, now accounting for approximately 35,000 deaths annually.

This has been called the fourth wave of the opioid epidemic. The toxic and contaminated drug supply has exacerbated this crisis.

A dangerous combination of physiological effects

Stimulants like cocaine increase heart rate and blood pressure, while opioids suppress respiratory function. This combination can lead to respiratory failure, cardiovascular collapse and death. People who use both substances are more than twice as likely to experience a fatal overdose compared with those using opioids alone.

The conflicting effects of stimulants and opioids can also exacerbate mental health issues. Users may experience heightened anxiety, depression and paranoia. The combination can also impair cognitive functions, leading to confusion and poor decision-making.

Speedballing can also lead to severe cardiovascular problems, including hypertension, heart attack and stroke. The strain on the heart and blood vessels from the stimulant, combined with the depressant effects of the opioid, increases the risk of these life-threatening conditions.

Addressing the crisis

Increasing awareness about the dangers of speedballing is crucial. I believe that educational campaigns can inform the public about the risks of combining stimulants and opioids and the potential for unintentional fentanyl exposure.

There is a great need for better access to treatment for people with stimulant use disorder – a condition defined as the continued use of amphetamine-type substances, cocaine or other stimulants leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, from mild to severe. Treatments for this and other substance use disorders are underfunded and less accessible than those for opioid use disorder. Addressing this gap can help reduce the prevalence of speedballing.

Implementing harm reduction strategies by public health officials, community organizations and health care providers, such as providing fentanyl test strips and naloxone – a medication that reverses opioid overdoses – can save lives.

These measures allow individuals to test their drugs for the presence of fentanyl and have immediate access to overdose-reversing medication. Implementing these strategies widely is crucial to reducing overdose deaths and improving community health outcomes.

Source: https://theconversation.com/speedballing-the-deadly-mix-of-stimulants-and-opioids-requires-a-new-approach-to-prevention-and-treatment-257425

Disclosure statement

Andrew Yockey does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Filed under: Cocaine,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Heroin/Methadone,Opioids,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,USA :
by Sihyun Baek,

Grade 11, (16-17 years old)

Chadwick International School

06.29.2025

 

[AI Generated, Addiction. Photo Credit to Pixabay]

South Korea is grappling with a mounting crisis as incidents of teenage drug use increase exponentially, raising serious concerns about youth safety and failed public education systems.

The latest incident, involving two middle schoolers caught using marijuana in a neighborhood playground in Seoul on April 25, has once again brought the issue to the forefront for concerned parents, teachers, and lawmakers alike. 

The students were seen smoking liquid cannabis in broad daylight, prompting local residents to notify the police. 

Authorities are currently looking into how the teens obtained the drugs.

Nationally, the number of juvenile drug offenders, aged 18 and younger, rose to 450 in 2021, marking a 43.8% increase from the previous year and nearly quadrupling since 2018, according to the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office. 

In Seoul alone, teenage drug offenders surged nearly fivefold in just one year, from 48 in 2022 to 235 in 2023.

South Korea, known for its stringent drug laws and historically low rates of domestic usage, now finds itself fighting against a growing number of youth turning to drugs through online platforms and encrypted messaging services like Telegram. 

The rise of drug transactions using anonymous cryptocurrency transactions such as  Bitcoin has dramatically lowered the barriers to accessing such substances online. 

In one case during the summer of 2022, for instance, a drug cartel run entirely online by an 18-year-old using encrypted apps to distribute methamphetamine and MDMA was exposed by police officers. 

Similarly, in November of 2021, a drug-trading chat room was discovered on Telegram.

Prosecutors revealed that all 180 members of the chat room were members of a criminal drug organization, most of whom were teenagers.  

But marijuana and party drugs aren’t the only substances of concern. 

Illegally obtained prescription psychotropic medications are emerging as the country’s primary gateway drugs. 

An increasing number of teenagers have been caught distributing fentanyl patches and pills like Dietamin, an appetite suppressant.

The pill, however, is also a dangerous psychotropic drug derived from amphetamines that produces hallucinations and has addictive properties.

These prescription drugs, often perceived as “safe” or “medically approved,” are creating a dangerous normalization of drug use among teens and increasing the risk of long-term addiction and overdose.

From 2019 to 2021, prescription psychotropics accounted for 55.4% of youth drug cases, followed by cocaine and heroin at 23.8%, and marijuana at 20.8%. 

In one major investigation in June of 2023, 100 teenagers in South Gyeongsang Province were arrested for selling and abusing Dietamin tablets obtained online.

Experts point to peer pressure and stress as the key triggers, particularly within Telegram chat rooms. 

Pop culture also plays a significant role; for example, fentanyl was commonly used by hip-hop rappers in 2019 and has since grown in popularity among teenagers.

To counter this growing issue, authorities have begun intense cyber investigations. 

In 2023 alone, more than 1,000 online crackdowns led to the shutdown of 78 drug-dealing accounts on platforms like Telegram and Instagram. 

Yet, the increasingly sophisticated methods of drug distribution pose serious challenges for law enforcement.

Dealers frequently change their online handles, communicate in code using emojis, and utilize “dead drop” methods, such as hiding drugs in public spaces for buyers to retrieve using GPS coordinates, making it difficult for someone to trace their tracks. 

Understandably, the consequences of this rise in drug use among teenagers are devastating. 

 Drug abuse has been directly linked to an increase in youth suicide attempts. 

Between 2019 to mid-2023, approximately 46.4% of teen suicide attempts resulting in hospitalization were associated with drug use, according to the National Medical Center. 

In 2021 alone, 1,678 minors were treated for drug abuse, a 41.4% jump from the previous year.

To combat this issue, many suggest implementing strengthened education systems on drugs by collaborating with related institutions.

Likewise, while some lawmakers have recently proposed bills to mandate such education programs, experts say the movement lacks urgency and public support and is failing to garner much attention, with the country having yet to integrate drug prevention into its national school curriculum.

For instance, in May of 2024, Government Representative Lee Tae-kyu proposed a bill to mandate drug education in schools, requiring them to implement age-specific drug education programs in collaboration with public health agencies. 

However, as of now, the bill remains stalled in committee.

Comparatively, in the United States, the implementation of Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) programs nationwide began as early as the 1980s, laying the foundation for more modern prevention strategies. 

Simultaneously, South Korea continues to face a lack of infrastructure for rehabilitation sites, as they still remain largely underdeveloped. 

Experts estimate that around 40% of Korean drug offenders return to prison within three years of their release. 

Such a high rate is often linked to the stigma they face in society, with many struggling to find employment, being rejected by hospitals, and being generally excluded from mainstream social life.

Likewise, the number of rehabilitation facilities for minors is limited.  

KAADA, one of the few rehabilitation centers for teen users, receives about 1,000 patients per year, only 10% of whom are under 19. 

Experts note that this is not reflective of actual use rates, but rather the result of underreporting and such social stigma that keep teens and their families silent.

Data gaps also hinder progress. 

Because many teen users are released as first-time offenders, their cases often fail to reach prosecutors, resulting in underreported figures. 

This makes it harder for lawmakers to assess the full scale of the crisis or design policies that address it adequately.

Parents have taken to online forums to express their fears, demanding school assemblies, national awareness campaigns, and stricter regulations on medical prescriptions.

In an interview with Ms. Cha, a concerned parent, commented, “It worries me even more because I don’t have a way of knowing what my child does online, especially as he gets older. You have to respect their autonomy, but at the same time, they could be accessing websites and chat rooms they shouldn’t be in.” 

Another parent, Mr. Kim, stated, “We need more education programs about drug prevention at school. Our children know that drugs are bad, but they don’t fully understand the long-term consequences or how easily peer pressure can lead them down the wrong path.”

Source:  http://www.heraldinsight.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=5498

Filed under: Others (International News),Prevention and Intervention,Strategy and Policy,Treatment and Addiction,Youth :

From the Editor, thepostmillennial.com – 01 July 2025 14:34

(original text  draft by Vivek Ramaswamy)

Something BIG is happening on college campuses across the United States.

Believe it or not, the younger generation is finally rejecting woke and radical leftism. You saw this during Trump’s election – a major shift in the 18-29 year old voters.

And the media hates it!

  • “America’s Youngest Voters Turn Right” – Axios;
  • “The Not-So-Woke Generation Z” – The Atlantic;
  • “Are Zoomers Shifting Right?” – Newsweek; and
  • “Analysis: Young and Non-White Voters Have Shifted Right Since 2020” – Washington Post.

Here’s a major reason why this is happening.

An organization called Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) is identifying, recruiting, and training college students to Make Liberty Win. YAL is the most active and effective pro-liberty youth organization advancing liberty on campus.

YAL is doing this, first and foremost, by reaching students where they’re at. By focusing on the issues important to twenty-year-olds – affordable groceries and gas, healthcare, and guns, YAL is able to show young people that socialism is not the answer to all of their life’s problems.

Below I lay out step-by-step how Young Americans for Liberty is advancing the ideas of freedom with college students.

STEP 1: Expand the number of YAL chapters across the country to over 500 nationwide. America’s college campuses are covered with YAL chapters actively recruiting and educating hundreds of thousands of students.

STEP 2: Recruit 10,000 NEW YAL members and collect more than 150,000 student sign-ups. YAL is building a massive network and a strong foundation to reach the next generation for years to come.

STEP 3: Train an ELITE group of top 1,7000 student leaders on how to WIN ON PRINCIPLE. YAL’s top student leaders receive exclusive training on the strategies and tactics to win and advance the ideas of liberty.

STEP 4: Mobilize YAL-trained activists who have knocked on more than 6,000,000 doors to promote liberty causes and candidates. It’s called OPERATION WIN AT THE DOOR, and through it, YAL-trained students have knocked doors to help nearly 400 pro-liberty legislators win crucial races and push for important pro-liberty legislation.

STEP 5: Fight tyrannical campus policies and college administrators through YAL’s Student Rights Campaign. YAL chapters and members have made major policy changes on free speech, self-defence, and defunding woke campus programs, which now impact more than 3,100,000 students every year.

Young Americans for Liberty, 3267 Bee Cave Rd, Ste 107-65, Austin, TX 78746, United States

Source:  editor.thepostmillennial.com

Filed under: Social Affairs,Strategy and Policy,USA,Youth :

Salalah, 25 Jun (ONA) — The Ministry of Social Development, in Dhofar Governorate, organized today a community event titled “A Nation Free from Drugs” to raise awareness about the dangers of narcotics and psychotropic substances.

The initiative aimed to educate the public on the threat of drug abuse, its societal risks, and the importance of collective prevention while fostering health, social and cultural awareness.

The event featured a panel discussion titled “A Nation Free from Drugs,” where experts addressed the societal impacts of addiction and strategies for prevention and treatment.

“A Nation Free from Drugs” Awareness Campaign Held in Salalah.

Source:  https://www.omannews.gov.om/topics/en/128/show/123051/ona

Filed under: Drug use-various effects,Others (International News),Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction :

by Shane Varcoe, Dalgarno Institute, based on https://nobrainer.org.au
Teen vaping is on the rise. Around the world, 16.8% of young people have already tried e-cigarettes, often starting as early as 14 years old. The risks? Nicotine addiction, lung damage, harmful chemicals, and even mental health concerns. Schools are on the frontline to tackle this issue, and now, a new programme called ‘Our Futures Vaping’ is aiming to revolutionise teen vaping prevention in schools.
Why Teen Vaping Prevention is Essential: Reports indicate that one in four teenagers in Australia has experimented with vaping. With the average age of initiation being just 14, the potential harm cannot be ignored. The effects of vaping include:
• Lung injuries caused by chemical exposure
• Higher risk of transitioning to smoking cigarettes
• Possible long-term mental health difficulties
Despite regulatory reforms aiming to restrict vaping to medicinal use, illegal access remains widespread. To address this challenge, schools need prevention tools that are credible, age-appropriate, and accessible.
A New Approach to Teen Vaping Prevention with Digital Lessons: A team of researchers has co-designed an innovative school-based programme called ‘Our Futures Vaping’. This cutting-edge project takes the fight against teen vaping to the classroom, with an engaging digital platform tailored to Year 7 and 8 students. It’s more than just a teaching tool; it’s a way to empower students with knowledge, critical thinking skills, and the confidence to say no to vaping. 
Source:  https://nobrainer.org.au/index.php/student-teacher/get-a-clue-partae/1456-new-digital-lessons-to-combat-teen-vaping-in-schools?
Filed under: Australia,Drug use-various effects,Prevention and Intervention,Vaping,Youth :

United Nations – Information Service Vienna – 26 June 2025

The global illicit drug trade continues to exact a devastating toll: claiming lives, ravaging public health services, and fuelling violence and organized crime.

Drug trafficking is tearing through communities with substances that are more potent, more dangerous, and more deadly than ever. Meanwhile, criminal networks prey on the most vulnerable – particularly women and youth – as they rake in hundreds of billions annually through the illicit drug trade.

This year, we shine a light on prevention as the most essential strategy for halting the flow of drugs that fuels organized crime worldwide.

We must reduce demand through investing in education, treatment, harm-reduction measures and care; target the machinery of production by eliminating illicit laboratories and offering farmers viable alternatives; and sever trafficking networks by strengthening global trade routes and choking the financial flows of criminal networks, while always ensuring respect for human rights.

Let us recommit to ending drug abuse and trafficking, uniting to dismantle criminal networks, and breaking the cycle of suffering and destruction once and for all.

Source:  https://unis.unvienna.org/unis/pressrels/2025/unissgsm1507.html

Filed under: All countries,Prevention and Intervention,Strategy and Policy :

Joseph M Kress exposes the dark reality of America’s drug crisis

by Fox59 News – EIN Presswire Jun 23, 2025

 

TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, June 23, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ — In his compelling and illuminating new book, “Single Handed,” retired lieutenant and police detective Joseph M. Kress reveals the stark realities of America’s ongoing drug crisis and the concerning shortcomings of the nation’s drug prevention programs. Inspired by true events, the story uncovers a journey shaped by tragedy and the hardened years in law enforcement.

The book begins with a very personal and tragic event: Joe Kress’s brother Greg was murdered while on his honeymoon following a robbery in New Orleans. This shocking act of violence sparks Joe’s determination to join the police force. What follows is a vivid, rapid-fire narrative of Joe’s years as an officer, exploring a diverse array of cases that unveil the most sinister aspects of society, from child disappearances to horrific sexual assaults. Despite suffering a gunshot wound to his leg and having to retire early due to injury, Joe is shown to be a man who is motivated by duty throughout it all.

However, “Single Handed” does not conclude with Joe’s time in uniform. In fact, the narrative takes a turn into thrilling and audacious realms. After leaving official service, Joe sets off on a unique journey of his own creation: pursuing drug dealers nationwide. Utilizing his SWAT training and special operations background, he embarks on a mission to tackle the soaring drug-related crime rates affecting American neighborhoods. This unfolds a vigilante crusade, crafted from genuine frustration and moulded by years of direct involvement in law enforcement and profound personal grief.

Amazon reviewer Sanjin highlights the book as crucial and relevant, praising the author’s direct and engaging storytelling that sheds light on an ongoing crisis affecting communities today. In a similar vein, reader Clarence Joseph shares this sentiment, highlighting that the story’s expertly crafted pace not only amplifies its suspense but also provides a captivating and delightful reading journey.

Source:  https://fox59.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/824883015/joseph-m-kress-exposes-the-dark-reality-of-americas-drug-crisis-through-his-latest-candid-memoir/

Filed under: Canada,Crime/Violence/Prison,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,USA :

 

If you’re a small business owner, you probably wear a lot of hats: manager, mentor, HR rep, sometimes even IT support. You already know that building a successful company today means adapting to change, especially when it comes to supporting your team. How we approach substance use and mental health on the job is where workplaces need to be evolving quickly!

You might think serious conversations about substance use, behavioral health, and mental wellness are reserved for big corporations with large HR departments and employee wellness budgets. But in today’s world, even the smallest teams need modern, compassionate policies.

Why? Because the way we work—and what employees expect—has changed. Employees today want to know that their employer cares about their whole well-being, not just their productivity. That includes creating space to talk about tough topics like stress, burnout, and yes, substance use.

Modern leadership means recognizing that substance use is something that impacts real people—people you may work with every day. It doesn’t always look like someone missing work or failing a drug test. It can be more subtle: someone relying on alcohol to decompress every night, using prescription stimulants to keep up with unrealistic demands, or struggling quietly with a dependence on marijuana.

Ignoring these issues won’t make them go away. But addressing them with care and structure? That’s leadership.

Here’s how small business owners can modernize their workplace by making room for this kind of support:

 

1. Update Your Workplace Culture, Not Just Your Tech

You wouldn’t run your business on a five-year-old software system. So why stick with outdated workplace norms around health and performance?

A modern workplace recognizes that stress, mental health, and substance use challenges are part of the human experience—and responds with resources, not judgment. Whether that’s offering access to support programs or simply encouraging open dialogue, small steps make a big difference.

 

2. Create a Clear, Supportive Policy

Yes, even small businesses should have a written policy about substance use. Not to scare people—but to protect them. A good policy:

·    Explains your company’s stance (supportive, not punitive)

·    Details how employees can seek help confidentially

·    Trains supervisors to spot concerns and respond appropriately

·    Builds in support and resources—like referrals, time off for treatment, or check-ins

It shows employees that they don’t have to hide what they’re going through.

 

3. Lead With Curiosity, Not Control

You don’t need to be a counselor. But you can ask thoughtful questions, listen without judgment, and point people in the right direction. A curious, compassionate conversation can open the door to real change—especially when someone is already feeling vulnerable.

Modern support means meeting people where they are. Whether someone is cutting back, abstaining, or just starting to question their habits, having your workplace be part of the solution helps them take the next step.

 

4. Set the Tone From the Top

As a business owner, your attitude sets the culture. Talking openly about stress, supporting mental health days, and encouraging balance gives your employees permission to take care of themselves. And when people feel safe, they perform better. It’s that simple.

Addressing substance use isn’t about policing your team. It’s about building a workplace where people can show up as they are, get the support they need, and grow. That’s what today’s employees are looking for—and it’s how small businesses build loyalty, retention, and a reputation for doing things the right way.

Source: McConnell, K. (2024, April 1). The Challenge of Change: How employers can modernize workplace substance use support. How Employers Can Modernize Workplace Substance Use Support | Spring Health. https://www.springhealth.com/blog/how-employers-can-modernize-workplace-substance-use-support 

 

Source:  Drug Free America Foundation | 333 3rd Avenue N Suite 200 | St. Petersburg, FL 33701 US

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<DFAF>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

NATIONAL DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE ALLIANCE

As the workplace division of Drug Free America Foundation, NDWA’s mission is to be a national leader in the drug-free workplace industry by directly assisting employers and stakeholders, providing drug-free workplace program resources and assistance, and supporting a national coalition of drug-free workplace service providers.

For more information and drug-free workplace resources, visit NDWA at www.ndwa.org.

 
Filed under: Culture,Drug use-various effects,Health,Mental Health,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,USA,Workplace :

By Joe Rossiter – The Mail on Sunday-  29 June 2025 

More than a quarter of police and crime commissioners have written to the policing minister calling for cannabis to be upgraded to a class A substance, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

In the stark letter to Dame Diana Johnson MP, seen exclusively by this newspaper, 14 police chiefs claim the effect of the drug in society ‘may be far worse’ than heroin.

They warn that ‘we cannot allow this to become the Britain of the future’. And they also hit out at the recent report by the London Commission – backed by Labour London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan – which suggested decriminalising small amounts of cannabis, which is currently a class B drug.

‘Heroin can kill quickly but the cumulative effect of cannabis in our society may be far worse,’ the letter states. 

It adds that class A status – which comes with potential life sentences for suppliers – was the way forward ‘rather than effective decriminalising’.

And renowned psychiatrist Professor Sir Robin Murray, of King’s College London, told The Mail on Sunday that the UK may now be ‘at the beginnings of an epidemic of cannabis-induced psychosis’ which could overwhelm NHS mental health services.

The commissioners also pointed to other countries where laws are laxer, warning that the US has seen ‘unofficial pharmacies’ selling cannabis and the powerful opiate fentanyl alongside one another, while Portugal has been forced to consider reversing drug decriminalisation after a 30-fold increase in psychosis.

They said cannabis’s effects were so devastating it had ‘more birth defects associated with it than thalidomide’ – the notorious morning sickness drug which caused deformities among thousands of babies in the 1950s and 1960s.

More than a quarter of police and crime commissioners have written to the policing minister calling for cannabis to be upgraded to a class A substance (file pic)

Marcus Monzo, 37, was last week found guilty of 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin’s murder while in a state of cannabis-induced psychosis Monzo attacked the teenager with a samurai sword in Hainault, east London, last May

Their warnings came after Marcus Monzo, 37, was last week found guilty of 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin’s murder after he attacked him with a samurai sword in Hainault, east London, while in a state of cannabis-induced psychosis.

David Sidwick, Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset, said cannabis legislation was ‘clearly not fit for purpose’ and likened it to ‘using a machete for brain surgery’. 

He added the public wanted to see ‘tougher measures’ for cannabis possession because it was a gateway to harder drugs.

His Devon and Cornwall counterpart Alison Hernandez said: ‘The fact that we’ve been so blase about cannabis in society means that people think it’s legal and normal, and it’s not. 

‘We’ve got to show them that it’s not, and the way you do that is to be quite fierce in your enforcement arrangements.’

Latest figures show three in four people caught with cannabis avoid appearing in court, while 87 per cent of children and young people in alcohol and drug treatment cited cannabis dependency, compared to 39 per cent for alcohol.

In the stark letter to Dame Diana Johnson MP, 14 police chiefs claim the effect of the drug in society ‘may be far worse’ than heroin

David Sidwick, Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset, said he wanted to see ‘tougher measures’ for cannabis possession because it was a gateway to harder drugs (file pic)

Stuart Reece, an Australian clinician and cannabis researcher quoted in the letter said more than 90 per cent of hard drug addicts he encountered had started with cannabis.

He said pro-cannabis campaigners had the view it was ‘my right to use drugs and destroy my body and you will pay for it through the NHS’.

Dr Karen Randall, a physician in the US state of Colorado where recreational cannabis was legalised in 2012, said healthcare costs linked to the drug are ‘exorbitant’.

A Home Office spokesman said: ‘We work with partners across health, policing and wider public services to drive down drug use, ensure more people receive timely treatment and support, and make our streets and communities safer.’

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14857305/Cannabis-worse-society-heroin-police-tsars-upgrade-class.html

Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana,Crime/Violence/Prison,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Opioids,Prevention and Intervention,Strategy and Policy,UK,Youth :

General News – Saturday 2025-06-28

Vice President Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has emphasised the urgent need for increased investment in drug prevention programs, citing clear evidence of the devastating impact of illicit drugs on Ghanaian society.

Speaking at the 2025 World Drug Day event at the Accra International Conference Centre, Vice President Opoku-Agyemang called for action to prevent illicit drug use in the country, as reported by 3news.com on June 27, 2025.

She highlighted the rising prevalence of drug abuse and its detrimental effects on public health, safety, and economic productivity.

The Vice President stressed the importance of a multi-faceted approach to combating the drug problem, which should include education, awareness campaigns, and rehabilitation services.

She noted that while Ghana has made progress against conventional narcotics, the shift to synthetic opioids requires adaptability.

“The evidence is clear: invest in prevention,” she stated, underscoring the theme of World Drug Day 2025.

She added, “We must recognise the urgency of this issue and rise to the occasion to implement appropriate and pragmatic preventive measures.”

Prof Opoku-Agyemang emphasized that prevention is key to mitigating the long-term consequences of drug abuse and building a healthier, more prosperous nation.

She commended the Narcotics Control Commission for its dedication to combating drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

The government is committed to working with stakeholders to implement effective strategies.

She referenced recent operations by the Commission, which resulted in the seizure of large quantities of illicit substances and the dismantling of criminal syndicates, showcasing Ghana’s commitment to the fight against drugs.

The call for increased investment comes amid growing concerns about the accessibility and use of illicit drugs across the country.

The Vice President urged stakeholders to provide the Commission with the necessary tools, training, and resources to stay ahead of evolving threats.

“We must also address substance use disorders with compassion,” she emphasised.

Her remarks signal a renewed focus on this critical issue and the protection of the well-being of Ghanaian citizens.

“The operationalisation of the Substance Use Disorder Rehabilitation Fund is a commendable move, and we must ensure its effective implementation,” she concluded.

Source:  https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/The-evidence-is-clear-invest-in-prevention-Vice-President-1989525

Filed under: Others (International News),Political Sector,Prevention and Intervention,Strategy and Policy :
header-image   nationthailand.com/news

JUNE 26, 2025

Prime Minister Paetongtarn has declared drug prevention a national priority on the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, urging nationwide support for rehabilitation, education, and community action to tackle Thailand’s drug crisis.

On Thursday (June 26), Paetongtarn delivered a speech in line with the United Nations’ declaration. She highlighted that drug abuse and trafficking continue to be persistent global and regional threats, severely affecting lives, public order, and national security.

She reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to working with government agencies, the private sector, and civil society to combat this challenge.

The Prime Minister announced that drug prevention and resolution have been declared a national priority requiring urgent and tangible action. This initiative will include legal measures and coordinated efforts across central and regional authorities to curb drug smuggling at border areas and dismantle drug trafficking networks decisively.

In response to these threats, the government has launched the Seal, Stop, Safe strategy, which strengthens border control in 52 districts to prevent transborder drug trafficking and transnational crime. Inspections at both permanent and temporary border checkpoints, including natural crossings, have been intensified.

These efforts have led to a rise in the black-market price of methamphetamine, indicating a reduction in drug accessibility, she said.

She called on administrative leaders, provincial governors, community leaders, and particularly families, to collaborate in monitoring and protecting communities.

Paetongtarn also expressed gratitude to all sectors—public, private, and community—for their united efforts in protecting Thai society and future generations. She extended her words of encouragement to those undergoing rehabilitation, wishing them a successful return to a healthy, normal life.

“We invite all Thai people to unite and participate in the prevention and resolution of drug-related issues under the Stop Drugs, Start Power – Unite Thai Strength to End Drug Threats campaign. Let us work together to protect our society and secure a better future for our children,” the Prime Minister concluded.

Source:  https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40051801

Filed under: Others (International News),Political Sector,Prevention and Intervention,Strategy and Policy :

by Sarjna Rai – New Delhi –  Jun 26 2025 

Observed on June 26, the day raises global awareness about drug abuse and illicit trafficking. The 2025 theme, “Break the Cycle. #StopOrganisedCrime,” calls for long-term action and reform

World Drug Day 2025 theme, “Break the Cycle. #StopOrganizedCrime,” urges global action against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.(Photo: Adobestock)
Every year on 26 June, the world observes the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking—also known as “World Drug Day”—to raise awareness of the global drug crisis and promote multilateral action toward prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.

History & Theme

On December 7, 1987, the General Assembly of the United Nations set aside the 26th day of June of each year as International Day Against Illicit Trafficking of Drugs and other Substances of Abuse to be observed worldwide. 
The theme for 2025, Break the Cycle. #StopOrganisedCrime, emphasises the significance of focused long-term action to disrupt the link between drug trafficking and organised crime, both of which fuel violence, corruption, and instability across regions. 

Source:  https://www.business-standard.com/health/international-day-against-drug-abuse-2025-theme-history-significance-125062600553_1.html

Filed under: Australia,Canada,Europe,New Zealand,Others (International News),Strategy and Policy,UK,USA :

by Ingrid Fadelli, Phys.org – edited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Robert Egan – The GIST – June 26, 2025

Omicron Limited’ 36 Hope Street, Douglas, IM1 1AR, Isle of Man

Cannabis, also known as marijuana or weed, is widely consumed worldwide, whether for recreational or medicinal purposes. Over the past decades, the use of cannabis has been fully legalized or decriminalized in various countries worldwide, including Canada, many U.S. states, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain and Portugal.

While some studies have found that cannabis and especially cannabidiol (i.e., the non-intoxicating compound contained in it) can have medicinal effects, others have linked the abuse of its psychoactive variations (i.e., containing tetrahydrocannabinol or THC) with a greater risk of being diagnosed with psychiatric disorders.

As many individuals worldwide use cannabis on a regular basis, understanding the mechanisms that could link its consumption with psychiatric disorders could be highly valuable, as it might help to identify factors that increase the risk of developing specific disorders.

In a paper published in Nature Mental Health, researchers at Yale University School of Medicine, the Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System and Washington University School of Medicine shed new light on the genetic associations between cannabis use, cannabis use disorder (CanUD) and various psychiatric disorders.

CanUD is a mental health disorder characterized by a continued use of cannabis, difficulties experienced when trying to cut down its consumption or cease using it altogether, and an interference of the substance with daily activities, relationships or responsibilities.

“Increasing prevalence of cannabis use and CanUD may increase risk for psychiatric disorders,” wrote Marco Galimberti, Cassie Overstreet and their colleagues in their paper. “We evaluated the relationships between these cannabis traits and a range of psychiatric traits, running global and local genetic correlations, genomic structural equation modeling, colocalization analyses and Mendelian randomization analyses for causality.”

Genomic-SEM. Genomic-SEM analyses of cannabis traits (CanUD and cannabis use) and
psychiatric disorders for a three-factor model. Credit: Galimberti et al.
(Nature Mental Health, 2025).

The researchers analyzed genetic, psychiatric and psychological data collected as part of earlier studies, using various statistical techniques. First, they tried to detect genetic patterns that linked cannabis use with specific psychiatric and personality traits, using a technique known as genomic structural equation modeling.

Subsequently, they ran colocalization analyses, a statistical analysis that allowed them to uncover instances where two traits shared the same underlying genetic variant. Finally, they used a technique called Mendelian randomization to uncover causal relationships between traits, or in other words, if a sporadic or problematic use of cannabis caused specific disorders via genetic factors and vice versa.

“Global genetic analyses identified significantly different correlations between CanUD and cannabis use,” wrote Galimberti, Overstreet and their colleagues. “A variant in strong linkage disequilibrium to one regulating CHRNA2 was significantly shared by CanUD and schizophrenia in colocalization analysis and included in a significant region in local genetic correlations between these traits. A three-factor model from genomic structural equation modeling showed that CanUD and cannabis use partially map together onto a factor with major depressive disorder and ADHD.”

Interestingly, the researchers found that although cannabis use and CanUD are in some ways related, they had different genetic relationships with psychiatric disorders. In fact, they found that variations in the regulation of the gene CHRNA2, which has also been linked to nicotine consumption and dopamine signaling, were common to both schizophrenia and CanUD, but not to casual or general cannabis use.

“In terms of causality, CanUD showed bidirectional causal relationships with most tested psychiatric disorders, differently from cannabis use,” wrote Galimberti, Overstreet and their colleagues. “Increasing use of cannabis can increase rates of psychiatric disorders over time, especially in individuals who progress from cannabis use to CanUD.”

Overall, the findings of this recent study suggest that there is a bi-directional genetic relationship between the abuse of cannabis, specifically CanUD, and various psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, ADHD, depression, and bipolar disorder. In other words, it appears that CanUD could increase the risk of developing mental health disorders, and being diagnosed with some psychiatric disorders could also prompt abuse of cannabis.

This recent work could potentially inform the development of public health interventions aimed at monitoring or limiting people’s consumption of cannabis early, to reduce the risk that they will later develop psychiatric disorders. In addition, the analyses could inspire other research groups to delve deeper into the genetic associations they uncovered, potentially by analyzing a wider pool of genetic, psychological and medical data.

Written for you by our author Ingrid Fadelli, edited by Gaby Clark , and fact-checked and reviewed by Robert Egan —this article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You’ll get an ad-free account as a thank-you.

More information: Marco Galimberti et al, The genetic relationship between cannabis use disorder, cannabis use and psychiatric disorders, Nature Mental Health (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44220-025-00440-4.

Journal information: Nature Mental Health

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-explores-genetic-link-cannabis-psychiatric.html

Filed under: Brain and Behaviour,Cannabis/Marijuana,Drug use-various effects,Health,Marijuana and Medicine,Mental Health,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,UK,Uncategorized :

by Sophie Kilusu, TV47 – Kenya – June 27, 2025

Topics:

The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has emphasized the critical role of prevention in addressing the growing threat of substance abuse in Kenya.

Speaking at a public forum, NACADA Chairperson Stephen Mairori reiterated that preventive efforts are not only economically prudent but also offer the most sustainable way to protect the country’s future generations.“Prevention is not only cost-effective but also one of the most sustainable strategies in this fight,” Mairori stated.

Mairori has also emphasized that proactive measures such as educating the youth, empowering families, and fostering supportive environments are essential in stopping addiction before it begins. “Every shilling spent on prevention saves countless lives and resources that would otherwise go into treatment and rehabilitation,” he added.

The chairperson pointed out that NACADA’s initiatives are aligned with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which focuses on inclusive growth and sustainable development.

According to Mairori, curbing drug and substance abuse is a crucial step in building healthier and more productive communities.“When we prevent drug abuse, we secure our future workforce, reduce crime, and promote national development,” he said.

Mairori’s remarks come at a time when Kenya is grappling with rising cases of drug and substance abuse, especially among the youth.

In response, NACADA has intensified its community outreach programs, school awareness campaigns, and partnerships with various stakeholders to foster a national culture of prevention.

Additionally, he has called on parents, schools, faith-based institutions, and local leaders to join hands in creating an environment where young people can thrive without falling prey to drugs.

With the nation’s future hanging in the balance, NACADA continues to champion the message that prevention is not just a strategy, it is a necessity.

Source:  https://www.tv47.digital/prevention-is-key-to-winning-the-war-on-drug-abuse-107008/

Filed under: Others (International News),Prevention and Intervention,Strategy and Policy :
Key Takeaways
NACo submitted recommendations to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy to ensure the 2026 National Drug Control Strategy reflects the needs and realities of county governments.
Counties are essential intergovernmental partners in addressing illicit substance use through prevention, treatment, recovery and public safety efforts at the local level.

On June 20, NACo submitted formal comments to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to help shape the development of its 2026 National Drug Control Strategy. This strategy serves as the nation’s blueprint for reducing illicit drug use, and the ONDCP plays a central role in coordinating federal drug policy across government agencies. As counties remain on the frontlines of the opioid and broader substance use epidemic, ONDCP invited NACo to share the county government perspectives on federal priorities and polices that support prevention, treatment, recovery and public safety across the country.

Counties invest $107 billion annually in justice and public safety and $163 billion in community health systems, funding and administering services that are directly involved in responding to the substance use crisis. NACo’s comments emphasized the vital role counties play and the importance of federal partnership in delivering life-saving services and building long-term recovery systems.

Key recommendation for the 2026 National Drug Control Strategy

  • Invest in the peer workforce: NACo urged federal investment in peer support through training, certification programs and reimbursement pathways for peer-delivered services. Peer specialists play a critical role in county crisis response teams, treatment navigation and long-term recovery efforts.
  • Expand community-based recovery ecosystems: NACo urged expanded federal investment in community-based services such as crisis care, prevention programs, housing, employment supports and peer-run services. These investments are essential to building accessible, regional systems of care that meet rising behavioral health needs.
  • Promote awareness and reduce stigma: NACo urged support for locally led communication strategies that increase awareness, engage underserved populations and reduce stigma around substance use. County officials often serve as trusted messengers and are well-positioned to promote prevention and recovery through tailored outreach.
  • Remove barriers to services, housing and employment: NACo urged the federal government to remove structural barriers that limit access to care—such as the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy and the Institutions for Mental Diseases (IMD) Exclusion—and to integrate housing and employment supports into recovery frameworks for those with SUDS or who are in recovery. These changes are necessary to foster long-term reintegration and community participation.
  • Continuation of existing federal programs: NACo urged continued investment in critical programs like the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) program and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. These initiatives are foundational to local prevention and enforcement efforts, and proposed cuts in the President’s FY 2026 budget could undermine their effectiveness and coordination under ONDCP.

Impact on counties

Counties are not only implementers of public health and safety strategies, but they are also key innovators and partners in national efforts to address substance use. As stewards of opioid settlement dollars and administrators of behavioral health and justice systems, counties are investing in sustainable, evidence-based solutions. But these efforts depend on strong federal support, including robust funding for ONDCP-aligned programs and active engagement in local implementation challenges.

NACo will continue to advocate for county priorities and collaborate with ONDCP to ensure the 2026 strategy and other federal drug policies and priorities reflect the realities and needs of communities across the country.

Source:  https://www.naco.org/news/naco-submits-recommendations-2026-national-drug-control-strategy

Filed under: Political Sector,Social Affairs,Strategy and Policy,USA :
Article Navigation >  China CDC Weekly – 2025, July (26): 877-879

by Haoliang Cui1;  Jianyi Zhang1;  Wenkai Luo1;  Erri Du2;  Zhongwei Jia1, , and Corresponding Author Zhongwei Jia, jiazw@bjmu.edu.cn 

Author affiliations

    • 1. – Department of Global Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
    • 2. – SILC Business School, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China

The recognition of drug use as a global challenge requiring coordinated international response began with the first international conference on narcotic drugs held in Shanghai in 1909. Throughout the 20th century, three pivotal United Nations (UN) conventions on drug control (1961, 1971, and 1988) established the legal and institutional framework for a comprehensive multilateral system addressing prevention and enforcement. The creation of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in 1997 further underscored the widespread nature of drug-related challenges confronting societies worldwide (1–2).

As nations develop more sophisticated approaches to addressing global drug challenges, international surveillance data continue to underscore both the magnitude of the problem and the critical importance of prevention strategies. The global population using drugs has reached 292 million in 2022, representing a 20% increase over the past decade (3). Particularly concerning is the finding that cannabis use prevalence among adolescents aged 15–16 years exceeds that of adults worldwide (3). It was estimated that 84 million adults aged 15–64 in Europe had used cannabis at least once, including approximately 15.3 million young adults aged 15–34 based on the European Drug Report 2023. (4). Similarly, in 2022, an estimated 70.3 million individuals aged 12 or older in the United States reported illicit drug use within the past year, with peak prevalence occurring among young adults aged 18 to 25. These statistics demonstrate the urgent need for targeted prevention investments, particularly among youth populations (5).

China has actively contributed to and responded to these global drug control initiatives. The Anti-Drug Law of the People’s Republic of China (6) was enacted in 2007, establishing a comprehensive triadic strategy that encompasses prevention, punishment, and rehabilitation. Following the law’s implementation, the number of newly identified drug users increased steadily, reaching its peak in 2015 (Figure 1). However, a series of national initiatives — including the “People’s War on Drugs,” the “Sword Action” (Liangjian Project), and the deployment of “Skynet” surveillance systems — led to a significant decrease in newly identified drug users. This decline was particularly pronounced during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, when the number of newly found drug users experienced a sharp drop (Figure 1).

The theme of this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking — “The evidence is clear: invest in prevention, Break the cycle, Stop Organized Crime” (7) — underscores the public health nature of the drug problem and emphasizes the critical importance of preventive measures (Figure 2). The evolution of these annual themes reflects a fundamental shift in global attitudes toward drug policy. From 1996 to 2009, themes primarily emphasized the dangers and harmful consequences of drug use. The second stage (2010 to 2015) began treating the drug problem as a public health issue rather than solely a criminal justice matter. Since 2016, the focus has shifted toward prevention, early intervention, and youth-centered strategies, reflecting a more comprehensive and evidence-based approach to drug policy.

Nevertheless, emerging risks continue to challenge existing frameworks. Recent cases of adolescent substance abuse involving compounds not yet under formal regulatory control, such as nitrous oxide and etomidate, have been documented across China (8). Since January 2021, Guangzhou in Guangdong Province has implemented targeted enforcement measures against nitrous oxide distribution, resulting in 46 investigated cases by June 2022 (9). These novel psychoactive substances present distinct challenges due to their accessibility through online platforms, ambiguous legal classification, and limited public awareness — particularly among adolescents. In response to these evolving threats, the Ministry of Justice issued a national directive in early 2025 emphasizing “intensified drug prevention campaigns targeting adolescents” (10). Through strategic investments in early education programs, enhanced cross-sector collaboration, and implementation of evidence-based policy frameworks, China is proactively adapting its approach to address the dynamic landscape of emerging drug-related risks.

  • FIGURE 1.  Trends in newly identified drug users in China, 2007–2022.

    Note: Data from 2007 to 2013 were sourced from the Drug Abuse Population Estimation in the Key Cities of the Ministry of Public Security, while data from 2014 to 2022 were obtained from the respective annual editions of the Drug Situation in China report.

Associated Information:
Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
All content is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial License 4.0 (CC BY-NC).

京ICP备11024750号-1 京公网安备 11011402013007

No.155 Changbai Road, Changping District, Beijing 102206, China

Tel：+86-10-63150701

Supported by: Beijing Renhe Information Technology Co., Ltd.

Source:  https://weekly.chinacdc.cn/en/article/doi/10.46234/ccdcw2025.145  

Filed under: Culture,Drug use-various effects,Others (International News),Prevalence,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction :

Opening Remark by NDPA:

“Although Harm Reduction is too often abused as a vehicle for liberalising or legalising drugs( tactically ignoring the fact that the strongest form of harm reduction is to stop using) Peter Kykant’s selfless and commendable work was an example of the positive side of harm reduction – which could work alongside prevention rather than at odds with it”

NDPA – 22 – 06 – 2025

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

by Libby Brooks The Guardian – Fri 20 Jun 2025

Peter Krykant by the River Carron near Falkirk in March 2020.

His decision to set up a mobile drug consumption facility in Glasgow propelled Scotland’s drug deaths crisis up the political agenda. 

Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian

Drugs policy campaigner whose commitment to harm reduction led him to set up an overdose prevention service

The drugs policy campaigner Peter Krykant, who has died suddenly aged 48, advanced the cause of the harm reduction movement through a transformative act of civil disobedience.

Fitting out a van as a mobile safer drug consumption space and making it available to Glasgow’s most vulnerable homeless addicts broke the law. And it also – eventually – broke the stalemate around UK drugs policy, propelled Scotland’s drug deaths crisis further up the political agenda and, most importantly, saved lives.

Krykant’s law-breaking plan coalesced in February 2020 after he attended what he saw as another talking shop – a Scottish government conference focused on drug deaths, which took place 24 hours before a UK government summit on the same subject, at the same Glasgow venue. It seemed to him a ludicrous show of escalating tensions between the two administrations.

“The conferences were the final straw, and the fact that [a drug consumption room pilot] is being used as a political football,” he told the Guardian a week later. “As a person who went through my own trauma – drug use and street homelessness issues many years ago – I cannot stand back.”

Within days of announcing his plan to purchase a vehicle and customise it as a mobile safer-injecting suite, Krykant had raised more than £2,000. He was immediately sacked from his job as an HIV outreach worker at the charity Waverley Care.

Undeterred by the looming global Covid pandemic, Krykant recognised that, as services contracted, the homeless drug users who congregated around Trongate in Glasgow were even more in need. So he struck out in the midst of lockdown, first in a minibus nicknamed “the Tank” and later in a converted ambulance, providing clean water, needles and swabs, as well as supplies of naloxone, the potentially life-saving drug that reverses the effects of opioid overdose. Rules included using your own drugs, and agreeing to an overdose intervention if needed.

Writing in the Guardian, Krykant later explained: “Overdose prevention services are an internationally recognised way of reducing drug-related harms. It benefits everyone by supporting the most vulnerable and saving taxpayers’ money on ambulance callouts, hospital admissions and council clean-up teams.”

The local police largely tolerated his activity, although he was charged in October 2020 for obstructing officers attempting to search his van – the charges were later dropped. He continued operating until May 2021. More than 1,000 injections were supervised, and nine overdoses reversed.

“It was the trust people had in Peter, the cup of tea and the Mars bar, that really helped them and is hard to quantify,” said the MSP Paul Sweeney, who became a close friend when the pair volunteered together at the van. “He proved all the naysayers and the procrastinators wrong. He never said it was a silver bullet but Peter knew firsthand the particular risks for people who inject on the street and saw that this intervention could directly save lives.”

Krykant was always insistent that addiction should be understood in the wider context of poverty and inequality, a message he took around the doorsteps of his local Holyrood constituency of Falkirk East when he stood for the Scottish parliament elections in May 2021.

A Guardian film, which followed his campaign, captures his younger son, aglow with pride, explaining to the producers: “I’ve got three reasons you should vote for my dad: because he’s honest, reliable and he listens to people’s suggestions.”

But the responsibility he evidently carried for every individual he helped, the memories they stirred of his own trauma as well as escalating public scrutiny, took their toll and Krykant relapsed.

He had talked openly about darker currents in his childhood in the village of Maddiston, near Falkirk; trauma and sexual abuse that would lead him to start taking drugs when he was 11. He left school with no formal qualifications, and by his late teens he was sleeping rough and injecting heroin.

But eventually he found support to live drug-free, and worked successfully in sales for over a decade, first in Brighton, and later returning north of the border, where he subsequently trained as an addiction support worker. During this time he married and started a family, taking market research work to fit around caring for his two young sons.

Krykant had continued his advocacy work in recent years, passing the van on to the Transform Drug Policy Foundation and embarking on a tour across the UK. Lately he worked at the harm reduction charity Cranstoun, where he developed an overdose response app called BuddyUp and represented the organisation at events around the world.

When the UK’s first legal drug consumption room, the Thistle, opened its doors in Glasgow this January, there were many who drew a direct line from his minibus to its airy vestibule. Others felt his contribution had been sidelined to make way for more mainstream voices, or that his vulnerabilities had been exploited by those who desired the frisson of his lived experience for their campaigns.

This winter, say friends, Krykant found himself at his lowest ebb. His marriage had collapsed, he had lost his job and he was struggling to support himself, worrying about the impact this had on his sons.

Martin Powell, who drove the van on its UK tour, said: “He was the catalyst and without him we might still be waiting. Without question there are people alive today who would not be without Peter Krykant. It’s an absolute tragedy that he isn’t one of them.”

Krykant is survived by his sons.

 Peter Krykant, campaigner, born 13 November 1976; died 9 June 2025

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jun/20/peter-krykant-obituary

Filed under: Addiction,Drug use-various effects,Prevalence,Prevention and Intervention,UK :

 

SG/SM/22690 – 18 June 2025

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, observed on 26 June:

” The global illicit drug trade continues to exact a devastating toll:  claiming lives, ravaging public health services and fuelling violence and organized crime.

Drug trafficking is tearing through communities with substances that are more potent, more dangerous and more deadly than ever.  Meanwhile, criminal networks prey on the most vulnerable — particularly women and youth — as they rake in hundreds of billions annually through the illicit drug trade.

This year, we shine a light on prevention as the most essential strategy for halting the flow of drugs that fuels organized crime worldwide.

We must reduce demand through investing in education, treatment, harm-reduction measures and care; target the machinery of production by eliminating illicit laboratories and offering farmers viable alternatives; and sever trafficking networks by strengthening global trade routes and choking the financial flows of criminal networks, while always ensuring respect for human rights.

Let us recommit to ending drug abuse and trafficking, uniting to dismantle criminal networks and breaking the cycle of suffering and destruction once and for all. “

Source: https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22690.doc.htm

 

Filed under: Crime/Violence/Prison,Drug use-various effects,Economic,Effects of Drugs,Environment,Others (International News),Prevalence,Prevention and Intervention :
President Nixon signing the Comprehensive Drug Abuse, Prevention and Control Act of 1970. 

Contrary to the popular narrative, President Nixon’s comprehensive approach to drug policy provided an effective solution to a growing problem.

In the 1970s, the United States faced a growing heroin epidemic. By 1970, there were an estimated 600,000 heroin addicts and 7,200 overdose deaths—a crisis that demanded a national response.

President Richard Nixon took decisive action to address this crisis. While he did  declare drug abuse “public enemy number one,” the phrase “war on drugs” was largely a media invention. The public perception that Nixon launched a punitive campaign against drugs has overshadowed the more nuanced reality of his policy and its measurable success.

Judge Robert Bonner, former DEA administrator and U.S. District Court judge, addressed this misconception during remarks at the Nixon Library on August 22,  2023. In his research into President Nixon’s drug policy, Bonner found that Nixon used the term “war on drugs” only once—in a little-known speech to Customs personnel in Texas. As Bonner put it, “The ‘war on drugs’ is a horrid metaphor. We’ve never treated it as a war, never funded it like one, and there’s no ultimate victory.” 

Journalist Charles Fain Lehman, a Robert Novak Journalism Fellow, echoed this sentiment: “Despite what critics claim, there is no fifty-year straight line from Nixon to Reagan’s drug war.”

Instead of approaching the acute drug crisis like a war, President Nixon developed a strategic, two-pronged approach aimed at reducing heroin addiction in America. His strategy targeted both demand and supply. On the demand side, he expanded treatment and prevention programs. On the supply side, he cracked down on drug trafficking through law enforcement and international diplomacy. As Lehman puts it, “his policy agenda was responsive to a real and substantial drug epidemic, one which merited a proportional government response.”

One of President Nixon’s earliest legislative achievements was the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, the first comprehensive federal drug law. Contrary to later tough-on-crime narratives, this law actually eliminated mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses—sentences that would only return with the Drug Abuse Act of 1986 under a different administration.

To enforce drug laws more effectively, President Nixon created the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the first federal agency with a singular mission to combat drug trafficking. Under his leadership, the DEA partnered with international allies to curb the global heroin trade. In just two years, Nixon’s team helped disrupt heroin routes through France and negotiated efforts to ban opium production in Turkey. According to Bonner, these efforts helped reduce the number of heroin addicts in the U.S. from approximately 600,000 to fewer than 100,000—a number that remained low for over a decade.

Further busting the myth of a drug war, compassion was core to President Nixon’s drug policy. “Heroin addiction is a problem that demands compassion, not simply condemnation,” he said. To put that compassion into action, he created the Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention and appointed Dr. Jerome Jaffe—a pioneer in addiction treatment—to lead it. One of the key objectives President Nixon assigned to Jaffe was addressing the treatment of servicemen returning from Vietnam with heroin addiction—an issue that, according to a 1971 congressional report, affected an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 veterans. Under President Nixon’s leadership, federally funded heroin treatment and education programs expanded dramatically. As Lehman noted, “Nixon spent more on drug treatment than enforcement year after year, and pioneered the use of methadone maintenance treatment.”

Richard Nixon’s approach—combining treatment, enforcement, and diplomacy—laid the groundwork for a more balanced and effective drug policy. As Bonner concluded, “In short, Nixon understood the problem. He also did something about it. It was a whole government effort—and it worked.”

View Judge Robert Bonner’s full remarks:

Sources

Bonner, Robert. Judge. 23 August 2023. Keynote Remarks by Judge Robert Bonner, YouTube, August 23, 2023.

Lehman, Charles Fain. “What Was the War on Drugs? Part I.” The Causal Fallacy, May 6, 2025.

Lehman, Charles Fain. “What Was the War on Drugs? Part II.”The Causal Fallacy, May 7, 2025.

Source: https://www.nixonfoundation.org/2025/06/mythbusting-the-war-on-drugs/
Filed under: Culture,Drug use-various effects,Education,Heroin/Methadone,Prevalence,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,USA :
By Dr. Nora Volkow – Nora’s Blog – June 17, 2025
In a recent commentary in The New England Journal of Medicine, my colleagues John Kelly, Howard Koh, and I likened the addicted brain to a house on fire—a crisis requiring urgent efforts to contain the damage and preserve life.1 The drug crisis in America has demanded a sustained focus to extinguish those fires by expanding treatment access and overdose prevention and reversal strategies—and encouragingly, data show that overdose fatalities have been declining since 2023. However, a house that has had its addiction fire extinguished still smolders and can readily burst into flames again. After an initial remission of substance use disorder (SUD) symptoms, it can take as much as 8 years and 4-5 engagements in treatment or mutual support groups to achieve sustained remission, and risk for meeting SUD criteria can remain elevated for several more years after that.2

As addiction clinicians and researchers, we have an obligation not only to improve our abilities at fighting the fires of active addiction, but also to enhance our ability to facilitate the processes of rebuilding in the aftermath, to reduce their future recurrence. Increasing the number of people achieving long-term recovery from SUDs is a national policy priority and a major goal of the research supported by NIDA—from basic neuroscience to understand how the brain rewires and recovers after addiction to an intensified focus on the supports and services that can help individuals thrive as they build healthier lives.3

Fortunately, the very same adaptability and neuroplasticity of the brain that makes it susceptible to developing addiction in the first place also enables it to heal, especially when internal and external conditions are supportive of recovery. The neurobiology underlying remission from SUDs has long been a focus of NIDA-funded research. Over two decades ago, as a NIDA grantee, I and my colleagues at Brookhaven National Laboratory and SUNY-Stony Brook used PET neuroimaging to show the recovery of lost dopamine transporters in the striatum of people with methamphetamine use disorder after prolonged abstinence.4 More recent longitudinal neuroimaging studies of people in SUD treatment show structural recovery in frontal cortical regions, insula, hippocampus, and cerebellum, and functional and neurochemical recovery in prefrontal cortical and subcortical regions.5

As the individual learns new behaviors, goals, and rewards, the learning process reshapes synaptic connectivity across a range of circuits, ultimately outcompeting drug-related memories and automatic behavioral patterns, which weaken over time.6 Among ongoing NIDA-funded projects is a study homing in on the circuits associated with medication adherence in patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) and those that predict return to opioid use during medication treatment. Another project is using biweekly neuroimaging of patients taking medications to treat OUD to characterize neural trajectories of remission.

NIDA has also made a major investment in research on services and supports that can make it easier for people in recovery to continue to choose non-drug rewards and thereby facilitate this neural rewiring. Such services may prove to be at least as important as treatment or overdose reversal in maintaining the recent gains made in reducing overdose deaths. A 2022 dynamic modeling study funded by the FDA projected that people returning to opioid use after a period of remission will account for an increasing proportion of OUD cases over the coming decade, compared to people newly developing OUD.7 Consequently, the authors found that, of 11 strategies to reduce OUD and fatal overdoses, services that help people stay in remission from OUD were likely to be among the most impactful.

Over the past few years, NIDA has funded several grants with the aim of building the infrastructure necessary to advance the science of recovery support. They included grants in 2020 and 2022 that supported the development of networks of recovery researchers working to establish key measures for the field, as well as clinical trial planning grants that establish the foundation necessary to conduct future large-scale clinical trials to understand the effectiveness of various recovery support services. NIDA is also supporting research on how to deliver services to groups like adolescents and young adults and people involved in the criminal-justice system, and to identify factors that are most predictive of recovery outcomes like recovery identity and meaningfulness.

One defining feature of recovery support services is the central role of peers who have lived or living experience of SUD. It can involve individual support by recovery coaches, living or working in settings with others in recovery such as recovery housing or recovery community centers, or mutual-aid groups like traditional 12-step programs and newer models like SMART Recovery. Among the many questions being addressed by NIDA grantees, therefore, are ways to support peers and their professional advancement to foster a more sustainable recovery workforce. NIDA is also working with startups to develop apps and other digital tools that can be used to facilitate connecting to peers, including mobile apps and digital peer-support platforms accessible in treatment settings for patients who are socioeconomically disadvantaged.

In whatever way recovery services are implemented, access and engagement over a longer duration of time than typical stints of addiction treatment can be crucial to help a person maintain remission and provide support when times get tough. Yet there is limited data on the optimal duration of recovery supports services, how the intensity or focus of services should change over the course of recovery, and, in the case of people taking medications for OUD, if and when medications can be safely discontinued. NIDA-funded recovery research is exploring the crucial question of optimal duration of medication treatment for people with OUD and developing discontinuation strategies for people who want to stop medication.

As we described in our New England Journal of Medicine commentary, the positive shift from punishing people experiencing addiction towards treating them in the clinic seen over the past four decades is now shifting into a new phase where the clinic is integrated with the community.  The integration of support in the community is giving nonclinicians, including peers, friends, and family, an increasingly important role in the care of people with SUDs, facilitating the continuity of care beyond treatment. NIDA recently solicited applications for research projects on the role played by loved ones and other support persons in SUD recovery, with the goal of incorporating them into individuals’ recovery process as well as developing interventions to give support to those who are supporting a loved one in recovery.

As more addiction fires are extinguished through public health measures at the national, state, and community levels, we must direct more scientific attention to the end goal of long-term health and wellness for all people whose lives have been affected by addiction.

Source: https://nida.nih.gov/about-nida/noras-blog/2025/06/advancing-recovery-research

Filed under: Addiction,Brain and Behaviour,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,USA :
While many of the conversations surrounding marijuana revolve around younger generations and their patterns of use, a growing body of research is starting to include older adults in the conversation. Two recent studies show an increase in the use of marijuana among older adults and a link to various health conditions.

 

The first study, out of the University of California, included data from 15,689 adults aged 65 and older. This study found a sharp increase in the prevalence of marijuana use over the past-month among this population – rising from 4.8% to 7.0%. This study identified a link between this rise and various factors, including residing in a state with legal medical marijuana, being a woman, and several health issues such as heart conditions, diabetes, hypertension, in addition to other sociodemographic and clinical outcomes.

 

The second study out of Ontario, Canada, where marijuana has been legal for recreational use since 2018, used health data from over 6 million individuals and focused on adults aged 45 and older over a 14-year period to assess whether marijuana use that led to an emergency department (ED) visit or hospitalization could be associated with future dementia diagnoses.

The study showed that between the years of 2008 to 2021, marijuana-related emergency care increased dramatically in adults aged 65 and older, with a 26.7-fold increase. Even among adults aged 45 to 64, the rate increased fivefold. This surge reflects both the growing normalization of marijuana and the growing number of older adults experimenting with or becoming dependent on its use. But as use has increased, so too has concern about its potential consequences for brain health.

 

This study found that those who required emergency care for marijuana-related reasons were significantly more likely to develop dementia. Within 5 years, 5% of marijuana-related acute care patients were diagnosed with dementia compared to 3.6% among individuals with other types of hospital visits, and just 1.3% in the general population.

 

Even after adjusting for factors like age, gender, chronic health conditions and mental health history, the elevated risk remained: Compared to peers hospitalized for any reason, marijuana users had a 23% higher risk of dementia. Compared to the general population, their risk was 72% higher. By 10 years, nearly one in five (18.6%) of those with marijuana-related hospital visits had developed dementia.

 

Although the specific biological mechanisms are still unknown, many studies have shown an association between heavy marijuana use and memory and cognitive decline, and this study adds to the concern that long-term use, heavy use or cannabis use disorder (CUD) may also accelerate long-term neurodegeneration. With chronic marijuana exposure possibly altering the brain structure, reducing cognitive reserve and interfering with key processes involved in memory and learning, this growing use is leaving older adults more vulnerable due to age-related changes in the brain and the possibility of unknown interactions with other health conditions or medications.

 

As marijuana use grows in this age group, targeted prevention and education strategies are urgently needed.

 

Source: Drug Free America Foundation | 333 3rd Ave N Suite 200 | St. Petersburg, FL 33701 US
Filed under: Brain and Behaviour,Cannabis/Marijuana,Culture,Mental Health,USA :

OPENING REMARKS BY NDPA:

This book, and its review, engage with differing viewpoint s about addiction and addicts. Flanagan prefers to avoid the word ‘disease’ – characterising the condition as a behavioural ‘disorder’ – much in the way that Stanton Peele, in his classic 1975 text ‘Love and Addiction’ – (Peele and Brodsky – Pubd, Taplinger, New York) similarly views the condition. But in the professional field of today additional concepts have been introduced, what some might call ‘influencers’ – longest established is the notion of ‘harm reduction’ – this (in our opinion) has a valid purpose in limiting harm that users can experience, but it has also been ‘abused’ by campaigners who argue that ‘laws are harmful, so legalisation reduces harm’. More recently the notion of ‘stigma’ has become more prominent in the drug policy arena … and again, whilst there is a valid role for addressing gratuitous stigmatisation of users, the liberalising campaigners can be seen to abuse the notion, arguing that ‘all stigma is bad, therefore all stigma should be removed.’ In fact, society has long rationally deployed stigma where it can be seen as criticising an individuals drug abuse when this damages and jeopardises a healthful society, or threatens the health of people around the user … this is echoed in Flanagan’s text where, for example he says addicts are ‘… are by no means blameless just because they supposedly have a disease’. This dialogue will of course run and run, and NDPA will endeavour to maintain a balanced and rational journey through this jungle!

A new book looks at addiction through the lens of choice and responsibility.

Book Review by Daniel Akst –  Reason Magazine – 

Addiction is a problem that defenders of liberty need to face, for if citizens cannot control their appetites, the state may be inclined to take over the job for them. Freedom depends on self-command supported by a fragile web of norms and relationships that lets us keep our own lives in order and get along with one another. Addiction is the acute case of the appetites run amok, as they often do when unfettered by such constraints as wealth, religion, and community.

Owen Flanagan’s new book, What Is It Like To Be an Addict?, should be welcomed by anyone concerned with these issues. Despite its modest size, this is a work of large ambition and broad range informed not just by the author’s long career as a prominent philosopher but by his many years as a desperately addicted abuser of alcohol and sedatives.

“This is a deeply personal book,” he writes. “I was addicted to booze and benzos for twenty years on and off from the late 1970s until the early 2000s. The last years were especially ugly, requiring several hospitalizations, and involving constant self-loathing and suicidal despair.”

Unsurprisingly given his experience, Flanagan stresses that we should pay close attention to what the addicted have to tell us. And among the most important things addicts say is that they are by no means blameless just because they supposedly have a disease. On the contrary, many feel shame (for being an addict) and guilt (for behaviors that are slowly destroying them and harming their loved ones).

To Flanagan, these feelings are right and good. That stance may inspire horror from some people, who will see it as victim-blaming. But it’s consistent with Flanagan’s view that addicts can’t be reduced to flesh-and-blood automatons jerked about by their cravings. As he notes, even people who claim to believe this will then earnestly implore an addict to get help—a plea that could only be directed at someone presumed to have the ability to make choices. “Every treatment that works to unseat addiction,” he writes, “assumes that addicts are responsible and must participate in undoing their own addiction.”

Flanagan doesn’t even think addiction is a disease, exactly—more of a multifactorial disorder of enormous social, physical, psychological, and pharmacological complexity. Indeed, one of his book’s main points is that addiction cannot be seen as any one simple thing. But he doggedly insists that addicts retain some agency during their plight.

“Practices of compassion, forgiveness, and excusing are distinct from whether or not we hold the addict responsible,” he writes. “We hold addicts responsible in many respects and rightly so. Thus, the determination that addiction is a disease or mental disorder is much less consequential as far as holding addicts responsible goes than many suggest.”

Flanagan takes care to distinguish between unwilling addicts, willing addicts, and resigned addicts, helping us through these categories to think about what we mean by addiction and how best to mitigate it. Particularly notable are the minority who are willing addicts—he mentions as an example Keith Richards, who has said he was a longtime heroin user. At least some of these individuals are in control of the consequences of their habit and satisfied with their lives. Is their addiction any more meaningful than a coffee habit?

Unwilling addicts want to quit, and many will eventually succeed. And resigned addicts are those who wanted to quit, couldn’t, and just gave up, surrendering to hopelessness. They are in a sense beyond unwilling; by not trying to quit, they effectively acquiesce. Here, the author says, a kind of accommodation may help. One nonprofit in Europe helps resigned addicts to lead orderly lives through more disciplined consumption—in one methadone-like program, six pints of beer spread throughout the day—as well as suitable paid employment.

As for himself, the author credits Alcoholics Anonymous with saving his life by enabling his sobriety, but he also thinks it has a certain cultishness; like any good rationalist, he insists on “the distinction between the belief in a Higher Power having an effect and the Higher Power having an effect.”

Flanagan is also a capable researcher and reporter. Who knew that many addicts call the rest of us “earth people”? Or, more significantly, that there is so much overlap between addiction and other psychiatric disorders? “Twenty-five percent of individuals with severe mental illness, defined as a disorder that severely compromises normal functioning—schizophrenia with delusions or immobilizing depression—have a substance use disorder,” the author says. “In the other direction, 15 percent of individuals with a substance use disorder also have a severe mental illness.”

This book’s focus is substance abuse rather than, say, Facebook addiction, if such a thing exists. Flanagan is properly skeptical of the movement to medicalize all of life’s setbacks and sadnesses. He notes that men in most cultures are more likely than women to abuse alcohol and drugs, but that women are gaining. “There is no country where female alcoholism…rates are near 10 percent. But there are many countries in which the male alcoholism rate is above 10 percent and a few that top 13 percent: Russia (16.29 percent), Hungary (15.29 percent), Lithuania (13.35 percent), and South Korea (13.10 percent).”

He reminds us that while the war on drugs appears to be a costly failure, we can’t say for sure that many addictions wouldn’t be worse in its absence. And he notes some of the problems that have accompanied legalization initiatives. In Portugal, after a decade of good results, “substance use is on the rise, and fewer and fewer people in need are getting treatment. Recent data indicate that both overall drug use and drug overdose rates are up.” In Oregon, decriminalization Measure 110 “is being unwound” after evictions and fentanyl supplies surged. But he cautions: “The data do not mean, as some are quick to insist, that decriminalization, harm reduction, and treatment are not for the best.”

What Is It Like To Be an Addict? has its shortcomings, which largely stem from the author’s academic tribe. The book is not particularly well-organized or well-written; again and again, Flanagan tells us what he’s going to tell us, and then tells us the thing a couple more times to be on the safe side. And the book can be heavy on jargon. At one point, despite his professed sobriety, he writes: “When I report on the experiences of fellow addicts based on their autophenomenological reports, I am doing heterophenomenology.”

Particularly nettlesome is the author’s claim that, although addicts are responsible for their addiction, the rest of us are responsible too because of the woeful conditions we’ve allowed to persist. He wheels out the usual suspects including “social displacement,” poverty, inequality, racism, depression, “lack of good life options,” and other all-purpose woes that “are not caused by addicts.”

Blinkered by his ready-made list of villains, the author takes little account of other potential factors. Affluence in particular seems at least as likely a culprit as poverty. Today’s poor are often richer than middle-class Americans were in the middle of the last century, and today’s American middle class is extraordinarily affluent by historical and global standards. That means more of us can afford substance abuse of all kinds, not to mention addictions to shopping and other costly behaviors.

How about changes to family life or to levels of church attendance? Isn’t it possible that the religious and familial dimensions of A.A. are essential to its remarkable success? It’s noteworthy that the author’s own salvation came not from any arm of government but from a private, apolitical institution operating on a shoestring and making no attempt to end inequality or racism. Drunks come to A.A. and somehow get sober anyway.

But in truth, the author’s gestures toward collective responsibility feel more obligatory than emphatic. What he really wants is a humane, evidence-based approach to the problem of addiction consistent with individual agency, and that’s an approach fully in accord with a faith in human liberty. At the same time, we might as well recognize that voters will quickly lose their enthusiasm for legalizing drugs if they blame it for public chaos. Freedom always and everywhere relies on self-regulation. 

These are tough times for individual agency. Many philosophers and psychologists scoff at the notion of free will, which others seem to regard as the sole province of the “privileged.” A therapeutic culture and the nanny state give us all incentives to see ourselves as victims, helpless in the face of implacable forces of oppression. It is refreshing to read a book that refuses to dehumanize addicts by depriving them of responsibility or delegitimizing the shame they feel for their actions.

Source:  https://reason.com/2025/06/15/how-freedom-lovers-can-reckon-with-addicts-and-addiction/

Filed under: Addiction,Brain and Behaviour,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Health,Mental Health,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,USA :

  Lisbon 20.06.2025

 This week, the EUDA and the University of Limerick’s REPPP team (1) officially launched ‘Safe futures’, a project focused on identifying effective ways to prevent youth involvement in European drug markets.

The initiative responds to growing public and policy concern about the increasing recruitment and exploitation of young people by criminal drug networks across Europe. These networks often target the most vulnerable young people, leading to significant security, social and public health consequences.

The two-year project brings together policymakers, researchers, law enforcement agencies and practitioners from across Europe to collaborate in a new multi-disciplinary Community of Practice conceived to share knowledge and research and inform and design future interventions in this complex policy area. This week’s meeting involved a cross-section of these groups to examine the issue across different jurisdictions, share information and begin collaborative problem-solving.

The agenda featured a dynamic mix of presentations, group work and plenary discussions designed to highlight both existing challenges and promising solutions. Participants also explored knowledge gaps and discussed next steps for the Community of Practice.

The overall purpose of the project is to enhance drug-related crime prevention efforts in Europe by:

  • evaluating existing models and strategies for the involvement of young people in drug markets and drug-related crime;
  • supporting linked networking building activities; and
  • identifying possible facilitators and barriers to the implementation of programmes in this area. 

The project outputs are expected to contribute to a better understanding of future research, policy and developmental needs and inform future investments in this area at national and European level.

In November 2024, following the first European conference on the topic, the EUDA issued a Call to action to break the cycle of drug-related violence. This underlined the urgent need for cross-sector collaboration to ensure a safer and more secure Europe. It also stressed that targeted prevention mechanisms should focus on young people and other at-risk groups, including prevention of their recruitment into organised crime. ‘Safe futures’ responds to this call.

Notes

(1) ‘Safe futures: Identifying promising approaches, opportunities and barriers for interventions designed to prevent youth recruitment and participation in European Drug Markets’. Project duration 24 months: December 2024-December 2026. Contract CT.24.SAS.0109.1.0 awarded to University of Limerick. The project is being led by the Research Evidence into Policy, Programmes and Practice (REPPP) team at the University on behalf of the EUDA. REPPP is a research collaboration between the School of Law in the University of Limerick and the Irish Department of Justice. Its aim is to improve the evidence base in relation to youth crime and youth justice policy and practice in Ireland.

In its fight against drug trafficking and organised crime, the European Commission’s Roadmap to Fight Drug Trafficking and Organised Crime identifies 17 actions across 4 priority areas. Priority 4 focuses on measures to: ‘prevent organised crime through exchange of best practices and guidance among Member States to prevent infiltration of these groups in the society and legal economy, prevent criminal groups to recruit youngsters and improve public safety and health, and to limit more effectively access to drug precursors’. 

Source:  https://www.euda.europa.eu/news/2025/launch-safe-futures-project_en

Filed under: Culture,Drug use-various effects,Education,Europe,Prevention and Intervention,Youth :

DAVE EVANS, LISKOWITZ V.  describes a significant victory re Vapes. The court upheld the Complaint for:

COUNT I:
DEFECTIVE DESIGN – NEW JERSEY PRODUCTS LIABILITY ACT – N.J.S.A. 2A:58C-1 ET SEQ.

COUNT II:
PRODUCT LIABILITY – FAILURE TO WARN (NEW JERSEY PRODUCTS LIABILITY ACT – N.J.S.A. 2A:58C-1 ET SEQ.

III and VI were dismissed without prejudice

The order – -which runs to 30 pages – can be accessed hereby:

To access the full document: Click on the ‘Source’ link below, at the foot of this web page.

                                                                       *      *      *      *      *      *

In a first of its kind lawsuit in New Jersey, a victim of Big Cannabis is seeking to hold it accountable for the terrifying mental health disorder Plaintiff suffered after using intoxicating hemp cannabis products.

The plaintiff is an athletic professional. While training, Plaintiff began consuming intoxicating cannabis hemp products.

After a few months of use, Plaintiff became psychotic and suicidal, suffering from extreme delusions and paranoia, and was hospitalized.  After the hospitalization, the Plaintiff was discharged to Plaintiff’s parents, and they flew back to their home state for further treatment.

While traveling, the Plaintiff believed that they were being followed by the FBI and would be subject to arrest.  To protect the parents from arrest, Plaintiff sought the opportunity to flee.  While traveling home from the airport, the plaintiff jumped out of the back seat car window and ran across six lanes of traffic and, to the horror of the parents watching from the car, and jumped off a 135-foot bridge, landing head-first into a river.

Miraculously, Plaintiff survived, but Plaintiff’s injuries included a torn ACL, right shoulder dislocation, and extensive road rash.  Plaintiff subsequently received substance abuse and psychological treatment and stopped using hemp products.  Plaintiff and family are still recovering from this harrowing ordeal.

As established by decades of medical research and as recognized by the National Institute of Health (NIH), the National Academy of Sciences, and the Center for Disease Control (CDC), cannabis use is indelibly linked to the development of psychosis and other mental health disorders such as schizophrenia, suicidal ideation, and depression.

Despite the robust evidence, Big Cannabis refuses to warn consumers of the devastating potential side effects.  Worse, Big Cannabis actively and maliciously markets these products as safe, even medicinal.

We are in the midst of a gathering mental health epidemic caused by increasing use of cannabis, especially high-potency cannabis after years of Big Cannabis’s sophisticated and coordinated legalization efforts.  There are tens, if not hundreds, of thousands who have been injured in a similar way to the Plaintiff.  Many, however, have failed to draw the connection between their cannabis use and their mental health disorders because the public relations arm of Big Cannabis has so effectively hidden and confused the association in an effort to realize extravagant profits.

This suit, drawing upon various consumer protection laws, seeks to hold the cannabis industry accountable for its lies and its failure to adequately warn an unsuspecting public of its products’ considerable and often devastating dangers.

The suit also seeks to raise awareness about the association between cannabis and mental health disorders so that those affected current or former users who have suffered at the hands of Big Cannabis can take action.

The case has survived a Motion to Dismiss

The Plaintiff is being represented in this matter by attorney David Evans whose office is in Flemington NJ . If you, or someone you know, has been affected by cannabis, Mr. Evans will be happy to discuss your potential claims.

Mr. Evans can be reached at 908-963-0254. (www.addictionslaw.com)

 

To access the full document:

  1. Click on the ‘Source’ link below.
  2. An image  – the front page of the full document will appear.
  3. Click on the image to open the full document.

Source:  ORDER.MO.DISS.6.18.2025 – Dave Evans

Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana,Crime/Violence/Prison,Drug use-various effects,Hemp,Legal Sector,Marijuana and Medicine,USA :

#cannabisculture is undermining #MentalHealth in most demographics, adolescents hardest hit!


The conversation around marijuana and mental illness has taken a new, alarming turn. A systematic review published in the journal Biomolecules this March presents fresh evidence of a strong link between marijuana use and severe mental health issues, particularly schizophrenia and psychosis. Notably, the study highlights that adolescents are at a significantly higher risk, amplifying urgent questions about its impact on younger users.


The Risk of Psychosis and Schizophrenia: The Biomolecules review analysed data…which documented an association between marijuana use and an increased risk of developing schizophrenia or psychosis-like events…One staggering takeaway from the review is the calculated odds ratio. Individuals using marijuana had a 2.88 higher likelihood of developing psychosis-related conditions than those who abstained.
Adolescents who use marijuana, however, face an even greater threat. The study authors pointed to a “large age effect,” suggesting that the impact of marijuana on younger users is far more severe…


Why Adolescents Are at Greater Risk: One key hypothesis from the researchers is that marijuana affects adolescents in two major ways. First, it can cause acute psychotic sensations that resemble those triggered by hallucinogenic drugs, indicative of acute toxicity. Second, it disrupts synaptic plasticity during adolescence, leading to developmental changes in the brain that could contribute to long-term mental health issues.
The End of the Self-Medication Argument: For years, the “self-medication hypothesis” has been used to explain the relationship between marijuana and schizophrenia. It claimed that individuals with schizophrenia used cannabis as a coping mechanism to manage symptoms. However, the review pushes back strongly against this narrative, stating that in these cases, it’s the cannabis that comes first. Alison Knopf of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Weekly emphasised that these findings mark a key step in resolving the “chicken-and-egg conundrum” around marijuana and mental illness. (Research: https://www.dalgarnoinstitute.org.au/…/2708-marijuana…)

Source:  https://www.dalgarnoinstitute.org.au/index.php/resources/cannabis-conundrum/2708-marijuana-and-mental-illness-what-the-latest-research-reveals?

Filed under: Australia,Brain and Behaviour,Cannabis/Marijuana,Drug use-various effects,Marijuana and Medicine,Mental Health,Prevention and Intervention,Youth :

 by Madeline Gray – OCDE Newsroom –

Forming healthy habits and building strong character is a top priority for students at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in Santa Ana — and they have found a creative way to share that message with their peers.

Set to the tune of Raffi’s “Down By the Bay,” the Santa Ana Unified School District students wrote and performed their own rendition, “Here at King School,” to showcase what they have learned about drug prevention and healthy decision-making. Written by the students themselves, the lyrics highlight setting goals, making positive choices, resisting peer pressure and saying no to drugs. Watch their music video above.

Their message was inspired by a similar public service announcement titled “Stop and Think” created by Hope View Elementary students in the Ocean View School District. Hope View’s prevention song was shared with King Elementary students as part of King’s own curriculum, and it sparked an idea. After watching it in teacher Pam Morita-Hicks’ class, the fifth-graders were inspired to create a musical project of their own. 

The fifth-graders recently completed a 10-week curriculum called Too Good for Drugs presented by OCDE’s Youth Substance Use Prevention program. Starting in January and wrapping up in March, the lessons helped students develop healthier coping strategies and life skills through activities and discussions. The curriculum also educated the class on the dangers of alcohol, nicotine, marijuana and medication misuse, and how these substances can have long-term effects.

“Our goal is to build students’ health literacy by strengthening their knowledge and providing opportunities to practice real-life skills,” said Lisa Nguyen, project assistant at OCDE. “We want young people to feel more confident in setting reachable goals, making smart choices, managing feelings and saying no when it counts.”

After completing the curriculum, students were given the opportunity to plan a youth prevention project to share this message with their peers. Led by Nguyen and the OCDE team, Mrs. Morita-Hicks’ class participated in planning meetings where the students wrote their own lyrics, brainstormed visuals and rehearsed their performance. Their ideas came to life in a music video captured and produced by OCDE’s Media Services team.

Through sharing their performance, students from the class said they hoped to inspire other students to make healthy choices and spread awareness among their peers about the importance of staying drug-free.

OCDE’s Youth Substance Use Prevention Services brings free drug and alcohol education to schools and youth organizations in Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Irvine, Tustin, Orange, Stanton and Westminster.

Thanks to funding from the Orange County Health Care Agency, the program offers classroom presentations, peer-led projects, parent workshops and staff training at no cost. Additional support is also available through a network of regional providers, making it easy for schools and communities to get involved.

Source:  https://newsroom.ocde.us/watch-santa-ana-fifth-graders-promote-drug-free-message-in-music-video/

Filed under: Culture,Drug use-various effects,Education,Prevention and Intervention,USA,Youth :

by Shane Varcoe – Executive Director for the Dalgarno Institute


Why do people continue with behaviours or substances, such as alcohol or drugs, even when they openly wish to stop? This question cuts to the heart of understanding addiction. The disparity between intention and action reveals contradictions central to addiction behaviour, often oversimplified by two prevalent views.

For decades, addiction has been described through the lens of brain disease models, focusing on how substance use alters brain function to make drug use compulsive. While these models uncover meaningful insights, they are just one part of the story. On the other hand, some reduce addiction to an issue of morality or simple bad decisions, claiming people use substances solely out of selfish indulgence. Both these views highlight partial truths but fail to complete the picture.

Instead, a deeper understanding must combine these perspectives, recognising both the complex brain changes involved and the environmental and social factors that shape behaviour.

Paths to Recovery: Understanding addiction through the lens of decision-making opens new pathways for support. Instead of framing individuals as broken or helpless, this perspective views people in the context of their environment.
Encouragingly, it shows recovery is possible by increasing the availability, visibility, and value of non-drug alternatives. This may include offering accessible education, creating stable job opportunities, or fostering supportive communities. By making these changes, we shift focus away from stigma and towards empowering individuals to make better-informed choices.

While the psychology of addiction is undeniably complex, treating those impacted with empathy and focusing on promoting meaningful alternatives is the way forward. The path to recovery is not simple, but it’s one that can be supported through understanding human behaviour and its environmental influences. Source: https://nobrainer.org.au/…/1448-understanding-addiction… )

(Also a must read Research Report on this; Drug Use, Stigma & Proactive Contagions to Reduce Both https://nobrainer.org.au/…/364-drug-use-stigma-and-the… also containing Dealing with Addiction. Models, Modes, Mantras & Mandates – A Review of Literature Investigating Models of Addiction Management)
Source: Shane Varcoe – Executive Director for the Dalgarno Institute
Filed under: Addiction,Australia,Brain and Behaviour,Crime/Violence/Prison,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Drugs and Accidents,Mental Health,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,Youth :
     
by Pavani Rangachari, Alvin Tran –  Department of Population Health and Leadership, University of New Haven, 300 Boston Post Road, West Haven, CT, USA, – 14 February 2025

Abstract: The opioid crisis in the United States remains a major public health emergency, claiming over 100,000 lives annually, with potent synthetic opioids like fentanyl driving the surge in overdose deaths. In response, the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of over-the-counter (OTC) Narcan represents a pivotal step toward expanding access to naloxone, a life-saving medication that reverses opioid overdoses. However, maximizing the public health impact of this measure requires more than increasing availability—it demands a comprehensive, systemic approach that fosters community engagement, advances harm reduction, and transforms healthcare delivery. This paper applies the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s (RWJF) Culture of Health (COH) model to provide a structured framework for optimizing Narcan’s impact. Through its four interconnected pillars, (1) making health a shared value, (2) fostering cross-sector collaboration, (3) ensuring equitable access, and (4) transforming healthcare systems, the COH model offers critical insights into building sustainable, community-wide overdose prevention strategies. Central to this effort is stigma reduction, as negative perceptions of opioid use disorder continue to undermine both public willingness to seek naloxone and healthcare providers’ readiness to offer it. Within the COH framework, the paper examines evidence-based interventions that normalize naloxone use, innovative cross-sector partnerships that foster acceptance, and policy initiatives that expand access while addressing systemic inequities. By synthesizing real-world success stories, including community-based naloxone distribution programs, law enforcement-assisted interventions, and hospital-based harm reduction initiatives, this paper outlines a strategic blueprint for translating the FDA’s Narcan ruling into lasting public health outcomes. It concludes with actionable recommendations for healthcare systems, policymakers, and public health agencies to institutionalize harm reduction practices and dismantle barriers to care. Only by embedding a Culture of Health into the fabric of healthcare, public health, and community systems can we achieve lasting progress against the opioid crisis and foster healthier, more equitable communities.

Keywords: opioid crisis, naloxone access, harm reduction, Narcan, culture of health model, substance use disorder, overdose prevention, health equity

Introduction

The opioid crisis continues to devastate the United States, with over 100,000 annual deaths linked to drug overdoses—75% involving opioids.1 Potent synthetic opioids like fentanyl exacerbate the crisis, often requiring multiple doses of naloxone to reverse an overdose. Naloxone, sold under the brand name Narcan, is a life-saving medication that quickly reverses opioid overdoses by blocking opioid receptors.2 With the surge in opioid-related deaths, harm reduction strategies like Narcan have become crucial tools in the fight against opioid addiction.2,3 Timely administration of Narcan can mean the difference between life and death, making widespread distribution and education on its use essential in combating the opioid crisis.

The COVID-19 pandemic intensified the opioid crisis, increasing substance use and overdose deaths due to isolation, economic instability, and disrupted healthcare services. Overdose death rates spiked nearly 30% between 2020 and 2021, underscoring the urgent need for accessible interventions.4 In March 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Narcan for over-the-counter (OTC) use, making it the first naloxone product available without a prescription. This landmark decision aimed to enhance harm reduction by expanding naloxone access to individuals at risk of overdose, their families, and communities.5

However, the OTC rollout has faced challenges. While major retailers now stock Narcan, the high price (around $45 per two-dose kit) remains a barrier.6 Rural and low-income pharmacies struggle with consistent availability, exacerbating disparities.7 Stigma surrounding opioid use and Narcan also persists, deterring some pharmacists from recommending or stocking it.8–10 Beyond access, awareness and confidence in using Narcan remain limited. Many potential users lack proper training, emphasizing the need for public education campaigns.11–13 Calls for naloxone training, similar to Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification, highlight the importance of ensuring more people can effectively administer this life-saving intervention.14

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s (RWJF) Culture of Health (COH) model provides a valuable framework for addressing these challenges.15 Developed through interdisciplinary consultation, evidence reviews, and stakeholder engagement, the COH model was designed to promote cross-sector collaboration, address social determinants of health, and foster equitable opportunities for well-being in all communities. It is particularly relevant to the opioid crisis, where stigma, fragmented systems, and entrenched inequities impede progress. Since its introduction in 2015, the COH model has been widely applied in public health, community development, and health equity efforts, demonstrating its utility as both a conceptual and practical guide for systemic change.16,17

While models such as the Social Ecological Model (SEM) and Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) approaches emphasize the importance of multilevel interventions and sustainable behavior change, they often remain abstract and narrowly focused on programmatic strategies.18,19 In contrast, the COH model operationalizes these principles into a tangible, systems-level blueprint for driving long-term societal transformation. Applying the COH model to overdose prevention offers a comprehensive approach for shifting societal values, strengthening healthcare and community systems, and promoting resilience.

The four pillars of the COH model, (1) making health a shared value, (2) fostering cross-sector collaboration, (3) ensuring equitable healthcare access, and (4) transforming healthcare systems, are deeply interconnected rather than mutually exclusive. Some thematic overlap across the pillars is therefore expected and reflects real-world dynamics where key stakeholders, including pharmacies, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and community organizations, intersect across multiple strategies to address opioid overdose prevention. Drawing upon this framework, this paper examines how the COH model can guide the translation of the FDA’s Narcan ruling into meaningful public health impact. It explores challenges, opportunities, and evidence-based interventions aligned with each pillar, offering strategic insights for overcoming stigma, expanding naloxone distribution, promoting cross-sector partnerships, and embedding harm reduction within healthcare and community systems.

Purpose and Significance

Building on this framework, this paper applies the COH model to examine how the four pillars—making health a shared value, fostering cross-sector collaboration, ensuring equitable access, and transforming healthcare systems—can guide the translation of the FDA’s over-the-counter approval of Narcan into sustained public health impact.

By examining each pillar, this paper identifies key challenges, opportunities, and evidence-based strategies for creating a culture of health that prioritizes opioid overdose prevention and recovery. It highlights how stigma, access disparities, and systemic barriers can be overcome through targeted interventions, collaboration across sectors, and an integrated approach to harm reduction and treatment.

The significance of this work lies in its potential to guide stakeholders in translating the FDA ruling into actionable and sustainable solutions. The COH model provides a unique lens through which to address the structural inequities and social determinants of health that underlie the opioid crisis. By offering a comprehensive roadmap for building healthier, more equitable communities, this paper contributes to the broader public health effort to reduce overdose deaths and support individuals on their path to recovery. Given the interconnectedness of the COH pillars, some thematic overlap is expected, particularly regarding key strategies such as stigma reduction, cross-sector collaboration, and harm reduction integration, which span multiple domains of action.

Pillar 1: Making the Prevention of Opioid Overdose Deaths a Shared Value

The first pillar of the COH model, making health a shared value, emphasizes the need for a collective mindset in addressing public health crises.20 Preventing opioid overdose deaths requires not only access to Narcan but also a cultural shift where opioid overdose is seen as a community issue rather than an individual failing. Overcoming stigma surrounding opioid use disorder (OUD) is central to fostering shared responsibility.21

Addressing Stigma in Communities and Pharmacies

Stigma remains a major barrier to naloxone access. Many individuals hesitate to seek naloxone due to fear of being judged, while some pharmacists are reluctant to dispense it, believing it enables risky opioid use.22 Studies show that low-income and rural pharmacies are less likely to stock naloxone, limiting access in the very communities that need it most.23

However, promising initiatives demonstrate that stigma reduction can improve naloxone uptake. For example, in San Francisco, robust harm reduction messaging and naloxone distribution programs have helped normalize overdose prevention.24 These initiatives illustrate how treating overdose as a medical emergency rather than a moral failure can encourage individuals to seek naloxone without fear.25

The Role of Harm Reduction

Harm reduction is a crucial framework in changing societal views about opioid use. It emphasizes the importance of helping individuals where they are without judgment or discrimination.26 Harm reduction approaches, like the distribution of Narcan, aim to reduce the immediate harm caused by opioid use while acknowledging that recovery is a long-term process.25 Naloxone is increasingly recognized as a first-aid tool that can save lives in the same way as Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) or an EpiPen does, shifting public perception of overdose response from an individual issue to a community responsibility.9

For example, in Massachusetts, a statewide overdose education and naloxone distribution program trained community members and law enforcement in Narcan administration.27 Thousands of overdoses have been reversed through these efforts, proving that equipping communities with the right tools can save lives.28

Shifting the Law Enforcement Perspective

Law enforcement officers are often the first responders to overdose emergencies, and their role in administering Narcan is pivotal. However, some police departments have been slow to adopt naloxone due to concerns about enabling drug use.12

Yet, success stories like those in Seattle, Washington, have demonstrated how law enforcement can become part of the solution.29 By adopting harm reduction principles, the Seattle Police Department began equipping officers with naloxone, saving over 100 lives in just one year.29 Changing police training to prioritize harm reduction over punitive measures can help officers view overdose prevention as part of their public duty rather than an enforcement challenge.30

The Role of Public Education

Public education campaigns are crucial in making naloxone use a shared responsibility. Initiatives in Rhode Island and Ohio have successfully increased community engagement by distributing naloxone kits alongside instructional materials.31,32 These efforts emphasize that anyone—a family member, friend, or bystander—can intervene in an overdose and save a life.

In summary, the first pillar of the COH model calls for a cultural shift in how opioid overdose prevention is perceived. Reducing stigma, fostering harm reduction, engaging law enforcement, and expanding public education are essential strategies in making naloxone access a shared value. Success stories from community pharmacy programs, law enforcement adoption, and public health initiatives underscore the importance of collaboration in changing societal attitudes. By making overdose prevention a collective responsibility, communities can create a culture of health that prioritizes saving lives.

Pillar 2: Fostering Cross-Sector Collaborations to Improve the Well-Being of People Affected by Opioid Overdose

The second pillar of the COH model emphasizes the importance of fostering cross-sector collaborations to address complex public health challenges.15 In the case of opioid overdose prevention, cross-sector collaboration is essential to ensure that individuals affected by OUD receive not only immediate overdose reversal via Narcan but also access to long-term treatment and recovery options. The FDA’s approval of OTC Narcan has opened new avenues for collaboration, particularly between traditional healthcare settings and community-based organizations that can distribute and educate the public about naloxone.5 However, challenges remain, in effectively coordinating these efforts across different sectors to maximize impact.33

Pharmacies and Public Health Agencies: A Crucial Partnership

Pharmacies play a pivotal role in the distribution of Narcan, as they are often the most accessible healthcare providers in many communities.34 However, their effectiveness depends on partnerships with public health agencies to address stigma, insurance coverage gaps, and disparities in access. Some community pharmacies work with local health departments to ensure naloxone availability, particularly in high-risk areas.35 For example, in Ohio, collaboration between pharmacies and the state health department has expanded naloxone distribution and pharmacist education.35,36

However, many rural and low-income urban pharmacies struggle to stock naloxone due to financial constraints. The state of Massachusetts has addressed this by funding pharmacy naloxone programs and mandating availability. Expanding such initiatives to other states could further reduce access barriers.37

Engaging Law Enforcement in Overdose Prevention

Law enforcement officers are often first responders to overdoses, making their involvement crucial.33 However, law enforcement participation in overdose prevention has been uneven due to concerns about enabling drug use and a lack of clarity on the role of harm reduction in public safety. Nevertheless, successful cross-sector collaborations between law enforcement and public health advocates have demonstrated the potential for law enforcement officers to play a vital role in overdose prevention.33,38

One example of effective collaboration is the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program, implemented in multiple cities, allowing officers to divert individuals with substance use disorders to treatment rather than jail.38 In Seattle, Washington, this approach has led to fewer drug-related arrests and greater engagement in recovery services.38

Similarly, Ohio police officers carrying naloxone have reversed thousands of overdoses with support from local health agencies providing training and supplies. Expanding naloxone training for law enforcement officers and integrating harm reduction into policing can further strengthen overdose response efforts.39

Hospitals and Community-Based Organizations: Bridging the Treatment Gap

Hospitals are another key player in overdose prevention, as they are often the first point of contact for individuals following a non-fatal overdose.40 However, ensuring that individuals receive follow-up care and access to long-term treatment remains a significant challenge. Cross-sector collaboration between hospitals and community-based organizations can help bridge this gap.41

For example, the “Warm Handoff” model, implemented in states like Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, involves connecting individuals who have experienced an overdose with peer recovery specialists before they are discharged from the hospital.42 In Rhode Island, this model has resulted in a significant increase in treatment engagement among individuals who have experienced a non-fatal overdose.43

Additionally, some hospitals now include naloxone kits and harm reduction education in discharge protocols. Expanding partnerships between hospitals and harm reduction organizations in the community can improve long-term outcomes for individuals at high risk of overdose.44

Schools and Educational Institutions: Expanding Naloxone Training

Schools have an important role to play in overdose prevention, particularly in areas where opioid use is prevalent among youth.45 Cross-sector collaborations between schools, public health agencies, and harm reduction organizations can help ensure that naloxone training is integrated into educational curricula and that students are equipped with the knowledge to respond to an overdose.46 In New Jersey, the Department of Education partnered with local health agencies to provide naloxone training to students and staff, increasing awareness and preparedness.47 Expanding similar programs nationwide could further strengthen community overdose response.48

In summary, fostering cross-sector collaboration is essential for expanding Narcan use and improving overdose prevention. Pharmacies, public health agencies, law enforcement, hospitals, and schools each play a critical role. Programs like LEAD, Warm Handoff, and school-based naloxone training demonstrate the effectiveness of collaboration in saving lives and promoting harm reduction. However, challenges remain, particularly in addressing disparities in naloxone access and shifting attitudes toward harm reduction. Continued investment in cross-sector partnerships is necessary to ensure that naloxone reaches those who need it most.

Pillar 3: Creating Healthier Communities by Investing in Efforts to Ensure Equitable Access to Narcan

The third pillar of the COH model emphasizes creating healthier communities by advancing policies and practices that promote well-being for all.15 Equitable access to life-saving interventions like Narcan is central to addressing the opioid crisis in the United States. While Narcan has proven to reduce opioid overdose deaths, barriers to access persist, especially among vulnerable populations.6,8 Addressing these barriers is essential for building healthier, more resilient communities.

Insurance Coverage and Affordability Barriers

Despite the FDA’s approval of over-the-counter Narcan, cost remains a significant barrier, particularly for those without insurance.49 Medicaid and Medicare generally cover naloxone, but private insurance coverage is inconsistent, and out-of-pocket costs can exceed $120 for a single box, making it unaffordable for low-income individuals and families in areas most impacted by the opioid epidemic.50

Many pharmacies in low-income communities do not carry Narcan due to limited demand, driven partly by high costs and lack of insurance coverage.10 Some states, like New York, have programs such as the Naloxone Co-payment Assistance Program (N-CAP), which covers up to $40 of co-payments for naloxone prescriptions.51 However, uninsured individuals still face significant challenges. Expanding public funding and mandating insurance coverage for naloxone could reduce these disparities.52

Geographic Disparities in Naloxone Access

Naloxone availability also varies significantly by region, with rural and low-income urban areas facing the greatest challenges.53 Pharmacies in these regions are less likely to stock naloxone due to lower demand and limited resources, leaving high-risk communities without access to this life-saving medication.23

To address these disparities, some states have implemented standing orders allowing pharmacies to dispense naloxone without a prescription.54 In Massachusetts, a statewide standing order has substantially increased naloxone distribution, particularly in rural areas.55 Harm reduction organizations have also stepped in to fill gaps in access.25 For instance, in West Virginia, harm reduction programs have distributed thousands of naloxone kits to rural communities, reducing overdose deaths.56

The Role of Independent and Chain Pharmacies

A stark contrast exists between independent and chain pharmacies in naloxone availability. Independent pharmacies, especially in rural areas, are less likely to stock naloxone due to financial constraints and concerns about serving individuals who use drugs.57 In contrast, chain pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens are more likely to stock naloxone and have policies in place to ensure availability.58

CVS, for example, launched a public education campaign to increase awareness of Narcan’s availability and its role in saving lives.59 However, independent pharmacies in underserved areas still require targeted support, including financial incentives and education programs, to address these disparities and ensure naloxone reaches communities in need.60

Overcoming Stigma and Promoting a Culture of Health

Stigma remains one of the most significant barriers to naloxone access. Many individuals who use opioids hesitate to seek naloxone out of fear of judgment or being labeled as drug users. This stigma extends to healthcare providers, pharmacists, and law enforcement officials, some of whom are reluctant to stock or distribute naloxone due to misconceptions that it enables risky opioid use.21

Shifting public perceptions is critical to overcoming these barriers. Public health campaigns, like California’s “Know Overdose” initiative, educate communities about naloxone’s role as a harm reduction tool that saves lives.61 These campaigns emphasize that opioid overdoses are medical emergencies requiring immediate intervention, similar to heart attacks or strokes. By changing attitudes, such initiatives help normalize naloxone use and encourage greater distribution in communities affected by the opioid crisis.62

Success Stories: Expanding Naloxone Access Through Public Policy

Several states and cities have successfully expanded naloxone access through innovative public policy initiatives. In Rhode Island, the Department of Health allows community organizations to distribute naloxone directly to individuals without requiring them to visit a pharmacy.43 This approach has been particularly effective in reaching homeless individuals and those living in poverty.

Similarly, Illinois runs a statewide program providing free naloxone kits to people at risk of overdose and their loved ones. These kits are distributed through a network of healthcare providers, harm reduction groups, and community organizations, ensuring naloxone reaches those who need it most.63

In Philadelphia, the city’s health department partnered with local businesses to distribute naloxone at convenience stores, libraries, and recreation centers, improving access in neighborhoods with high overdose rates. Such efforts demonstrate the potential for innovative strategies to reduce opioid-related deaths by ensuring naloxone is readily available in underserved communities.64 Similarly, in Minnesota, public health officials have launched Narcan vending machines in Minneapolis, ensuring 24/7 access to the medication in high-risk areas, further demonstrating how innovative distribution strategies can improve equitable naloxone access.65

In summary, creating healthier communities through equitable access to Narcan requires addressing cost, insurance coverage, and geographic disparities while reducing stigma. Public policy initiatives, partnerships between pharmacies and public health agencies, and public education campaigns are all essential components. Success stories from states like Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Illinois highlight the impact of these efforts, but continued investment is needed to expand access to all at-risk populations. By prioritizing equitable access to naloxone, communities can take significant steps toward reducing overdose deaths and improving public health outcomes.

Pillar 4: Transforming Health and Healthcare Systems for Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder

The fourth pillar of the COH model emphasizes integrating healthcare and public health services to ensure equitable access to quality, affordable care. This is particularly critical for addressing OUD, which requires transforming healthcare systems to deliver comprehensive, evidence-based treatment that includes harm reduction, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and long-term recovery support.66 The FDA’s approval of over-the-counter Narcan is a step in this direction, but systemic changes are needed to address the broader opioid crisis.66

Integrating Harm Reduction Into Healthcare Systems

Harm reduction, including naloxone distribution, is central to OUD care. However, healthcare systems must go beyond providing naloxone to integrate harm reduction into routine care. Hospitals play a crucial role through initiatives like “warm handoffs”, where overdose patients in emergency departments (EDs) are connected with addiction specialists or recovery services before discharge.67 This approach ensures follow-up care, including MAT and access to harm reduction tools such as fentanyl test strips.53,68

In Rhode Island, hospitals have integrated naloxone distribution into discharge protocols for OUD patients, reducing repeat overdoses and increasing engagement in recovery services. Such efforts demonstrate how transforming hospital protocols can embed harm reduction as a standard part of care.67,69

Expanding Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

MAT, which combines medications like methadone or buprenorphine with behavioral therapies, is one of the most effective treatments for OUD. However, access to MAT is uneven, particularly in rural and underserved areas.53 Telemedicine has emerged as a valuable solution, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when regulatory changes allowed for remote MAT delivery.70 Permanently adopting telehealth flexibilities can further expand MAT access for those in areas with limited healthcare infrastructure.

Community-based pharmacies have also begun dispensing buprenorphine, providing additional access points for individuals who lack specialized addiction treatment centers. This model increases accessibility and helps normalize OUD treatment within the broader healthcare system, reducing stigma.71

Training Healthcare Providers to Address OUD

A significant barrier to improving OUD treatment is the lack of provider training. Many doctors, nurses, and pharmacists receive little education on substance use disorders, leading to missed intervention opportunities.72 States like Massachusetts have started addressing this gap by requiring prescribers to complete training on opioid safety, naloxone use, and MAT referrals.73 Expanding such requirements to include all healthcare providers, including behavioral and allied health professionals, would strengthen the workforce’s capacity to address OUD.74

Healthcare systems can also leverage online training modules and virtual workshops to keep providers updated on evidence-based practices.75 By investing in training, healthcare systems can create a more informed and effective workforce capable of meeting the needs of individuals with OUD.

Using Data to Drive Systemic Change

Leveraging data is essential for transforming healthcare systems to address OUD. Electronic health records (EHRs) and claims data can identify high-risk patients and enable targeted interventions. For example, pharmacies can track opioid prescriptions and provide naloxone or MAT to patients identified as at-risk.76

Public health agencies can collaborate with healthcare systems to implement data-driven strategies. In Pennsylvania, the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) has been used to track prescriptions, reduce overprescribing, and identify individuals at risk of overdose.76 By integrating PDMP data with public health initiatives, Pennsylvania has reduced opioid-related deaths and improved access to treatment.76,77

By combining harm reduction, MAT expansion, provider training, and data-driven strategies, healthcare systems can play a pivotal role in addressing the opioid crisis and supporting individuals with OUD.78

Discussion

The application of the four pillars of the COH model provides significant insights into the multifaceted strategies needed to address the opioid crisis through the wider use of Narcan. Each pillar emphasizes different dimensions of collaboration, equity, and system transformation, all of which are essential for reducing opioid overdose deaths and supporting individuals with OUD. Notably, success stories across different states demonstrate how the four pillars can operate synergistically to improve overdose outcomes. In Massachusetts and Rhode Island, comprehensive strategies integrating public health, healthcare, and community partners have expanded naloxone access, reduced stigma, and improved care transitions. In San Francisco, robust harm reduction messaging and community-based naloxone distribution initiatives have shifted cultural perceptions. Similarly, Ohio and Seattle, Washington, have demonstrated the importance of law enforcement engagement and cross-sector partnerships in supporting overdose prevention and recovery efforts. These examples illustrate that while each pillar offers distinct insights, their real-world application often occurs in combination, reinforcing the need for integrated, place-based approaches to building a Culture of Health. At the same time, each pillar addresses a unique dimension of systemic change: making health a shared value fosters societal norms that reduce stigma; cross-sector collaboration mobilizes diverse resources and leadership; equitable access ensures that life-saving interventions reach marginalized populations; and transforming healthcare systems embeds harm reduction and recovery support into clinical practice. Recognizing the distinct role of each pillar is critical to designing comprehensive and sustainable public health strategies to address the opioid crisis.

Summary of Insights and Takeaways from the Four Pillars

Pillar 1 emphasizes making opioid overdose prevention a shared value by overcoming stigma and fostering community-wide responsibility. Stigma in pharmacies and law enforcement discourages individuals from seeking naloxone.17,20 Successful harm reduction efforts in San Francisco and Massachusetts demonstrate that community support and education can normalize naloxone as a life-saving intervention, akin to other emergency medical tools.9,24,27

Pillar 2 underscores the importance of cross-sector collaborations in promoting Narcan’s use. Partnerships among pharmacies, law enforcement, hospitals, and community organizations have proven effective in programs like the LEAD program and hospital-based naloxone distribution. These collaborations increase access to timely overdose interventions and long-term treatment.38

Pillar 3 highlights the need to address economic and geographic barriers to Narcan access in rural and low-income communities. Initiatives in Rhode Island, New York, and Massachusetts have improved access by reducing costs and promoting community collaborations. Addressing disparities and ensuring pharmacies stock naloxone are essential to saving lives.43,51,54,55

Pillar 4 focuses on transforming healthcare systems to integrate harm reduction and MAT. Telemedicine has expanded MAT access in underserved areas, while hospital “warm handoff” programs connect overdose survivors to treatment. Systemic changes are vital for delivering comprehensive, patient-centered care for individuals with OUD.53,66–70

Implications for Practice

The insights gained from applying the COH model to opioid overdose prevention highlight several critical implications for practice across different sectors. For pharmacies, both chain and independent, there is a need to ensure that naloxone is readily available and affordable. Pharmacies should collaborate with public health departments37 to promote naloxone access, provide patient counseling, and participate in community education campaigns to reduce stigma.

For healthcare providers, including hospitals, clinics, and primary care practices, integrating harm reduction strategies like naloxone distribution and MAT into routine care is essential. Hospitals should implement protocols for overdose patients that include naloxone distribution and referrals to recovery services upon discharge.66,68,70

For law enforcement, adopting harm reduction principles and collaborating with healthcare providers and community organizations, as seen in LEAD programs, can help officers view overdose prevention as part of their public safety duties.38

Families and communities also play a key role in overdose prevention by learning how to use naloxone and supporting loved ones struggling with OUD. Public education campaigns should target families and at-risk communities to increase awareness and reduce stigma.31,32

Implications for Policy

Policymakers should prioritize expanding insurance coverage for naloxone, including making it available at no cost for uninsured individuals. States should consider mandating the stocking of naloxone in all pharmacies, particularly in high-risk areas, and provide financial support to independent pharmacies to ensure affordability.14,33,37,57 Additionally, telemedicine should be made a permanent option for MAT to improve access in underserved regions.70

Implications for Future Research

Further research is needed to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of cross-sector collaborations in reducing opioid overdose deaths. Additionally, studies should explore the impact of public education campaigns on reducing stigma and increasing naloxone usage. Understanding the barriers to naloxone access in rural and low-income areas will also be critical to developing more targeted interventions.53

In summary, addressing the opioid crisis requires coordinated efforts across all sectors of society. By applying the COH model’s four pillars—shared values, cross-sector collaboration, equitable access, and healthcare system transformation—communities can create a sustainable framework for reducing overdose deaths and supporting long-term recovery for individuals with Opioid Use Disorder.15,17,20

Conclusion

The US opioid epidemic remains one of the most urgent public health challenges of our time, demanding a shift from conventional healthcare interventions to broader system-level and cultural change. The FDA’s approval of over-the-counter Narcan represents a pivotal milestone, but its potential will be realized only through strategic efforts to make naloxone truly accessible, affordable, and normalized within communities. Applying the RWJF Culture of Health (COH) model, this paper presents a comprehensive roadmap for advancing harm reduction strategies, promoting equitable access, and integrating systemic reforms to combat opioid overdose deaths.

Evidence reviewed in this paper demonstrates that stigma remains a profound barrier to naloxone access and utilization, deterring both individuals and healthcare providers. Community-based naloxone distribution programs and public education campaigns, such as those implemented in San Francisco, Rhode Island, and Philadelphia, offer powerful models for increasing public uptake and saving lives. Nevertheless, challenges persist: Narcan’s price point, geographic disparities in availability, and limited public awareness continue to undermine the promise of OTC access. While national policy efforts have prioritized naloxone expansion, the full potential of these initiatives will depend on addressing these systemic barriers through multi-sector collaboration and sustained public health investment.

Ultimately, addressing the opioid crisis demands both urgent action and long-term cultural change. The COH model provides a guiding framework for engaging stakeholders across healthcare, public health, law enforcement, and community organizations to create a system where overdose prevention is a shared value and recovery pathways are accessible to all. Though uncertainties remain about how quickly OTC Narcan adoption will scale, the collective lessons from harm reduction and cross-sector collaboration are clear: building healthier, more resilient communities requires persistence, innovation, and a commitment to health equity.

Looking ahead, sustained and coordinated action across sectors will be critical to achieving the systemic and cultural changes needed to end the opioid epidemic. By fostering a culture of health that embraces harm reduction, advances equitable access, and transforms healthcare systems, we can help turn the tide on the opioid epidemic. The journey toward a healthier and more compassionate society will require sustained collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to addressing the social and structural determinants that perpetuate opioid-related harm. With deliberate and coordinated action, we can build a future where life-saving interventions like Narcan are universally accessible, and every individual has a fair opportunity for recovery and wellness.

Ethics Statement: Not Applicable: Ethics/IRB approval does not apply to this Perspective paper as this work did not involve human subjects.

Disclosure: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Source:  https://www.dovepress.com/transforming-opioid-overdose-prevention-in-the-united-states-leveragin-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-RMHP

Filed under: Addiction,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Opioids,Prevention and Intervention,USA :
by Ken Winters and Naomi Schaefer Riley, opinion contributors, THE HILL news  – 06/14/25 8:00 AM ET

“Since the failed war on drugs began more than 50 years ago, the prohibition of marijuana has ruined lives, families and communities, particularly communities of color,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) recently said while announcing a bipartisan bill to legalize cannabis that the federal level. Jeffries added that the bill “will lay the groundwork to finally right these wrongs in a way that advances public safety.”  

But the growing body of evidence on cannabis’s effects on kids suggests this is not true at all.  

Cannabis legalization efforts across the U.S. have greatly accelerated over the last 15 years. Despite some recent success at anti-legalization efforts (e.g., Florida and North Dakota voters rejected in 2024 an adult use bill), the widespread public support for cannabis reform has translated to nearly half of U.S. states permitting adult use of cannabis, and 46 states with some form of a medical cannabis program. 

Though all legal-marijuana states have set the minimum age at 21, underage use has become a significant health concern. National data indicate that in 2024, 16.2 percent of 12th graders reported cannabis use in the past 30 days, and about 5.1 percent indicated daily use. To compound matters, product potency levels of the main intoxicant in the cannabis plant, THC (or Delta-9), have skyrocketed, from approximately 5 percent in the 1970s to upwards of 95 percent in THC concentrate products today. Even street-weed is routinely five to six times more potent than it was back in the day. 

The pro-cannabis landscape has likely moved teen perceptions of cannabis use. A prior encouraging trend of the 1970s and 1980s, when more and more teens each year perceived use of cannabis to be harmful, is now in reverse. Only 35.9 percent of 12th graders view regular cannabis use as harmful, compared to 50.4 percent in 1980. 

This is happening even as research is showing that cannabis is more deleterious to young people than we previously believed.  

The negative effects of cannabis use on a teenager can be seen across a range of behaviors. Changes may be subtle at first and masked as typical teenage turmoil. But ominous signs can soon emerge, including changes in friends, loss of interest in school and hobbies, and use on a daily basis. The usual pushback against parental rules and expectations becomes anger and defiance. For many, underlying issues of depression and anxiety get worse.

And there is a vast body of scientific research indicating that teen-onset use of THC use significantly increases the risk of addiction and can be a trigger for developing psychosis, including schizophrenia.

The pro-cannabis trend is not occurring in a vacuum. Those entrusted with protecting the health and well-being of youth — parents, community leaders, policy makers — have dropped the ball on the issue. Policymakers tout exaggerated claims that THC is a source of wellness and safer than alcohol or nicotine. In some states, cannabis-based edibles are sold in convenience stores. Many parents have a rear-view-mirror perception of cannabis, as they assume the products these days are the water-downed versions from the 1960’s and ’70s.  

Aggravating matters are the influences of some business interests. The playbook from Big Tobacco is now being used by Big Cannabis: political donations, legislative lobbying, media support, and claims that solutions to social problems will follow legalization. 

The debate on the public health impact of legalizing cannabis will continue. We hope the discourse and policies will follow the science and give priority to the health and well-being of youth. An international panel of elite researchers on cannabis recently concluded that there is no level of cannabis use that is safe, and if use occurs, it’s vital to refrain until after puberty. The National Academy of Sciences and the National Institute on Drug Abuse also agree with these guidelines. One state — Minnesota — is requiring school-based drug prevention programs to include specific information on cannabis harms, a hopeful trend for other states to follow.

When recreational cannabis is made available to adults, perhaps we assume that legal restrictions to those age 21 and older is a sufficient guardrail. But history tells us that youth will indulge in adult-only activities. The pro-cannabis environment in the U.S. poses a public health challenge to young people. There isn’t a single challenge of being a teenager that cannabis will help solve. Sadly, this is a message that is not getting enough attention. 

Naomi Schaefer Riley is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where she focuses on child welfare and foster care issues. Ken Winters is a senior scientist at the Minnesota branch of the Oregon Research Institute and is the co-founder of Smart Approaches to Marijuana Minnesota. This essay is adapted from a chapter in the forthcoming edited volume, “Mind the Children: How to Think About the Youth Mental Health Collapse.” 

Source:  https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/5347506-the-case-for-restricting-cannabis-age/
Filed under: Addiction,Cannabis/Marijuana,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Mental Health,Parents,Prevention and Intervention,USA,Youth :

From National Public Radio – by Brian Mann – June 10, 2025

Justin Carlyle, age 23, photographed on the street in Kensington, a neighborhood of Philadelphia, has lived with addiction to fentanyl and other drugs for a decade. After a decade when overdoses devastated young Americans, drug deaths among people in the U.S. under age 35 are plummeting. The shift is saving thousands of young lives every year.

PHILADELPHIA — When Justin Carlyle, 23, began experimenting with drugs a decade ago, he found himself part of a generation of young Americans caught in the devastating wave of harm caused by fentanyl addiction and overdose.

“I use fentanyl, cocaine, crack cocaine, yeah, all of it,” Carlyle said, speaking to NPR on the streets of Kensington, a working class neighborhood in Philadelphia where dealers sell drugs openly. “I was real young. I was 13 or 14 when I tried cocaine, crack cocaine, for the first time.”

As an elevated train rumbled overhead, Carlyle described turning to fentanyl, xylazine and other increasingly toxic street drugs. “I’ve had three overdoses, and two of the times I was definitely Narcaned,” he said, referring to a medication, also known as naloxone, that reverses potentially fatal opioid overdoses.

Carlyle’s teens and early 20s have been wracked by severe drug use, but the fact that he’s still alive means he’s part of a hopeful new national trend.

“What we’re seeing is a massive reduction in [fatal] overdose risk, among Gen Z in particular,” said Nabarun Dasgupta, an addiction researcher at the University of North Carolina. “Ages 20 to 29 lowered the risk by 47%, cut it right in half.”

This stunning drop in drug deaths among people in the U.S.is being tracked indata compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other federal agencies.

The latest available records found fentanyl and other drugs killed more than 31,000 people (see chart) under the age of 35 in 2021. By last year, that number had plummeted to roughly 16,690 fatal overdoses, according to provisional CDC data.

The life-saving shift is welcome news for parents like Jon Epstein, who lost his son Cal to fentanyl in 2020. “What has happened with the 20- to 29-year-olds? They beat fentanyl,” said Epstein, who works with a national drug awareness group focused on young people called Song for Charlie.

Cal Epstein (right) died from a fentanyl overdose in 2020 when he was 18. His father, Jon Epstein, and mother, Jennifer Epstein, joined a movement of activist parents in a group called Song for Charlie that works to raise awareness about the risks of fentanyl and other street drugs. Also shown is Cal’s brother, Miles Epstein.

For America’s young, a decade of unprecedented carnage

To understand the significance of this promising trend, it’s important to recall the terror and devastation wrought by fentanyl among families and communities in the U.S.

Beginning around 2014, U.S. officials say Mexican drug cartels began smuggling large quantities of fentanyl into American communities, often disguising the street drug as counterfeit prescription pills resembling OxyContin or Percocet.

Over the past decade, drug overdoses among young people surged, killing more than 230,000 people under the age of 35. For many families and whole communities, the losses felt catastrophic.

“We went to check on [Cal] and he was unresponsive,” Jon Epstein recalled. “We made it to the hospital, but he didn’t make it home. It was a bolt out of the blue.”

Portraits on “The Faces of Fentanyl” wall, displays photos of Americans who died from a fentanyl overdose, at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) headquarters in Arlington, Va.

Cal Epstein was 18, a college student. According to the family, it’s not clear why he decided to take an opioid pill. He tried to purchase a prescription-grade pill from a dealer on social media. In fact, it was a counterfeit pill containing a deadly dose of fentanyl.

While grieving, Jon Epstein started learning about fentanyl, digging through public health data. He found other kids in his town of Beaverton, Ore., were dying. “They had lost four students [to fatal overdoses in the local school district] in the preceding year,” he recalled.

Jon and his wife, Jennifer Epstein, connected with a growing network of shattered parents around the country who were waking up to a terrifying fact: Fentanyl, often sold on social media platforms, was making it into their homes and killing their kids.

Like many grieving families, they turned their sorrow into activism. Through the group Song for Charlie, they worked to educate young people and parents about the unique dangers of fentanyl.

“The game has completely changed, especially for kids who are going through an experimental phase,” Jon Epstein warned in a video distributed nationally. “An experimental phase is now deadly.” This message — summed up by the phrase One pill can kill — began spreading in schools and on social media nationwide but for years the wave of death seemed unsolvable.

In a study published last month in the journal Pediatrics, researcher Noa Krawczyk at the NYU Grossman School of Public Health found deaths attributed entirely to fentanyl “nearly quadrupled” among people people age 15 to 24 from 2018 through 2022.

“In your generation, people used drugs. In my generation people used drugs, we just didn’t use to die as much from them,” Krawcyzk said.

Especially among teenagers in the U.S., fentanyl deaths seemed stuck at catastrophic levels, between 1,500 and 2,000 fatal overdoses a year. Then last year, federal data revealed a stunning decline, with 40% fewer teens experiencing fatal overdoses. “We’re super heartened to finally see teens dropping,” Epstein said.

While the improvement is dramatic, Dasgupta at the University of North Carolina, found the recovery among teens appears uneven.

Some teens and twenty-somethings are seeing far fewer deaths, but he identified one cluster born between 2005 and 2011 who actually saw a slight uptick in deaths over the past two years. The increase is relatively small — about 300 additional fatalities nationwide over two years — but Dasgupta said it’s an area of concern that needs more study to determine why.

The question now is what changed that is suddenly saving so many young lives? Drug policy experts are scrambling to understand the shift.

Many U.S. kids appear more cautious about drug use

Theories include the wider distribution of Narcan, or naloxone; a trend of weaker, less deadly fentanyl being sold by dealers; more readily available addiction healthcare; and also the loss of so many vulnerable young people who have already died.

National

Deadliest phase of fentanyl crisis eases, as all states see recovery

Many researchers believe another key factor may be less risky drug and alcohol use among teens and twenty-somethings, a pattern that emerged during the years of the COVID epidemic. One study by a team at the University of Michigan found the number of teens abstaining from substance grew to its highest level in 2024.

“This trend in the reduction of substance use among teenagers is unprecedented,” Nora D. Volkow, who has served as director of the U.S. government’s National Institute on Drug Abuse since 2003, said in a statement last December.

Keith Humphreys, an addiction researcher at Stanford University, credits this apparent behavioral shift with helping save lives. “There’s fewer people initiating with these substances. That should work in our favor,” he told NPR.

According to Dasgupta at the University of North Carolina, years of devastation caused by fentanyl and other opioids might mean more people in their teens and twenties are choosing to experiment with less risky drugs.

“Alcohol and opioids are on the outs with Gen Z, and instead we see [a shift to] cannabis and psychedelics, and those are inherently safer drugs,” he said.

Overall, this positive trend among younger Americans is outpacing the wider opioid recovery in the U.S., which saw 27% fewer fatal overdoses across all age groups in 2024.

The Story Behind The Story

Reporter’s notebook: 8 theories why fentanyl deaths are plummeting

Will drug deaths keep dropping for young Americans?

While this news is promising — roughly 15,000 fewer drug deaths among young people in the U.S. in 2024, according to preliminary data, compared with the deadliest year 2021 — researchers say sustaining progress may be difficult.

That’s because many of the young people still most at risk, like Justin Carlyle in Philadelphia, aren’t just experimenting with drugs. They’re struggling with full blown addiction.

“What I’m used to is getting high, you know?” he said.

Despite the danger of a fatal overdose, Carlyle told NPR he has tried to quit fentanyl repeatedly, even using the medication suboxone to to try to curb his opioid cravings, so far without success.

“I wish I had the answer to that. I know all of us fighting addiction right now wish we had the answer,” he said.

But many experts, activists and front-line healthcare workers say there’s more hope on the streets, too. The spread of Narcanis helping. Researchers studying street drugs say the fentanyl being sold by dealers in the U.S. is less potent, less deadly, than it once was.

Politics

Trump team revokes $11 billion in funding for addiction, mental health care

That matters because studies show people who survive addiction long enough do typically recover.

There are also growing efforts around the U.S. aimed at reaching young people experiencing severe addiction, programs that ramped up over the past four years with federal funding from the Biden administration.

On a recent afternoon, two city drug response workers in Philadelphia, Kevin Howard and Dominick Maurizio, offered counseling to a young man huddled in a bus shelter.

“Anything we can help you with? Want to go in-patient?” Howard said. “Want to go to a shelter?”

Dominick Maurizio (left) and Keven Howard work for the city of Philadelphia’s Mobile Outreach and Recovery Services program, doing street outreach to people, including many young people, living with severe addiction. Both survived cocaine and heroin use when they were in their 20s and say they believe programs like this one are helping people recover.

Howard and Maurizio are themselves in recovery after surviving what they describe as their own battles with heroin and crack cocaine addiction when they were young men in their 20s.

Both said they believe this kind of outreach is helping. “If we help one person, we’re winning in some capacity,” Maurizio said.

“I see it as me saving lives,” Howard said. “Any time I give someone Narcan or just check on them to see if they’re alive, I believe we’re winning.”

But experts point to one other uncertainty in this first hopeful moment since the fentanyl crisis began.

The Trump administration wants to cut billions of dollars in funding for science and health agencies responding to the fentanyl crisis. The federal government has already moved to freeze or end grants that support front-line drug treatment and harm reduction programs.

In a statement, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said the goal is to “streamline resources and eliminate redundancies, ensuring that essential mental health and substance use disorder services are delivered more effectively.”

But doctors, researchers and harm reduction activists told NPR if addiction services are scaled back or shut down, the promising recovery among teens and young adults could unravel.

Source:  https://www.npr.org/2025/06/10/nx-s1-5414476/fentanyl-gen-z-drug-overdose-deaths

Filed under: Addiction,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Fentanyl,Prevention and Intervention,USA,Youth :
by Islamic Republic News Agency – Journalist ID: 1114 – Jun 8, 2025, 6:21 PM

Iran positions itself as a key partner for the SCO in tackling narcotics and boosting regional security.

Tehran, IRNA – Iran is prepared to become a regional hub for illicit drug prevention and treatment programs under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), citing the country’s extensive experience and achievements in combating drug abuse, an official said.

Mohammad Narimani, head of the International Affairs Department of the Drug Control Headquarters, made the remarks on Sunday following his return from high-level SCO meetings in Xi’an, China.

“The SCO has strong structural capacities in the fight against drugs, but practical challenges still hinder its effectiveness,” Narimani said.

He stressed that the Islamic Republic has paid a heavy human and financial cost in the fight against drug trafficking and expects the SCO to use its political, security, and economic influence to assist Iran in that regard.

“This cooperation would not only benefit Iran but also contribute to the stability and security of the entire region,” he said.

Narimani added that Iran’s efforts to counter common threats such as terrorism, narcotics, and sanctions could strengthen the SCO’s standing as a powerful bloc in an increasingly multipolar world.

He also pointed to concrete areas where the SCO could support Iran, including identifying and dismantling drug trafficking and terrorist networks, pressuring the ruling Taliban to destroy heroin and methamphetamine production labs in Afghanistan, and facilitating Iran’s access to advanced border control equipment.

Source:  https://en.irna.ir/news/85855787/Iran-seeks-to-become-regional-hub-for-drug-prevention-under

Filed under: Drug use-various effects,Heroin/Methadone,Opioids,Others (International News),Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction :

by  Sarah Newey Global Health Security Correspondent, in Bangkok. Nuttakarn Sumon in Mae Sai    – Telegraph, London, UK – 08 June 2025

The region is now the world’s most active synthetic drug production zone – and authorities are struggling to intercept smugglers

The soldiers drop to the forest floor as their lieutenant barks an order and the men quickly meld into the lush hillside’s dense foliage, weapons poised.

“This part is about patience,” says Lt Ketsopon Nopsiri, as he inspects his men’s drill positions on a misty Saturday morning. “Once we have the intel, we scout a place for the ambush. Sometimes it’s hours before the smugglers come. But then everything happens very rapidly.” In these mountainous pine forests in the heart of the Golden Triangle, Thai soldiers are embroiled in a sometimes deadly standoff, as they struggle to stem the surging flow of illicit synthetic drugs flooding across the unmarked border with Myanmar.

In 2024, Thailand seized a record 130 tons of methamphetamine, according to a report last week from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which uses confiscated drugs as a proxy for the scale of production and trafficking. That’s close to half of the 236 tons seized in East and Southeast Asia as a whole – itself a record figure, and 24 per cent higher than 2023.

“While these seizures reflect, in part, successful law enforcement efforts, we are clearly seeing unprecedented levels of methamphetamine production and trafficking from the Golden Triangle,” says Benedikt Hofmann, the UNODC’s acting regional representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

“We are looking at the world’s most active synthetic drug production zone, here in this region,” he adds later.

The vast majority of these drugs come from Myanmar’s Shan state, where jungle labs are turning precursor chemicals from India and China into an “almost never-ending” stream of synthetic drugs.

While production pre-dated the military coup in 2021, these workshops have gone into overdrive since the country descended into a brutal civil war.

The heavily sanctioned military regime is increasingly reliant on proceeds from criminal activities – as are the armed groups fighting with and against them – while crime syndicates have exploited rising lawlessness to cement their influence.

According to the Global Organized Crime Index, Myanmar now ranks as the world’s top destination for organised, transnational crime – including human trafficking and scam centres, wildlife smuggling and illegal rare earth mines. And, of course, the drugs.

The opium trade that first made the Golden Triangle notorious has made a comeback, but there is now also “industrial-scale production” of synthetic drugs, says UNODC.

Alongside methamphetamine tablets, crystal meth (ice) and yaba (a very cheap combination of methamphetamine and caffeine popular in Southeast Asia), labs are also manufacturing ketamine, plus concoctions of various synthetic drugs known as “happy water”, “party lollipops” and “k-powdered milk”.

These are eventually transported across Asia and the Pacific, to countries as far away as Japan, Australia and New Zealand, via trafficking networks operated by what experts say are “agile, well-resourced” criminal gangs.

But often, their first port of call is Thailand – and the porous border that spans either side of Mae Sai town, where Lt Ketsopon and his unit are among the troops attempting to intercept smugglers.

“People cross the border on foot with backpacks full of drugs,” says Lt Ketsopon, as we trudge along a remote stretch of the 22km border which his unit at Doi Changmub monitors. “The paths are not easy, and we don’t have enough manpower in comparison to the region we have to cover.” When the unit does encounter smugglers – usually in night time ambushes, organised with intelligence from a network of informants on both sides of the border – the clashes can be deadly.

Across Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai provinces in northern Thailand, there were 37 confrontations between October 1 and April 30, and 13 smugglers died, according to military data from the Pha Mueng Taskforce.

Lt Ketsopon’s unit was involved in one of these deadly clashes, at 5am on a Sunday morning in February.

“We never fire a weapon before the other side. In our playbook you don’t do that. But we said we were officers of the law – and soon, 15 to 20 people were firing at us in the dark … with handmade guns and AK47s,” he says.

Myanmar now ranks as the world’s top destination for organised, transnational crime.

The clash, which he thinks lasted no more than 10 minutes, did not bring arrests – the surviving smugglers fled back into Myanmar, where Thai soldiers cannot follow. But the troops seized 15 rucksacks of drugs, with three million methamphetamine pills inside.

Despite record low prices amid a flooded market, this haul would still have been worth as much as $8.1 million (£5.9m) if sold in Thailand, where a single tablet costs between 80 cents and $2.7 (between 50p and £2), according to the UNODC report. Prices are as low as 60 cents in Myanmar, but jump to $19.3 per tablet in China, and $50 in South Korea.

In another incident in March, soldiers and police at one of the countless checkpoints dotted across Chiang Rai region intercepted 1,500kg of crystal meth concealed inside oil barrels in a military-style vehicle with a fake number plate. In Thailand, the average per gram price is $24 – making this shipment alone worth some $36 million.

At the Pha Mueng Forces’ military headquarters in Chiang Rai, Colonel Anywach Punyanum says drug trafficking “has grown exponentially” in recent years – with 52 million methamphetamine tablets, 723kg of ice, 20kg of opium and 5.3kg of heroin seized between October and April.

“In the past, to catch like 100,000 methamphetamine tablets was a big deal. Now we catch more than a million pills, and it’s just a normal day,” he says. “It’s getting a lot worse.”

It’s like a game of whack-a-mole. Military units constantly patrol chunks of the border, working with informants to ambush supply routes, often in collaboration with the police. But it’s a long, porous border and the smugglers are smart. No matter how much authorities confiscate, the drugs keep coming.

“Countries in the Mekong, especially Thailand, are seizing about the same amount of methamphetamines as we are seeing between Latin America and the United States,” says UNODC’s Mr Hofmann. “But if you look at the capacities, at the resources available to make those seizures, it’s very different.”

Experts note that there are significant overlaps with the criminal syndicates running scam compounds and illegal online casinos in the region, and there is no obvious way of stopping production of the drugs at source in war-torn Myanmar.

“The volume of drugs being produced and coming across [the Thai-Myanmar border] is almost never-ending. The nature of synthetic drugs means that they’re very easily producible, easily replaceable, and relatively cheap to manufacture,” says Mr Hofmann.

Two changes could help tackle the issue: cutting off the chemicals going into Myanmar that are used in the production process; and resolving the insecurities plaguing Myanmar. But neither seem likely.

“It doesn’t matter how well you organise a response on the Thai side, it is very difficult to see the same happening on the Myanmar side. So finding a solution to the situation in Myanmar needs to be part of the solution for the drug issues this region faces,” says Mr Hofmann.

“But at the end of the day, this is a supply driven market – drug traffickers steer the supply, but people somewhere are using these vast volumes of synthetic drugs,” he adds.

Exactly how drug use has shifted across the region is not yet well understood, but UNODC says it seems to be increasing in countries along the trafficking routes. In Thailand, for instance, household drug use surveys between 2016 and 2024 suggest methamphetamine tablet use is “rapidly expanding”, the UN agency said.

Many of the soldiers on patrol in northern Thailand’s mountains have witnessed these issues first-hand. Troops say the damage wrought by drugs at home and abroad is a major motivation for them as they spend long nights hiding in the forest’s undergrowth.

“I’ve seen people in my communities using drugs and hallucinating, or starting to hurt their own family members,” says Lt Ketsopon, as we climb the hill back towards the military trucks after a successful set of drills.

“When I was growing up, I thought being a soldier would be about fighting and battling,” he adds. “But I think this is an important thing to be a part of; to stop these drugs getting into the country.”

 

Source: drug-watch-international

Filed under: Crime/Violence/Prison,Others (International News),Synthetics :
by Sarah Nelson, The Minnesota Star Tribune

Brian Warden, the Harm Reduction Director at Anything Helps, talks with a client in Minneapolis on Wednesday. Anything Helps is an organization that does a lot of work with harm reduction and street outreach for people struggling with substance abuse. They provide people with a number of services, including showers, laundry, safe sharps removal, medical supplies for injuries and food.© Elizabeth Flores/Star Tribune/TNS

A subtle shift was happening among clients at the north Minneapolis community drop-in center.

For years, people seeking substance abuse services at Anything Helps reported using just one drug of choice. Recently, staff noticed more and more users had expanded their appetite, preferring a combination of drugs at once versus “picking a lane.” The polysubstance abuse among their regulars soon evolved almost exclusively to one pairing of drugs in the majority of their clients: fentanyl and methamphetamine.

“That’s pretty new,” according to Brian Warden, the nonprofit’s harm reduction director. “That’s something we traditionally see in cities like Denver, San Francisco or Seattle. That’s not something we’ve really seen here.”

To Warden, the change in the clientele’s drug use pattern could stem from a number of reasons, including a correlation with a rise in homelessness in Minneapolis. But undoubtedly, he said, the phenomenon can be explained in part by the recent surge of methamphetamine in Minnesota.

As the deadly fentanyl crisis demanded the state’s attention post-pandemic, another was building with methamphetamine. The stimulant, long supreme in the underbelly of Minnesota’s drug scene, is flooding the state — with a more dangerous dosage than meth of the past.

“The numbers are just a ridiculous amount of meth … it just hasn’t gotten enough publicity,” said Rafael Mattei, acting special agent in charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s division over Minnesota.

The meth surge in Minnesota came just as the street fentanyl crisis showed signs of easing.

U.S. opioid overdose deaths plummeted 41% in 2024, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and fatal overdoses of all kinds fell 27%. In Minnesota, preliminary data from the Minnesota Department of Health showed an 8% drop in overall overdose deaths from 2022 to 2023.

But meth “has never gone away,” Mattei said.

No longer homemade in makeshift labs, meth is being churned out of Mexican super labs by cartels that cashed in on the lack of supply and cheaper production costs. And its price has plummeted, becoming a more lucrative option for dealers.

Ken Sass, state-wide drug and gang coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, recalled a pound of meth costing $3,000 to $5,000 around 15 years ago, during his tenure as a federal drug agent. Now, he estimates, the price has fallen below $1,000.

The drug makes its way to Minnesota most often by snaking up the Interstate 35 corridor to be sold in droves or continue into neighboring states.

Last year, federal officials announced they had busted “one of the largest and most prolific drug organizations” in Minnesota’s history following the arrest of a Twin Cities man accused of helping push a historic amount of meth and other substances from Mexico.

Federal prosecutors allege Clinton Ward made ties with two of Mexico’s most notorious drug cartels and funneled the substance across the border via shipping containers, private vehicles and semitrailers before breaking the drug down into smaller quantities, then delivering it to Minnesota. The U.S. Attorney’s Office charged Ward under the rare “kingpin” statute, along with 14 others in the conspiracy case that led to the seizure of 1,600 pounds of methamphetamine, 4 kilograms of cocaine, 2 kilograms of fentanyl and 30,000 counterfeit fentanyl pills.

Federal officials described the bust as a success for having disrupted a major pipeline of illegal drugs in Minnesota.

Yet methamphetamine is continuing to pour into Minnesota with no sign of slowing down, data from the DEA indicates.

Last year, the amount of methamphetamine seized by federal agents in Minnesota increased 142%, totaling 2,080 pounds, compared with the roughly 860 pounds of meth seized in 2023. The numbers do not include drugs seized by state, local or tribal law enforcement.

Federal drug agents are on track to outpace the amount of meth seized last year. They’ve seen a 25% increase in the amount of meth seized from January to April 2025, compared with the same time last year.

More readily available meth, Sass said, “leads to more addiction and probably a broadening market as well.” And although meth may not be as lethal as fentanyl, the drug today poses its own dangers.

The meth from Mexican super labs holds higher potency, resulting in a more dangerous and addictive concoction than the meth sold in the 1990s and early 2000s. After federal legislation in 2005 cracked down on the commercial sale of products containing precursor chemicals to make meth, such as pseudoephedrine in the decongestant Sudafed, cartels pursued the chemicals overseas and became bulk buyers. The product is then cut with other hazardous materials to bring maximum profit.

Users deep in the throes of meth addiction can stay awake for days, leading to paranoia and hallucinations. A hallmark sign of meth addiction is wounds on a user’s skin caused by incessant scratching. People who experience withdrawals may resort to theft, robbery or other crimes to obtain money for another hit. The elevated potency can only worsen symptoms, which carry ripple effects into communities.

“Their health, their mental health, their relationships, medical conditions that arise from addiction and all the personal problems that would come from [addiction] … they relay that to the relationships with their family,” Sass said.

In some cases, law enforcement and treatment providers are seeing fentanyl added to methamphetamine.

Though the risk of dying from a meth overdose is much lower than that of fentanyl, which has a deadly dose that can fit on the tip of a pencil, the drug takes its toll “little by little.”

“There is no accident here,” Warden said, saying of the adulteration of fentanyl with meth, “I’ve never seen anything like that before.”

Mattei likened the difference between the meth on the streets today compared with meth of the past as that of whiskey versus beer.

“They were making beer first,” Mattei said. “Now the meth that’s out there is kind of like higher-proof alcohol. So you need less to feel.”

Source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/meth-makes-comeback-in-minnesota-in-more-dangerous-and-record-ways/ar-AA1GgJ6j

Filed under: Drug use-various effects,Methamphetamine/GHB/Hallucinogens/Oxycodone,Prevalence,USA :

Summary

This is the first systematic review of the safety of ketamine in the treatment of depression after single and repeated doses. We searched MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Databases and identified 288 articles, 60 of which met the inclusion criteria. After acute dosing, psychiatric, psychotomimetic, cardiovascular, neurological, and other side-effects were more frequently reported after ketamine treatment than after placebo in patients with depresssion. Our findings suggest a selective reporting bias with limited assessment of long-term use and safety and after repeated dosing, despite these being reported in other patient groups exposed to ketamine (eg, those with chronic pain) and in recreational users. We recommend large-scale clinical trials that include multiple doses of ketamine and long-term follow up to assess the safety of long-term regular use.
Source: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(17)30272-9/abstract January 2018
Filed under: Brain and Behaviour,Ketamine,Uncategorized :

Abstract

Introduction

In the USA, opioid analgesic use and overdoses have increased dramatically. One rapidly expanding strategy to manage chronic pain in the context of this epidemic is medical cannabis. Cannabis has analgesic effects, but it also has potential adverse effects. Further, its impact on opioid analgesic use is not well studied. Managing pain in people living with HIV is particularly challenging, given the high prevalence of opioid analgesic and cannabis use. This study’s overarching goal is to understand how medical cannabis use affects opioid analgesic use, with attention to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol content, HIV outcomes and adverse events.

Methods and analyses

We are conducting a cohort study of 250 adults with and without HIV infection with (a) severe or chronic pain, (b) current opioid use and (c) who are newly certified for medical cannabis in New York. Over 18 months, we collect data via in-person visits every 3 months and web-based questionnaires every 2 weeks. Data sources include: questionnaires; medical, pharmacy and Prescription Monitoring Program records; urine and blood samples; and physical function tests. Using marginal structural models and comparisons within participants’ 2-week time periods (unit of analysis), we will examine how medical cannabis use (primary exposure) affects (1) opioid analgesic use (primary outcome), (2) HIV outcomes (HIV viral load, CD4 count, antiretroviral adherence, HIV risk behaviours) and (3) adverse events (cannabis use disorder, illicit drug use, diversion, overdose/deaths, accidents/injuries, acute care utilisation).

Ethics and dissemination

This study is approved by the Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine institutional review board. Findings will be disseminated through conferences, peer-reviewed publications and meetings with medical cannabis stakeholders.

Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7778768/ Dec 2020

Filed under: Health,Marijuana and Medicine,Opioids :

A few of us may know, or can infer, what the genera vitis or nicotiana refer to. Fewer, perhaps, malus or pyrus. How many of us are familiar with solanum? Humulus? Triticum? Hordeum? Zea?

Marijuana. Pot. Weed. Ganja. Reefer. Whacky tobacky. There are countless names for the drug that has become a cultural mainstay in America today. But the people who grow and sell it, the people who make up — and cater to — the booming industry that is “marijuana,” invariably refer to the drug as “cannabis.” Consciously or not, this is an attempt to reform the public’s view of an increasingly powerful psychoactive drug.

I am a grape grower and a viticulturist by title. I grow wine grapes for vineyard owners and wineries, so I am no stranger to the drug industry or it’s marketing efforts. If I were to use the term vitis with any of my clients I would surely get a raised eyebrow and maybe, if I were lucky, a chuckle.

I grew up in the tobacco country of Virginia and North Carolina. I’m fairly certain that I have never heard a tobacco farmer refer to his crop as “nicotiana.” I’ve worked in both pear and apple orchards and have yet to hear either referred to by their genera pyrus and malus, respectively.

The next time you’re buying tomatoes or potatoes, try asking the farmer or produce manager how the solanum crop was this year. Or maybe ask your local brewer what his favorite variety of humulus for his triticum beers is, or if he prefers 2-row to 6-row hordeum.

Many of us may be familiar with “maize” (another common name for corn) or even it’s origin, Z. mays. But to refer to it as Zea; that would be analogous to using the word cannabis to describe hemp and marijuana.

So what gives?

Pot growers live in a tenuous landscape. Their crop, while allowed in some states, is still federally illegal. By eschewing the long-standing colloquialisms associated with the drug, the industry is essentially rebranding itself in an effort to appear more legitimate and professional.

“Medicine” had long been preferred to “drug” when referring to marijuana, but this misnomer has faded as new recreational use laws have ended prohibition. And no one has ever gone to jail for “cannabis” possession because the legal system still refers to the drug as “marijuana.”

Cannabis, as defined by its current taxonomy, is a genus. Not all of the species or varieties within this genus will produce the psychoactive compounds associated with marijuana in sufficient concentration to elicit the drug’s mind-altering effects. Referring to marijuana as cannabis is a declassification; and while broadly accurate, it is by no means precise.

I can empathize with this labeling insecurity. Several varieties of vitis vinifera – Merlot, Syrah, Riesling – have fallen out of fashion with the public and are frequently bottled under proprietary names. Unfortunately for some growers, vitis doesn’t have the greatest ring to it. Nor is it very specific. Vitis (as a genus like cannabis) describes everything from wild grapes, muscadines and concords to the finest Pinot Noir or Champagne. Even more specifically, vitis vinifera still encompasses every fine wine-grape of old-world origin — some thousands of varieties.

Source: https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2017/08/why_marijuana_isnt_just_cannab.html  August 2017

Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana :

Abstract

Background

Many risk behaviours in adolescence are socially patterned. However, it is unclear to what extent socioeconomic position (SEP) influences adolescent drinking in various parts of Europe. We examined how alcohol consumption is associated with parental SEP and adolescents’ own SEP among students aged 14–17 years.

Methods

Cross-sectional data were collected in the 2013 SILNE study. Participants were 8705 students aged 14–17 years from 6 European cities. The dependent variable was weekly binge drinking. Main independent variables were parental SEP (parental education level and family affluence) and adolescents’ own SEP (student weekly income and academic achievement). Multilevel Poisson regression models with robust variance and random intercept were fitted to estimate the association between adolescent drinking and SEP.

Results

Prevalence of weekly binge drinking was 4.2% (95%CI = 3.8–4.6). Weekly binge drinking was not associated with parental education or family affluence. However, weekly binge drinking was less prevalent in adolescents with high academic achievement than those with low achievement (PR = 0.34; 95%CI = 0.14–0.87), and more prevalent in adolescents with >€50 weekly income compared to those with ≤€5/week (PR = 3.14; 95%CI = 2.23–4.42). These associations were found to vary according to country, but not according to gender or age group.

Conclusions

Across the six European cities, adolescent drinking was associated with adolescents’ own SEP, but not with parental SEP. Socio-economic inequalities in adolescent drinking seem to stem from adolescents’ own situation rather than that of their family.

Source: https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-017-4635-7 August 2017

Filed under: Alcohol,Economic,Prevalence,Youth :
  • Arrests for drunk behaviour at airports and aeroplanes have rocketed this year
  • BBC1 Panorama collected information for 18 out of 20  airport police forces 
  • More than 387 passengers were arrested last year, a rise of 50% from 2015 

Arrests for drunken behaviour at airports and on aeroplanes have rocketed by half over the past year, a report shows.

It said 387 passengers were arrested last year for causing alcohol-fuelled disruption at airports or on aircraft – a rise of 50 per cent on 2015.

BBC1’s Panorama collected the information from 18 of the 20 police forces that cover Britain’s airports.

Licensing laws which affect pubs, bars and shops do not apply to ‘airside’ areas of airports, the zones in which passengers wait for flights after passing through security.

A House of Lords committee reported this spring that one airline – Jet2 – was faced with 536 disruptive incidents in the summer of 2016. It said that many offenders ‘had the opportunity to drink heavily at the airport before they get on the flight’.

Panorama said more than half the cabin crew staff who answered a survey said they had either experienced or witnessed verbal, physical or sexual abuse on a UK flight. One in five had been physically abused.

Former Virgin airlines crew manager Ally Murphy said: ‘People just see us as barmaids in the sky. They would touch your breasts, or they’d touch your bum or your legs … I’ve had hands going up my skirt before.’

Baroness Hayter, of Alcohol Concern, said of airports: ‘They are selling alcohol in front of children, they are selling it around licensing hours, they are selling it without asking how much people have already drunk. They are making it very, very readily available.’

Karen Dee, of the Airport Operators Association, said: ‘I don’t accept that the airports don’t sell alcohol responsibly.

‘The sale of alcohol per se is not a problem. It is the misuse of it and drinking to excess and then behaving badly.’

The Lords committee said rules that applied elsewhere should also be implemented airside.

The Home Office said ministers were considering the peers’ report.

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4787478/Drunk-air-passenger-arrests-soar-50-2016.html August 2017

Filed under: Alcohol,Brain and Behaviour :
  • Experts warn that millions of people are drinking way more than they should
  • This week a US report showed 1 in 8 Americans are now deemed alcoholics
  • But how do you know if ‘happy hour’ has turned into a concerning issue?
  • Take this 10-step test, made in association with the World Health Organization, to find out 

From wine o’clock to the infamous ‘one for the road’, there are countless opportunities for us to booze on a regular basis.

But have you crossed the line from a ‘harmless’ drink to dependency? And would you be able to spot the signs?

Experts are warning that millions of us are overdoing it – and it could be more difficult to cut down or quit than we think.

Not only can heavy drinking devastate our livers, bones and brain cells, it also increases the risk of depression, divorce and redundancy.

Indeed, the Royal College of Psychiatrists has stated that alcohol causes much more harm than illegal drugs like heroin and cannabis. ‘It is a tranquilizer, it is addictive, and is the cause of many hospital admissions for physical illnesses and accidents,’ experts there warn.

What’s even more concerning is that many of us vastly underestimate how much we drink – and the effect it has on us.

‘Heavy drinking has become normalized – alcohol is ingrained in so many areas of our lives and there is a lot of pressure to drink,’ says Dr Iqbal Mohiuddin, a consultant psychiatrist with a special interest in addictions and clinical lead at Serena House a medical detox and treatment center in London’s Harley Street.

‘Many people I see either don’t realize or are in denial about their alcohol consumption – I often suspect it’s double what people admit to.

‘Part of the problem is many of us have no idea how many units are in various drinks – its nearly always more than you think – and can vary widely even among different types of wine and beers.’

SIZING UP YOUR DRINK

In the UK

This graphic by DrinkAware explains the UK’s guidelines for drinking.

They explain that the alcoholic content in similar types of drinks varies a lot, and just one pint of strong lager or a large glass of wine can contain more than three units of alcohol.

On a bottle of wine or a can of lager and you’ll see either a percentage, followed by the abbreviation ‘ABV’ (alcohol by volume), or sometimes just the word ‘vol’.

Wine that says ‘13 ABV’ on its label contains 13 percent pure alcohol.

While some ales are 3.5 percent, some lagers can be around 6 percent.

Some wines can contain upwards of 14 percent alcohol.

In the US

This graphic is by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

It explains how the US advises people on drinking limits.

They offer examples of four different drinks of varying sizes, to show how alcohol content is different.

A DANGEROUS LINE

But when do your long lunches, after-work drinks or that ‘decompression’ glass of wine at home become a cause for concern?

‘Not everyone who drinks heavily will become dependent, or an alcoholic,’ explains Dr Mohiuddin. ‘But some of us are definitely predisposed to it.

‘It’s a mixture of genes and environment. Many people with a drinking problem have a family history of it – a parent, aunt/uncle, a grandparent. It doesn’t mean everyone in a family will suffer.

‘However, if the environment is there – perhaps a job with a heavy drinking culture – a problem can develop.’

Around 20 percent of people in Britain and the USA drink to a hazardous level, figures show.

‘It’s easy for many people to get through a bottle of wine a night, and over time, this can creep steadily upwards, to two or even three,’ says Dr Mohiuddin.

‘In my experience, a lot of heavy drinkers – both men and women – steadily move onto harder things.

‘They may start with beer or perhaps wine and then progress on to heavy spirits such as vodka or whiskey.

‘However it’s not necessarily what you are drinking or where, it’s the amount and the effect it’s having on your life (see below). Some people will be able to cut down, while others will try and then realise they can’t – a sign of dependence.

‘There is a significant proportion of heavy drinkers who don’t realise or are in denial that they could be functioning – albeit progressively less functioning – alcoholics.’

THE WARNING SIGNS

‘The main problem is that it’s quite easy for some people to slip into drinking regularly – and the soothing effect it gives you becomes like using a tranquilizing medication such as diazepam,’ explains Dr Mohiuddin.

‘But over time, the benefits wear off quicker and you need more alcohol to get the same effect.’

‘Many people associate being an alcoholic with drinking in the morning, the old adage of ‘vodka on the cornflakes’ or sitting on a park bench with a can of cider – but there are many more subtle signs of dependence and/or alcoholism.’

This graphic by SAMHSA outlines how alcohol can detrimentally affect your health

The Royal College of Psychiatrists has produced a list of classic symptoms that show your drinking has stepped up to a worrying level. These include:

  • You regularly use alcohol to cope with anger, frustration, anxiety or depression – instead of choosing to have a drink, you feel you have to have it.
  • You regularly use alcohol to feel confident
  • Your drinking affects your relationships with other people – they may tell you that, when you drink, you become gloomy or aggressive. Or, people around/with you look embarrassed or uncomfortable when you are drinking.
  • You stop doing other things to spend more time drinking – these other things become less important to you than alcohol.
  • You carry on drinking even though you can see it is interfering with your work, family and relationships.
  • You hide the amount you drink from friends and family
  • Your drinking makes you feel disgusted, angry, or suicidal – but you carry on in spite of the problems it causes
  • You start to drink earlier and earlier in the day and/or need to drink more and more to feel good/get the same effect
  • You start to feel shaky and anxious the morning after drinking the night before
  • You get ‘memory blanks’ where you can’t remember what happened for a period of hours or even days

FROM CANCER TO DEPRESSION, HOW HEAVY DRINKING WRECKS YOUR HEALTH

We all know the dangerous of heavy boozing on the liver – but there’s much more at stake.

‘One thing many people seem oblivious to is the massively increased risk of cancer from drinking alcohol excessively,’ says Dr Mohiuddin. ‘The risk is similar to smoking – and goes through the roof when it comes to breast, mouth and bowel cancer.’

In fact, alcohol is linked to over 60 illnesses and diseases, including heart disease, and it’s estimated that around one in three men and one in six women will develop some sort of health problem caused by it.

On top of physical damage, alcohol and depression go hand-in-hand. This is because it affects the chemistry of the brain – plus hangovers can create a cycle of waking up feeling ill, anxious, jittery and guilty.

The risk of suicide and self-harm also increases when alcohol is added into the mix.

‘There is the issue of cause and effect when it comes to alcohol and depression,’ explains Dr Mohiuddin.

‘More often than not, it’s alcohol making a person depressed rather than drinking because they’re depressed – although they may not realize it. Most people find their mood starts to lift when they stop drinking for a few weeks, which is a tell-tale sign.’

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4778704/Are-drinking-quiz-out.html August 2017
Filed under: Alcohol,Drug use-various effects,Health :

This is a copy of an article which was submitted to BMJ but was deemed unsuitable for publication

Short Title:
Case for Caution with Cannabis
Albert Stuart Reece 1,2
Moira Sim 2
Gary Kenneth Hulse 1,2
1 – Division of Psychiatry,
University of Western Australia,
Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
2 – School of Medical and Health Sciences,
Edith Cowan University,
Joondalup, Western Australia, 6027, Australia.

There exists sufficient empirical data from cellular to epidemiological studies to warrant caution in the use cannabinoids including cannabidiol as recreational and therapeutic agents.
Cannabinoids bind to CB1R receptors on neuronal mitochondrial membranes 1-7 where they can directly disrupt key functions 8-12; including cellular energy generation, DNA maintenance and repair, memory and learning 1-7,9,10,13-24.
Empirical literature associates cannabinoid use with CB1R-mediated vasospastic and vasothrombotic strokes, myocardial infarcts, arrhythmias 25-98 and arteritis 25,77,78,99-106.

Cannabis has been associated with increased cardiovascular stiffness and vascular aging, a major surrogate for organismal aging 107. In the pediatric-congenital context CB1R-mediated cannabis vasculopathy forms a major pathway to teratogenesis including VSD, ASD, endocardial cushion defects, several other cardiovascular anomalies 75,108 and, via the omphalo-vitelline arterial CB1R’s 25, gastroschisis 108-114. Cannabis has been linked with several other malformations including hydrocephaly 108. Cannabinoids also induce epigenetic perturbations 115-123; and, like thalidomide 124-126, interfere with tubulin polymerization 127-132 and the stability of the mitotic spindle precipitating micronucleus formation 129,133-142, chromosomal shattering (chromothripsis) 129,143-157 providing further major pathways to genotoxicity .
Assuming validity of the above data, increased levels of both adult and neonatal morbidity should accompany increased cannabis use. The “Colorado Responds to Children with Special Needs” (CRCSN) program tracked congenital anomalies 2000-2013 158. Importantly this data monitors the teratological history of Colorado since 2001 when the state was first advised that intrastate cannabis would not be prosecuted by the Federal Government. In 2012 medical cannabis was legalized and in 2014 cannabis was completely legalized.

Over the period 2000-2013 Colorado almost doubled its already high congenital anomaly rate rising from 4,830 anomalies / 65,429 births (7.4%) to 8,165 / 65,004 (12.6%; Figure 1); the US mean is 3.1%. Major cardiovascular defects rose 61% (number and rate); microcephaly
rose 96% (from 30 to 60 cases peaking at 72 in 2009); and chromosomal anomalies rose 28% (from 175 to 225, peaking at 264 in 2010; Figure 2-7). Over the whole period this totals to 87,772 major congenital anomalies from 949,317 live births (9.25%).
The use of cannabis in Colorado can be determined from the SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health. A close correlation is noted between major congenital anomaly rates and rates of cannabis use in Coloradans >12 years (R=0.8825; P=0.000029; Figure 8).
Although data is not strictly comparable across U.S. registries, the Colorado registry is a passive rather than active case-finding registry and so might be expected to underestimate anomaly rates. Given the Colorado birth rate remained almost constant over the period 2000-2013, rising only 3.6%, a simple way to quantitate historical trends is to simply project forwards the historical anomaly rate and compare it to the rise in birth numbers. However rather than remaining relatively stable in line with population births, selected defects (left hand column Table 1) have risen several times more than the birth rate (right hand column).
Colorado had an average of 67,808 births over the period 2000-2013 and experienced a total of 87,772 birth defects, 20,152 more than would have been predicted using 2000 rates. Given the association between cannabis use and birth defects and the plausible biological mechanisms, cannabis may be a major factor contributing to birth congenital morbidity in Colorado. If we accept this and apply the “Colorado effect” to the over 3,945,875 births in USA in 2016 we calculate an excess of 83,762 major congenital anomalies annually nationwide if cannabis use rises in the US to the level that it was in Colorado in 2013.
In reality both cannabis use and cannabis concentration is rising across USA following legalization which further implies that the above calculations represent significant underestimations 159,160. This CRCSN data series terminates in 2013 prior to full legalization in 2014. Moreover parents of children harbouring severe anomalies may frequently elect for termination, which will again underestimate numbers of abnormal live births.
In California 7% of all pregnant mothers were recently shown to test positive for cannabis exposure, including almost 25% of teenage mothers in 2015 so cannabinoids clearly constitute a significant population-wide teratological exposure 161. This is particularly relevant to cannabis genotoxicity as many studies show a dramatic up-tick in genotoxic effect in the dose-response curve for both tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol above a certain threshold dose as higher, sedating levels are reached 132,136,162-166. Cannabis is usually used amongst humans for its sedative effects.
Other examples of high congenital anomaly rates accompanying increased cannabis use include North Carolina 167-169, Mexico 170-175, Northern Canada 111,176-178, New Zealand 179 and the Nimbin area in Australia 180-183.
The above data leave open the distinct possibility that the rate of congenital anomalies from significant prenatal paternal or maternal cannabis exposure may become substantial. With over 1,000 trials listed on clincaltrials.gov the chance of a type I experimental error for
cannabinoid therapeutics and a falsely positive trial finding is at least 25/1,000 trials at the 5% level. The major anomaly rate is just the “tip of the iceberg” of the often subtle neurobehavioral teratology of Foetal Cannabinoid Syndrome (FCS) following antenatal cannabinoid exposure characterized by attention, learning, behavioral and social deficits which in the longer term impose significant educational, other addiction and welfare costs – and is clearly more common 121,184-226. Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is known to be epigenetically mediated 227-252 and foetal alcohol is known to act via CB1R’s 187,204,207-209,211,217,253-260.

Cannabis has significant and heritable epigenetic imprints in neural, immune and germ cell (sperm) tissues 20,117,119,120,122,261-263, and epigenomic disruption has been implicated in FCS 242. CB1R-mediated disruption by disinhibition of the normal gamma and theta oscillatory rhythms of the forebrain which underpin thinking, learning and sanity have been implicated both in adult psychiatric disease and the neurodevelopmental aspects of FCS 212.
All of this implies that in addition to usually short-term therapy-oriented clinical trials, longer term studies and careful twenty-first century next generation studies will be required to carefully review inter-related genotoxic, teratologic, epigenetic, transcriptomic, metabolomic, epitranscriptomic and long term cardiovascular outcomes which appears to have been largely overlooked in extant studies – effects which would appear rather to have taken Coloradans by surprise. Congenital registry data also needs to be open and transparent which it presently is not. We note that cannabidiol is now solidly implicated in genotoxicity 134,264-270.

Governments are duty-bound to carefully weigh and balance the implications of their social policies; lest like Colorado, we too unwittingly create a “Children with Special Needs Program” 158.

These data also directly imply that young adults, as the very group which most consumes cannabis 160,161,271-274 is the very group which most requires protection from its reproductive, genotoxic and teratogenic effects.

Yours sincerely,
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Stuart Reece.
University of Western Australia and
Edith Cowan University,
Perth,
Australia.

An original copy of the article with full references and figures is available here

Case for Caution with Cannabis JAMA 5.1 – With Full References

Source: Article from Dr Stuart Reece June 2018

Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana,Drug use-various effects on foetus, babies, children and youth,Genes,Health :

by Barbara A. Preston | www.themontynews.org – June 6, 2025

Montgomery Police and Health Department officials are partnering to raise awareness about the dangers of vaping and substance abuse. They sponsored a program at Montgomery High School on Friday, June 6, aimed at educating teens about the risks.

Experts say vaping weed, and nicotine, are very popular with teens across the country — however, users are often uninformed about the risks and harm associated with the trend.

According to the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Tobacco companies and e-cigarette companies are targeting youth. The problem goes beyond nicotine. The delivery device, commonly referred to Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) is a major part of the problem. Also called electronic cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vaping devices, or vape pens, ENDS are battery-powered devices used to smoke or “vape” a flavored or unflavored solution which usually contains nicotine or marijuana, or both. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) recognizes the increased use of ENDS, especially among youth and young adults.

Montgomery Township Police Chief Silvio Bet said the Vaping Program at the high school is one of many important initiatives the police and health department plan to roll out.
“Our continued initiatives symbolize our commitment to fostering a culture of awareness that benefits all community members,” Chief Bet said. The programs also build a stronger relationship between the police department, the health department, and the community, he said.

ThinkFast Interactive, an educational consultant company based in Kent County, Michigan, led the assembly portion of the program. They gave a lively, loud, and fun interactive presentation to the MHS freshman and sophomores in the school auditorium.

The ThinkFast MCs and DJs raised student awareness on everything from the harmful chemicals found in e-cigarettes to the potency of today’s marijuana.

Chemicals Found in Vapes

According to ThinkFast and Prevention Resources Inc data, the following chemicals are commonly found in vape devices:
       – Diacetyl (The chemical associated with the disease “popcorn lung.”)
       – Heavy Metals ( Lead and nickel can build-up in the body to fatal levels.)
       – Formaldehyde (A toxic chemical component used in the embalming process.)

Potency of Today’s THC (Marijuana)

Teens are overdosing from vaping THC in our community, according to Prevention Resources. They have ended up in local hospitals for emergency care because of the very high concentration of THC in today’s weed.
Some studies show the percentage of THC in cannabis has more than quadrupled since 1995. Samples seized by the Drug Enforcement Administration in 1995 contained 3.96% of THC. By 2022, the percent of TCH increased to 16.14%, according to The National Institute on Drug Abuse.
– Addictive Drugs such as nicotine and THC (marijuana), are known to cause brain changes, which are most harmful to adolescents. Research shows that about one in six teens who repeatedly use cannabis can become addicted, as compared to one in nine adults
Marcantuono summed up the program, telling The Montgomery News, “Our goal is to educate, raise awareness, and change the trajectory to prevent ENDS device initiation and ultimately, to end tobacco and marijuana use.”

Source:  https://www.themontynews.org/single-post/teens-learn-about-the-many-risks-of-vaping-nicotine-and-thc-more-potent-addictive-and-dangerous-t

Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana,Drug use-various effects,Education,Mental Health,Prevention and Intervention,USA,Vaping,Youth :
by  Kabeer Bello,  Daily Post, Nigeria –   

The Drug-Free Arewa Movement (DFAM) has appealed to the leaders of Northern Nigeria to join forces in confronting the growing threat of drug trafficking and substance abuse taking root in the region.

In his Eid-el-Kabir message on Friday in Abuja, DFAM Lead Convener, Ibrahim Yusuf, expressed deep concern over the devastation drug abuse is inflicting on Northern Nigeria.

He described drug abuse as an epidemic that is “silently slaughtering the future of the region.”

While congratulating the Muslim faithful in the celebration of Eid, Yusuf called on leaders and stakeholders across all levels of society: politicians, traditional leaders, legislators, religious institutions, civil society, and families—treat the battle against drug abuse as a national emergency.

“This menace has paralyzed development and development opportunities, provided avenues for social vices, and mental health crises,” stated Yusuf.

“We are losing our youth—the greatest asset to addiction, unemployment, and/or hopelessness.”

Yusuf made it clear that DFAM isn’t just doing advocacy, it is collaborating with communities, schools, and religious institutions to implement evidence-based substance demand reduction strategies.

He called on the Northern States Governors’ Forum, their spouses, the Northern Traditional Rulers Council, not to run away nor be afraid to respond. He observed that

“Drug abuse does not discriminate based on ethnicity, politics, or religion… It is a monster that rides into the home, the school, the street and place of worship.”

He said that he had to honour the past North leaders like Sir Ahmadu Bello and Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and he said that today’s generation learned and be influenced by the leaders’ legacies of unity, vision, and purpose.

He challenged the stakeholders to take the following steps: reintegrate out-of-school children, build rehabilitation centres, implement school based drug prevention programs, and create real economic opportunities for youths.

“Say no to drugs, it is a slow killer that steals your future and your peace. To those of you that are already addicted, you can quit! DFAM is here to help.”

 

Source:  https://dailypost.ng/2025/06/07/drug-abuse-silently-killing-northern-youths-dfam/

Filed under: Drug use-various effects,Others (International News),Prevalence,Prevention and Intervention,Youth :
by Amy Norton – May 14, 2025

The trends are clear: Americans are in the midst of a marijuana high. Over the past 30 years, daily or near-daily marijuana use soared 15-fold, surpassing daily alcohol use for the first time in 2022. That same year, marijuana use reached historic levels among Americans aged 19-50 — with 11% of 19- to 30-year-olds saying they used the drug every day.

A key reason for the surge is that more states are legalizing both medical and recreational marijuana use. Another driver, which is closely tied to legalization, is the changing public perceptions around marijuana: Many people just don’t see much harm in the habit, or at least view a daily marijuana joint as safer than smoking cigarettes.

And they’re not necessarily wrong: Although it’s obvious marijuana use can have consequences — including intoxication, dependence, and respiratory symptoms such as chronic bronchitis — there is little, or not enough, evidence to definitively conclude that it’s a cancer risk.

But that also doesn’t mean marijuana is completely in the clear.

“Insufficient evidence doesn’t mean the risk isn’t there,” said Nigar Nargis, PhD, senior scientific director of tobacco control research, American Cancer Society (ACS).

‘The Crux of the Problem’

Marijuana smoke does contain many of the same carcinogens found in tobacco smoke, so it seems logical that a cannabis habit could contribute to some cancers. Yet studies have largely failed to bear that logic out.

In 2017, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) published a comprehensive research review on cannabis smoking and cancer risk. It found modest evidence of an association with just one cancer: a subtype of testicular cancer. In the cases of lung and head and neck cancers, studies indicated no significant association between habitual cannabis use and risk for these cancers. When it came to other cannabis-cancer relationships, the evidence was mostly deemed insufficient or simply absent.

However, the overarching conclusion from the NASEM review was that studies to date have been hampered by limitations, such as small sample sizes and survey-based measurements of cannabis use that lack details on frequency and duration of use. In addition, many marijuana users may also smoke cigarettes, making it difficult to untangle the effects of marijuana itself.

“That’s the crux of the problem,” Nargis said. “We have a huge knowledge gap where existing evidence doesn’t allow us to draw conclusions.”

That long-standing gap is becoming more concerning, she said, because legalization may now be sending a “signal” to the public that cannabis is safe.

This concern prompted Nargis and her colleagues to explore whether studies conducted since the 2017 NASEM report have lifted the marijuana-cancer risk haze at all. Their conclusion, published in February in The Lancet Public Health: not really.

“Unfortunately, the evidence base hasn’t improved much,” Nargis said. However, she added, some studies have hinted at links between cannabis use and certain cancers beyond testicular. Although these studies have their own limitations, Nargis stressed, they do point to directions for future research.

Head and Neck Cancers

While the NASEM report cited reassuring data on head and neck cancers, a study published last year in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery reached a different conclusion. The researchers tried to overcome some limitations of prior research — including small sample sizes and relatively light and self-reported marijuana use — by analyzing records from patients diagnosed with cannabis use disorder at 64 US healthcare organizations.

The study involved over 116,000 patients with cannabis use disorder, matched against a control group without that diagnosis. Head and neck cancers were rare in both groups, but the overall incidence over 20 years was about three times higher among patients with cannabis use disorder (0.28% vs 0.09%).

After propensity score matching — based on factors such as age and tobacco and alcohol use — patients with cannabis use disorder had a 2.5-8.5 times higher risk for head and neck cancers, especially laryngeal cancer: any type (risk ratio [RR], 3.49), laryngeal cancer (RR, 8.39), oropharyngeal cancer (RR, 4.90), salivary gland cancer (RR, 2.70), nasopharyngeal cancer (RR, 2.60), and oral cancer (RR, 2.51).

But although the study was large, “it’s not particularly strong evidence,” said Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz, MPH, PhD, an epidemiologist and senior research fellow at the University of Wollongong, Australia.

Meyerowitz-Katz pointed to some key limitations, including the focus on people with cannabis use disorder, who are not representative of users in general. The study also lacked information on factors that aren’t captured in patient records, such as occupation — which, Meyerowitz-Katz noted, is known to be associated with both head and neck cancer risk and cannabis use.

Beyond that, the risk increases were generally small, even with extensive use of the drug.

“If we assume the study results are causal,” Meyerowitz-Katz said, “they suggest that people who use cannabis enough to get a diagnosis of cannabis use disorder get head and neck cancer at a rate of around 3 per 1000 people, compared to 1 per 1000 people who don’t use cannabis.”

Cannabis and Childhood Cancers

As marijuana use has shot up among Americans generally, so too has prenatal use. One study found, for instance, that the rates almost doubled from about 3.4%-7% of pregnant women in the US between 2002 and 2017. Many women say they use it to manage morning sickness.

Given the growing prenatal use, however, there is a need to better understand the potential risks of fetal exposure to the drug, said Kyle M. Walsh, PhD, associate professor in neurosurgery and pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina.

The fortunate rarity of childhood cancers makes it challenging to study whether maternal substance use is a pediatric cancer risk factor. It’s also hard to define a control group, Walsh said, because parents of children with cancer often have difficulty recollecting their exposures before and during pregnancy.

To get past these limitations, Walsh and his colleagues took a different approach. Instead of trying to track cannabis use and tie it to cancer risk, Walsh’s team focused on families of children with cancer to see whether prenatal substance use was associated with any particular cancer subtypes. Their study, published last year in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, surveyed 3145 US families with a child diagnosed with cancer before age 18. The study, however, did not focus on just marijuana; it looked at illicit drug use during pregnancy more generally. Although the authors assumed that would mostly mean marijuana, it could include other illicit drugs, such as cocaine.

Overall, 4% of mothers reported using illicit drugs during pregnancy. Prenatal use of illicit drugs was associated with an increased prevalence of two tumor types: intracranial embryonal tumors, including medulloblastoma and primitive neuroectodermal tumors (prevalence ratio [PR], 1.94), and retinoblastoma (PR, 3.11).

“Seeing those two subtypes emerge was quite interesting to us, because they’re both derived from a cell type in the developing fetal brain,” Walsh said. That, he added, “aligns in some ways” with research finding associations between prenatal cannabis use and increased frequencies of ADHD and autism spectrum disorders in children.

Interestingly, Walsh noted, prenatal cigarette smoking — which was also examined in the study — was not associated with any cancer subtype, suggesting that smoking might not explain the observed associations between prenatal drug use and central nervous system tumors. But, he stressed, it will take much more research to establish whether prenatal marijuana use, specifically, is associated with any childhood cancers, including studies in mice to examine whether cannabis exposure in utero affects neurodevelopment in ways that could promote cancer.

Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer is the one cancer that has been linked to cannabis use with some consistency. But even those findings are shaky, according to Meyerowitz-Katz.

A 2019 meta-analysis in JAMA Network Open concluded that long-term marijuana use (over more than a decade) was associated with a significantly higher risk for nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumors (odds ratio, 1.85). But the authors called the strength of the evidence — from three small case-control studies — low. All three had minimal controls for confounding, according to Meyerowitz-Katz.

“Whether this association is due to cannabis or other factors is hard to know,” he said. “People who use cannabis regularly are, of course, very different from people who rarely or never use it.”

In their 2025 Lancet Public Health review, Nargis and her colleagues pointed to a more recent study, published in 2021 in BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology, that looked at the issue in broader strokes. The study found parallels between population marijuana use and testicular cancer rates, as well as higher rates of the cancer in US states where marijuana was legal vs those where it wasn’t.

However, Nargis said, observational studies such as this must be interpreted with caution because they lack data on individuals.

If regular cannabis use does have effects on testicular cancer risk, the mechanisms are speculative at best. Researchers have noted that the testes harbor cannabinoid receptors, and there is experimental evidence that binding those receptors may alter normal hormonal and testicular function. But the path from smoking weed to developing testicular cancer is far from mapped out.

Risk for Other Cancers?

The recent Lancet Public Health overview also highlights emerging evidence suggesting a relationship between cannabis use and risks for a range of other cancer types.

A handful of observational studies, for instance, showed correlations between population-level cannabis use and risks for several cancers, such as breast, liver, thyroid, and prostate. The observational studies, mostly from a research team at the University of Western Australia, made headlines last year with a perspectives piece published in Addiction Biology, claiming there is “compelling” evidence that cannabis is “genotoxic” and raises cancer risk.

But, as Meyerowitz-Katz pointed out, the paper is only a perspective, not a study. And the human data it cites are from the same limited evidence base critiqued in the NASEM and ACS reports.

Meyerowitz-Katz does not discount the possibility that marijuana use contributes to some cancers. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we find that extensive cannabis use — particularly smoking — is related to cancer risk,” he said. But based on the existing evidence, he noted, the risk, if real, is “quite small.”

Where to Go From Here?

What’s needed, Nargis said, are large-scale cohort studies like those that showed cigarette smoking is a cancer risk factor. For the ACS, she said, the next step is to analyze decades of data from its own Cancer Prevention Studies, which included participants with a history of cannabis use and cancer diagnoses verified using state registries.

Nargis also noted that nearly all studies to date have focused on marijuana smoking, and “almost nothing” is known about the long-term health risks of newer ways to use cannabis, including vaping and edibles.

“What’s concerning,” she said, “is that the regulatory environment is not keeping up with this new product development.”

With the evolving laws and attitudes around cannabis use, Nargis said, it’s the responsibility of the research community to find out “the truth” about its long-term health effects.

“People should be able to make their choices based on evidence,” she said.

 

Source:  https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/marijuana-use-rising-it-cancer-risk-2025a1000br5?

Filed under: Addiction,Cannabis/Marijuana,Crime/Violence/Prison,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Education,Health,Marijuana and Medicine,Mental Health,Prevention and Intervention,USA,Youth :

by Albert Tait – Telegraph of London – 04 June 2025

Marcus Arduini Monzo is also charged with assaulting four others in Hainault attack in April last year

A man accused of murdering a 14-year-old schoolboy with a Japanese sword experienced psychotic episodes after taking cannabis, a court has heard.

Marcus Arduini Monzo, 37, believed “he was in a battle against evil forces” when he allegedly stabbed Daniel Anjorin as he walked to school in Hainault, north-east London, on April 30 last year.

He is said to have “moved quickly like a predator” behind Daniel before inflicting a “devastating and unsurvivable chopping injury” to his face and neck.

The Spanish-Brazilian national, from Newham, east London, is also accused of attacking four others, including two police officers, during a 20-minute rampage.

He has denied eight of the 10 charges against him, including murder.

A trial at the Old Bailey heard on Wednesday that Mr Monzo’s mental state had been “materially altered” by cannabis use and, at the time of the alleged attack, he had “developed a cannabis-induced fully fledged psychotic episode characterised by reality distortion symptoms”.

Tom Little KC, prosecuting, said Mr Monzo was “informed by his delusional beliefs that he and his family were in mortal danger, and that he was engaged in a battle against evil forces at a time of revelation or Armageddon”.

He said cannabis was identified in Mr Monzo’s urine and blood samples after the incident and a “large amount” of cannabis was also found in a search of his house, along with a “skinned and deboned cat”.

Mr Little, quoting forensic psychiatrist Prof Nigel Blackwood, who will later be called by the prosecution, said: “In Prof Blackwood’s opinion, cannabis misuse appears to have been the principal driver of his mental state deterioration at this time.

“The violence would not, in Prof Blackwood’s opinion, have happened in the absence of such voluntary substance misuse.”

Mr Monzo appeared in the dock wearing a bright green jumper with short, cropped hair and stubble. He looked furtively around the court at times and spoke often to security guards sitting on either side of him. Daniel’s family was also in the court.

Mr Little said Mr Monzo had left his home just before 6.30am in his van, wearing a yellow Quiksilver hoodie, black trousers, and black shoes.

He said the attack started at about 6.51am when he drove his van into Donato Iwule, a pedestrian in Laing Close, causing him to be “catapulted some distance into a garden”.

Video footage of the incident was played to the jury, in which Mr Iwule, who had been walking to a Co-op store where he worked, can be heard screaming in pain.

Mr Monzo allegedly then left the vehicle and approached Mr Iwule with a samurai sword.

Mr Little said: “Donato Iwule shouted at him ‘I don’t know you’ and the defendant said ‘I don’t care, I will kill you’.

“That comment from the defendant tells you, you may think, everything you need to know about his intention that morning.”

Mr Monzo is alleged to have swung his sword at Mr Iwule’s neck and torso, but he was able to roll away and escape over a fence.

“If he had not managed to escape, it seems inevitable that he too would have been killed,” said Mr Little.

Mr Monzo is then said to have driven further down Laing Close before exiting the vehicle.

At this time, the court heard that Daniel had left his home and was walking to school wearing sports clothes, his backpack, and headphones.

Mr Little said: “The defendant had obviously seen him and the defendant then moved quickly like a predator behind Daniel Anjorin.

“He lifted the sword above his head and then swung it downwards towards Daniel’s head and neck area.

“Daniel instantly fell to the ground. The defendant then leant over him and used the sword again to injure Daniel.”

He added: “The force used was extreme. It involved a devastating and unsurvivable chopping injury to the left-hand side of Daniel’s face and neck”.

Mr Monzo is then said to have taken off Daniel’s backpack, dragging the schoolboy’s body along the road in the process.

The court heard that emergency services had been called to the scene at this time.

Mr Monzo is said to have then attacked Pc Yasmin Margaret Mechem-Whitfield, who pursued him down a series of alleyways behind residential properties while he was still armed.

He is then alleged to have entered a nearby house where he attacked a couple in their bedroom.

Mr Little said the couple’s lives had been spared only because “their four-year-old child woke up and started crying”.

He said there were many police officers in the area at that time, and that Mr Monzo then became “surrounded in a garage area nearby to the other attacks”, where he attacked another police officer.

Mr Monzo was finally disarmed and detained after he climbed onto the roof of the garage, Mr Little said.

Asked about the attack in a police interview, Mr Monzo said his personality switched and that “something happened, like a game happening”, and it was like “the movie Hunger Games”.

Mr Little said: “He said that one of his personalities is a professional assassin.”

In court last month, Mr Monzo denied eight of the 10 charges against him but admitted two counts of having an offensive weapon – a katana sword and a tanto katana sword.

He also pleaded not guilty to the attempted murders of Mr Iwule, Sindy Arias, Henry De Los Rios Polania and Pc Mechem-Whitfield as well as wounding Insp Moloy Campbell with intent.

Mr Monzo denied aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article relating to a kitchen knife.

The trial continues.

 

Source:  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/c13e61a0c544cb64

Filed under: Addiction,Cannabis/Marijuana,Crime/Violence/Prison,Drug use-various effects,Marijuana and Medicine,UK,Youth :

by Pat Aussem, L.P.C., M.A.C., Vice President, Consumer Clinical Content Development – June 2025

Personalized support for addressing your child’s substance use or addiction

(available in English and Spanish)

 

Fentanyl poisoning & counterfeit pills

According to the CDC, deaths from fentanyl poisoning are fastest growing among 14- to 23-year-olds. The presence of fentanyl both in counterfeit pills and in illicit street drugs poses a grave threat to the safety of teens and adults alike.

Teen substance use trends are always changing, and staying informed can help parents have better conversations with their kids. The good news? Teen substance use is at an all-time low! According to the Monitoring the Future survey, fewer teens are drinking, vaping, or using drugs compared to previous years.1 So, the next time your teen says, “Everyone is doing it,” you can ask how they’re seeing substance use in their world and what their peers are saying. The truth is, most teens are making healthy choices.

That said, it’s still important to keep an eye on emerging trends. New products, shifting laws, and the influence of social media continue to shape how young people perceive and access substances. What was true when we were growing up may no longer apply today. This article breaks down the key trends for 2025—no scare tactics, just real information to help you guide and support your teen. Let’s explore what’s on the horizon together.

Trend #1: VAPING EVOLUTION

Vaping is not new, but it’s evolving. Today’s e-cigarettes are more discreet than ever, often resembling USB drives, pens, or even watches.

The biggest concerns? Flavors that mask the harshness of nicotine make it easier for first-time users. And nicotine concentrations have skyrocketed, as one pod can contain as much nicotine as an entire pack of cigarettes.

Signs of vape use can include increased thirst, sweet smells, unfamiliar tech devices, small cartridges or pods.

You can start a conversation with your child by asking, “Vaping devices keep changing. What are you seeing at school these days?”

Trend #2: NICOTINE POUCHES

Nicotine pouches are one of the fastest-growing nicotine products among young people. These small, tobacco-free pouches are placed between the lip and gum and contain nicotine powder delivered directly into the bloodstream.

Nicotine pouches come in small white pouches the size of Mentos or Chicklets gum. They are packaged in circular containers. In addition to seeing packaging, be aware of white stains on clothing and frequent spitting that are signs of use.

With flavors like mint and fruit, they’re designed to appeal to teens and young adults. In addition, because they’re tobacco-free, they face fewer regulations than traditional tobacco products.

If you see people using nicotine pouches or brands like Zyn on social media or TV shows, you could ask your child, “What have you heard about nicotine pouches?”

Trend #3: CANNABIS LANDSCAPE

With more states legalizing adult use of marijuana (cannabis), many people no longer see it as being risky. But today’s cannabis is not what it was decades ago.

Modern strains can have THC levels more than 3-4 times higher than in the 1990’s. And the ways to use it have expanded beyond smoking with options like edibles, vapes, drinks, salves and concentrates.

Marijuana use during adolescence has been linked to negative impacts on brain development and mental health problems like depression, anxiety, suicidal thinking and psychosis. And at the age when teens are becoming new drivers, remember that driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal, not to mention extremely dangerous.  It can impact a person’s ability to make split-second decisions, even to stay in their lane without weaving.

You can talk about safety with your child by offering options should they be in a situation where the driver is impaired. For example, you can come up with an emoji symbol that they can text you to let you know they need to be picked up with no questions asked until the next day.

Trend #4: ALCOHOL AWARENESS

Even today, alcohol is still the most commonly used substance among teens. While overall use has declined in recent years, the way teens consume alcohol has changed dramatically.

Today’s alcohol landscape is dominated by sweet, flavored options that mask the taste of alcohol, like hard seltzers, alcopops and coolers, and spirit-based ready-to-drink cocktails. Many teens don’t even consider these to be “real alcohol.” And social media-driven drinking games and challenges have made dangerous drinking patterns like binge drinking more normalized.

You may be able to use yourself as a way to open a conversation. Think back to when you first tried alcohol or share a situation you experienced with alcohol. Ask about what types of alcohol kids your age are talking about.

Trend #5: PRESCRIPTION DRUG MISUSE

Prescription medications—particularly ADHD stimulants like Adderall—continue to be misused, often for studying or weight loss.  School pressure can be intense, and some teens see these medications as performance enhancers rather than drugs of misuse.

Parents should secure medications, count pills regularly, and be aware of “study drug” culture. Teens often consider these medications “safe” because doctors prescribe them. But no one should take medication unless it is prescribed to them.

You may consider asking: “I’ve heard about students using medications to help with studying. What’s that like at your school?”

Trend #6: FENTANYL CRISIS

Fentanyl—a lab-made opioid 50 times stronger than heroin—is being found in counterfeit pills and mixed with other drugs like heroin and methamphetamine. These fake pills are flooding the U.S. and can look nearly identical to prescription medications like Xanax and Oxycontin.  Even one counterfeit pill can be fatal.

One way to support your child is by practicing or role playing with them how to manage peer pressure and how to decline a potential offer of any pills.

Trend #7: SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCE

Social media has transformed how substances are marketed and normalized. Content providers can push content making substance use look fun and cool, and teens are often exposed to misinformation.

What’s concerning? “Challenges” (like the Benadryl challenge) involving substances can go viral, and influencers may promote alcohol brands or cannabis products.

It’s helpful to stay familiar with your teen’s social platforms. Follow some of the same accounts they do. Create a family social media plan that includes critical thinking about sponsored content.

A conversation starter can be: “I noticed some of those social media videos show people partying with certain drinks or substances. Do you and your friends ever talk about whether that stuff is real or staged?”

Practical Tips:

What can you actually do with this information?

  1. Build trust through ongoing conversations, by finding opportunities to talk about substance misuse and risk – not just one big “drug talk”
  2. Focus on health and safety, not just rules
  3. Always stay curious, not judgmental
  4. Educate yourself on warning signs of substance use and mental health symptoms
  5. Roleplay scenarios involving peer pressure, saying “no” and planning an exit plan
  6. Identify trusted adults that your child can go to if you’re not available

The reality is that young people are going to encounter substances. Your goal isn’t to create fear around substance use, but to build trust and communication. With honest dialogue and good information, you’re giving them the tools to make better decisions.

 

Source:  https://drugfree.org/article/top-7-teen-substance-use-trends-parents-need-to-know-in-2025/

Filed under: Alcohol,Brain and Behaviour,Cannabis/Marijuana,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Fentanyl,Internet,Parents,Prescription Drugs,USA,Vaping,Youth :

by Robert Colonna a,* , Zuha Pathan a , Anupradi Sultania a , Liliana Alvarez b

a Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Western University, London, Canada

b School of Occupational Therapy, Western University, London, Canada

ARTICLE INFO:
Keywords:
Cannabis
Driving under the influence of cannabis
young drivers
systematic review
impaired driving

ABSTRACT:
Background: With recreational cannabis legalized across Canada, concerns persist about youth driving under the
influence of cannabis (DUIC). However, the extent of DUIC education and prevention efforts aimed at young
Canadians remains unclear. This systematic review examines recent Canadian initiatives (2017 onwards) focused
on reducing DUIC among youth. Specifically, we investigate (1) the types of initiatives and target audiences, (2)
content and delivery methods, (3) sustainability, and (4) evidence of impact.

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, SCOPUS, and EMBASE
(January 1, 2017–July 10, 2023), along with various grey literature sources. Initiatives were included if they
targeted DUIC behaviour among youth aged 16 to 24, were developed and delivered in Canada by reputable
organizations or individuals with institutional support, and aimed to address DUIC behaviour or its enabling
conditions. Data extraction and quality appraisal were performed.

Results: Fifteen Canadian initiatives were identified: seven educational programs and eight awareness campaigns,
encompassing national and regional levels. Delivery methods included in-person workshops, digital tools, online
programs, and smartphone applications. While some initiatives increased awareness and influenced perceptions
of DUIC, evidence of behaviour change remained limited. Challenges related to sustainability, particularly
concerning long-term funding and digital platform maintenance, were noted.

Conclusions: This research highlights the progress made in addressing youth DUIC in Canada. Examining current
DUIC educational initiatives is crucial for refining strategies, shaping policy, and allocating resources to prioritize the safety of young Canadians. Future efforts should focus on assessing behavioural impacts and ensuring financial sustainability and program longevity.

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Source:   Stoned on the road

Filed under: Brain and Behaviour,Canada,Cannabis/Marijuana,Drug use-various effects,Drugs and Accidents,Education,Prevalence,Prevention and Intervention,Youth :

Originally published in JAMA – JAMA Network Open. 2025;8(1):e2457069. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.57069

by Nora D. Volkow MD; Joshua L. Gowin, PhD; Jarrod M. Ellingson, PhD; Hollis C. Karoly, PhD; Peter Manza, PhD; J. Megan Ross, PhD; Matthew E. Sloan, MD; Jody L. Tanabe, MD;

Abstract:

IMPORTANCE Cannabis use has increased globally, but its effects on brain function are not fully
known, highlighting the need to better determine recent and long-term brain activation outcomes of
cannabis use.

 

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Source:  Brain Function Outcomes of Recent and Lifetime Cannabis Use

Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana,Drug use-various effects,Marijuana and Medicine,Mental Health,USA :

by Charles Hymas Home Affairs Editor. Ollie Corfe. Ben Butcher Data Editor – The Telegraph of London – 29 May 2025

Possession of hard drugs such as cocaine and heroin treated as a health issue rather than a criminal matter by UK forces

It represents a six-fold increase in drug users escaping prosecution since 2016, when the proportion was only 7.5 per cent.

In some forces, more than 80 per cent caught with cocaine, heroin or other class A drugs escaped any criminal punishment.

They were instead handed community resolutions, which do not result in a criminal record and only require an offender to accept “responsibility” for their crime, or were let off “in the public interest”.

Only a third of class A drug possession offences resulted in a charge.

The data reflects a shift by police to treat drug possession of any type as a health issue rather than criminal one and comes days after Sir Sadiq Khan, the Labour Mayor of London, called for possession of small amounts of natural cannabis to be decriminalised.

But critics have warned police against “decriminalising drugs via the back door by ignoring tens of thousands of offences”.

At least a quarter of the 43 police forces in England and Wales have adopted “diversion” schemes where users caught with small amounts of drugs like cannabis are “diverted” to treatment or education programmes rather than prosecuted, particularly for first-time offences.

Nearly three-quarters (72.1 per cent) of those caught in possession of cannabis were let off without any criminal sanctions.

Thames Valley, West Midlands and Durham are among the dozen forces to have adopted diversion schemes, which could be rolled out nationally if successful.

The Treasury and Cabinet Office have put £1.9 million into evaluating the approach in partnership with five universities, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing, the standards body for forces in England and Wales.

The College said the aim of the diversion scheme was to “reduce re-offending and wider harms by approaching substance use as a health issue rather than a criminal justice issue”.

The research will compare re-offending rates, hospital and treatment admissions with the aim of establishing “whether and how drug diversion works, for whom, when and why”.

‘Devastated by soft policy’

But Chris Philp, the Tory shadow home secretary, warned the move amounted to decriminalisation by stealth.

“Parliament has rightly legislated that certain drugs are illegal because they cause serious harm to health, lead to antisocial behaviour and fuel acquisitive crime like theft, burglary and shoplifting as addicts steal to fund buying drugs,” he said.

“Police should not be decriminalising drugs via the back door by ignoring tens of thousands of offences. People who break the law should be prosecuted, and a magistrate or judge can decide what to do.

“Options a magistrate has available include fines, community service and addiction treatment requirements as well as prison.

“We have seen many US and Canadian cities devastated by soft drugs policies. These have allowed ghettos to develop where zombified addicts loiter unpunished and law abiding members of the public fear to go. We can’t allow the UK to go the same way through weak policing.

“We need a zero tolerance approach to crime, including a zero tolerance approach to drug taking.”

But the College of Policing defended its approach and pointed to research, based on 16 different studies, that showed drug diversion had resulted in a “small but significant” reduction in drug use, particularly among young people.

The Telegraph analysis showed that Warwickshire had the lowest proportion of offenders caught with class A drugs who were let off, at just 9.2 per cent, while Dyfed Powys had the highest at 88.6 per cent.

Nerys Thomas, Director of Research at the College of Policing, said:“We are focussed on cutting crime and keeping the public safe. Class A drugs are the most harmful category and being found in possession of them is a criminal offence.

“The government has provided funding to understand what initiatives could be used to reduce offending and protect the public. This includes a piece of work between the College,  the University of Sheffield and 11 other agencies across the criminal justice system to interview hundreds of officers and drug offenders and analyse police data to understand if diversion schemes can reduce crime.

“The results of this study will be made publicly available next year.”

Source:  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/6e423b9614e616f8

 

Filed under: Crime/Violence/Prison,Drug use-various effects,Legal Sector,Prevention and Intervention,UK :

For Immediate Release

June 7, 2018

Contact: Bob Bushman

bbushman@nnoac.com

The National Narcotics Officers Association Coalition today released a letter to the President urging him not to weaken the memo issued by US Attorney General Jeff Sessions on January 4, 2018. The letter warns the President of the connection between legalized marijuana, the black market, and foreign cartel activity, as extensively documented by NBC News and Newsweek.

The text of the letter is as follows:

June 7, 2018

The President

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C., 20500

Dear Mr. President,

We write as representatives for major law enforcement organizations representing federal, state, and local law enforcement. We are deeply concerned about reports that you may be considering action to overturn the January 4, 2018 Memorandum from the Department of Justice that merely restates current federal drug laws.

The fact is, gangs and cartels have been making liberal use of legalization to provide cover for their illegal activities. These gangs have ties to Mexican, Cuban, Vietnamese, and Russian cartels.[i] The gangs often purchase homes in residential neighborhoods, wire in extra electricity and water capacity, and convert them into multi-million dollar grow houses in suburban neighborhoods. These gangs are also trafficking in other illegal drugs, organized crime, and prostitution. Crime has been steadily increasing in Colorado in all categories since legalization, including violent crimes.[ii]

Make no mistake, the black market does not honor state lines. Colorado and other legalized states have many embarrassing examples of providing cover for trafficking of marijuana to other states. In one of the most egregious examples, Operation Toker Poker, 62 people and 12 businesses were indicted for growing marijuana under the cover of legalization. Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman said, “The black market for marijuana has not gone away since recreational marijuana was legalized in our state, and in fact continues to flourish.”[iii]

In another example, an organized crime unit with multiple licenses to grow and manufacture marijuana was finally caught after several years of shipping marijuana to other states. The Drug Enforcement Administration agents in Colorado indicated that this was a common arrangement.[iv]

Other states, like Oregon and California, have been growing much more marijuana than the state can consume and are mass exporters of marijuana to other states. The California Growers Association estimates that their members grow at least eight times as much marijuana as the entire state of California can consume and ship the rest out of state.[v] The Oregon State Police estimate that their state grows four to five times as much as it can consume, shipping the rest as far as Florida and even abroad.[vi]

We urge you to see through the smoke screen and reject attempts to encourage more drug use in America.

Sincerely,

National Sheriffs’ Association

Major County Sheriffs’ Association

Major Cities Chiefs Association

National Narcotics Officers’ Associations’ Coalition

National High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Directors’ Association

Law Enforcement Action Network

CC:      Marc Short, Office of Legislative Affairs

     Kellyanne Conway, Counselor to the President

     James Carroll, Acting Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy

     The Honorable Jefferson Sessions, Attorney General of the United States.

Source: Copy of letter June 2018 https://www.nnoac.com/

Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana,Crime/Violence/Prison,Economic,Legal Sector,Political Sector,USA :

This is an email from Professor Stuart Reece sent to the Drug Watch International mailing list: 

Yes indeed there is certainly more to the Cannabis in Canada story than given in Pam McColl’s Oped.

If one looks at the places where the most cannabis is smoked in Canada it is in those same northern reaches where congenital anomalies are commonest – serious defects amongst children like heart defects and born with bowels hanging out.

That is to say – Canada has shown the world what not to do!!!!

Why is this story not being widely told when the maps are so clear???

Canada’s Trudeau’s claims to be following Colorado….

And indeed he is.  Colorado’s congenital anomaly rate  – and especially congenital heart defect rate rose 70% 2000-2013 – prior to legalization in 2014 – it is almost certainly way north of that now – the only question is how far???.

In 2000 only 7.6% of Colorado children had a major congenital anomaly rate – that is more than twice the national USA average about 3.1%. 

In 2013 12.6% of children had a major congenital anomaly – four times the national average – and 1 in 8 Coloradan children!!!!!!!

And we are continuing down this path… because….???

So both Canada – and Colorado – have taught the world what NOT to do….

So why are we rushing as fast as we can in so many places to repeat their mistakes???

Because the media told us to????

Sorry this story is not making sense at all….

Thanks so much,

Prof. Dr. Stuart Reece,

Australia.

Email sent to Drug Watch International (DWI) drug-watch-international@googlegroups.com June 2018

Filed under: Canada,Cannabis/Marijuana,Drug use-various effects on foetus, babies, children and youth,Genes,Global Drug Legalisation Efforts,Health,Youth :

This paper was forwarded to NDPA by Gary Hulse of Drug Free Australia, with his remark that this is “an  important recent paper in JAMA from Dr Volkow on Cannabis Brain Damage Deficits

 

To access the full document:

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Source:  Brain Function Outcomes of Recent and Lifetime Cannabis Use

Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana,Drug use-various effects,Medicine and Marijuana,Mental Health,Prevention and Intervention,USA,Youth :

What Is The “Fentanyl Fold”?

by Jessica Sherer B.A., Ashford University –

The “fenty fold” (also “fenty lean” or “fentanyl fold”) is a startling but common occurrence among regular users of fentanyl, and other illicit drugs like xylazine, where they are bent at the waist, slumped forward, in a rigid position. Their heads are bowed, their knees are bent, and they are often unable to respond or move.

While jarring to witness, the fenty fold has become a sad yet common phenomenon in cities like San Francisco and Baltimore, where fentanyl use has grown rampant alongside the growing nationwide trend. Chronic users of fentanyl can be stuck in this position for minutes to hours, with possible complications including decreased breath rate, poor circulation, and increased risk of falls and injuries.

Research has not yet pinpointed what exactly causes the fenty fold, as fentanyl use is not known to directly affect the spine. Instead, it’s becoming clear that it is a neuromuscular side effect of synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Studies from the Journal of Applied Physiology and the Harm Reduction Journal highlighted similar findings that fentanyl use can lead to severe and widespread muscle rigidity, particularly in the trunk muscles, which restricts respiration and affects posture and mobility.

Additionally, doctors and addiction professionals think the fold is also connected to the central nervous depression caused by opioids. After using fentanyl (usually in large amounts), people enter a state of slowed consciousness (nodding out), where their bodies and brains are functioning at a depressed level. This system depression leads to muscle weakness, which causes bending, and slowed thought processing, which inhibits the brain from instructing the body to stand upright, resulting in prolonged time spent in an unnatural position.

While more research is needed on the causes of fentanyl fold, it is clear that it is an uncomfortable and potentially dangerous side-effect of fentanyl use.

Pain: A Common Path To Fentanyl Addiction

In the 2024 exposé on the fentanyl fold, the San Francisco Chronicle highlighted that many of the fentanyl users they interviewed were first introduced to the pain-numbing effects of opioids through prescription opioids. These people were prescribed opioids like oxycodone and hydrocodone for legitimate pain and turned to fentanyl when they could no longer obtain their prescriptions.

This is the story of many fentanyl users who become dependent on and develop a tolerance to opioids without realizing it until they are unable to get them. As they continue to seek a solution for their pain, fentanyl often fills the gap as a cheaper, easier-to-obtain alternative, leading to a cycle of addiction that supersedes most everything else in their life.

Social Media’s Take On The “Fenty Fold”

In 2024, videos started circulating on social media sites like X and TikTok of people experiencing the fold, often on urban streets, with tags of #fentyfold and #fentylean used. This exposure garnered both disdain and empathy as the real-life effects of fentanyl abuse were put on display.

Some videos of the fenty fold, often stripped of context, were met with ridicule and disdain for the people featured in the videos. However, public health officials and substance abuse professionals warn of the dehumanizing effects of social media and urge the general public to acknowledge it for what it is: a sobering reminder of the dangerous and debilitating effects of opioid addiction.

They further emphasize the need for harm reduction strategies and addiction treatment to help the growing problem of fentanyl abuse.

Seek Help For Fentanyl Addiction

While more nationwide prevention efforts and reduction strategies are needed to combat the opioid epidemic, prevention can also start in the home. If you or a loved one is struggling with a fentanyl addiction, help is available. Inpatient treatment can provide you with a safe environment where you can detox and learn the tools necessary for a healthy recovery. Contact a treatment provider today to learn more and begin your healing journey.

Source:  https://www.addictioncenter.com/community/fentanyl-fold/

Filed under: Drug use-various effects,Fentanyl,Opioids,Treatment and Addiction,USA :

System dynamics modeling to inform implementation of evidence-based prevention of opioid overdose and fatality: A state-level model from the New York HEALing Communities Study

Highlights

  • •
    Simulations showed fentanyl spread challenges reducing overdoses in the short run.
  • •
    Prevention of opioid misuse among opioid-exposed individuals should be prioritized.
  • •
    Combined strategies effectively reduce fatalities and OUD prevalence.
  • •
    Bolstering community awareness mitigates possible rise of fatalities in the future.

Abstract

Background

As part of the New York HEALing Communities Study, we modeled the opioid epidemic in New York State (NYS) to help coalition members understand short- and long-term capacity-building needs and trade-offs in choosing the optimal mix of harm reduction, treatment, and prevention strategies.

Methods

We built and validated a system dynamics simulation model of the interdependent effects of exposure to opioids, opioid supply and overdose risk, community awareness of overdose risk, naloxone supply and use, and treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). We simulated overdose and fatality rates, OUD prevalence, and related measures from 2012 to 2032 for the NYS population aged ≥12 and tested policy scenarios for reducing future overdose deaths.

Results

Increasing naloxone distribution by 50 % led to a 10 % decrease in overdose deaths, but only minimally reduced OUD prevalence (1 %) by 2032. Enhancing by 50 % medications for OUD (MOUD) initiations and prevention efforts each led to substantial decreases in deaths (29 % and 25 %, respectively) and OUD prevalence (27 % and 6 %) by 2032. Simultaneously increasing naloxone distribution and MOUD initiations by 50 % resulted in 38 % fewer deaths, while adding prevention efforts alongside resulted in 56 % fewer fatalities. Sensitivity analyses of the models’ feedback loops demonstrated similar relative impacts.

Conclusions

A combination of evidence-based strategies while also promoting prevention should be prioritized to reduce overdose fatality. Sustained community awareness and prevention efforts are needed even as overdoses and deaths decline due to the significant effects of the community awareness feedback loop on the epidemic trends.

Introduction

Although opioid-related fatalities decreased in the United States (US) and New York State (NYS) from 2022 to 2023, fatality remains high (81,083 (US) and 5,308 (NYS) in 2023) after years of unprecedented increases of fatal and non-fatal overdoses (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, 2021, 2024; National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2023). A dramatic rise in the availability of illicitly manufactured fentanyl has also been documented in the US and NYS, resulting in a more potent opioid supply (Kilmer et al., 2022; New York State Department of Health, 2023a). Intentional and unintentional exposure to fentanyl among people who use drugs has been associated with increased risk of overdose and death (Hughto et al., 2022). Fentanyl co-involved with psychostimulants, benzodiazepines, and xylazine may characterize a new wave of the opioid epidemic (Ciccarone, 2021a; Friedman & Shover, 2023; Jenkins, 2021).
In 2019, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) funded the HEALing (Helping to End Addiction Long-term®) Communities Study (HCS), a large implementation research project designed to reduce opioid fatalities, increase access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), and reduce stigma toward people on MOUD (National Institutes of Health HEAL Initiative, n.d.; The HEALing Communities Study Consortium, 2020). The HCS employed a coalition-driven intervention to inform the deployment of evidence-based practices to rapidly reduce opioid-related overdoses and fatalities in 67 highly affected communities in NYS, Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Ohio. Through a data-driven approach to community-engaged planning and action, the HCS sought to learn how to increase the reach of evidence-based harm reduction and treatment interventions (Chandler et al., 2023; Chandler et al., 2020; El-Bassel et al., 2021).
System dynamics (SD) modeling was incorporated to support the HCS in NYS to engage community coalitions. SD models use feedback loops (i.e., closed sequences of time-dependent causal relationships) to hypothesize the endogenous drivers of a system’s behavior over time (Richardson, 2011). These feedback loops are able to capture accumulation processes, nonlinearities, and time delays to gain insight into the causal nature of complex problems (Yasarcan, 2023). SD models also serve as tools to help diverse community members build a shared appreciation of why systems problems manifest and persist, how such problems can be resolved, and what can be done to mitigate unintended consequences of policies and practices (Forrester & Senge, 1980; Senge & Sterman, 1992). Simulation analyses can then test policy interventions and assess possible intended and unintended consequences (Sterman, 2006).
Prior publications have described SD models of earlier waves of the US opioid and non-opioid drug epidemics (Levin et al., 1972, 1975; Homer, 1993, 1997; Wakeland et al., 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016; Homer & Wakeland, 2021; Lim et al., 2022; Stringfellow et al., 2022; Sabounchi et al., 2023). The earliest model examined the 1970s heroin epidemic in a New York City neighborhood characterized by high rates of youth heroin use (Levin et al., 1972, 1975). This model included feedback loops capturing the heroin supply, community education, policing, and incarceration, among others. Though not calibrated to historical data, the model suggested that a comprehensive set of policy interventions were needed to curb the epidemic. Another early illicit drug model studied the US cocaine epidemic of the 1970s and 1980s (Homer, 1993, 1997). A key feedback loop of this model showed how the popularity of cocaine drove an increase in its use. By highlighting time delays and gaps in data reporting of drug use, the model pushed back against the then-current idea that drug seizure policies were effective at reducing cocaine use prevalence.
More recently, Wakeland et al (2011, 2013, 2015, 2016) modeled excessive opioid prescribing practices in the US and the diversion of pharmaceutical opioids to the illicit market through 2011. An update extended the model’s boundary to include the effects of fentanyl in the illicit drug supply after 2013 (Homer & Wakeland, 2021). Another update incorporated additional structures for MOUD, naloxone use, supply-side changes on prescription opioids, and the perceived risk of overdose fatality (Lim et al., 2022; Stringfellow et al., 2022).
Building upon these earlier SD models and adding additional structures identified in our preparatory qualitative modeling of the opioid epidemic (Sabounchi et al., 2023), we present here an opioid SD model built to support implementation of the HCS in NYS and the short- and long-term effects of simulated strategies around opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) and MOUD.

Section snippets

Model development

We developed and validated an SD model that simulated opioid overdose and fatality trends of the NYS population aged ≥12 years from 2012 through 2023 and their potential evolution to 2032. We iteratively revised the model’s structure in consultation with subject-matter experts, county staff and coalition members, and literature review, while also comparing simulated output to opioid-related historical data series (Table 1). This iterative model building process helped to ensure sufficient

Base run

Fig. 2 shows selected base run results and the fit to available NYS time series data. The base run showed an increasing trend in the number of annual opioid overdose deaths with a peak of 3,111 in 2017 and a second peak of 5,383 deaths in 2022, followed by a continuous decline to 4,189 in 2032 (Fig. 2A). Annual overdose-related ED visits and hospitalizations (Fig. 2B) and naloxone administrations by emergency medical services and law enforcement (Fig. 2C) showed similar trends. Naloxone

Discussion

We have presented a generalized opioid SD model structure that captures the main drivers of the opioid epidemic including the effects of fentanyl and the COVID-19 pandemic. When calibrated to NYS, the model replicated historical trends in opioid-specific overdose and fatality from 2012 to 2023 and generated plausible projected trends of key variables through 2032.
The model also serves as a unique analytical tool to facilitate an understanding of the underlying dynamics of the opioid epidemic

Limitations

Limited data availability led to higher uncertainty in calibrated parameters related to the opioid supply, exposure to opioids, and community awareness model sectors. Known limitations and uncertainty in the number of individuals using illicit opioids reported in national surveillance data (e.g., National Survey on Drug Use and Health) may have led to an underestimation of opioid use prevalence.
Our model does not explicitly inform questions or policies around health equity due to limited

Conclusions

Our model has revealed important insights about likely trajectories in NYS opioid overdose fatality rates, which have worsened with the COVID-19 pandemic and a growing supply of cheaper, more lethal illicit synthetic opioids. Simulated policies that simultaneously build capacity for OEND and MOUD and foster efforts around community awareness and prevention were shown to be most effective over time. Simulated results indicated a clear challenge in substantially reducing overdose death rates in

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration through the NIH HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-term®) Initiative under award number UM1DA049415 (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04111939). This study protocol (Pro00038088) was approved by Advarra Inc., the HEALing Communities Study single Institutional Review Board. We wish to acknowledge the participation of the HEALing Communities Study communities,
Source:  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0955395925001434
Filed under: Drug use-various effects,Opioids,Prevention and Intervention,USA :

By: Oman News Agency – Thursday 29/May/2025

Dhank: The Wilayat of Dhank in Al Dhahirah Governorate on Thursday hosted an awareness seminar
titled “Your Mind is Your Identity – Don’t Lose It to Drugs,” held under the auspices of
Sheikh Musallam Ahmed Al Ma’shani, Wali of Dhank.

The event was organised as part of ongoing community efforts to strengthen national belonging and reinforce Omani identity while addressing the dangers of drugs and psychotropic substances.

The seminar featured two main thematic discussions. The first segment addressed critical perspectives on the issue, examining the health consequences, legal implications, and religious rulings regarding drug abuse. The session began with an impactful theatrical performance by the Wahj Al Khayal team, illustrating the devastating effects of narcotics on individuals and society at large.

The second part of the seminar focused on identity and citizenship values. A working paper was presented about this theme that emphasised the fundamental role of national identity in building an aware and cohesive society capable of overcoming various challenges.

A highlight of the event was the official unveiling of the winning logo for Dhank’s Community Competition Team to Combat Drug Abuse. This initiative aims to enhance community awareness and support youth-driven projects in drug prevention efforts, reflecting the local commitment to addressing this critical social issue.

Source:  https://timesofoman.com/article/158685-anti-drug-awareness-seminar-held-in-al-dhahirah

Filed under: Culture,Drug use-various effects,Others (International News),Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction :

NDPA opening statement:

This piece by AALM (Americans Against Legalisation of Marijuana) counters the assertion that legalisation would bring fairness to people of colour.

To access the full document:

  1. Click on the ‘Source’ link below.
  2. An image  – the front page of the full document will appear.
  3. Click on the image to open the full document.

Source:  AALM statement on pot

Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Prevention and Intervention,Social Affairs,USA :

by Charles Hymas – Home Affairs Editor – The Telegraph of London – 28 May 2025

Police Commissioner says drug should be Class A over long-term health impacts

Cannabis should be upgraded to a class A drug because of the harm it can cause, a policing chief has said.

As Sir Sadiq Khan calls for possession of the drug to be decriminalised, David Sidwick, Dorset’s police and crime commissioner, has urged that cannabis, currently a Class B drug, should be put on a par with crack cocaine and heroin.

Such a move would see the maximum penalties for possession increase from five to seven years in jail, while the maximum penalty for supplying cannabis would rise from 14 years in prison to life.

Sir Mark Rowley, the Met Commissioner, also opposed Sir Sadiq’s call for cannabis to be decriminalised. He pointed out that drugs were “at the centre of a lot of crime” and said drug use was one of the main drivers of antisocial behaviour.

Sir Sadiq, the Mayor of London, has proposed that the possession of small amounts of natural cannabis should no longer be a criminal offence. Dealing in or producing the drug would remain illegal.

Mr Sidwick sets out his demand in a foreword to a new book by Albert Reece and Gary Hulse, two Australian professors of medicine and psychiatry, who have linked cannabis to mental ill-health, autism and cancer.

He said there was growing evidence linking psychosis, cancer and birth defects to cannabis use, particularly with the development of more potent strains.

Mr Sidwick warned it was also a “gateway” drug used by crime gangs to lure in users. They then entice them on to addictive class A drugs such as crack that not only provide more profit per unit but also give the gangs greater power to leverage them into criminal activity.

“Cannabis needs to be taken seriously on a national scale because of the danger it presents, and there needs to be money put into prevention and education to ensure people are aware of these dangers,” he said.

“Currently, Class A drugs take precedence when it comes to enforcement and treatment, but it is my view that there is no point focusing on the destination of addiction if we don’t stop people getting on the first two or three carriages of the train in the first place.

“Only through reclassifying cannabis will it be treated with the severity it deserves.”

The London Drugs Commission, set up by Sir Sadiq, ruled out full legalisation of cannabis in its report because it said any benefits from tax revenues and reduced police workload were outweighed by the potential longer-term health impacts on users.

Instead, it proposed that natural cannabis would be removed from the Misuse of Drugs Act and brought under the Psychoactive Substances Act.

This would mean possession of small amounts of cannabis for personal use would no longer be a criminal offence, but importing, manufacturing and distributing the drug would remain a criminal act.

The Home Office has ruled out any reclassification of cannabis.

Mr Sidwick’s proposals have been backed by Janie Hamilton, a Dorset mother who has campaigned for upgrading cannabis to class A.

Her son James died when he was 36 after refusing treatment for testicular cancer. It followed years of battling mental illness, which his family believes was triggered by his addiction to cannabis, which he started using at 14.

Ms Hamilton said: “My beloved son James was a fun-loving, mischievous, clever, tender-hearted boy who wanted to fit in with his peers and be part of the ‘in’ crowd. This was to be his undoing.

“At the age of 14, unbeknown to us, living at a boarding school where his father taught, he started smoking cannabis. He became arrogant, rude, secretive, rebellious and unpredictable. I remember thinking how I loved him, but that I didn’t like him.

“He dropped out of university after one term and took job after job, worrying us with his bizarre behaviour. He shaved his hair, his eyebrows, cut his eyelashes and became aggressive. He would stay in his room all day and come out at midnight to shower and cook.

“One day, he came home from his job on a building site, turning in circles in the garden and all that night. He told me he had spent all his wages on cannabis. I called the doctor the next day and James was sectioned within an hour, diagnosed with schizophrenia.”

She said there had been a 16-year cycle of medical treatment, relapses and trouble with the police before her son died.

“Cannabis is everyone’s problem. It destroys lives and families. Let no one say that cannabis is harmless – cracking down on this destructive drug is one of the greatest and most urgent needs facing us all,” she said.

Source:  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/32da88934bd58598

Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Political Sector,Prevention and Intervention,UK :

by Michael Deacon       Columnist & Assistant Editor  – The Telegraph of London (UK)        28 May 2025

The Mayor of London has called for law reform because he believes that stop-and-search powers disproportionately affect black communities

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan walking through cannabis plants at a licensed factory in Los Angeles Credit: PA

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, says he believes the police should stop arresting people for possessing cannabis. Frankly, I’m shocked.

Mainly because I didn’t know the police were arresting people for it in the first place.

It certainly doesn’t smell like it. These days, practically all our towns and cities – including the one run by Mr Khan – stink of weed. Which suggests that a very large number of people now feel able to smoke it with absolutely no fear of getting arrested. Whether this is because the police can no longer be bothered to enforce the law, or they’re too busy carrying out dawn raids on the bookshelves of Spectator readers, I don’t know. But either way, it hardly seems worth clamouring for decriminalisation, when in effect we’ve already got it.

Even so, Mr Khan has backed calls to change the law. And these calls seem to have something to do with race.

According to an independent commission, set up by the Mayor, the policing of cannabis use is shamefully unjust to people who aren’t white. In a new report, the commission says: “The law with respect to cannabis possession is experienced disproportionately by those from ethnic minority (excluding white minority) groups, particularly London’s black communities. While more likely to be stopped and searched by police on suspicion of cannabis possession than white people, black Londoners are no more likely to be found carrying the drug.”

If so, that plainly is unfair. But it’s not an argument for decriminalisation. It’s an argument for stopping and searching greater numbers of white people. Which, of course, would be completely fine. Go right ahead. Even if today’s over-anxious police chiefs would probably misunderstand such an edict, and tell their officers: “When investigating crime, we must never treat any community with more suspicion than any other. Which is why, this afternoon, I’m sending you all to a WI jumble sale, to search little old ladies for machetes.”

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None the less, the report maintains that the way forward is to decriminalise possession. At the same time, though, it says producing and dealing should remain illegal. Which is odd, because it implies that the blame for the trade lies solely with the people doing the latter. But if it weren’t for all the people wishing to possess the drug, no one would produce or deal it. Ultimately, therefore, it’s their fault.

Anyway, if possession does get decriminalised, you can bet there’ll soon be calls to loosen the law further. Which would be even more unwise. Just look at what’s happened to New York, which in 2021 decided not only that people should be allowed to smoke cannabis, but that shops should be granted licences to sell it. Has this put criminals out of business, while raising lots of lovely extra cash through tax?

Funnily enough, no. Illegal vendors simply undercut the legal ones. Kathy Hochul, who is New York’s governor (and a Democrat, rather than some stereotypically stuffy Republican), has called it “a disaster”. Even The New Yorker, proud tribune of liberal America, ran a dismayed article asking: “What happened?”

All the same, the Mayor of London insists that his commission’s report makes a “compelling” case. I don’t think it does. And I especially think we could have done without the irrelevant wittering about ethnicity. We’ve got quite enough “community tensions” in this country as it is. So we certainly don’t want people thinking: “What? They want to allow possession of a dangerous drug, just because they think it will improve ‘police relations’ with ‘black communities’? That sounds awfully like special treatment. Mind you, I suppose they need to free up the cells, to make more space for middle-aged women who post problematic opinions on the internet.”

This, in short, is why Mr Khan’s plan for cannabis isn’t just naive. It’s dangerously divisive.

I note, incidentally, that the Mayor has just proposed a 20 per cent rise in London’s congestion charge. But don’t worry. I’ve prepared a report arguing that the charge is unjust, because it’s experienced disproportionately by the motoring community, while the cycling and walking communities get off scot-free. So the whole thing should be scrapped.

 

Source: (Via Drugwatch International): www.telegraph.co.uk

Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Health,Marijuana and Medicine,UK :

Opening comment by NDPA: Although this item is a fairly unashamed promo for AI, it nevertheless gives a useful summary of how AI can be applied to this field, so we have retained it.

 

A New Era in Health Begins with Intelligence — Artificial and Human

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not just a buzzword — it’s one of the most transformative forces reshaping modern healthcare. From revolutionizing diagnostics and personalizing treatments to advancing drug prevention strategies, AI is enhancing the way we understand, predict, and treat human health. As the world embraces the potential of AI, organizations working in prevention and treatment must also evolve — strategically and ethically.

  1. Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: The Global Landscape

AI is redefining care on a global scale. According to the European Commission, AI technologies are already supporting physicians, analyzing large datasets in seconds, and optimizing hospital workflows. Countries like the US, UK, Canada, China, and the EU are implementing large-scale AI integration strategies to support digital health systems.

The AI Act of the European Union is the world’s first legal framework on AI, emphasizing risk-based regulation. For health-focused organizations, this framework ensures safety, transparency, and human oversight in the deployment of AI tools.

  1. AI’s Role in Drug Discovery, Prevention, and Treatment

AI accelerates drug discovery and improves accuracy in substance use disorder (SUD) diagnosis and treatment planning. According to ScienceDirect, machine learning models can predict relapse risks, personalize therapy plans, and even detect substance use through digital biomarkers such as speech or behavioral patterns.

As Gubra outlines, AI is enabling:

  • Simulation of molecular interactions to discover new therapeutic targets
  • Automation in toxicology screenings
  • Integration of patient data for tailored treatment

  1. Best Practices in AI-Driven Drug Prevention and Education

From chatbots offering 24/7 counseling to AI-curated educational content, innovative prevention models are emerging worldwide:

  • USA: The NIH’s 2025 HHS AI Strategic Plan promotes AI for early screening of addiction risks, especially in underserved populations.
  • Denmark: National efforts combine AI with social data to map out drug-use hotspots and target community outreach.
  • India & Brazil: AI is integrated into mobile health (mHealth) apps that detect mood changes and alert caregivers, reducing dropout rates in prevention programs.

Platforms like Listen First by UNODC could benefit from AI enhancements to deliver content tailored to emotional tone and local language patterns.

  1. AI and the Prevention of Drug Use and Online Gaming Disorders

One of the most exciting — and necessary — frontiers of AI is its application in preventing drug use and behavioral addictions such as online gaming disorder. Emerging research shows how predictive algorithms can identify vulnerable individuals and intervene early.

According to a 2023 article in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, AI tools are being developed to detect substance use behaviors through digital footprints, social media interactions, and app usage patterns. These tools can flag at-risk youth in real time, prompting early outreach.

The Ashdin Foundation reports that AI-powered interventions, including conversational agents and real-time behavioral monitoring, are revolutionizing how we approach drug prevention — making it more personalized, scalable, and responsive.

In Portugal, the NOVA University Lisbon project is pioneering AI models that track user behavior on gambling platforms to intervene before addiction escalates. This approach is equally relevant for youth struggling with excessive gaming — an issue increasingly associated with anxiety, depression, and even substance use.

As a recent Nature Medicine article highlights, AI is becoming a cornerstone in the personalization of behavioral health interventions, offering adaptive content, peer support suggestions, and gamified learning modules.

A comprehensive review confirms that AI algorithms can be trained to predict not only who is likely to use substances but also who is most likely to benefit from specific prevention programs. Moreover, NACADA Kenya is investing in AI to power community mapping tools that identify high-risk zones and recommend targeted prevention messaging.

  1. Ethical and Educational Considerations

AI offers vast promise, but not without limitations. As explored in BMC Medical Education, there is a growing need to train healthcare professionals and community workers to interpret AI results critically. Meanwhile, UMaryland highlights challenges around algorithmic bias, data privacy, and accountability.

Source:  https://www.dianova.org/news/how-ai-is-transforming-drug-prevention-and-healthcare-worldwide/

Dianova is a Swiss-based NGO.

 

 

Filed under: Europe,Health,Internet,Prevention and Intervention :
by Rhea Farberman – rfarberman@tfah.org – Trust for America’s Health – Washington, D.C. – May 28, 2025

 

New data show that deaths due to drug overdose and alcohol are down nationally, but this progress is uneven across population groups and at risk due to cuts to federal health programs and workforce.

(Washington, D.C. – May 28, 2025) – Deaths due to drug overdose and alcohol misuse were down in the United States in 2023 and 2024 provisional data predict an unprecedented 27 percent one year drop in overdose deaths. These reductions follow two decades in which such deaths increased at an alarming pace. The improvements are encouraging and are likely related to a number of factors including investments in primary prevention, mental health, harm reduction, and overdose prevention programs. Still over 200,000 Americans died due to alcohol, drug overdose, and suicide in 2023, twice the rate of such deaths 20 years ago.

The declines in alcohol and drug deaths highlight the value of investment in mental health and substance use prevention programs – such as ensuring adequate mental health, substance use disorder, and crisis intervention services, access to overdose reversal drugs, and investing in children’s mental health and resilience. However, current and proposed federal budget cuts, public health workforce reductions, and proposed federal agency reorganizations are likely to undermine this progress. The data also show that much more needs to be done to ensure that the reductions in alcohol, drug overdose, and suicide deaths are occurring in every community and among all population groups.

“Data show that decades of investment and capacity building in substance use prevention, harm reduction programs, and mental health services have helped reduce associated deaths. The challenge now is to build on these investments and sustain this progress. These programs save lives; their funding should not be cut,” said J. Nadine Gracia, M.D., MSCE, President and CEO of Trust for America’s Health.

Drug overdose rates are declining but still at tragic levels.

In 2023, 105,007 Americans died from drug overdoses. After precipitous increases in the rate of drug overdose deaths in 2020 and 2021, the 2022 overall overdose mortality rate was virtually unchanged, and the 2023 mortality rate was 4 percent lower. Provisional mortality data for 2024 show an unprecedented one-year 27 percent decrease in overdose deaths nationally.

According to public health experts, improved data systems which allow for real-time tracking of substance use and its impacts, the expansion and effectiveness of overdose prevention strategies such as programs to ensure access to naloxone, buprenorphine, and drug-checking tools all played a significant role in bringing down mortality rates.

The improvement was, however, not consistent across all population groups or regions of the country. In 2023, white people were the only racial/ethnic population group that experienced a statistically significant decrease in drug overdose deaths; other population groups had nonsignificant changes or increases. Drug overdose death rates in 2023 were highest among American Indian/Alaska Native people (AI/AN) (65.0 deaths per 100,000 people), adults ages 35 to 54 (57.3 deaths per 100,000 people), Black people (48.5 deaths per 100,000 people), and males (45.6 deaths per 100,000 people).

Alcohol-induced deaths are down.
In 2023, 47,938 Americans died from alcohol-induced causes. The overall age-adjusted alcohol-induced mortality rate decreased by 7 percent from 2022 to 2023 (from 13.5 to 12.6 deaths per 100,000 people). This decrease built on a 6 percent reduction the year prior and crossed nearly all demographic and geographic groups, but such deaths still disproportionately impact some groups. Alcohol-induced death rates in 2023 were highest among AI/AN people (61.5 deaths per 100,000 people), adults ages 55 to 74 (32.5 deaths per 100,000 people), adults ages 35 to 54 (20.2 deaths per 100,000 people), and males (18.1 deaths per 100,000 people).

Suicide deaths unchanged.
The U.S. overall suicide mortality rate remained virtually identical from 2022 to 2023 (14.2 and 14.1 deaths per 100,000 people, respectively). In 2023, 49,316 Americans died from suicide. Age-adjusted suicide rates in 2023 were highest among AI/AN people (23.8 deaths per 100,000 people), males (22.7 deaths per 100,000 people), and adults ages 75 and older (20.3 deaths per 100,000 people).

Budget rescissions and future cuts to prevention programs will cost lives.
While these data demonstrate real progress, the public health community is united in its concern that progress will be lost due to cutbacks in federal investment in health promotion, crisis intervention, and overdose prevention programs. For example, staff and funding for the CDC Injury Center have been drastically reduced, and the Center is proposed for elimination in the Administration’s budget request for fiscal year (FY) 2026. The Injury Center conducts research and collects data. Approximately 80 percent of its funding goes to states and other entities for prevention of overdoses, suicide, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Additionally, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has experienced major staffing reductions including staff working on the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and a potential $1.07 billion funding cut for FY 2026.  These actions followed the Administration’s claw-back of billions of dollars in public health funding already at work in states and communities across the country, including for suicide prevention.

Recommendations for policy action.

The Pain in the Nation report calls for sustained investment in prevention and harm reduction programs and includes recommendations on actions federal and state policymakers should take including:

  • Protect and bolster investment in public health and behavioral health systems and injury and violence prevention programs to improve mental health and well-being for all Americans.
  • Continue to improve programs, like CDC’s Overdose Data to Action, to track emerging trends by geographic, demographic, and drug type metrics to guide local, state, and national responses and to prevent overdoses and deaths in real time.
  • Focus on underlying drivers of substance use disorder through early intervention and prevention policies including expanding resiliency and substance use prevention programs in schools and increasing access to social and mental health services for children and families.
  • Maximize harm reduction strategies and substance use disorder treatments to reduce overdose risk, and support efforts to limit access to lethal means of suicide.
  • Bolster the continuum of crisis intervention programs and expand the mental health and substance use treatment workforce. Build community capacity to ensure access to mental health and substance use services for anyone needing such services.

 

Source: https://www.tfah.org/report-details/pain-in-the-nation-2025/

Filed under: Addiction,Alcohol,Drug use-various effects,Mental Health,USA :

by Herschel Baker, International Liaison Director, Queensland Director, Drug Free Australia

May 28, 2025

 

The rate of prenatal marijuana use in the United States has more than

doubled over the past two decades, with many pregnant individuals turning to

marijuana to manage symptoms like nausea, anxiety, and insomnia.

 

While marijuana use during pregnancy is increasing, so is the clarity of the

science surrounding its risks. A growing body of research makes it clear

that marijuana use during pregnancy is not without consequences.

 

A new meta-analysis of over 51 studies, covering over 21 million

pregnancies, now offers one of the most comprehensive assessments to date.

 

The findings are clear: marijuana use during pregnancy is linked to

measurable risks for both the mom and the baby, even after accounting for

other factors like tobacco use.

 

Researchers found that prenatal marijuana use increased the odds of several

serious outcomes. Researchers found that prenatal marijuana use was

associated with:

–         75% higher odds of a child being born with low birth weight,

–         52% higher odds of preterm birth,

–         57% higher odds of the fetus being small for gestational age, and

–         29% rise in perinatal mortality, however, the strength of this association was less certain.

 

In studies that accounted for variables that could influence the

relationship between marijuana use and the different outcomes, such as age,

smoking and health status, the association remained significant. And in the

studies that accounted for a dose-response association, the risks grew even

more pronounced. For example, babies exposed to heavy marijuana use were

more than twice as likely to be born with low birth weight, had 95% and 63%

higher odds being born preterm and small for gestational age, respectively.

 

Being born with low birth weight, preterm, or small for gestational age is

not just a number on a chart—it carries real and lasting health

consequences. These findings underscore the urgency of addressing marijuana

use during pregnancy as a serious public health issue. As marijuana products

become more potent and widely available, the risks to developing fetuses

cannot be overlooked.

 

For providers, it is important to have non-judgmental conversations about the

risks associated with marijuana use during pregnancy and for public health

leaders, it’s a call to expand prevention efforts.

 

Source: https://drugfree.org.au/ – May 28, 2025

Herschel Baker, International Liaison Director, Queensland Director, Drug Free Australia

 

Filed under: Australia,Cannabis/Marijuana,Drug use-various effects,Drug use-various effects on foetus, babies, children and youth :
by Benedikt Fischer, Wayne Hall, Didier Jutras-Aswad, Bernard Le Foll – The Lancet – Volume 47. – 101141 – July 2025
For a decade, Canada, like the United States, has experienced a public health crisis from drug overdose deaths (DODs), mostly due to toxic synthetic opioids (SOs; e.g., fentanyl/analogues), commonly combined with other (e.g., methamphetamines, benzodiazepines) substances.1 This crisis has claimed >50,000 lives over the past decade in Canada alone, rendering DODs the primary population-based cause of non-natural deaths. Despite the vast implementation and expansion of prevention and treatment interventions, annual DOD tolls have steadily increased, i.e. from 2832 in 2016 to 8606 in 2023.2
Now, recent data indicate a sudden over-year decline of approximately 13% in DODs (to a projected 7501 in 2024) in Canada; this coincides with a similar approximate 17% reduction in DODs in the US.2,3 However, this development is not regionally consistent in Canada, as DOD decreases are concentrated mostly in Western/Central provinces (i.e., BC to Ontario), while Eastern provinces (e.g., Quebec) have experienced increases in DODs—regions that, notably, had reported disproportionately lower rates of SO-related DODs previously.2,4 The DOD decrease is a welcome development, yet its drivers are currently unclear while important for identification towards informing intervention development. Possibly relevant factors for consideration might include.

Risk population changes

The decline may reflect a reduction in the size of the risk population exposed to DOD risks, based on several factors. The cumulative DOD toll—mostly comprised of young/middle-aged individuals — may have substantively decimated the SO-user population.2 Its deadly consequences may have also amplified the impact of SO-related prevention messaging. In addition, restrictive policies have halved the volume of prescription opioids (i.e., 30,540 Defined Daily Doses [DDD] in 2012–2014 to 16,475 DDD in 2020–2022) in Canada, which may have reduced the population pool developing iatrogenic problems and transitioning to non-medical (e.g., SO) opioid use.

Supply dynamics

Changing SO supply dynamics may play a role. Originally, SO-products were mostly imported to North America from other source countries (e.g., China, Mexico), but there appear be shifts towards domestic production and distribution, for example as a consequence of increased production and precursor control abroad.3 Recent reports indicate increasing fentanyl production in Canada, including so-called ‘super-labs’, recently rendering it a ‘net exporter’ of fentanyl.5,6 Domestically produced fentanyl may differ in key characteristics like composition or dosing from the SOs produced abroad in ways that influence and reduce DOD-related risks.

Pharmacology

The pharmacological profiles of SOs consumed may have changed. While the vast majority of recent DODs in Canada have involved fentanyl/fentanyl-analogues, most DOD events involve other psychoactive (e.g., psychostimulant or sedative) substances either as contaminants or from concurrent use1,2 that may affect DOD-related outcomes in different ways. In the US, SO-products increasingly include xylazine, a sedative that may increase DOD risks but also extends SOs’ psychoactive effects of SOs and so may reduce use frequency and risk exposure.

Risk behaviours

Changes in DOD-relevant risk behaviours may be a factor. For example, while SO use was previously common to occur unintentionally due to distribution as counterfeit pills or mixed with other drugs, improved recognition of SO products by their consumers (e.g., through drug-checking or generally enhanced awareness) may have facilitated more cautious use practices.7 In addition, many SO consumers have switched from injecting to inhalation use, thereby reducing the DOD-related risks by decreased bio-absorption, or undertook other behaviour changes.4 However, these risk-behaviour changes have been observed for some time, and majorities of recent DODs have been shown to be associated with non-injection modes in Canada.

Interventions

In response to the toxic drug death crisis, Canadian jurisdictions have vastly expanded the availability of multiple intervention measures — such as supervised consumption, overdose prevention services, naloxone distribution and drug checking, all evidenced to contribute to DOD-related risk reductions.1,8 In addition, access to different modalities of — mostly opioid agonist-based—addiction treatment has been ramped up, also known to be protective for overdose risk.9 These expansions have occurred continuously through the DOD crisis, reducing their likelihood as a principal driver for the observed sudden DOD decrease. A more novel intervention implemented in select Canadian jurisdiction have been ‘safer drug supply’ programs which distribute pharmaceutical-grade opioids to at-risk users for DOD prevention.10 While these initiatives are documented to reduce DOD-related risk in participants, their reach in existing risk populations remains starkly limited (e.g., <5% in BC), moderating likely population-level DOD reduction effects.
Previous measures have been insufficient in curtailing the massive DOD-toll in Canada over a decade.1 The projected short-term decline in DODs is an encouraging development, though it is notably limited to only some (i.e., mostly Western/Central) regions. The tangible drivers behind the decline are not readily evident; however, similar declines in the US hint at a role of more structural (e.g., drug supply-related) factors operating across North America rather than Canada-specific determinants. The possible contributions of the factors considered, or others, should be rigorously investigated by way of robust (e.g., epidemiologic/modelling, drug toxicology, use-behavioral) examinations and analysis to guide possible development of or scaling up related further improved measures where possible towards additional, sustained reductions in the DOD toll.

Contributors

The authors jointly developed the concept for the article, and collected and interpreted related data for the study. BF led the manuscript writing; WH, DJA and BLF edited and revised the manuscript for substantive intellectual content. All authors approved the final manuscript submitted for publication.

Declaration of interests

Dr. Fischer and Dr. Jutras-Aswad have held research grants and contracts in the areas of substance use, health, policy from public funding and government organizations (i.e., public-only sources) in the last five years. Dr. Fischer acknowledges general research support from the Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care; he was temporarily employed by Health Canada (2021–2022). Dr. Hall does not have any conflicts to declare. Dr. Jutras-Aswad acknowledges a clinical scientist career award from Fonds de Recherche du Québec (FRQS); he has received study materials from Cardiol Therapeutics for clinical trials. Dr. LeFoll has obtained research support (e.g., research funding/in-kind supports, expert consultancy, other supports) from Indivior, Indivia, Canopy Growth Corporation, ThirdBridge and Shinogi; he furthermore acknowledges general research support from CAMH, the Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, a clinician-scientist award from the Dept. of Family and Community Medicine and a Chair in Addiction Psychiatry from the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto.

Acknowledgements

The present study was not supported by any specific funder or sponsor.

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Filed under: Canada,Opioids,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction :

The latest substance abuse facts and insights.

Updated May 30, 2025 |  Reviewed by Michelle Quirk

Key points

  • Rates of opioid/stimulant overdose deaths increased over the past decade.
  • In the Eastern U.S., it’s cocaine + fentanyl that’s problematic vs. methamphetamine + fentanyl in the West.
  • Adulterants are ever-changing with fentanyl, local anesthetics, xylazine, and medetomidine creating overdoses.
  • Fentanyl-only deaths among 15- to 24-year-olds now account for most fatal ODs among that age group
The good news about bad drugs is that overdose deaths caused by fentanyl are significantly down in the United States, although too many people are still dying. That’s the key take-home from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in its annual report released May 15, 2025. Drug overdose deaths decreased by more than 20 percent, marking the most significant 12-month reduction ever recorded. October 2024 was the eleventh consecutive month with a reported decline in drug-related deaths.

However, there’s also bad news in that increasing numbers of illicit users of stimulants like cocaine or methamphetamine are being poisoned by fentanyl-adulterated drugs, particularly in the Western part of the country. For example, a regional analysis of overdose deaths from fentanyl in the United States published in May 2025 revealed in the West, one in two deaths from drugs are currently linked to fentanyl contamination of cocaine or meth, while in the East, one in three fentanyl-related deaths occurred in users of cocaine or methamphetamine.

We have discussed this in detail in my other PT blog posts that the availability of Narcan (naloxone), a drug that reverses overdose, is largely responsible for significantly fewer opioid deaths from opioids. However, more stimulants, particularly cocaine and methamphetamine, are now being used with fentanyl, contaminated with fentanyl. Unfortunately, we don’t have a drug like Narcan to reverse speedballing (ingestion of both a depressant and a stimulant) or cocaine or methamphetamine overdoses.

Latest 2025 Update

The opioid crisis, currently driven by synthetic opioids such as illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF), is increasingly complex. Adulteration of IMF with veterinary sedatives, such as xylazine and now medetomidine, is creating zombie addicts and overdose nightmares. This adulteration has become commonplace across the United States, leading to prolonged sedation that cannot be reversed with just naloxone. The dangerous and deadly shift accelerated from plant-based drugs, like heroin and cocaine, to synthetic, chemical-based drugs, like fentanyl and methamphetamine.

Clinicians, harm-reduction experts, and others continue adapting to the drug cartel’s changes in the drug supply, such as testing drug products for the presence of other drugs and using oxygen when treating people with overdoses. In a May 21 JAMA, Dr. Joseph Palamar at NYU identified a new worrisome trend. Adulteration agents now include lidocaine and other local anesthetics, much as they were added to cocaine back in the 1970s. The local anesthetics can complicate overdose management by lowering pulse and blood pressure and causing confusion and life-threatening seizures.

Evolution of Illicit Drugs and Adulteration

Over the past five decades, the adulteration of illicit drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine has evolved, transitioning from inert bulking agents like sugar to potent pharmacologically active substances. This shift has heightened risks associated with drug use, contributing to increased toxicity and overdose fatalities.

When I was working at Yale with Herb Kleber in the 1970s–1980s, adding inert adulterants was the norm for illicit drug producers. During this period, heroin was commonly adulterated with sugars (e.g., lactose, maltose) to increase the weight and volume of the drugs and, thereby, their profits. However, in the late 1970s, our colleague David Smith saw the emergence of “China White” overdoses in Haight Ashbury, a highly lethal and potent synthetic opioid—methylfentanyl mixed with heroin. At Yale, we saw cocaine emergencies and found cocaine was typically cut with local anesthetics like lidocaine and procaine to mimic cocaine’s numbing effect and improve profits, as well as sugars and caffeine to increase bulk. We did not see many methamphetamine cases at all but, when meth was adulterated, it was with caffeine or other stimulants to enhance its effects.

The 1990s marked an era of wholehearted adulteration with pharmacologically active adulterants. For example, heroin included adulterants like quinine and other substances that could either potentiate the stimulant’s effects or mimic heroin’s appearance. The range of adulterants expanded further, to include pharmacologically active substances such as levamisole, a veterinary agent which became widespread in the 2000s. The State Department’s expert, Tom Browne, reported on these trends and warned that levamisole in heroin or cocaine could cause toxic and severe health issues. Methamphetamine adulteration began to include substances like pseudoephedrine and other byproducts from illicit synthesis processes.

The 2010s–2020s were marked by the emergence of highly potent synthetic adulterants. The illicit drug market saw a surge in the use of fentanyl and its analogs as adulterants in heroin, dramatically increasing the risk of fatal overdoses due to fentanyl’s high potency. Fentanyl adulteration and contamination extended to cocaine supplies, leading to unexpected opioid overdoses among stimulant users. Methamphetamine began to be adulterated with potent synthetic substances, including fentanyl, increasing the danger of overdose.

Drug overdose deaths also became the leading cause of injury death in the United States, in 2015, surpassing deaths by motor vehicles and firearms. In 2020, 83,000+ people died from drug-related overdoses, a significant increase from 2019. Illicit fentanyl, an extremely potent drug, was the primary driver of these deaths. Often, users had no idea their opioid was contaminated with fentanyl.

In 2015, the DEA noted that both controlled prescription drugs and heroin abuse were prevalent, with some prescription drug abusers initiating heroin use. By 2020, the situation changed, and illicit fentanyl, primarily produced by Mexican cartels using Chinese precursor chemicals, became the primary threat. DEA laboratories also reported a downward trend in the purity of fentanyl. For example, medetomidine, a powerful veterinary anesthetic, emerged in the fentanyl supply, posing new dangers, and the zombie drug Xylazine remains the top adulterant found in fentanyl powder.

Worldwide, We Are Still Number 1 in Drug Deaths

Provisional data indicate that an estimated 80,391 overdose fatalities occurred in the United States in 2024, a 27 percent decrease from 110,037 deaths in 2023. This represents the largest single-year drop since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began tracking overdose deaths 45 years ago. Nearly all states experienced declines, with significant reductions (≥35 percent) in Louisiana, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C. While the Centers for Disease Control shows a 27% decline in overdose deaths in 2024. Still, during that 12-month period, Nevada saw a 3.4% increase. Unlike the rest of the nation, in Nevada, methamphetamine is causing more drug-related deaths than fentanyl at this time.

In 2024, the U.S. deaths decreased to the lowest since 2019. However, even with this progress, the United States still maintains the highest overdose death rate worldwide. Despite a significant decline in drug overdose deaths in the United States, we still have the highest overdose death rate in the world, with 324 deaths per million people, significantly surpassing other nations. Scotland was second, with 218 deaths per million people. Canada is ranked third globally in overdose death rates. For opioid overdose deaths, the United States is also number one with 15.4 overdoses per 100,000; Canada has 6.9, and Europe and Russia have fewer than 4 opioid overdoses per 100,000.

Summary

The new DEA national threat findings note that today, one in eight methamphetamine samples contains fentanyl, and one in four cocaine samples contains fentanyl. This adulteration heightens risks for unintentional overdoses among users. Adulteration with multiple, active synthetics is evolving and creating more risks than ever.

Overdose deaths remain the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18–44, and an unacceptable 80,000+ Americans per year die from overdoses. Regional differences are becoming more critical—methamphetamine + fentanyl in the Western United States versus cocaine + fentanyl in the East. Fentanyl is cheap to produce, so today it’s often the first choice of an active adulterant among drug cartels.

 

Source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/addiction-outlook/202505/abuse-drugs-and-trends-were-up-against-in-the-us

Filed under: Cocaine,Fentanyl,Methamphetamine/GHB/Hallucinogens/Oxycodone,Prevalence,USA :

This is an Email – Sent: 24 May 2025 – from Stuart Reece: stuart.reece@bigpond.com

To: Ms. Erika Olson, Chargé d’Affaires, Embassy of the United States of America, Canberra, Australia. (askembassycanberra@state.gov)

Dear Chargé d’Affaires Olson,

It has been reported in several news pieces lately that President Trump is becoming concerned about exponential autism epidemic in USA which particularly affects boys.  We and many other research have demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt that this epidemic is driven by cannabis as you can see in this paper, this 2,500 page book, this video and the attached references.

Even worse that the exponentiating USA autism epidemic is the epidemic of holes in the heart (atrial septal defect) which is growing hyper-exponentially as you can see in the attached unpublished report.  This is also driven by cannabis.

Cannabinoid genotoxicity has long been known.  As you can see in the attached references its implications across diverse domains including aging, birth defects, cancers, and mental retardation are clinically significant and impose a vast burden on public health and health infrastructures internationally.

Cannabinoid genotoxicity is due to all the cannabinoids as they all share the genotoxic chemical moiety, known as olivetol on their C-ring.

Cannabinoid genotoxicity and epigenotoxicity (their toxic effects on the epigenetic regulatory machinery which controls gene expression) acts for three to four generations.  The subject is covered at length in our recently published book.

Contamination of the food chain as is happening in several places in USA, including Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Missouri and possibly Louisiana, means that the whole community is exposed without their knowledge or consent.

Breast cancer is the commonest cancer of all.  Please find below graphs showing that both breast cancer and cannabis use increased across both Europe and USA together in coordinated fashion across space and time which strongly implicates cannabis in this commonest of cancers in a casual manner.  Note where the graphs turn pink where both covariates increase at the same time in the same place.  The “pinking of Europe”  is clearly demonstrated.  Similar changes albeit less well developed are clearly seen in USA.

Videos which explain these issues may be found as follows:

  1. Cannabis and Autism – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8bDLzEInWA
  2. Cannabis and babies born limbless https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOQpy69HIEw&t=60s
  3. Cannabis and birth defects https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLQFvY-Z19g&t=19s
  4. Cannabis – effect on genome and epigenome https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEKdLD60TcE&t=4s
  5. Cannabis and cancers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T_RKFbkNFo
  6. Cannabis and aging https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyyUG2A6RnE
  7. Cannabis summary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0HwgyOfSEQ
  8. Cannabis and hole in the heart https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIg0gHg4HmA

I have also included a recent review on cannabinoid teratogenicity prepared for the EU for your benefit.

Thank you for your assistance.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Dr Stuart Reece, University of Western Australia, Edith Cowan University.

Source: Email from stuart.reece@bigpond.com Sent: 24 May 2025

Filed under: Brain and Behaviour,Cannabis/Marijuana,Drug use-various effects,Health,USA :

The Organisation Internationale Dianova, or Dianova International, is a public utility Swiss NGO committed to social progress. Through its members operating on four continents, Dianova International supports the development of activities aimed at improving people’s lives.

Introduction: Let’s Get One Thing Straight Forget the outdated slogans. “Just say no” doesn’t cut it anymore. Today’s teens and young adults live in a world of pressure, performance, and constant scrolling — and they deserve real strategies, not scare tactics. Evidence shows that drug prevention targeting youth needs to be science-based, stigma-free, and deeply human. That’s what the new wave of prevention is all about. That’s what #VoicesWithoutStigma is here to launch.

PART I

Why We Need a New Conversation

According to the UNODC, around 90% of adult substance use disorders begin in adolescence. That’s why early prevention isn’t optional — it’s essential. But not any kind of prevention: the kind that’s rooted in evidence, compassion, and the real-life experiences of young people.

From the WHO-UNODC International Standards for Drug Use Prevention, we know what works:

  • Early childhood development programs that support parents and help kids develop emotional and cognitive skills.
  • Life skills training in schools, including emotional regulation, problem-solving, and resisting social pressure.
  • Community strategies to reduce access and increase awareness — think youth centers, mentorship programs, and safe recreational spaces.
  • Digital campaigns that meet youth on their terms — mobile-first, meme-friendly, and emotionally honest.

 

The Science Behind the Shift

Prevention is no longer about “bad kids” making “bad choices.” The real risk factors are often trauma, inequality, exclusion, and untreated mental health issues. That’s why the UN, PTTC Network, and others are calling for a new approach that’s inclusive, respectful, and developmentally informed. As highlighted by the United Nations Chronicle, strategies that empower communities — especially youth — are the most sustainable.

#VoicesWithoutStigma: Speak. Share. Shift the Culture.

Launching globally on June 26, 2025, by Dianova International, the #VoicesWithoutStigma campaign is about rewriting the narrative. Young people from 17 countries will take the mic — literally and digitally — to speak about:

  • Mental health and asking for help
  • Coping with anxiety, trauma, and depression
  • Navigating social pressure without losing their sense of self
  • Reclaiming their identity through music, dance, podcasts, and storytelling

The campaign’s launch video sets the tone: young people in silence, whispers of stigma — then rhythm, color, voice. A girl declares: “They told me feeling was weakness. But my voice is strong. And yours is too.”

Breaking the Taboo ≠ Being Alone

Whether you’re 16 or 26, it’s not weird to feel overwhelmed. The Listen First campaign by UNODC reminds us that starting with empathy — not judgment — is how we win hearts, minds, and futures.

Feeling low? Not sure how to support a friend? Talking honestly — and listening with compassion — are the strongest tools we’ve got. That’s how we build resilience and community.

No Drama, Just Data: Environmental Strategies That Work

According to this UNODC framework, community-wide strategies — like regulating alcohol sales to minors, setting up youth-focused events, and positive norm campaigns — can reduce substance use before it starts. Add peer mentoring and digital outreach, and you’ve got a full-circle prevention plan.

A Final Word: You’re Not the Problem. You’re the Power.

You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be real. Drug prevention today is about showing up for yourself, and others, with truth, humor, and heart. Whether you’re creating a Reel, starting a support group, or just learning more — you’re part of the solution.

✨ Join us. Share your truth. Inspire others. #VoicesWithoutStigma isn’t a campaign. It’s a movement. And it’s made for you.

Want to know more? Check the UNODC-WHO standards or EUDA’s library. It’s prevention — but make it real, and make it yours.

 

PART II

Voices Without Stigma: Breaking the Silence, Building the Future

Introduction: More Than Just Say No

Let’s get real — telling young people to “just say no” to drugs isn’t working. Not because they’re reckless, but because they’re smart. Smart enough to know that life is complicated, that pain is real, and that decisions are rarely black or white. That’s why youth drug prevention today isn’t about preaching. It’s about listening, empowering, and building trust. And that’s exactly what #VoicesWithoutStigma is all about.

Why It Matters: The Real Stats Behind the Talk

According to the UNODC-WHO International Standards on Drug Use Prevention, effective prevention is rooted in science, not scare tactics. Research shows that adolescence is a critical period: 90% of adult substance use disorders begin during this phase. Prevention efforts must be developmentally appropriate, engaging, and embedded in the realities of young people’s lives.

So, What Works? A Look at Evidence-Based Prevention

The United Nations and World Health Organization have spent years studying what actually prevents drug use. Spoiler alert: the most effective strategies have nothing to do with guilt or shame. Here’s what the research tells us:

  • Family-based programs that build parenting skills and family bonding.
  • School-based life skills education, focusing on emotional regulation, decision-making, and peer resistance.
  • Community-wide environmental strategies like reducing access to substances and strengthening local support systems.
  • Digital and peer-to-peer outreach that speaks in the language of youth.

These aren’t just theories — they’re approaches with measurable impact across cultures and contexts. Check the UNODC’s breakdown of international standards here.

Let’s Talk Urban: Prevention in a Real-World Context

Today’s young people are navigating pressures their parents never imagined — social media, performance culture, identity exploration, and mental health challenges. Prevention has to meet them where they are: in the group chat, on TikTok, in the locker room, at home after a hard day.

That means:

  • Creating safe, shame-free spaces to talk about anxiety, depression, and trauma.
  • Highlighting relatable stories from young people who’ve overcome challenges without glamorizing drug use.
  • Using influencers, creatives, and peers to drive positive narratives.

#VoicesWithoutStigma: A Movement in the Making

Dianova’s 26 June 2025 global campaign — #VoicesWithoutStigma — is here to flip the script on stigma. With the slogan “Your Voice is Power”, it invites young people around the world to share their truth, their way — through spoken word, memes, music, reels, or just real talk.

The campaign’s goals are bold:

  • Inspire creative expression around mental health and substance use.
  • Normalize seeking help, showing it as strength rather than weakness.
  • Mobilize schools, NGOs, families and social platforms to amplify youth voices.

And the teaser? A powerful video where silence gives way to rhythm, movement, art, and voices that say, “We don’t hide how we feel — we transform it.”

#VoicesWithoutStigma is not just a campaign. It’s a cultural wave.

Curious Yet? Stay Tuned.

On June 26, something big is dropping. A campaign made of real voices, raw stories, and bold creativity. If you’ve ever felt misunderstood, judged, or silenced — this is your moment.

Get ready to join the voices that refuse to be labeled. To cry, to laugh, to heal, to shout back with truth.

Follow the campaign. Join the lives. Share your story. Explore the science, feel the voices, join the movement:

Because when we speak with compassion instead of judgment, and with facts instead of fear, we don’t just prevent drug use — we create a future worth living for.

#VoicesWithoutStigma | #YourVoiceIsPower | #June26 | #MentalHealthMatters | #PreventionWorks

 

Source: https://www.dianova.org/news/real-talk-real-tools-drug-prevention-that-actually-works-for-todays-youth/

Filed under: Culture,Education,Europe,Mental Health,Prevention and Intervention,Youth :

Updated estimates indicate a greater need for treatment.

A new study reveals that a large number of American children are growing up in homes where at least one parent struggles with alcohol or drug use. This troubling environment may increase the chances that these children will face similar challenges later in life.

Using the latest available data from 2023, researchers estimate that 19 million children in the United States — that’s one in four kids under the age of 18 — live with a parent or caregiver who has a substance use disorder.

Even more concerning, around 6 million of these children are living in households where the adult also has a diagnosed mental illness along with their substance use disorder.

Alcohol is the most commonly misused substance among parents. The data suggests that about 12 million parents meet the criteria for some form of alcohol use disorder. Cannabis use disorder follows, affecting over 6 million parents. Additionally, approximately 3.4 million parents are struggling with the use of multiple substances at once.

Rising Numbers and Growing Concern

The number living with a parent who had any substance use disorder in 2023 is higher than the 17 million estimated in a paper published just months ago that used data from 2020.

“The increase and fact that one in four children now live with parental substance use disorder brings more urgency to the need to help connect parents to effective treatments, expand early intervention resources for children, and reduce the risk that children will go on to develop substance use issues of their own,” said Sean Esteban McCabe, lead author of the new study and senior author of the recent one.

The new findings are published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics by a team from the University of Michigan Center for the Study of Drugs, Alcohol, Smoking, and Health, which McCabe directs. He is a professor in the U-M School of Nursing and Institute for Social Research, and a member of the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation.

Both studies used data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a federal program that has tracked U.S. drug and alcohol use since the 1970s, yielding data that researchers and policymakers have used.

That survey faces an uncertain future due to staff and budget cuts at the federal agency where it’s based, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA. The survey’s entire staff received layoff notices in April.

Drug Categories and Their Impact

In addition to alcohol and cannabis, McCabe and his colleagues estimate that just over 2 million children live with a parent who has a substance use disorder related to prescription drugs, and just over half a million live with a parent whose use of illicit drugs such as cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine meets criteria for a substance use disorder.

The researchers include Vita McCabe, the director of University of Michigan Addiction Treatment Services in the Department of Psychiatry at Michigan Medicine, U-M’s academic medical center.

“We know that children raised in homes where adults have substance use issues are more likely to have adverse childhood experiences, to use alcohol and drugs earlier and more frequently, and to be diagnosed with mental health conditions of their own,” said Vita McCabe, a board-certified in addiction medicine and psychiatry. “That’s why it’s so important for parents to know that there is effective treatment available, including the medications naltrexone and/or acamprosate for alcohol use disorder, cognitive behavioral therapy for cannabis use disorder, and buprenorphine or methadone for opioid use disorder including both prescription and non-prescription opioids.”

Both the new paper and the one published in March in the Journal of Addiction Medicine based diagnoses of substance use disorders and major mental health conditions on the criteria contained in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5, or DSM-5.

In the March study, the authors showed that the change in how substance use disorder was defined in DSM-5 compared with its previous version led to a major increase in the number of children estimated to be living with a parent with a substance use issue.

Ty Schepis, an addiction psychologist at Texas State University, was the lead author of the earlier paper and is senior author of the new paper.

“Our new findings add to the understanding of how many children are living with a parent who has a severe and comorbid substance use disorder and other mental illness such as major depression,” he said. “This is important to note because of the additional risk that this creates for children as they grow into adults.”

The research was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health (R01DA031160, R01DA043691).

Source: https://scitechdaily.com/1-in-4-kids-lives-with-a-parent-battling-addiction-alarming-study-finds/

Filed under: Addiction,Culture,Drug use-various effects on foetus, babies, children and youth,Mental Health,Parents,Treatment and Addiction,USA,Youth :

by Dave Evans – Senior Counsel, Cannabis Industry Victims Educating Litigators (CIVEL)

via Drug Watch International <drug-watch-international@googlegroups.com>  24 May 2025

Subject: We need information on psychedelics.

Dr. Casey Means, the Trump Surgeon General pick, praised unproven psychedelic therapy and said mushrooms helped her find love. Her brother, Calley Means, an entrepreneur who now works in the Trump administration as a health adviser and has said he invested in biopharmaceutical companies that specialize in psychedelics.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/trump-surgeon-general-pick-praised-unproven-psychedelic-therapy-said-mushrooms-helped-her-find-love/ar-AA1EMtjb?ocid=BingNewsSerp

We also just heard that attorney Matt Zorn who was representing the pro-marijuana side at the DEA marijuana rescheduling hearing was just appointed as Deputy General Counsel at HHS to focus on streamlining psychedelics reform.

David G. Evans, Esq.

 

Source:  Dave Evans – 24 May 2025

 

Filed under: Brain and Behaviour,Drug use-various effects,Psychedelics,USA :

by Shane W. Varcoe , Director@dalgarnoinstitute.org.au – 23 May 2025

“I was talking to a tradesman in my home on Wednesday and he asked me what I did…. After explanation about Weed…. He said.. “I wen to a local doctor and just said I had trouble sleeping and can I have cannabis… got a script, no more questions asked.”  This is so utterly corrupt and it’s ubiquitous  now! ”    Shane W. Varcoe

Comment by Jo Baxter, DFA (Australia)

This is a very serious situation for the US and the world generally. Such a softening is akin to what the then Federal Health Minister, Sussan Ley did when she passed the law that allowed Medicinal Cannabis to be legalised in Australia. Now we are seeing a misuse of the ‘legal’ system with doctors overprescribing and not even consulting in person with patients to whom they prescribe the drug.

On Fri, May 23, 2025 at 7:51 AM Herschel Baker <hmbaker1938@hotmail.com> wrote:

The evidence is in Cannabis must remain Schedule 1 Epidemiology of Cannabis Albert Stuart Reece, Gary Kenneth Hulse

https://shop.elsevier.com/books/epidemiology-of-cannabis/reece/978-0-443-13492-0

WASHINGTON, D.C. – During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 30, DEA administrator nominee Terrance Cole declined to commit to the proposed federal rescheduling of cannabis, leaving a critical policy question unresolved as the process transitions to new leadership under the Trump administration.

The popular and game-changing rescheduling proposal backed by Donald J. Trump to reclassify cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) remains formally active but administratively paused by a DEA judge.

If enacted, rescheduling cannabis to Schedule III would formally acknowledge the accepted medical use of cannabis under federal law. It would also allow for FDA-supervised research and development of cannabis-based drugs.

Although cannabis would still be classified as a controlled substance and remain under the oversight of the DEA and FDA, reclassifying it to Schedule III would significantly benefit legal cannabis businesses by changing how they are treated under federal tax law.

Specifically, it would exempt them from the limitations of Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code, which currently bars businesses trafficking in Schedule I or II substances from deducting ordinary business expenses. Due to this restriction, legitimate cannabis companies paid over $1.8 billion more in federal taxes in 2022 than comparable non-cannabis businesses, according to data from Whitney Economics.

Reclassification would not federally legalize recreational cannabis, authorize interstate commerce, or override any state-level prohibitions.

Reclassification was initiated nearly three years ago during the Biden administration. Still, on January 13, 2025, one week before President Trump took office, the DEA’s Chief Administrative Law Judge cancelled a public hearing scheduled for January 21 and ordered parties to check back in with him in 90 days.

There is no statutory deadline for the DEA to complete the rescheduling process, so the current pause could extend indefinitely.

Cole, a longtime DEA official nominated to be administrator in February, told lawmakers on April 30 that reviewing the agency’s stalled administrative process to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III would be “one of [his] first priorities.”

Though cannabis was not mentioned in Cole’s opening remarks, he emphasized a focus on combating the fentanyl crisis and leveraging his 30 years in law enforcement to address cartel-related threats. “It’s time to move forward,” he said of the stalled rescheduling process.

But when pressed by US Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) on whether he would ensure the proposed rescheduling is carried out, Cole would not commit. Here is a bit of back and forth between the two:

“I need to understand more where they are and look at the science behind it and listen to the experts and really understand where they are in the process,” Cole said.

Padilla, referencing the directive initiated in 2022, reiterated: “We know where we are. We know what the directive is: Get it to Schedule III. Are you committed to seeing it to fruition?”

Cole responded, “So, I don’t know. I haven’t seen that, sir.”

“So, you’re leaving the door open to changing course as to—?” Padilla asked.

“I’m leaving the door open to studying everything that’s been done so far, so I can make a determination, sir,” Cole said.

Padilla concluded the exchange by stating: “So, make myself a note here—no answer to that particular question.”

 

Source:  Shane W. Varcoe , Director@dalgarnoinstitute.org.au – 23 May 2025 

 

Filed under: Australia,Cannabis/Marijuana,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Hemp,Legal Sector,Political Sector,Prevention and Intervention :

by John J. Coleman, PhD – President, drug-watch-international – 23 May 2025

Today’s edition of “The Drug Report” (by SAM) brings some good news about drug-related overdose deaths. The piece leads with:

“According to estimates from the CDC, the number of overdose deaths declined in 48 states between 2023 and 2024, representing a 26.9% decline. This is equivalent to 81 fewer overdose deaths every day throughout the year. The CDC estimated that there were 80,391 overdose deaths in 2024, down from 110,037 in 2023. Overdose deaths peaked in the 12-month period ending in June 2023, when 114,670 occurred.” (See: The Drug Report)

This appears to be good news and let’s hope that it is. Several years ago, the CDC’s counting of drug overdose deaths was debunked as fraudulent when it turned out that for more than a decade, CDC was counting fentanyl-related deaths as resulting from prescribed fentanyl, not the street variety. This caused considerable inflation of prescription opioid deaths while at the same time diverting away scarce attention (and resources) to street drugs like heroin and fentanyl that were rapidly taking over the market.

Part of the problem we noticed back then was the agency’s use and reliance upon the ICD-10 for identifying drugs and causes of death. This somewhat obsolete system designed and promulgated by the World Health Organization is not sufficient to monitor drug-involved mortality. For example, codes do not distinguish between methadone used for pain treatment and methadone used to treat opioid use disorders. Consequently, all methadone-involved deaths are considered incorrectly as involving the prescribed variety of the drug. While some may think this is a difference without much distinction, consider that volume-wise, seven times more methadone is used in the U.S. for OUD than for pain.

And don’t think the CDC wizards didn’t know they had a problem with this. In 2014, the CDC reported that methadone represented 1 percent of opioids prescribed for pain but was involved in 23 percent of all prescription opioid deaths. But, alas, using the ICD-10 codes to characterize drugs, they put all those deaths on the prescribed or administered methadone used for pain, not on the methadone dispensed and administered for OUD.

So, let’s hope that today’s news about the decline in drug overdose deaths is genuine and not based on some new methodology or novel interpretation that omits important facts. To its credit, in 2018 the CDC published an article in an obscure public health journal in which it admitted issuing incorrect estimates for prescription opioid-related deaths for several years, possibly as long as a decade, because it was counting fentanyl-involved deaths as resulting from the prescribed form, not the street form that was causing the problem. Internal documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, however, showed that the CDC was well aware of the problem long before it came clean in the journal article.

John Coleman

Source:  www.drugwatch.org

Filed under: Drug use-various effects,Prevalence,USA :

by Letitia James – Office of the New York State Attorney General – May 22, 2025

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today co-led a bipartisan coalition of 40 other attorneys general from across the country in calling on Congress to pass the Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act, bipartisan legislation to reduce youth drug use through research-based public education campaigns and strategic community outreach. In a letter to Democratic and Republican leadership in the House and Senate, Attorney General James and the coalition emphasize the importance of proactive, science-based prevention efforts at a time when young people face increased risk of exposure to dangerous narcotics like fentanyl and xylazine.

“Too many young people know first-hand just how deadly drugs like fentanyl can be,” said Attorney General James. “As the opioid epidemic continues to tear apart families and communities, attorneys general remain on the front lines protecting our youth, and we need all levels of government to help fight back. The Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act is a common-sense bipartisan measure that will provide significant resources to help save lives and educate young people about the dangers of drug use.”

The legislation, introduced by U.S. Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), would amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to provide targeted federal funding for public service announcements (PSAs), youth-led campaigns, and other outreach tools that help prevent early substance use. All campaigns funded under the bill must be grounded in evidence, designed for cultural relevance, and adapted to meet the specific needs of local communities.

Attorney General James and the coalition argue that youth substance use remains a growing public health and safety concern, especially amid a rise in fentanyl-related overdoses and the increasing availability of synthetic drugs. Research consistently shows that young people who begin using drugs at an early age are more likely to develop long-term substance use disorders, and the consequences can be devastating for families, schools, and communities.

The Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act would fund a range of efforts to better reach young people with timely, credible, and accessible information, including:

  • Culturally relevant PSAs tailored specifically to youth;
  • Youth-led PSA contests to drive peer-to-peer engagement and creativity;
  • Federal grants for outreach across TV, radio, social media, streaming platforms, and other media; and
  • Annual reporting requirements to measure reach and effectiveness, ensuring transparency and accountability.

The letter is led by Attorney General James and the attorneys general of Connecticut, New Hampshire, and South Dakota. Joining the letter are the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and American Samoa.

Source:  https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2025/attorney-general-james-co-leads-bipartisan-coalition-urging-congress-pass

Filed under: Culture,Drug use-various effects,Political Sector,Prevention and Intervention,USA,Youth :
May 20 2025
by Megan Miller, MPH; Katherine Wheeler-Martin, MPH;  Amanda M. Bunting, PhD; Magdalena Cerdá, DrPH;  Noa Krawczyk, PhD

There is a video to illustrate this information. To see the video, go to the Source at the foot of this article, then press the ‘play’ button as indicated.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Youth overdose deaths have remained elevated in recent years as the illicit drug supply has become increasingly contaminated with fentanyl and other synthetics. There is a need to better understand fatal drug combinations and how trends have changed over time and across sociodemographic groups in this age group.

METHODS

We used the National Vital Statistics System’s multiple cause of death datasets to examine trends in overdose deaths involving combinations of synthetic opioids with benzodiazepine, cocaine, heroin, prescription opioids, and other stimulants among US youth aged 15 to 24 years from 2018 to 2022 across age, sex, race and ethnicity, and region.

RESULTS

Overdose death counts rose from 4652 to 6723 (10.85 to 15.16 per 100 000) between 2018 and 2022, with a slight decrease between 2021 and 2022. The largest increases were deaths involving synthetic opioids only (1.8 to 4.8 deaths per 100 000). Since 2020, fatal synthetic opioid–only overdose rates were higher than polydrug overdose rates involving synthetic opioids, regardless of race, ethnicity, or sex. In 2022, rates of synthetic-only overdose deaths were 2.49-times higher among male youths compared with female youths and 2.15-times higher among those aged 20 to 24 years compared with those aged 15 to 19 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Polydrug combinations involving synthetic opioids continue to contribute to fatal youth overdoses, yet deaths attributed to synthetic opioids alone are increasingly predominant. These findings highlight the changing risks of the drug supply and the need for better access to harm-reduction services to prevent deaths among youth.

Source:  https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article-abstract/doi/10.1542/peds.2024-069488/201955/Changes-in-Synthetic-Opioid-Involved-Youth?redirectedFrom=fulltext

Filed under: Brain and Behaviour,Drug use-various effects,Opioids,Synthetics,USA,Youth :

This is an excerpt from an email sent by Stuart Reece to Senator Eric Abetz as part of a Drug Watch International discussion relating to the proposal for Drug Decriminalization in Northern Territory of Australia, more specifically related to the effects of cannabis exposure to malformation of babies.

Eric you might also be interested that I am working on a study of cannabis as a contributing factor to the pattern of congenital malformations seen in babies world wide with  some of the top people in the world.

I am also doing a detailed dissection of some of the congenital anomaly rates in various conservative and liberal USA states again exploring is cannabis exposure can explain the different patterns seen – as we would very much expect from the observed pattern of congenital anomalies and the basic science of cannabis teratogenesis to this point.

Interestingly perhaps there seem to be about five major routes from cannabis exposure in father or mother to malformation of babies.  They are:

  1. Epigenetic changes – disordering of the software programming that the DNA gene sequence carries
  2. Disruption of mitosis and cell division by disruption of the mitotic spindle and interference with the tubulin rails along which the chromosomes slide in cell division
  3. Disruption of cellular energetics which relates to DNA physiology both indirectly and directly and via modulation of epigenetic pathways
  4. Interruption of the blood vessel pathways – foetal vessels carry high density cannabinoid type 1 receptors (CB1R’s).  Since they guide nerve and limb and muscle development, disruption of the blood vessels implies major failures of foetal formation, and disruption of the well documented processes of heart valve and major central vessel formation, since the tissue from which heart valves and great arteries are formed also has high levels CB1R’s
  5. Major changes to sperm and egg formation with major damage to the DNA, protamine proteins which package DNA in sperm, sperm epigenome, and the physiology of the reproductive tract in both male and female

The spectre  of another thalidomide disaster is a real concern which has very much not been factored in to the debate so far.

Why we cannot learn from history completely eludes me…..???

Source: Email sent in copy to Drug Watch International. May 2018

Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana,Drug use-various effects on foetus, babies, children and youth,Genes :

This is a copy of an email sent by Stuart Reece to members of the Australian Northern Territory government, particularly addressing Dr Jennifer Buckley.

Dear Dr Buckley,

I am a Professor of Addiction Medicine at Edith Cowan University on Western Australia, and an Associate Professor of Addiction Medicine at the University of Western Australia.  I hold an earned Doctorate of Medicine from the University of New South Wales in addiction to my basic medical degree.

I understand that your committee is considering adopting a harm reduction strategy focussed view of the management of drug addiction in the Northern Territory including the potential legalization and or decriminalization of all drugs in your jurisdiction.

I wish to place before you my carefully considered opinion that such a strategy would be an unmitigated disaster for the people in your care.

The strategies employed by the harm minimization lobby globally make it very plain that their rhetoric is merely the soft front edge of the full legalization approach sponsored by George Soros.  In this country it has been championed by its unparalleled champion Dr Alex Wodak, President of Australia’s Drug Reform Foundation which unashamedly openly and overtly proposes the legalization of all drugs – goodness only knows why…

Why indeed …  when there is overwhelming evidence of the innumerable harms directly attributable to drug addiction itself.

I work with drug addicts all day long.  Most of those I work with in my clinic agree that slackening off of the laws in this area would be an unmitigated disaster – and that is drug addicts in treatment!!!!

One of the very obvious features of drug addicted patients – of all sorts – is the accelerated pattern of disease which they virtually all get.  Disorders of brain, heart, circulation, liver, muscle wasting, psychology, bones, reproductive system and immunity together with cancers, elevated death rates and major anomalies in the babies born to addicted parents – have all been described in virtually every addiction.

It has recently been shown that the maintenance of cellular energy stores is critical to the upkeep and maintenance od NA.  Without good energy stores DNA become fractured and broken, cells age, cancers form and abnormal babies are born and infertility rises.  The community pays the cost – obviously; and individual patients bear the brunt of the illnesses.

It is known moreover that from age 20 the energy inside cells halves every 20 years.  Declining cellular energy stores therefore form one of the key cellular measures of ageing.  Restoring those energy stores is therefore a major project within anti-ageing medicine and a major therapeutic goal for clinical medicine.

IT HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR SEVERAL DECADES THAT ALL THE ADDICTIONS DRAMATICALLY REDUCE CELLULAR ENERGY STORES – AND THEREBY DIRECTLY PHENOCOPY CELLULAR AGING –WHICH OBVIOUSLY EXPLAINS THE POLY-SYNDROMIC MULTISYSTEMIC CLINICAL PRESENTATIONS OF DRUG ADDICTION.

For example data emerging from our still on-going analysis of the rates of deformed babies in Colorado show that most of the cannabis related anomalies are rising, which includes all of the fastest growing anomalies, and that the overall rate of congenital heart defects and total defects has almost doubled 2000-2013; Cannabis was only fully legalized in Colorado in 2014!!!  That is the good news – for it has also been shown that cannabis interferes with the basic processes of brain formation also.  The babies born to drug dependent parents are very obviously very far from normal in most cases – certainly when the addictions are severe – when indeed children are lucky to survive even until birth!  So cannabis is a known teratogen and its widespread use is likely to cost the community very dearly in the years to come.

I have attached for your benefit some submissions I recently made to the FDA and WHO on the subject of cannabis genotoxicity and cannabis teratogenicity.  With your permission I would also like to place this material which explores these themes in much greater depth, in evidence before your committee.

Since I have spent a whole professional lifetime studying these issues I trust it is clear that I could place mush more evidence before you.

I am happy to answer any other questions you might have.

Similar remarks can be made in relation to opioid and amphetamine abuse.

I understand clearly that in parts of the Northern Territory drug use is rife.  I also understand that in parts drug use if forbidden by local community law and alcohol is banned in many places, so-called “dry communities.”  The answer to this is proper education of the community and appropriate constraint of drug use and drug trafficking by law enforcement in line with our international obligations under the Single Convention, the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child and many others.  

I would point out that it is my view, and also that of many other well informed experts and individuals, that the very obvious gaping hole in the our drug education for the community is an obvious major breech in our community response to the issues of drug enforcement, which almost alone allows the media-driven misinformation and disinformation of the crazy ideologues with virtually unlimited financial resources to push our society in directions which we would never normally go if the truth was well known and widely disseminated and widely taught and widely practised.  It is the yawning gaping hole in the public education program alone which allows the lies, dissembling and dissimulation of the crazy anarchists to threaten not only the wellbeing of our communities, but indeed the sustainability of western culture into the future.

And I might add their genetic and epigenetic pool for the next hundred years….

That is to say – it is not the threats of the lies of the media barons and dysfunctional popular rock idol darlings – who keep committing suicide – which is the major threat to our culture – but the absence of truth in the public place – which is obviously officially sponsored – which allows these lies to flourish in the first place.  The implication is that a modicum of well-informed public health education would quickly drown out a whole cacophony of media-driven highly-paid lies.  It is therefore our joint responsibility to make sure that the popular narratives of our culture are fact-based and evidence-driven rather than purely ideological and agenda-driven as at present.

Thankyou for considering my material.

I am happy to work further with your committee to assist you in your deliberations.

Yours sincerely,

Prof. Dr. Albert Stuart Reece,

MBBS(Hons.), FRCS(Ed.), FRCS(Glas.), FRACGP, MD(UNSW).

Edith Cowan University, Joondalup,

Source: Copy of email sent to Drug Watch International for distribution by Stuart Reece. May 2018

Filed under: Addiction,Australia,Genes,Health,Legal Sector,Political Sector :

by Lisa O’Mary – works for WebMD – contributor to Medscape, LinkedIn, int. al – April 21, 2025

Forwarded by Herschel Baker <hmbaker1938@hotmail.com> 14 May 2025 04:45

A newly published large-scale study has cast serious doubt on the long-term safety of cannabis. Based on data from more than 6 million Canadians, the research shows that adults who had used cannabis and been hospitalized or visited an emergency room were up to four times more likely to develop dementia within five years, compared to non-users.

The findings have sparked concern among researchers and public health experts, especially given the sharp rise in cannabis-related hospital visits in recent years.

“The data is too compelling to ignore” – they recommend that one should “Add cannabis to the list of things now linked to a heightened risk of dementia.” the study’s authors said, according to WebMD.

Cannabis users who visited the emergency room or were hospitalized were up to four times as likely as people in the general population to be diagnosed with dementia within five years, according to a large new study.

 

Is Marijuana Safe for Teens?

How does it affect their grades, their mental health, and more?

While the study can’t say that cannabis use causes dementia – a progressive disease that affects memory, thinking, and language, along with emotions and behavior – its findings are compelling enough to capture attention from both the public and the medical community.

Here’s what to know about those findings, what’s still being investigated, and why it matters to you.

What the Study Found

The most well-known biological feature of dementia is the presence of brain plaques that kill neurons. Age is the biggest risk factor, but strong links have also been made to things like high blood pressure, diabetes, poor diet, heart and sleep problems, and lack of physical activity.

Published in JAMA Neurology, the study found that:

  • Cannabis users who went to the ER were 23% more likely to be diagnosed with dementia within five years, compared with nonusers who also went to the ER.
  • Among hospital patients, those who used cannabis had a 72% greater risk of dementia within five years, compared with cannabis abstainers.
  • The rate of people seeking ER or hospital care with documented cannabis use skyrocketed between 2008 and 2021, increasing five-fold. The rate among people ages 65 and older increased nearly 27-fold.

Does This Research Apply to You?

The study only included Canadian adults ages 45 and older who had no prior dementia diagnosis. It’s garnered a lot of respect in medical circles because of its size – more than 6 million people’s health data was included, making the results more reliable than past, smaller marijuana studies.

Marijuana Addiction and Abuse

1/14

Is Marijuana Addictive?

Addiction is more common in drugs like alcohol or cocaine. But it’s possible to get hooked on marijuana, also known as cannabis. That means you can’t stop using it, even if you want to. Studies show about 1 in 10 adults who use marijuana can get addicted. Your chances go up to 1 in 6 if you use it before age 18.

2/14

What Is Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD)?

You might have this condition if smoking marijuana causes physical, emotional, or social problems. It’s also called marijuana use disorder. CUD can range from mild to severe.

3/14

How Do You Know If You Have CUD?

Do you use marijuana every day or almost every day? Have you tried to quit but can’t? Do you get unwanted symptoms when you stop, like anxiety, crankiness, or trouble sleeping? Do those go away when you use marijuana again? Do you have a strong urge, or craving, to use it? Do you keep using it even though bad things happen, like problems at work, school, or with friends and family? If you answered yes to any of these, you may have CUD.

4/14

Problems Linked to CUD

Marijuana use can make it hard to think, learn, or pay attention. If you drive while high, you’re more likely to have a car wreck. If you already have mental health problems, CUD can worsen them. People who use marijuana a lot are more likely to be jobless and not happy with life. If you use it every day, you might get withdrawal symptoms a day or two after stopping. These include insomnia, mood problems, or cravings you can’t control.

5/14

Who Gets CUD?

Early use may lead to marijuana problems. Genes and environment also play a role. You’re more likely to get CUD if you misuse other drugs, like alcohol. Your chances also go up if you use marijuana a lot and by yourself. Mental health issues, like an anxiety or a mood disorder, can raise your chances, too.

6/14

How Does CUD Happen?

Marijuana has THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol as the primary psychoactive ingredient. It triggers receptors in your brain called endocannabinoid receptors. When you use addictive drugs like marijuana a lot, you can change circuits in your brain. Over time, you become less sensitive to the chemicals in marijuana. You might make less endocannabinoid, which your body produces on its own. That means you may need to use more of the drug to feel “normal,” or you may feel stressed out when you’re not using it.

7/14

How to Avoid CUD

The only sure way to stop CUD from happening is to never use marijuana. Not using drugs when you’re young might lower your chances. If you have children, make sure they know marijuana can be harmful. Keep a close eye on your kids if you get divorced, move, or have to send them to a different school. Teenagers tend to use drugs when faced with uncertain changes or stressors.

8/14

How to Treat CUD

Most people with CUD don’t seek treatment. But you may get better if you try psychotherapy, or talk therapy. That includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational enhancement therapy (MET), and contingency management (CM). These can help you change thoughts and behaviors that make it hard to quit. You could also try to set limits such as only using marijuana  on certain days of the week, like the weekends. If you have trouble sticking to self imposed limits, it may indicate a problem. Meditation or other stress relieving activities may also help you use less.

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Treatment for Teens with CUD

Psychotherapy can help young people too. But they may do better when loved ones are involved in treatment. That’s how multidimensional family therapy (MDFT) works. If you’re a caregiver, you can go to MDFT with your teen.

10/14

Can Medicine Help With CUD?

If you’re dependent on cannabis, you could go through withdrawal for weeks or relapse after you quit. That’s why experts are studying how medicine can ease withdrawal symptoms like bad mood, anxiety, restlessness, and sleep issues. They’re looking at antidepressants, cannabinoid agonists, mood stabilizers, and insomnia medication, but there are no FDA-approved meds for CUD. Some of these may treat mental health problems that worsen CUD.

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Marijuana Abuse and Sleep

You may use cannabis to help you doze off at night. But in the long run, marijuana can do a lot of harm to your sleep. And heavy use may cause a lot of problems when you try to quit. You might have nightmares, insomnia, or bad sleep quality. If this happens to you, talk to your doctor about how to treat these symptoms.

12/14

CUD and Pregnancy

Experts aren’t sure how cannabis affects your baby. But animal studies show it may change how their brain grows. More research is needed to know what’ll happen after they’re born. But if they’re exposed to marijuana daily, they may have a hard time learning or paying attention when they get older. If you’re pregnant or want to be, ask your doctor for help on how to give up cannabis

13/14

How to Use Medical Marijuana

In some states, doctors can prescribe cannabis. There’s research into its health benefits. It’s used to treat pain that doesn’t go away and may help with symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or glaucoma. Write down what type of cannabis you use. (For example, is it an edible, a joint, or an oil?) Keep track of how it makes you feel. Tell your doctor about any bad side effects. They may be able to recommend a different kind or dose or whether you should be using it at all.

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Medical Marijuana and Pregnancy

You may have heard that marijuana helps with morning sickness. But there’s no scientific evidence this is safe. If you’re pregnant, you shouldn’t use medical marijuana unless your doctor says it’s OK.

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Medically Reviewed by Poonam Sachdev on October 11, 2023

But there are some important limitations and context to consider:

  • Most people in the study were included for comparison purposes, and the number of cannabis users was only about 16,000. The average age among users was 55, and their age varied a lot. About 60% were men.
  • The cannabis users were getting medical care for reasons related to their cannabis use – including mental and behavioral illness due to cannabis use, poisoning or adverse effects of cannabis or its derivatives, and cannabis addiction.
  • About 5% of cannabis users in the study were diagnosed with dementia within five years, compared to 3.6% of people who went to the ER or hospital for other reasons. The rate of dementia in a general population comparison group was 1.3%.
  • Looking 10 years after the ER or hospital visit, 19% of users were diagnosed with dementia, compared to 15% of nonusers who got the same level of medical care.
  • Cannabis use was linked to a 31% lower risk of dementia within five years, compared to people who were treated in the ER or hospital due to alcohol use, the researchers found.
  • Related:Binge Drinking: How Much Is Too Much?

What’s Still Being Investigated

There’s still a lot we don’t understand about the possible link between dementia and cannabis use. What researchers still don’t know:

  • Whether the link still exists for people who use cannabis without needing medical care
  • How the complex interaction of genetics, lifestyle, and other health conditions combine with cannabis use to increase a person’s risk of having dementia

The Bigger Picture

This is just the latest in a string of recent studies shedding long-awaited light on the health impacts of cannabis use.

How Marijuana Affects Your Body

1/12

It Makes You High

Let’s be honest: This is why most people use marijuana. THC is what causes the high. When you smoke marijuana, THC goes from your lungs to your bloodstream and then makes its way to your brain. There it connects to parts of certain cells called receptors. That’s what gives you those pleasant feelings. You can also get marijuana in things like cookies, gummies, and brownies. These are called edibles. They get into your blood through your digestive system.

2/12

Brain

You might find it harder to focus, learn, and remember things when you use marijuana. This short-term effect can last up to 24 hours after you stop smoking. Long-term use, especially in your teens, may have more permanent effects. Imaging tests that take pictures of the brain show fewer connections in areas linked to alertness, learning, and memory. Tests show lower IQ scores in some people.

3/12

Lungs

Marijuana smoke can inflame your lungs. If you’re a regular user, you could have the same breathing problems as a cigarette smoker. That means a cough, sometimes long lasting, or chronic. It might produce colored mucus, or phlegm. You could also be more likely to get lung infections. Inflamed lung tissue is part of the reason, but THC also seems to affect the way some people’s immune systems work.

4/12

Heart

Your normal heart rate of 50 to 70 beats per minute can rise by 20 to 50 beats or more for up to 3 hours after you use marijuana. Scientists think that this, along with tar and other chemicals in the drug, may raise your chance of a heart attack or stroke. The risk could go up further if you’re older or you already have heart problems.

5/12

Mental Health

Anxiety and paranoia are common complaints among marijuana users. Clinical anxiety and depression are also more likely, but scientists aren’t yet sure exactly why. The drug can make symptoms of more serious mental illness like psychosis and schizophrenia worse. It’s also linked to a higher likelihood of substance abuse. These effects could be worse if your genes make you more likely to get a mental illness or an addiction.

6/12

Appetite

Regular marijuana users often refer to this as the munchies.  Some reports suggest this increased appetite might help you gain weight lost to illnesses like AIDS or cancer, or because of treatment for those diseases. Scientists are still studying when and if the treatment works or if it’s safe.

7/12

Stomach

By itself, THC (marijuana’s active ingredient) seems to ease nausea, especially if your symptoms are from chemotherapy treatment for cancer. Some people say the stomach-settling effects work better when you use marijuana instead of THC alone. This may be because other chemicals enhance the effects of THC. But long-term marijuana use can have the opposite effect and cause more vomiting. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome can occur in regular users and leads to frequent vomiting.

8/12

Eyes

Some evidence suggests that marijuana, or chemicals in it, can lower the eye pressure that’s a main symptom of glaucoma. The problem is the effect only lasts 3 to 4 hours. To keep it low, you’d have to get the drug into your bloodstream 6-8 times a day. Doctors have yet to come up with a form of the drug that’s safe to use as a glaucoma treatment. And though marijuana does seem to lower eye pressure, it also might reduce the blood supply to your eye, which could make glaucoma worse.

9/12

Chronic Pain

Both marijuana and a pill version of THC called dronabinol seem to help relieve pain by attaching to parts of brain cells called cannabinoid receptors. Some studies suggest CBD oil could ease pain from arthritis, nerve damage (neuropathy), and muscle spasms, among other causes. Scientists continue to study how and when and if this works in people.

10/12

Multiple Sclerosis

A version of THC that you spray up your nose called nabiximols is available in Canada, the U.K., and other countries. It seems to help calm muscle spasms, lessen nerve pain, and improve sleep for many people with multiple sclerosis. It may also help with other illnesses, like cancer. The FDA is working to test the drug for use in the U.S.

11/12

Inflammation

Though smoking marijuana can inflame your lungs, substances called cannabinoids seem to lessen the swelling in certain other tissues. Cannabidiol may be a good choice because it doesn’t cause the same high as THC. In animal tests, it shows some promise in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and conditions that inflame the digestive tract, like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

12/12

Seizures

There’s good evidence that marijuana, or drugs made from it, may help lessen seizures in some people with epilepsy. The FDA has even approved a drug made with cannabidiol for that purpose (Epidiolex). But the agency only recommends it for two rare forms of childhood epilepsy called Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome.

Next

Medically Reviewed by Jabeen Begum, MD on March 16, 2024

A lack of scientific research has led many people to form their understanding of marijuana’s health effects based on limited evidence from their own or others’ experiences. Medical experts have long warned that the true health impacts of marijuana are largely unknown, and in recent years, some of the first rigorous studies have offered new information, including links between cannabis and:

  • Cardiovascular problems, like strokes and heart attacks
  • Early death
  • Reduced brain function during tasks that involve mental skills

Those risks are along with the already well-established understanding that cannabis use is particularly risky among youths and young adults, whose brains are still developing. The American Psychiatric Association says there’s evidence that cannabis use can speed up the start of mental illness, particularly in young adulthood. People with depression who use cannabis are at an increased risk of suicidal thoughts or attempts. Risks increase based on how much and how long a person uses.

Source: https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/news/20250421/new-study-links-cannabis-and-dementia-heres-what-that-means

 

Filed under: Brain and Behaviour,Marijuana and Medicine,Mental Health,USA :

 

Carfentanil is a chilling reminder of how the opioid epidemic continues to evolve and introduces new threats at an alarming pace.

What is Carfentanil?

Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid originally developed for veterinary use, more specifically to tranquilize large animals such as elephants. It is extraordinarily potent and not approved for human use. In fact, it is estimated to be 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times stronger than fentanyl.

Because of its strength, a nearly microscopic amount of carfentanil can induce a powerful, and often deadly, effect in humans.

In an effort to increase drug potency and profits, carfentanil has been found mixed with other drugs or pressed into pills that look like prescription painkillers. This increases the likelihood of fatal overdose and poisoning deaths, especially among users who are unaware they are ingesting such a powerful substance.

Increasing Prevalence

DEA, local law enforcement, and first responders have recently seen an increased presence of carfentanil in the illicit drug market, which has been linked to a number of overdose deaths in various parts of the country. According to the CDC, deaths involving carfentanil increased approximately sevenfold – from 29 deaths from January to June 2023, to 238 deaths from January to June 2024. Carfentanil has now been detected in 37 states.

The current rise in carfentanil prevalence is reminiscent of previous surges observed in late-2016-2017 and 2019-2020. During these periods, the DEA noted significant increases in carfentanil encounters. During this current wave, DEA laboratories have tested more than 100 kilograms of carfentanil mixed with fentanyl, fentanyl-related substances, and other drugs in calendar year 2024 alone. This is larger than the three previous calendar years combined, which totaled approximately 87 kilograms of seized material containing carfentanil.

The majority of carfentanil seizures throughout 2024 were in a pill or tablet form, not the typical powder form previously encountered. This trend is concerning due to:

  • Increased Risk of Overdose: The extreme potency of carfentanil significantly increases the risk of overdose and death, even with a single pill.
  • Deceptive Appearance: Within the past year, more carfentanil is being pressed into pills that resemble prescription medications, leading to unintentional consumption by individuals who believe they are taking a less potent drug.

Overdose and Treatment Challenges

Exposure to carfentanil can cause respiratory depression or arrest, drowsiness, disorientation, sedation, pinpoint pupils, and clammy skin. The onset of these symptoms usually occurs within minutes of exposure. Its rapid effect on the central nervous system leaves little time for life-saving interventions.

Treating an overdose involving carfentanil is extremely difficult. While naloxone is widely used as an emergency antidote for opioid overdoses, it may not be effective against carfentanil in normal doses. Multiple, high doses of naloxone may be required, and even then, effective reversal of an overdose is not guaranteed.

Raising Awareness and Staying Safe

Public awareness is critical to preventing overdoses and poisonings involving synthetic opioids. Anyone who might encounter illicit substances, including powders and fake pills, should be aware of the potential presence of carfentanil.

Public education and increased awareness are needed to combat the devastating impact of synthetic opioids, like carfentanil.

Remember that One Pill Can Kill. To protect yourself:

  • Avoid Illicit Drugs and Fake Pills: Refrain from using illicit drugs, as they may contain carfentanil without your knowledge. Never take a pill that was not prescribed to you by a doctor and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist.
  • Seek Help: If you suspect someone has been exposed to carfentanil or is experiencing symptoms of overdose, call emergency services immediately and administer naloxone, if available.
  • Stay Informed: Understand the dangers of carfentanil and educate your loved ones about the risks associated with synthetic drugs.

 

Source: https://www.dea.gov/stories/2025/2025-05/2025-05-14/carfentanil-synthetic-opioid-unlike-any-other

 

Filed under: Carfentanil,Fentanyl,USA :

 

By Kathleen Gustafson –  May 14, 2025
Katie Cornwell and Andrew Scrivo from The Seward Prevention Coalition joined host, Kathleen Gustafson to discuss the results of their Planet Youth survey and the coalition’s implementation of the Icelandic Prevention Model. Kathleen Gustafson came to Homer in 1999 and has been involved with KBBI (www.kbbi.org) since 2003.
The proceedings of their discussion can be accessed via the links shown below
Source: https://www.kbbi.org/podcast/coffee-table/2025-05-14/the-seward-prevention-coalition-and-the-icelandic-prevention-model-for-youth-drug-abuse

 

 

Filed under: Drug use-various effects,Education,Prevention and Intervention,USA,Youth :

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Published by NIH/NIDA 14 May 2025

 

Cannabis vaping is making headlines worldwide, often promoted as a “safer” alternative to smoking. Meanwhile, Drug Trends data from Australia reveal that non-prescribed cannabis use remains high among people who regularly use drugs. But are wider permission models and positive propaganda about cannabis leading to greater engagement, especially among those most at risk? This article dives into Australian data from the Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS) and Illicit Drugs Reporting System (IDRS), exploring what’s really happening with cannabis products, vaping, and why honest health education is more critical than ever.

Cannabis Vaping and Drug Trends in Australia (2014–2024): What the Data Tells Us

Cannabis vaping, once an afterthought, now claims a growing share of the global market. Many believe vaping to be less harmful, with marketers highlighting vaping’s lack of smoke and alleged respiratory benefits. However, recent Drug Trends research in Australia challenges some of these assumptions and uncovers troubling patterns.

The Rise of Electronic Vaping Products

Electronic vaping products started as oversized gadgets in the late 1990s. Initially intended to vaporise dried cannabis herb, they eventually shrank, morphing into today’s sleek e-cigarettes. While vaping nicotine products has become mainstream, cannabis vaping is following close behind, spurred in part by changes to medicinal and recreational cannabis laws overseas.

A North American review found a seven-fold increase in monthly cannabis vaping among adolescents, with notable shifts from dried herb to potent cannabis oils. However, the situation in Australia is different, shaped by stricter regulations and unique market conditions.

Drug Trends in Non-Prescribed Cannabis Use

Australia’s EDRS and IDRS surveys collect real-world data on non-prescribed cannabis and cannabinoid-related products. Between 2014 and 2024, most participants in both systems reported using cannabis recently, with rates as high as 90% in the EDRS and 74% in the IDRS.

Hydroponic and Bush Cannabis Still Dominate

  • Hydroponic cannabis was the most popular, with usage rates ranging from 63%–83% among EDRS respondents, and a remarkable 88%–94% for IDRS participants.
  • Bush cannabis also stayed common, with 51%–77% (EDRS) and 37%–54% (IDRS) reporting use.
  • Other cannabis products, such as THC extracts and commercially-prepared edibles, have appeared in recent years, showing increased product diversity—but are far less popular than traditional forms.

Cannabis Vaping Emerges, But Smoking Prevails

Despite media attention around cannabis vaping, the majority of Australians captured in these studies still smoke cannabis. From 2014 to 2024:

  • Smoking remained the dominant route of administration (ROA) in both groups.
  • Cannabis vaping (inhaling/vaporising) trended upward, but stayed a minority choice. Vaporising among EDRS participants increased from 12% to 25%, and from 2% to 9% for IDRS.

Notably, few users chose vaping as their only method. Most combined it with smoking, suggesting the rise in vaping hasn’t replaced traditional habits.

Concerns About Cannabis Vaping and Permission Models

The Problem with Changing Perceptions

There is growing concern that permission models and positive messaging around cannabis use (whether through legislation or social media) may downplay its risks. Vaping, in particular, is surrounded by claims of being a “safer” alternative to smoking. While it’s true that vaping doesn’t involve combustion and may expose users to fewer toxic chemicals, it’s not risk-free.

Key Issues Include:

  • Potency extremes: Some vape oils and extracts reach THC concentrations of 70–90%, far higher than the average 10%–20% in cannabis herb. Highly potent products carry greater risks for dependence, anxiety, and psychosis.
  • Unknown health risks: The long-term effects of inhaling cannabis vapour, especially from unregulated or home-made devices, are not fully understood.
  • Discreet use and normalisation: Portability and subtlety make vaping easier to hide, particularly from parents and teachers. For some users, this can enable more frequent use or uptake at a younger age.
  • Unhealthy dual use: Most vapers continue smoking, increasing overall exposure to both methods. (for complete research WRD News)

Source: https://www.dalgarnoinstitute.org.au/index.php/resources/drug-information-sheets/2672-cannabis-vaping-and-drug-trends-among-youth-in-australia-2014-2024-a-growing-concern?

Filed under: Addiction,Australia,Cannabis/Marijuana,Cocaine,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Drugs and Accidents,Ecstasy,Health,Heroin/Methadone,HIV/Injecting-Drug-Users,Ketamine,Khat,Kratom,Mental Health,Methamphetamine/GHB/Hallucinogens/Oxycodone,Nicotine,Opioids,Prescription Drugs,Prevention and Intervention,Solvent abuse,Synthetics,Tobacco, smoking,Vaping,Youth :

By Kevin Sabet – President, Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions – 

To maximize their effectiveness, prevention programs must reach adolescents before they are exposed to substance use in their peer groups. Yet nearly one-third of 12- to 17-year-olds reported that they did not see or hear any substance use prevention messages in school, according to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. This lack of prevention education has serious implications for health equity, as racial and ethnic minority youth are less likely to report seeing these messages in their schools.

Prevention takes a village. All sectors of a community must be aligned in order to set healthy norms. This approach guides the Drug-Free Communities Support Program, which involves sectors from businesses and media to schools and religious organizations.

Unfortunately, numerous actors that pursue private profits at the expense of public health actively undermine these efforts. These include marijuana shops and, more recently, psychedelics shops. Our children are given conflicting messages when we tell them not to use addictive substances now being promoted throughout their neighborhoods.

Given the increasing embrace of mind-altering drugs at the state level, it’s no surprise that drug use has risen. A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found that recreational marijuana legalization was associated with a 13 percent increase in past-month marijuana use among youth ages 12 to 17, and a 22 percent increase among young adults ages 18 to 25. Between 2012 and 2023, the prevalence of marijuana use among 19- to 30-year-olds increased from 28.1 percent to 42.4 percent, while it more than doubled from 13.1 percent to 29.3 percent among 35- to 50-year-olds, according to the Monitoring the Future survey. Over this same period, annual overdose deaths nationwide more than doubled from 41,502 to 105,007.

As highlighted in the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions’ The Hyannis Consensus: The Blueprint for Effective Drug Policy, the nation’s drug policy “should promote a health standard that normalizes the non-use of substances.” Our drug policies should not make it easier to use licit and illicit substances.

A person holds a glass pipe used to smoke meth following the decriminalization
of all drugs in downtown Portland, Oregon on January 25, 2024. 
                                                                                  PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP/Getty Images

 

Other things being equal, the harms of drug use will decline as the prevalence of drug use declines. Notably, the White House recently estimated that the societal cost of illicit opioids was $2.7 trillion––with a “t”––in 2023, which is “equivalent to 9.7 percent of GDP.” Viewed through this lens, prevention is essential and must remain central to drug policy efforts. A proactive, upstream approach premised on prevention will also reduce strain on downstream systems like treatment and recovery.

Policymakers must remember that prevention programs are cost-effective. A 2016 report from the surgeon general explained:

Interventions that prevent substance use disorders can yield an even greater economic return than the services that treat them. For example, a recent study of prevention programs estimated that every dollar spent on effective, school-based prevention programs can save an estimated $18 in costs related to problems later in life.

National Prevention Week is also a fitting time to spotlight novel approaches to prevention. The Icelandic Model is particularly promising. A 2019 study explained that “by working to increase social and environmental protective factors associated with preventing or delaying substance use and decreasing corresponding risk factors, the model prevents substance use by intervening on society itself and across a broad spectrum of opportunities for community intervention.” In practice, this approach may encourage youth to join community groups and participate in extracurricular activities, which are protective factors against substance use.

To scale what we know works, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy director nominee Sara Carter should relaunch a national prevention campaign, similar to the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign. Those public awareness efforts were particularly effective in reducing rates of tobacco use, and will help set strong anti-drug cultural norms and promote health.

The current administration deserves praise for centering prevention in a recent statement of its drug policy priorities. We fully support its plan to “encourage educational campaigns and evidence-based prevention programs, particularly in schools and communities.” But it’s time we back it up with dollars and programs. As we recognize National Prevention Week, we must not forget about the importance of prevention and its role in helping more Americans live healthy, drug-free lives.

Dr. Kevin Sabet is President of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS) and a former White House drug policy advisor across three administrations.

The views expressed in this article are the writer’s own.

Source: https://www.newsweek.com/save-americas-youth-lawmakers-should-invest-drug-prevention-opinion-2071582

Filed under: Health,Law (Papers),Legal Sector,Prevention and Intervention,USA,Youth :
From clincoln-dfaf.org@shared1.ccsend.com – 15 May 2025

 

For the first time in years, there’s encouraging news in the fight against the overdose crisis. According to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 80,000 people died from drug overdoses in 2024—30,000 fewer than the year before, marking a 27% decrease and the largest single-year decline ever recorded. This milestone reflects the impact of prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts across the country and reinforces the urgent need to continue investing in strategies that save lives.

 

Drug Free America Foundation proudly joins communities nationwide in recognizing National Prevention Week 2025, a public education platform led by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Held annually during the second week of May, National Prevention Week showcases the incredible work of individuals, organizations, and communities who are committed to preventing substance use and misuse and promoting positive mental health.

Why Prevention Matters Now More Than Ever

The need for strong prevention strategies has never been more urgent. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 70.5 million people aged 12 or older (that’s nearly 1 in 4 Americans) used illicit drugs in the past year. Marijuana was the most commonly used, followed by hallucinogens and the misuse of prescription pain relievers. These findings underscore the critical importance of investing in prevention today to protect the health and well-being of future generations.

Prevention in Action: Raising Awareness and Building Resilience

This observance highlights the importance of raising awareness about substance use and mental health challenges through data-driven prevention strategies and evidence-based programs that have proven effective in creating healthier, safer communities. It also serves as a reminder of the power of collaboration and community experience in improving public health outcomes and building strong, lasting partnerships.

National Prevention Week is about more than just awareness—it’s about sharing knowledge, disseminating high-quality resources, and empowering people with the tools they need to live healthy, substance-free lives.

 

Showcasing our newest initiative: The Trauma & SUD Action Force Initiative (TSAFI)

The Trauma & SUD Action Force Initiative (TSAFI) is an international effort committed to bridging the gap in trauma-informed care within Substance Use Disorder (SUD) services—from prevention and treatment to recovery—using approaches grounded in neuroscience and scientific evidence.

TSAFI unites experts, organizations, and decision-makers to promote the recognition and integration of trauma within all aspects of SUD care.

By combining insights from neuroscience and psychology, TSAFI addresses the neurological and social dimensions of trauma, ensuring a comprehensive and informed response to its role in SUD.

Discover more here or get involved by reaching out to tsafi@wfad.se or visiting https://tsafi.wfad.se/.

Source: From clincoln-dfaf.org@shared1.ccsend.com – 15 May 2025 

 

 

Filed under: Addiction,Culture,Drug use-various effects,Drugs and Accidents,Gambling,Prevention and Intervention,USA,Youth :

Issued by DEA Public Affairs – May 15, 2025

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration today announced the release of the 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment (NDTA), DEA’s comprehensive review of the threats posed to the United States by deadly illicit drugs and the violent domestic and international drug trafficking organizations responsible for producing and trafficking the drugs poisoning our communities.

For more than a decade, DEA’s NDTA has been an integral resource for informing drug policies and laws. It remains a trusted resource for law enforcement agencies, policy makers, community leaders, and prevention and treatment specialists, while also serving as a critical tool to inform and educate the public.

“This year’s report indicates progress in the fight against fentanyl and also outlines the increasing challenges we face with the changing landscape of the synthetic drug crisis. The adulterating of fentanyl with highly potent, dangerous chemicals reminds us that this fight is far from over,” said DEA Acting Administrator Robert Murphy. “DEA and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners must continue to adapt and work together to attack global drug trafficking organizations at every level. By joining forces to reduce supply and demand, we can destroy the drug trafficking networks and achieve a safer and healthier future for all Americans.”

In addition to highlighting current trends and emerging threats, this year’s NDTA includes overviews of the cartels and criminal organizations that were designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs), including the Sinaloa Cartel, Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Northeast Cartel, the New Michoacán Family, Gulf Cartel, United Cartels, Tren de Aragua (TdA), and Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13).

Other key findings of note:

  • Drug overdose deaths decreased by more than 20% in 2024. October 2024 was the eleventh consecutive month in which CDC reported a reduction in drug related deaths.  This is positive momentum in this fight to save lives; however, with more than 80,000 Americans still dying from drug poisonings and overdose deaths, the synthetic drug threat remains grave. 
        
  • DEA laboratories are reporting a downward trend in fentanyl purity. This should not be mistaken for street-level fentanyl being any less dangerous. While purity levels are decreasing, the mixing of fentanyl with animal tranquilizers and other synthetic opioids is on the rise, which results in people not knowing the exact composition of what they are consuming or selling.
  • The mixing of illicit substances, known as drug cocktails, is becoming more common. Recent data from the National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS) indicated one in four submissions of cocaine and one in eight submissions of methamphetamine also included fentanyl. This is another indication that the drug landscape is as dangerous as ever.
  • Veterinary tranquilizer xylazine remains the top adulterant found in fentanyl powder; however, a more powerful veterinary anesthetic, medetomidine, has emerged in the fentanyl supply – a dangerous development in the fight against fentanyl.
  • More than four million youth and young adults (ages 12-20) reported vaping marijuana in the past year.
  • Chinese transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) dominate the domestic cultivation and distribution of marijuana, with most grow sites located in states where the cannabis industry is “legal.” These Chinese TCOs are producing the most potent form of marijuana in the history of drug trafficking, with a THC content averaging 25-30%. 

This edition of the NDTA is dedicated to DEA Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who was brutally murdered in Mexico in 1985. In February 2025, the United States secured custody of Rafael Caro Quintero, the man charged in the United States with the torture and murder of Special Agent Camarena. He will now face justice in the United States for his alleged crimes committed on behalf of the Guadalajara Cartel. 

The 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment is available to view or download on DEA.gov. 

Source: https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2025/05/15/dea-releases-2025-national-drug-threat-assessment

Filed under: Crime/Violence/Prison,Drug use-various effects,Drugs and Accidents,HIV/Injecting-Drug-Users,Mental Health,Prescription Drugs,Prevention and Intervention,Social Affairs,Treatment and Addiction,USA,Youth :

Dianova and G2H2 launched a series of debates with a session dedicated to prevention and treatment initiatives for children and adolescents – 16/05/2025

Substance use prevention targeting children and adolescents is a science that relies on evidence-based interventions to address the complex factors contributing to substance use disorders – Photo by Ernest Brillo on Unsplash

On Tuesday 12 May, the first session in a series of debates organized by G2H2 was opened. Entitled ‘People, power and policies in global health: perspectives from civil society’, the series was organized in the run-up to the 78th World Health Assembly, held from 19 to 27 May.

Co-hosted by Dianova and the Geneva Global Health Hub (G2H2) , the session ‘Growing up safe: public health approaches to drug use prevention and treatment for children and adolescents’ brought together high-level participants, including Anja Busse (WHO) and Wadih Maalouf, (UNODC).

G2H2 is a network of civil society organisations based in Geneva that promotes information exchange and joint political action on global health issues – Dianova International is a member of G2H2.

The main objective of the session, as outlined by Gisela Hansen (moderator, Dianova International), was to reconnect drug policies with public health, focusing on the prevention and treatment of substance use among children and adolescents. The aim was to promote models centred on health and human rights, especially in vulnerable or disadvantaged contexts around the world.

Contributions follow from each of the following experts:

  • Anja Busse (World Health Organization)
  • Oriel Esculies (Proyecto Hombre, Spain)
  • Shrook Mansour Ali (Psychiatric Care Development Foundation, Yemen)
  • Cristina von Sperling Afidi (KKAWF, Pakistan)
  • Rajesh Kumar (SPYM, India)
  • Cressida de Witte (WFAD, Sweden)
  • Rebecca Haines-Saah (University of Calgary, Canada)
  • Wadih Maalouf (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)

Anja Busse (WHO)

Head of the Unit on Drugs, Alcohol and Addictive Behaviours at the WHO. Anja has been involved in this field at the global level since 2005 and has been supporting science-based strategies for the treatment and care of drug dependence.

Anja took the floor and began by reminding  the WHO’s commitment to promoting global health, particularly among the most vulnerable. The WHO Constitution (1946) emphasizes the importance of healthy child development: “Healthy  development of the child is of basic importance, the ability to live harmoniously in a changing total environment is essential to such development.”

“A public health response to substance use prevention and treatment means reaching the highest number of people with the most effective, least costly, and least invasive strategy or intervention” 

This involves creating environments in which children and adolescents can grow up healthy and safe, and where it is easier for them to avoid alcohol, tobacco and drugs. The burden of responsibility should primarily be placed on the system and on all of us rather than on the individual.

Safer is an initiative launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2018, aiming to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harm in various countries – image: excerpt from presentation by Anja Busse, WHO

Globally, 22% of young people aged 15 to 19 consume alcohol, with significant regional differences demonstrating the fundamental role of our environment

UNODC data also reveal that, in 2021, around 5.3% of 15–16-year-olds had used cannabis in the previous year, and that, in most countries and regions, cannabis use is more prevalent among young people than in the general population.

  • Download .pdf presentation by Anja Busse

Anja highlighted that the UNODC and the WHO have published several documents on the health and development of children and adolescents, as well as international standards on drug use prevention. These include strategies targeting the population as a whole, as well as those used in schools, the health system, the workplace, the community, and finally, families. She emphasised one of the basic principles of prevention: ‘The earlier we act, the better’, although it is never too late to implement interventions.

Science based strategies targeting the general population have the widest impact, but they must also consider implementing interventions for the most at-risk groups.

Children and adolescents face several obstacles when seeking mental health and drug services – image: excerpt from presentation by Anja Busse, WHO

According to Anja, the most effective strategies target multiple and multi-level vulnerabilities rather than limiting themselves to narrow interventions in single settings. Finally, Anja emphasised the need for well-conducted planning involving many stakeholders and for an effective social and health system providing accessible mental healthcare services at all levels, which is not the case everywhere.

While it is acceptable for a government to restrict or regulate the availability, distribution and production of drugs, it is important to avoid the unnecessary punishment of people who use drugs.

After reviewing various organizational prevention methods and their effectiveness, Anja also highlighted interventions that research has found to be ineffective or of questionable or unproven effectiveness. These include media awareness campaigns (not effective); use of social media and influencers (effectiveness unknown); information sessions on the consequences or harms of drugs (not effective); sports and other leisure activities (lack of evidence, controversies) strategies targeting children/youth particularly at risk (lack of evidence) and drug testing in schools (no evidence).

Documents

  • Guidelines on mental health promotive and preventive interventions for adolescents (available in six languages)
  • Global Accelerated Action for the Health of Adolescents
  • Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST)
  • UNODC/WHO International Standards on Drug Use Prevention
  • A Global Health Strategy for 2025-2028

Oriol Esculies – Proyecto Hombre (Spain)

Oriol is a psychologist with over thirty years’ experience of helping people with addiction problems. He is the International Commissioner of the Proyecto Hombre association and coordinator of the Oviedo Declaration.

The impact of drugs, including tobacco and other legal substances, is enormous. This is not only an issue of security, economics or the law, but also a health issue affecting millions of people, including children and adolescents, in all aspects of their health: physical, emotional, intellectual and social.

We must invest in health now, while our children are healthy; otherwise, the future problem of substance use will be greater, not only for them, but for society as a whole – this is the paradox of prevention.

Some of the stakeholders involved in the Oviedo Declaration, following its presentation at the Commission for the Study of the Constitution (CND) in March 2024 – Photo: Proyecto Hombre, all rights reserved

This also presents a significant challenge to decision-makers and governments, as it necessitates planning and governance with a long-term vision. Launched last year, the Oviedo Initiative is a declaration comprising ten proposals in line with international standards on prevention. It is also a global mobilisation to incorporate prevention into drug policies once and for all. It is an inclusive, collective campaign that is already supported by over 3,000 institutions and several observers, including the UNODC.

  • Read article on the Oviedo Declaration and support the Declaration, available in 48 languages

The main strength of this initiative, which builds bridges between local and global levels, lies in the voluntary work of 174 focal points within countries. At Dianova International, we are honoured to contribute to this initiative as the focal point for Switzerland.

We hope that the resolution on prevention recently adopted by the CND in Vienna last March will mark a turning point towards the accelerated implementation of effective and forward-looking drug prevention policies.

Shrooq Mansour Ali, Psychiatric Care Developmental Foundation (Yemen)

As a public health expert and the Yemen focal point for the Oviedo Initiative, Shrooq works for the Yemeni NGO, the Psychiatric Care Developmental Foundation, providing mental health and psychological support services to vulnerable young people.

She points out that, after ten years of conflict, Yemen is facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, exacerbated by ongoing violence, the consequences of climate change and the collapse of the economy, institutions and services. According to the 2024 Humanitarian Needs Assessment, approximately half of Yemen’s population, or more than 18 million people, require humanitarian assistance.

Research has shown that populations affected by armed conflict are at a higher risk of using drugs as a coping mechanism in response to such dramatic situations.

Furthermore, factors such as prolonged psychological trauma, disrupted education, unemployment and chronic poverty in Yemen further increase the risks. Despite this, mental health and substance use issues remain highly neglected. Therefore, ensuring adequate care for substance use issues in humanitarian contexts is a priority.

As the focal point for the Oviedo Declaration in Yemen, Shrook and her colleagues face significant challenges in advancing the initiative within government structures due to the many divisions between the government recognised by international institutions in the south and the de facto authorities in the north. This means that all activities must be coordinated with different entities, which is made more difficult by the sensitive nature of the issue.

Yemen lacks reliable data on substance use. As one of the Oviedo Declaration’s recommendations highlights, there is a need to focus on evidence-based strategies grounded in the collection and evaluation of data. This data would serve as a basis for implementing prevention programmes and national policies in this area.

Problems associated with substance use exist in Yemen and can no longer be ignored or denied.

Cristina von Sperling Afridi, Karim Khan Afridi Welfare Foundation (KKAWF), Pakistan

Following the tragic loss of her son, Karim, in 2015, Cristina established the Karim Khan Afridi Welfare Foundation (KKAWF) to support young people and raise awareness of addiction. The foundation’s work is based on five pillars: drug awareness, sport, the environment, art and culture, and civic engagement.

Currently in Pakistan And across the region Drug use prevention strategies are significantly underrepresented In public policies agendas. The Oviedo declaration launched in 2024 represents a timely and powerful call to action urging nations to prioritize prevention in the drug policies For Pakistan this framework offers a critical opportunity to redirect focus towards long-term sustainable solutions.

Cristina emphasised the urgency of the situation: Pakistan lies at the heart of the Golden Crescent, one of the world’s most notorious drug producing region. Of all the countries in the region, Pakistan is the most affected by the drug menace. It harbors the largest heroin consuming population in the region, a crisis now compounded by the rise of crystal meth.

Drug use among young people poses a particular risk to democracy in Pakistan, a country with a population of around 250 million, 154 million of whom are under the age of 30. This massive young population is the country’s greatest asset and potential, but also its greatest vulnerability.

The growing threat of drug use among young people poses considerable social, health, and economic challenges for the nation. The KKAWF Foundation plays an active role in preventing drug use. It raises awareness among policymakers, civil society and other stakeholders of the importance of prevention.

Prevention must become the central pillar of national drug policies, but this requires essential resources, coordination and commitment — and urgently so!

The KKAWF develops numerous partnerships in its advocacy work for prevention. Here, the Foundation’s president, Cristina Von Sperling Afridi (right), with a representative of the Green Crescent Federation – Photo: KKAWF, all rights reserved

One of the Foundation’s main areas of focus is fostering collaboration between the government, civil society organisations, and the private sector, as only a unified, strategic approach can effectively address this public health crisis. It is also crucial to integrate drug education into school curricula at secondary and higher education levels.

The KKAWF advocates an evidence-based, stigma-free approach that promotes emotional intelligence, resilience, and critical thinking.

Cristina believes that prevention must become a way of life, not just a programme. She believes that only by cultivating a culture of prevention will it be possible to protect future generations.

Rajesh Kumar, Society for the Promotion of Youth and Masses (SPYM), India

Rajesh is the executive director of SPYM, an NGO that has worked in the field of addiction for over 40 years, receiving several national awards for its work with marginalised communities. SPYM has consultative status with ECOSOC, and Dr Kumar has served on numerous government and international bodies.

India’s proximity to the Golden Crescent and Golden Triangle has made the country a destination for large quantities of drugs. Substance use is therefore on the rise, particularly among children. In response to this serious violation of children’s rights, SPYM began working with children suffering from addiction in 2010.

In India, approximately 4 million children use opiates, 2.6 million inhale drugs, and 2 million use cannabis. Even with a population of over 1.4 billion, these figures represent a huge problem, particularly given that only 1% of affected children seek help.

While it is estimated that 99.9% of children do not use drugs, it is essential to invest in treatment and scientifically validated prevention strategies based on collaboration with families, communities and schools to ensure they stay on this path. These groups have a duty to ensure that substance use prevention and mental health are part of their regular activities, which is why SPYM has developed the Navchetna programme under the auspices of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

  • Download .pdf presentation by Rajesh Kumar

The Navchetna school programme is designed with different modules tailored to students according to their age. It is run by trained teachers under the supervision of the Ministry of Education.

A significant part of SPYM’s work is carried out for the benefit of the well-being of the most disadvantaged children and adolescents – Photo: SPYM, all rights reserved

Once their training is complete, the ‘master trainers’ must in turn train up to 100 teachers within two years, with the ultimate goal of training one million teachers, although so far, only 100,000 have been trained. The programme also uses videos, which are currently available in English and Hindi and will soon be available in 12 regional languages.

SPYM also develops numerous programmes and activities to help vulnerable people, particularly children and teenagers. These include a community-based early intervention programme run by peers in nearly 300 districts in the country most affected by drug use, residential treatment centres for various populations including children and adolescents in conflict with the law, activities focused on life skills and rehabilitation, and advocacy activities.

SPYM and KKAWF are both associate members of Dianova International.

Cressida de Witte – World Federation Against Drugs (WFAD, Sweden)

Cressida is the project coordinator and communications manager for the WFAD. She leads projects for this organisation in various countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, India, and Georgia. She is also a member of the WFAD committees on gender and youth.

The continuum of care includes a wide range of interventions, from health promotion to recovery and follow-up, including various prevention strategies and different phases or modalities of treatment.

Diagram produced by Dr Audrey Begun – Theories and Biological Basis of Substance Misuse

The Continuum of Care in addiction treatment refers to a comprehensive approach that guides and tracks patients over time through various levels and intensities of care – Image: excerpt from presentation by Cressida de Witte

Although prevention programmes for young people generally target school-age children, adolescents and young adults due to the high risk of experimenting with substances, research has shown that prevention efforts should start even earlier.

The early years of a child’s life are a critical period for brain development. This is when the foundations of decision-making, impulse control and resilience are laid. As younger children learn to manage their emotions, resolve conflicts and set goals, they develop skills that will inform healthier choices in adolescence and adulthood.

However, prevention is not solely the responsibility of the child; it also depends on their environment, which is why action must be taken at all levels, from the macro to the micro, and from family dynamics to community support.

The WFAD is a multilateral community with ECOSOC consultative status, composed of over 470 NGOs in 73 countries. The organisation’s three pillars are capacity building through webinars, training courses and forums; advocacy at national, regional and international levels to strengthen prevention, treatment and recovery; and project development, particularly international projects. One such project is a youth project in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Sober Youth and Healthy Communities: Transforming Violent Youth in Kinshasa. Learn more about the project.

Within the framework of these advocacy efforts, the organisation launched the ‘Global Youth Declaration on Prevention, Treatment and Recovery’. Presented at the 68th session of the CND in March 2025, the declaration is based on six recommendations aimed at ‘ensuring access to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and recovery services that are youth-friendly and respectful of their rights, in order to ensure a healthy, safe and drug-free future for all young people worldwide’. The declaration is available in seven languages.

Rebecca Haines-Saah – University of Calgary (Canada)

Rebecca is a public health sociologist and associate professor at the University of Calgary. Her research interests include youth drug use, harm reduction approaches, and drug policy reform.

As a teenager, she was cast in a popular Canadian television programme in which her character experimented with substance use. This, in some way, launched her career and her commitment to supporting young people she said.

Rebecca believes that we need to radically rethink drug prevention for young people. Unfortunately, in North America as elsewhere, prevention has long been based on values rather than scientifically validated evidence of what works and what doesn’t. Past prevention campaigns, such as Nancy Reagan’s ‘Just Say No’ motto, were never evidence-based or evaluated.

“Prevention has been based on values rather than evidence for too long, which is why we need to radically rethink drug prevention for young people” – excerpt from presentation by Rebecca Haines-Saah

Even worse, an evaluation of the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) programme – a series of lessons delivered by police officers in schools – showed that it was associated with a slight increase in substance use! It was hypothesised that the most marginalised young people reacted badly to the presence of police officers in the classroom. These campaigns primarily relied on stereotypes and stigmatisation of young people.

“In Canada, it has been highlighted that the most effective drug prevention programmes have very little to do with drugs” 

If we want to improve prevention outcomes among young people, she stresses, we need to focus less on educating them about specific substances, and instead strive to promote community well-being, as well as individual and family resilience. That’s where we need to invest.

Scientific research indicates that effective strategies include psychosocial and developmental interventions that enhance conflict resolution and problem-solving abilities, social-emotional learning, and anything else that helps teenagers manage challenging situations with their peers and cope with trauma and community conflict. These strategies have demonstrated several positive long-term outcomes.

Rebecca also highlighted the implementation of a community-based prevention model in Calgary and other parts of the country. Planet Youth, the model implemented in Calgary and elsewhere, was developed based on the Icelandic prevention model: a participatory, evidence-based approach that has dramatically reduced substance use, particularly tobacco and alcohol.

Finally, Rebecca presented a slide on the ‘prevention pyramid’, particularly focusing on the first level: the more effort made to create equitable social and economic conditions, the better the results. She believes that this is a much more ambitious and difficult goal to achieve than simply setting up a programme or activity. However, it is on this point that our vision must be aligned.

The more effort that is made to create equitable social and economic conditions in prevention, the better the results.

In addition to prevention needs, Rebecca emphasised the urgent need to address young people’s harm reduction needs to prevent drug poisoning deaths. Drug poisoning is currently the leading cause of death among 10- to 18-year-olds in western Canada, ahead of cancer and car accidents, so this is a public health emergency.

Dr Wadih Maalouf – UNODC

Wadih is a public health professional who holds a PhD in mental health and drug epidemiology from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. With over 25 years’ experience, he is now the global coordinator of the addiction prevention programme at UNODC, and is one of the world’s leading prevention experts.

Wadih began by emphasising the importance and timeliness of this conversation because it is based on scientific evidence. A large number of standards have now been developed for prevention and treatment, thanks to collaboration between UNODC and WHO, and the science is available. He also noted that science is receiving greater recognition, not only from organisations working in the field, but also from civil society. This is evident in the 3,000 stakeholders who have rallied around the common agenda promoted by the Oviedo Declaration.

This recognition is also evident at government level, as demonstrated by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs’ resolutions, which call for early prevention to target different stages of development rather than drug use. These resolutions also call for multisectoral prevention, despite all the challenges posed by multilateralism.

There is now a desire to develop science-based, multisectoral prevention programmes for young people.

In his view, there is a real desire to prioritise science and prevention, particularly for young people, and to work across multiple sectors. With the right ingredients — science, political commitment, and action on the ground — it is possible to turn this knowledge into action.

As a people-centred approach, prevention must also focus on the environment and context in which people live, as well as their level of vulnerability. This systemic approach must aim to leave no one behind.

To achieve this, we must focus on different age groups, contexts of vulnerability and gender. This is an important consideration in the context of vulnerabilities, particularly for children, whose developmental trajectories may be affected in different ways.

The current generation of young people has the highest potential ever seen, which is why it is essential that they are meaningfully engaged in prevention efforts.

Young people are not only the beneficiaries of prevention; they must also be its agents because every child has the right to grow up healthy, and we have the means to make that happen.

Source: https://www.dianova.org/news/growing-up-safe-prevention-strategies-for-children-and-adolescents/
Filed under: Culture,Drug use-various effects,Europe,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,Youth :
From sfunes@drugfreeamericafoundation.ccsend.com – 16 May 2025

 

Today you can find marijuana everywhere, dispensaries around every corner or easily accessible through social media. This normalization is leading researchers to investigate its effects on various health conditions and the dangers associated with overconsumption of marijuana. This research shows that there is an association between marijuana use and the weakening of our immune system. Its consumption affects key parts of our defences against cancer while contributing to faster tumor progression, particularly for gastrointestinal conditions.

 

In general, individuals with substance use disorders, including cannabis use disorder (CUD), are more likely to experience delays in diagnosis and reduced involvement in their medical care. In addition, behavioral and psychiatric conditions linked to marijuana use such as anxiety and depression may prevent the adherence to the required treatment leading to negative prognosis.

 

Two recent studies, one on chronic pancreatitis and the other on colorectal cancer, highlight how CUD is linked to poorer outcomes in individuals suffering from chronic pancreatitis and colorectal cancer.

 

In the first study, researchers analyzed over 1,000 patients and found that those with pre-existing CUD were more likely to die within 5 years of receiving a colon cancer diagnosis. Among those who had a documented history of CUD prior to being diagnosed, the difference in outcomes were stark:

 

Five-year mortality rate:

  • Patients with CUD: 55.9%
  • Patients without CUD: 5.1%

 

In the second study, researchers linked CUD to worsened clinical outcomes in individuals with chronic pancreatitis, a painful and progressive condition where the pancreas becomes inflamed and damaged over time. These patients were found to be at greater risk of pancreatic flare up, pancreatic cancer, all-cause mortality, and pancreatic necrosis.

 

This association held firm even after the researchers accounted for opioid use, suggesting that marijuana itself may contribute to disease progression and complications.

 

CUD affects 3 in 10 users in the U.S., according to the CDC. As it becomes more normalized, the risks for vulnerable populations, in this case those with colon cancer and pancreatitis, continue to grow. These risks are too significant and call for more research, awareness and education, serving as a critical reminder that marijuana use is not harmless, especially when dependence develops.

 

For resources related to marijuana, check out www.dfaf.org/education.

 

Source:

From sfunes@drugfreeamericafoundation.ccsend.com

And for further related information. visit:

 
Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana,Drug use-various effects,Health,Marijuana and Medicine,Prevention and Intervention,Treatment and Addiction,USA :

Today, Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced bipartisan legislation to fund public service announcement (PSA) campaigns and contests to help young Americans understand the dangers of drug use.  

The Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act would expand the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP) for research-based PSAs launched by state and local governments to help youth in their local communities.

“As drug addiction continues to destroy the lives of young people and their families in red and blue states alike, we need to address the problem in ways that speak directly to teens,” said Senator Kelly. “Arizona has already taken the lead in promoting PSA campaigns against substance use, and this bill will help my state and other states reach more people about the dangers of drug use and save lives.”

“We must do everything we can to make young adults aware of the dangers of substance abuse,” said Senator Tillis. “I am proud to co-lead this bipartisan legislation with Senator Kelly to expand COSSUP so we can coordinate with states and local entities to conduct public service announcements and spread awareness.”

“Too many young Americans know firsthand the harms of opioid addiction and deserve every opportunity to be leaders in combatting this crisis in their communities,” said Senator Coons. “This bill will give them the resources and opportunity to use what they know to save lives.”

The Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act is supported by Arizona Attorney General Mayes, Partnership to End Addiction, Drug Policy Alliance, Addiction Policy Forum, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), the National Association for Children Impacted by Addiction (NACoA), the Brent Shapiro Foundation, the Alexander Neville Foundation, National Crime Prevention Council, MATFORCE, the Substance Awareness Coalition Leaders of Arizona (SACLAz), and Gang Free North Carolina.

See what Arizona stakeholders are saying about the Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act:

“Fentanyl is the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 45. Cartels are even targeting Arizona teenagers on social media, leading to overdoses in children as young as 14 years old. Our Fentanyl PSA contest has been one of the most successful ways my office has engaged the next generation of Arizonans in the fight against the fentanyl crisis, and we’ve made inroads toward making sure every young person in Arizona knows how to protect themselves and their friends from fentanyl,” said Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes. “Thank you, Senator Kelly, for putting this bill forward and creating new federally-funded opportunities for other local law enforcement and government offices to offer PSAs like the one we’ve seen such success with. We need every tool in our tool belt as we continue to fight the scourge of fentanyl in our communities.”

“Research consistently demonstrates that early use of addictive substances heightens the risk of addiction later in life, with the likelihood increasing the earlier use begins. Preventing and delaying substance use among young people is essential to ending our nation’s addiction crisis. The most effective prevention takes a comprehensive approach, addressing the diverse factors that influence youth substance use while meeting the unique needs of individual communities. Public awareness campaigns, guided by research and regularly evaluated to ensure effectiveness, play a vital role in this holistic and evidence-based approach. The Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act will help communities use federal funding to prevent youth substance use by including research-based public service awareness campaigns in their prevention strategies,” Linda Richter, PhD, Senior Vice President of Prevention Research and Analysis, Partnership to End Addiction.

“At the Alexander Neville Foundation, we’re dedicated to helping young people and their caregivers understand the serious dangers of substance misuse, especially fentanyl and social media harms. Our goal is to raise awareness and offer the support necessary for young individuals to make informed, healthy choices. The Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act is a perfect match for our mission, as it boosts public service announcement campaigns designed to prevent substance misuse among youth. This important legislation plays a key role in tackling the fentanyl crisis and substance misuse, ensuring that young people receive the right education at the right time. By supporting evidence-based prevention programs, we’re working toward a safer, healthier future, one where young people can thrive both online and offline, free from the dangers of substance use,” said the Alexander Neville Foundation.

“When NACoA was founded in 1983, schools had counselors and student assistance programs equipped to support children impacted by the disease of addiction — that is no longer the norm. Today, 1 in 5 children in the U.S. live in a household where a parent has a substance use disorder (American Academy of Pediatrics). The National Association for Children Impacted by Addiction (NACoA) supports this vital legislation, because locally driven, peer-centered education can break the intergenerational cycle of this chronic, progressive and fatal disease. Every dollar invested in prevention can save up to $18 in future costs (SAMSHA) — and it’s always easier to help a child than to heal a broken adult,” said President/CEO NACoA Denise Bertin-Epp RN, BScN, MSA.

“The Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act is a positive step towards stopping youth drug and alcohol use before it starts.  Nine of 10 individuals who develop a drug addiction began using drugs as teenagers, our nation needs to make the protection of our children and their developing brains a top priority. The Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act will provide youth with the information necessary to help them make healthy choices. This legislation can save lives.  The Substance Awareness Coalition Leaders of Arizona support this legislation,” said Merilee Fowler, Executive Director, MATFORCE, Community Counts.

Background:

The Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP) was developed as part of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) of 2016. COSSUP’s purpose is to provide financial and technical assistance to states, units of local government, and Indian tribal governments to develop, implement, or expand comprehensive efforts to identify, respond to, treat, and support those impacted by illicit opioids, stimulants and other drugs.

Source: https://www.kelly.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/kelly-tillis-coons-introduce-legislation-to-address-youth-drug-use/

Filed under: Drug use-various effects,Political Sector,USA,Youth :

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