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As Scott E. Hadland, M.D., senior author of a dramatic paper published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine puts it, drug use among adolescents is not getting more common — it's at its lowest in almost 50 years. But it's getting more deadly, due to fentanyl. In "The Overdose Crisis among U.S. Adolescents," by Hadland and lead author Joseph Friedman, Ph.D., the problem is laid out clearly: After guns and car crashes, overdose (OD) deaths are now the third leading cause of death among adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) working paper from Jennifer L. Doleac and Anita Mukherjee, which found that greater opioid abuse and opioid-related crime has resulted from laws expanding access to the overdose-rescue drug naloxone. According to the study, there is no evidence that naloxone leads more people to search for fentanyl.

There have been many calls for federal changes to address the opioid epidemic, but one from Beau Kilmer, senior policy researcher and director of the Drug Policy Research Center at the RAND Corporation, released last week is a particularly interesting distillation that doesn't omit pros and cons for each strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From 2017 – 2022, law enforcement seizures across the United States of mushrooms containing psilocybin increased dramatically, according to a new study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The number of law enforcement seizures increased from 402 seizures in 2017 to 1,396 in 2022. In addition, the total weight of psilocybin mushrooms seized by law enforcement increased from 226 kg (498 lbs.) seized in 2017 compared with 844 kg (1,861 lbs.) in 2022. This analysis, published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, was led by researchers at New York University (NYU) Langone Health in New York City, and the University of Florida, Gainesville. The data used for the analysis were collected through the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, a grant program aimed at reducing drug trafficking and misuse administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Though law enforcement seizures do not necessarily reflect prevalence of use, they represent an indicator of the availability of illicit drugs. "We are in the middle of a rapidly evolving cultural, media, and legal landscape when it comes to psychedelics, and we need data to help shape informed and appropriate public health strategies," said NIDA Director Nora D. Volkow, M.D., in announcing the research publication last week. "Moving forward, we must continue to track data on the availability of psychedelics, patterns in use, and associated health effects to guide efforts in promoting accurate education and reducing potential harms among people who do plan to use psychedelic drugs." Adverse effects of psilocybin mushrooms, such as "bad trips," are marked by "distorted thinking, perceptual changes, putting oneself in physical danger, and intense feelings of fear, anxiety, and confusion," according to NIDA. "People who take psychedelic drugs like psilocybin may also experience short‐term side effects such as raised blood pressure and heart rate, agitation, confusion, vomiting, or nausea, which may be severe and require medical attention." Joseph J. Palamar, Ph.D., M.P.H., associate professor at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, co‐investigator on the NIDA‐funded National Drug Early Warning System (NDEWS), and lead author on the paper, said "Research studies suggesting its effectiveness in treating mental health issues and extensive positive media coverage may lead some people to seek 'shrooms' outside of medical contexts. People who use psilocybin outside of medical supervision need to be educated about risks associated with use." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary manner by which states have been using Medicaid to expand access to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment may actually be making it more difficult for individuals to receive the services most appropriate to their needs, a newly released paper suggests. Moreover, this preferred strategy in many cases violates the law, authors with the National Health Law Program contend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An over‐reliance on federal block grants and "one‐off" funding initiatives has left the addiction treatment system under‐resourced to respond to an addiction crisis that stands to be at least as deadly as COVID‐19 during the span of the Biden administration, a trio of prominent researchers argue in a newly released policy paper. The authors suggest that the new administration and Congress should prioritize efforts to build on what they consider the most impactful developments in improving access and quality in addiction treatment, such as Medicaid expansion and parity mandates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article looks at a paper authored by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) which calls for the banning of medical marijuana due to the oath of physicians to do no harm to patients. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's policy on smoking marijuana as a means of drug delivery is reviewed. The ASAM's view on the addictive properties of marijuana are discussed.

A white paper from Canada and the United States focuses on collaboration between the two countries on their commitment to deal with the overdose crisis. "Substance Use and Harms During COVID‐19 and Approaches to Federal Surveillance and Response," issued Sept. 27, states that the increase in "substance use harms and deaths" during COVID‐19 is partly due to a decrease in access to services. The white paper itself focuses on the restrictions to methadone access in the United States and says little about the Canadian rules, but they are much more lenient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the Physician Leadership on National Drug Policy's call for a change in national drug policy emphasizing treatment, prevention, education, parity and stigma reduction over interdiction in the United States.

The article talks about the concept of civil commitment for substance use disorders (SUDs), discussing a research paper released by Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. Topics discussed include the views of some people that addiction is a disease and its treatment should not be coerced; a paper by the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) on it; and the benefits of involuntary commitment laws for substance use disorders.

The article reports on the release of a white paper by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in the U.S. The paper, entitled "Substance Abuse and Suicide Prevention: Evidence and Implications," focuses on knowledge and emphasizes the importance of continued research.

Examines the link between learning disabilities and addiction in the United States. Identification of learning disabilities in children; Prevention of alcohol and drug addiction; Impact of learning disabilities on the behavior of school-age children; Need for treatment professionals to tailor addiction treatments.

The article focuses on the growing involvement of peer-based services in the recovery process of individuals leaving treatment for addiction in the U.S. The author discusses the problem of distinction on the role of peer support workers in the addiction service continuum and its integration within the community treatment infrastructure. Moreover, the author cites the paper of William L. White, which gives emphasis on authority distinction among peer support workers, sponsors and counselor.

Sen. Kamala Harris (D‐California) is Democrat presidential candidate Joe Biden's pick for vice president. And although she has been pilloried by the pro‐marijuana progressives for her prosecution of marijuana cases, in fact, she was not overly aggressive in these cases, according to an article in The Mercury News. "There is no way anyone could say that she was draconian in her pursuit of marijuana cases," said Niki Solis, a high‐ranking attorney in the San Francisco Public Defender's Office during Harris' time as district attorney, the paper stated. Marijuana legalization was a centerpiece of her presidential campaign. For the Mercury News story, see https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/09/11/kamala‐harris‐prosecuting‐marijuana‐cases/. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discussed how a paper released by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) entitled "Prevalence of Alcohol Dependence Among US Adult Drinkers, 2009-2011" accidentally promoted heavy drinking and misconstrued diagnostic criteria for alcohol dependence. It mentions that mass media widely circulated the paper, using the familiar synonym "alcoholics" instead of "alcohol dependence" that added to denial.

Reports that the National Rural Institute on Alcohol and Drug Abuse has commissioned a paper on the economic benefits of drug treatment to be developed by Treatment Research Institute in the United States. Economic justification for public support of substance abuse treatment services; Target date of complete of the paper; Dissemination of the paper to state substance abuse agencies, treatment practitioners and legislators nationwide.

Reports on the distribution of a paper entitled `Public Mental Health Systems, Medicaid Restructuring and Managed Behavioral Healthcare,' by the American Managed Behavioral Healthcare Association (AMBHA) and the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD). Paper as blue print for states in establishing mental health systems under Medicaid programs.

The article reports on a paper on health care reform issued by the Senate Finance Committee in May 2009 in the U.S. It reveals that the paper includes addiction treatment and reassures that parity will not get lost. Meanwhile, director for national policy at the Legal Action Center Gabrielle de la Guerronniere stresses the importance of making sure that the principles of parity are mentioned in any health care reform laws through specific recommendations for Congress.

The article offers news briefs in the U.S. A paper released by the Oklahoma Auditor and Inspector's Office suggests that a drug court program in Lincoln County increased its client load. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asserts that Miami-Dade County, Florida had the highest rate of people living with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The South Carolina Supreme Court reversed a homicide conviction of Regina McKnight.

Information about several papers discussed at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) conference on non-injection drug use and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission is presented. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Director Nora D. Volkow, NIH research examines the aspect of transmission and its relationship with drug abuse and addiction. The use of neuroimaging to predict relapse to methamphetamine in treated drug abusers is also examined.

Reports on the issuance by the United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of a paper titled `Producing Results' to highlight the effects of better federal-state funding partnerships on substance abuse treatment. Description of the paper's sections.

Reports on the National Prevention League's determined efforts to lobby against the US Congress' rumored plans to fold all discretionary funds that support substance abuse prevention. Plans by congressional leaders to award the money intended for substance abuse prevention to county governments; League organizers' plans to issue a position paper on key issues.

Discusses the results of a survey conducted by the National Treatment Consortium on the treatment of alcoholism and drug addiction in the United States. Compilation of surveys of 1,125 addiction professionals and several policy papers outlining trends for the future; Goals in the treatment of addiction; Effect of treatment limits on the quality of care; Effectiveness of addiction treatment.

The article focuses on the announcements made by U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) regarding substance abuse. SAMHSA released three papers on evidence-based methods in treating individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders. The agency also announces its first online course, a medication in treating alcohol use disorders.

The article offers news briefs related to alcoholism and drug abuse in the U.S. According to a report in the "Journal of Public Economic," monthly disability payments can lead to drug-related hospitalization and death. Anti-drug coalitions nationwide are holding community forums to raise awarness concerning abuse of cough medicines. A paper from the Marin Institute entailed the alcohol industry for irresponsible and illegal marketing of alcoholic energy drinks to underage drinkers.

The article announces the availability of the updated version of treatment programs guide from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The 2006 "National Directory of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment Programs" is a paper-based complement to the directory on the Internet. The updated directory provides information on treatment programs and facilities in the U.S., the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and four U.S. territories.

The article focuses on the lawsuit being filed by the family of a young college student who drowned after a night of drinking. Jared Dion, a student at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, Wisconsin, took one of the university's Safe Ride Program buses from the campus into the city's bar district where he apparently fell into the Mississippi River and drowned after a night of drinking. The family claims that the city is at fault for not taking preventive measures after the previous deaths at its Riverside Park. Dion's family also claims the university encouraged binge drinking by allowing the school paper to run advertisements from bars and by running the Safe Ride Program, which provides buses between the bars and the campus.

Reports on developments related to alcoholism and drug abuse in the U.S. as of December 15, 2003. National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems' telephone training on staffing inpatient programs; Business resource papers offered by Drug Free Pennsylvania.

Announces the National Council on Problem Gambling and the Nevada Council on Compulsive Gambling's search for papers and presentations for the National Conference on Problem Gambling, to be held on June 17-20, 1998 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Suggested topics for presentations; Requirements; Contact information.

Features the federal government's arguments in the papers it filed in the US District Court in San Francisco, California, that its policy against medical use of marijuana does not restrict physicians' right of free speech.