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The Latest News from Our Field

We curate a digest of the latest news in our field for advocates, policymakers, community coalitions and all who work toward shaping policies and practices to effectively prevent substance use and treat addiction. Sign up here to receive weekly updates straight to your inbox.

Medical marijuana reclassified to Schedule III

The acting attorney general ordered the immediate reclassification of FDA-approved and state-licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III.

FDA fast-tracks psychedelic drug reviews

Following last week’s executive order that directed federal agencies to speed research and loosen restrictions on psychedelics, FDA announced it will fast-track review of three psychedelic drugs to treat mental health.

SAMHSA updates guidance on MOUD and harm reduction

SAMHSA issued Dear Colleague letters warning against the use of medications for opioid use disorder without accompanying support services and pulling drug test strips as an allowable use of SAMHSA funds.

Purdue settlement finalized, leaves many victims without funds

A judge sentenced Purdue in a federal probe, clearing the way for the company's broader settlement with thousands of states, local governments, and individual victims to go into effect.

Research News Roundup: April 30, 2026

View our curated digest of the latest research news, including how an antidepressant sold legally online in the US — but nowhere approved for use here — is landing people in clinical settings with a presentation that looks and acts like opioid addiction. Tianeptine is unregulated and easy to buy. Misuse escalates fast, tolerance builds quickly, and withdrawal is serious. Intoxication mimics opioids — euphoria, respiratory depression, and sedation. Withdrawal brings anxiety, agitation, and GI distress. Naloxone works for acute crises; buprenorphine is first-line for withdrawal, but relapse rates are high. Many cases need residential-level care and long-term monitoring.

New executive order aims to accelerate psychedelic drug research and review

President Trump signed an executive order that aims to ease restrictions on research and access to psychedelics to treat mental illness.

Kennedy faces Congress in string of hearings on HHS budget

HHS Secretary Kennedy is testifying before several Congressional committees in a set of hearings on the administration's 2027 budget proposal.

Mental Health Parity Index reveals disparities

The Kennedy Forum launched the Mental Health Parity Index to track the availability of in-network MH/SUD clinicians and their payment rates compared to that for physical health care, showing continued gaps in access to care.

Gambling addiction crisis grows unchecked

Experts say there is a growing gambling addiction crisis, but it is yet to be widely recognized by the public, policymakers, and the health care sector, with lacking research, funding, and screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

Research News Roundup: April 23, 2026

View our curated digest of the latest research news, including fresh insights into how driver education programs present a powerful—and often overlooked—opportunity to prevent substance use and impaired driving. At a moment when adolescents are highly motivated to engage to earn their driver’s license, these programs can play a pivotal role in shaping safer behaviors.

New synthetic drugs outpace regulation efforts

Illicit labs are creating new synthetic drugs at a rapid speed, with compounds reaching the market long before health agencies know they exist.

McKinsey contributes $125M to Purdue settlement

McKinsey agreed to contribute $125 million to Purdue’s bankruptcy settlement to resolve potential claims over the consulting firm's marketing advice on how to "turbocharge" OxyContin sales.

GAO report: DOJ struggles to curb illegal e-cigarettes

A GAO report suggests that DOJ enforcement actions related to illegal e-cigarettes do not match the scale of the problem.

BuzzBallz rise in popularity among Gen Z

BuzzBallz alcoholic drinks' marketing tactics and growing popularity among young people raise concerns about underage appeal and use.

Research News Roundup: April 16, 2026

View our curated digest of the latest research news, including how an increase in E-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury (EVALI) cases was associated with a marked increase in the perceived risk of e-cigarettes relative to traditional cigarettes, both during and after the increase. This shift in perception was particularly pronounced among non-white participants, who demonstrated significantly greater increases in perceived harm. These findings suggest that major public health events can meaningfully shape risk perceptions, with potential implications for smoking behavior.

White House proposes health budget cuts

The White House budget request proposes a 12.5% decrease to the HHS budget, which includes eliminating several mental health and substance use programs and folding SAMHSA into a new agency.

Health alert on medetomidine

CDC issued a Health Advisory to notify public health professionals, clinicians, and the public about increasing reports of medetomidine in the illegal drug supply and the severe withdrawal it can cause.

ASPE: Few behavioral health clinics offer services tailored for older adults

An HHS study found that while most outpatient behavioral health facilities accept older patients, less than half of SUD facilities accepted Medicare, and few offered programs tailored for the population.

Kava exposure reports rise, often combined with kratom

A CDC report found that kava-related exposures reported to poison control centers have been rising steadily, with reports involving combined use of kava and kratom increasing.

Research News Roundup: April 9, 2026

View our curated digest of the latest research news, including a study showing a strong link between major depressive episodes (MDEs) and substance use among adolescents. Girls face considerably higher odds of both depression and substance use than boys. Among racial groups, non-Hispanic White youth show the highest rates of depression and marijuana and tobacco use, while living in a rural area is specifically tied to greater tobacco and opioid misuse. Asian adolescents reported the lowest prevalence of marijuana and tobacco use, along with lower rates of MDEs.

Kratom exposure reports surge 1200% in the last decade

A CDC report found that kratom-related exposure cases reported to the National Poison Data System increased 1,200% between 2015 and 2025.

Evolving drug crisis challenges public health

While opioid overdose deaths are on the decline, more Americans are now using and dying from stimulants, and new synthetic drugs are being created at a rapid pace, creating new challenges for the public health response.

House tackles illicit drug threats

The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held a hearing last week on more than a dozen bills to address illicit drug threats.

Meta and YouTube found liable for addictive platforms and mental health harms

Two juries found major social media companies liable for creating addictive products that harm children's mental health.

Research News Roundup: April 2, 2026

View our curated digest of the latest research news, including evidence from a study that suggests cannabinoids may help reduce symptoms of cannabis addiction, insomnia, tic disorders or Tourette's syndrome, and autism spectrum disorder — but the research supporting these findings is generally weak. People using cannabinoids were more likely to experience side effects, though serious side effects were not more common. Overall, much better research is needed before strong conclusions can be drawn. Given how limited the current evidence is, using cannabinoids to treat mental health conditions or substance use disorders cannot generally be recommended at this time.
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