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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.

New dietary guidelines omit alcohol limits

An updated version of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggests limiting alcohol consumption but removes the specific recommendation of no more than 1-2 drinks per day.

Sara Carter confirmed as drug czar

The Senate voted to confirm journalist Sara Carter to lead the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Drug policy in 2026: marijuana, psychedelics, opioids

A recent article from STAT highlights areas in drug policy to keep an eye on in 2026, including marijuana, psychedelics, and opioid overdose deaths.

U.S. indicts Maduro on drug charges

The U.S. seized Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and charged him and others with narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine.

Executive order pushes for marijuana rescheduling

President Trump signed an executive order to try to expedite marijuana's rescheduling from Schedule I to III.

Research News Roundup: January 8, 2026

View our curated digest of the latest research news, including a study of methadone patients with mental health disorders (MHD) and using methamphetamine that identified key barriers to mental health care: low awareness, stigma, family burden, polysubstance use, and a shortage of specialists. When MHD services were included in methadone clinics there were improved diagnoses, streamlined referrals, and reduced logistical challenges.

Monitoring the Future survey: Teen substance use remains low in 2025

The 2025 Monitoring the Future survey found that teens' use of most substances remains low and has not rebounded to pre-pandemic levels.

Trump classifies fentanyl as WMD

President Trump signed an executive order to classify fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction, a move likely aimed at justifying military action against drug trafficking, though experts doubt it will help address the addiction crisis.

Congress votes against ACA subsidy extension

The Senate rejected legislation to extend the enhanced ACA subsidies, while the House passed a health care bill that does not address the subsidies, leaving them to expire at the end of the year.

SAMHSA head departs for DHS

Art Kleinschmidt, who was serving as the de facto head of SAMHSA, has left the role, highlighting the lack of administration officials serving in key addiction and drug policy roles.

Medetomidine causing new withdrawal crisis

Medetomidine, a veterinary sedative up to 200 times as potent as xylazine, has started to saturate the fentanyl supply in Philadelphia and is moving throughout the East and Midwestern U.S.

Research News Roundup: December 18, 2025

View our curated digest of the latest research news, including how two different doses of extended-release buprenorphine (100-mg or 300-mg) were found to be safe and effective for treating high-risk opioid use. However, the higher 300-mg maintenance dose may be more effective for individuals using fentanyl.

CDC cuts disrupt state tobacco programs

The CDC cuts last spring effectively closed the Office on Smoking and Health, leading states to curtail their tobacco prevention and cessation programs that relied on the agency.

Poll: Public supports action on mental health crisis

A NAMI/Ipsos poll found broad public support for increased funding and policy action to address the mental health crisis.

Court denies administration’s bid to halt school mental health grants

A federal appeals court ruling requires the release millions of dollars in grants for mental health workers in schools.

Op-ed: Economic roots of substance use crisis

Two Brown University researchers/professors explain that the economic roots of substance use are often ignored, but the crisis will be hard to solve without available housing, treatment, and jobs.

Inadequate cannabis warning labels across states

A study found that states that have legalized marijuana often do not require a comprehensive set of warning statements to appear on the packaging/labeling.

Research News Roundup: December 11, 2025

View our curated digest of the latest research news, including a study that found that people who read AI-generated responses to questions about opioid use disorder held significantly less stigma toward medication treatment than those who read human-written responses. This suggests AI could be a useful tool for reducing stigma and encouraging treatment.

Trump reauthorizes major opioid legislation

President Trump signed the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act into law, reauthorizing the expired 2018 law that includes programs and funding to address the opioid crisis.

Senate vote looms on ACA subsidies

As the Senate vote on addressing the expiring ACA subsidies approaches next week, it remains unclear what bills will receive a vote and what the fate of the tax credits will be.

Trump pardons ex-Honduran president convicted for drug trafficking

President Trump pardoned a former Honduran president found guilty of drug trafficking, while continuing to intensify the U.S. military campaign against alleged drug boats in the Caribbean.

Attorneys general target Shopify over e-cigarettes

State attorneys general claim that more than 200 online stores who use Shopify illegally sold tobacco products, skirting age and safety requirements.

Research News Roundup: December 4, 2025

View our curated digest of the latest research news, including how self-reported cognitive impairment is highly prevalent among patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) and correlates with various demographic and clinical variables (such as neurological comorbidities), regardless of the specific medication used for treatment.

Judge approves Purdue opioid settlement

A federal bankruptcy judge approved an agreement settling the thousands of lawsuits against Purdue and the Sacklers for their role in the opioid crisis.

Trump administration shifts homelessness policy funding priorities

The Trump administration issued new guidance for federal housing funds that will move away from Housing First approaches and toward involuntary treatment and less support for permanent housing.
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