Addiction news covering opioids, alcohol, treatment access, harm reduction, overdose trends, and recovery policy.
This commentary argues that Texas's lack of funding for gambling addiction help is a growing crisis, highlighting the state's historical underfunding and the recent donation from Las Vegas Sands to address the issue. It contends that online betting is fueling an emerging health crisis, particularly among young adults.
This editorial argues that Massachusetts' significant drop in opioid overdose deaths demonstrates the effectiveness of sustained state investments in prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery programs. It contends that continued funding and widespread naloxone availability are crucial to maintaining progress, while cautioning against complacency.
Guernsey's director of public health said the States is investigating a rise in cannabis-related admissions to the island's mental health ward. The most recent report showed 18% of admissions were cannabis-related in 2025, up from 4% before medicinal cannabis was introduced in 2019.
This commentary argues that Rick and Morty's depiction of Rick's alcoholism in season 9 strikes a balance between humor and seriousness, drawing on showrunner Dan Harmon's personal experiences. It contends that the show treats substance abuse as a dramatic struggle rather than a joke, similar to the film Flight.
The author argues that high-potency cannabis, often glamorized in popular culture, can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms and dependency. Through personal experience and expert testimony, the piece contends that the normalization of heavy marijuana use may obscure its potential harms, challenging the perception of weed as a harmless or beneficial substance.
The author argues that the cultural normalization of high-potency cannabis has downplayed its risks, drawing on personal withdrawal experiences and expert commentary to contend that today's weed is far stronger and more addictive than the benign image sold to millennials.
New research in The American Journal of Psychiatry finds adolescents who start social media at age 9 and use it three or more hours daily have up to 17 times higher odds of cannabis experimentation. The study tracked four social media use patterns among youth aged 9-16 over four years.
This commentary argues that the FDA's recent authorization of fruit-flavored e-cigarettes for adults may undermine progress in reducing youth vaping rates. It cites expert concerns that sweet flavors attract young people and offers parents advice on discussing vaping dangers with their children.
Nicotine pouch usage in the US nearly quadrupled from 2022 to 2025, with monthly sales jumping from $145.5 million to $510.5 million. Celebrities like Diplo and the Jonas Brothers have invested in pouch company Sesh. The CDC Foundation links flavored pouches to rising youth use.
This commentary argues that the increasing potency of nicotine pouches like Zyn poses significant public health risks, including heightened addiction potential and other health concerns. It contends that manufacturers are prioritizing market growth over consumer safety, and suggests that regulatory oversight may be needed to address these emerging dangers.