News

Drug Overdoses Killed A Record Number Of Americans In 2020, Jumping By Nearly 30%

(NPR, July 14) Last year, more than 93,000 Americans died as a result of a drug overdose, according to new preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This number is more than 30% of 2019’s total.
Doctors May Be Overprescribing Opioids After Surgeries

(HealthDay News, June 14) Researchers from the University of Michigan found that there wasn’t a big difference in pain relief between patients prescribed opioids following surgery and patients prescribed non-opioids after surgery.
More Pot-Linked Poisoning Cases as Edibles' Popularity Booms

(HealthDay News, May 25) The number of marijuana-related calls to poison control centers in the U.S. jumped about 35% between 2017 and 2019, according to a new study.
Study: Marijuana Use May Be Linked to Suicidal Thoughts in Young Adults

(National Institutes of Health, June 22) Marijuana use could be linked to increased risk of suicidal thoughts, plan, and attempt among young adults, according to researchers who analyzed data from the National Surveys on Drug Use and Health between 2008-2019.
Heavy marijuana use during pregnancy linked to premature birth, early infant death

(NBC News, April 23) The babies of women who were heavy marijuana users during their pregnancies are more likely to be born premature or pass away within their first year of life than the babies of women who did not use marijuana, according to a report.
Colorado reckons with high-potency marijuana and its impact on children

(Denver Post, April 22) Potent marijuana is harmful to the mental health of young people, according to research.
THC From Pot Lingers in Breast Milk for Weeks: Study

(Health Day News, March 11) According to a new study, THC, the ingredient in marijuana that causes a user’s high, can remain in a mother’s breast milk for up to six weeks after she uses the drug.
Rising U.S. Deaths After Users Mix Coke, Meth With an Opioid

(Health Day News, April 2) Cocaine deaths have increased in recent years because more people are combining the drug with an opioid, according to a new report.
Drug use among older persons a ‘hidden epidemic’, narcotics experts warn

(UN News, March 25) Worldwide, drug use among adults over 65 has increased in recently, according to a report from the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB).
Younger Age of Initiation to Marijuana Use Linked with Higher Rates of Disorder in NIH Study

(Addiction Professional, March 30) The younger someone starts using marijuana, the more likely they are to develop a substance use disorder, according to a recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics.