Category: Substance Misuse

Despite Successes, Addiction Treatment Programs for Families Struggle to Stay Open

Residential addiction treatment programs that allow parents to bring their children along have been recognized for their success. But a mix of logistical challenges and low reimbursement rates mean they struggle to stay afloat.

Heat-Related Deaths Are Up, and Not Just Because It’s Getting Hotter

Excessive heat contributed to 1,670 deaths nationwide last year, according to federal data — the highest rate in at least two decades. An increase in drug use and homelessness, along with hotter temperatures, were among the reasons.

The Painful Legacy of ‘Law and Order’ Treatment of Addiction in Jail

Efforts to improve addiction care in jails and prisons are underway across the country. But a rural Alabama county with one of the nation’s highest overdose rates shows how change is slow, while law enforcement officials continue to treat addiction as a crime rather than a medical condition.

Excessive Drinking During the Pandemic Increased Alcoholic Liver Disease Death Rates

The number of Californians dying from alcoholic liver disease rose dramatically in the last decade, sped by the pandemic.

Recovery From Addiction Is a Journey. There’s No One-and-Done Solution.

Drug use has become a major public health crisis, but effective treatment remains hard to find. It does exist though. Columnist Bernard J. Wolfson offers advice on finding help and says not to expect a quick solution.

California Confronts the Threat of ‘Tranq’ as Overdose Crisis Rages

California officials are stepping up efforts to combat the spread of xylazine, a powerful animal sedative that’s increasingly being used by people, often with devastating results. It’s mostly been an East Coast phenomenon, but ‘tranq,’ as it is known, is beginning to appear in the Golden State.

California’s Fentanyl Problem Is Getting Worse

State lawmakers have recently been debating whether and how to stiffen punishments for dealers, while Gov. Gavin Newsom is targeting fentanyl trafficking and distributing more naloxone. The problem, experts say, is one with no easy or clear answers.

A Rural County’s Choice: Use Opioid Funds to Pay Off Debt, or Pay Them Forward to Curb Crisis

Greene County, Tennessee, so far has received more than $2.7 million from regional and national settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors. But most of the money is not going to help people and families harmed by addiction.

Legal Pot Is More Potent Than Ever — And Still Largely Unregulated

As marijuana has become far more mainstream, potent, and sometimes dangerous, uneven regulation at the state and federal levels leaves consumers at risk.

‘Hard to Get Sober Young’: Inside One of the Country’s Few Recovery High Schools

A few dozen high schools across the U.S. combine education with recovery treatment for substance use disorders to keep kids sober and in school.