U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the STRONGER Act, bipartisan legislation that would update and reauthorize the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners program to reduce recidivism and address addiction in prisons.
Drug-related deaths in Scotland increased by 11% to 1,133 in 2025, maintaining the country's position as having the worst drug fatality rate in Europe. Officials cited growing risks from highly potent synthetic opioids as a contributing factor to the rise.
A specialist clinic at Alder Hey children's hospital in Liverpool is treating children as young as 13 for severe bladder conditions caused by sustained ketamine use. Patients describe devastating symptoms including loss of bladder control, with doctors warning about the serious health consequences of the drug's misuse among young people.
Scotland's attempts to lower its high rate of drug deaths are being hindered by the emergence of nitazenes, a class of synthetic opioids often sold as heroin. The deadly new drugs represent a significant challenge to addiction treatment efforts in the country.
Fiji has declared a national HIV emergency amid a sharp spike in infections, with one in every 60 people now living with the virus. Health officials link the outbreak to a growing methamphetamine crisis in the Pacific nation.
The Australian government announced draft legislation called 'My Feed, My Way' that would require social media platforms to give users the option to switch off personalized algorithmic content recommendations. The proposed Digital Duty of Care laws also target harmful content and addictive platform designs.
After more than 105,000 annual drug overdose deaths from 2021-2023, deaths have begun declining, even as Republican lawmakers criticize the Biden administration's handling of the fentanyl crisis. House Oversight Chair James Comer called for former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to answer for the crisis.
Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion and implement stronger child-safety measures on Facebook and Instagram as part of a landmark settlement with 48 US states. The settlement includes time limits for teen users and restrictions on addictive features.
Meta has agreed to pay up to $16.68 billion to settle claims from 29 state attorneys general alleging the company purposely designed Instagram and Facebook to be addictive to young people. The settlement represents one of the largest consumer protection actions against a tech company.
A bipartisan coalition of 29 U.S. states began a landmark federal trial in Oakland, California, accusing Meta Platforms of intentionally designing Facebook and Instagram to addict children and harm young users' mental health. The case could potentially reshape the social media platforms.
Opening statements begin in federal court in Oakland, California, in a major multistate lawsuit against Meta alleging the company knowingly designed its platforms to be addictive to children. The trial is considered one of the most consequential of thousands of lawsuits Meta faces over child safety, with states seeking extensive financial damages.
Researchers at Virginia Tech's Department of Biological Systems Engineering have created a penny-sized smart patch designed to automatically detect and respond to fentanyl overdoses, potentially saving lives even when no one else is present to help.
The federal government is evaluating methadone clinics two years after implementing major regulatory changes in 2024, following backlash from patient groups and scrutiny from lawmakers over the specialized addiction treatment providers.
Young adults' use of vapes and cannabis hit all-time highs in 2025 according to survey results, while hospitals report a significant increase in nausea cases among frequent marijuana users.
A new CDC report reveals nearly 200,000 emergency room visits in the past year for cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), a condition causing severe nausea and vomiting in frequent marijuana users. The increase may reflect both rising cases and improved diagnostic coding.
Supernus Pharmaceuticals and Indivior Pharmaceuticals announced an all-stock merger to create a combined company with approximately $2.2 billion in annual revenue and a portfolio of 11 commercialized medicines focused on neurological, psychiatric, and addiction-related conditions. The deal, described as a merger of equals, is expected to generate $125 million in cost savings.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced more than $281 million in grant funding opportunities across 15 programs aimed at addressing addiction, overdose, and mental illness. The funding was made available through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
The overall U.S. death rate reached its lowest point on record in 2025, according to provisional federal data, primarily due to a significant drop in drug overdose deaths and reduced COVID-19 mortality. The decline marks a major reversal in public health trends.
STAT published 'The Deadliest Drug,' a major investigative series documenting how alcohol represents America's most enduring and overlooked drug crisis, with failures across medical, public health, industry, and government systems.
A clinical trial of 108 adults with obesity and alcohol use disorder found that once-weekly semaglutide injections reduced heavy drinking days in the past 30 days by an average of roughly 12 days, representing a 50% reduction compared to placebo.
Medical professionals and researchers are expressing serious concerns about GLP-1 receptor agonist medications like Ozempic being misused by people with eating disorders or triggering disordered eating behaviors, with patients describing the drugs as addictive and relapse-inducing.
A federal judge approved Purdue Pharma's criminal sentence, leading to the dissolution of the OxyContin maker. The hearing included testimony from families affected by the opioid crisis and individuals who struggled with addiction treatment.
Children born to mothers who used buprenorphine for opioid addiction during pregnancy show no greater risk of neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD and autism compared to children whose mothers did not use the medication, providing reassurance about this critical treatment option.
Kratom-related poisonings have increased by 1,200% over the past decade, with proposals to ban or regulate the plant-based substance making headlines across the United States as lawmakers and regulators grapple with safety concerns.
Trump administration's 2027 budget proposal calls for cutting $5 billion from the National Institutes of Health and consolidating the number of institutes and centers from 27 to 22, though Congress is unlikely to approve the cuts.
