As cannabis products have evolved, so too have the risks—especially for young people. Today’s cannabis products contain far higher levels of THC than in previous decades, with some products reaching up to 80-90% THC. This shift is raising concerns due to its association with increased risk of addiction, mental health challenges, and psychosis. In this Ask the Expert explainer, Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the Stanford REACH Lab at Stanfo

The Addiction Policy Forum launched the inaugural Cannabis Use Disorder Prevention and Awareness Week, April 15-22. The national educational initiative aims to increase public understanding of cannabis use disorder, symptoms of cannabis use disorder, highlight emerging health risks, and promote prevention efforts. As cannabis use continues to rise across the United States, public perception of its risks remains low. However, research shows that an estimated 20.6 million peopl

A growing body of research shows the effectiveness of several treatment options for cannabis use disorder (CUD). In this Ask the Expert interview, Dr. Redonna Chandler discusses the evidence surrounding the diagnosis and treatment of CUD. Dr. Chandler previously served as Director of the HIV Research Program and the HEALing Communities Study at the National Institute on Drug Abuse and now serves as a scientific advisor at the Addiction Policy Forum. Dr. Chandler discusses psy

In this Ask the Expert video, Dr. Margaret Haney, Professor of Neurobiology and Director of the Cannabis Research Laboratory at Columbia University Medical Center, discusses cannabis use disorder (CUD) and key risk factors. Although cannabis is often perceived as low-risk, an estimated 5.8% of the population meets criteria for CUD, with severity ranging from mild to moderate and severe.1 Research shows that individuals with more severe CUD experience diminished productivity,

The Addiction Policy Forum and 146 national, state, and local organizations from across the country sent a letter urging Congress to continue funding for substance use disorder programs in the FY2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) appropriations bill. The national sign-on letter calls on Congress to maintain funding for key federal agencies and programs that address substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health disorders across

Alcohol Awareness Month is a time to raise awareness and increase understanding of how alcohol use impacts our health and communities. In the United States, alcohol contributes to more than 178,000 deaths each year, making it one of the leading preventable causes of death. In 2024 alone, nearly 28 million Americans ages 12 and older (1 in 10 people) met the criteria for an alcohol use disorder. Excessive alcohol use is also linked to seven different types of cancer and more t

Addiction Policy Forum joined 330 national, state, and local organizations in support of continued funding of the Second Chance Act in the Fiscal Year 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The sign-on letter urges Congress to continue funding for Second Chance Act recidivism reduction and reentry programs. Second Chance Act programs provide individuals reentering the community with services, including housing, job training, education, sub

Addiction Policy Forum released new knowledge scales that we developed to better measure understanding of substance use disorder.

Addiction remains one of the most pressing health challenges. Across the world, researchers are advancing how we address substance use disorders by understanding risk factors and patterns of use, diagnosing them early with more precision, considering comorbidities, and treating them more effectively. Together, these developments are reshaping community responses and clinical practices by informing evidence-based approaches targeting prevention, treatment, recovery, and policy

The Responding to Addiction Participant Manual—the official companion to our instructor-led Responding to Addiction training—is now available for purchase on Amazon. This accessible guide reinforces and expands on training content with science-backed information about substance use disorders, including: How addiction impacts the brain Recognizing signs and symptoms Evidence-based treatment approaches, including medication for addiction treatment Practical guidance on how to

On October 9, 2025, the Senate passed the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2025 ( S. 1843 ) as an amendment, sponsored by Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), to the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) . The Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2025 would continue critical recidivism-reduction and reentry services nationwide, including substance use disorder treatment. The NDAA passed the Senate by a bipartisan vote of 77-20. The bill now moves to the House for

The HEALing Communities Study (HCS) has developed a series of ready-to-use communication campaigns designed to increase awareness about substance use disorders and effective response strategies to help strengthen local prevention, treatment, recovery, and overdose prevention efforts. These free toolkits make it easy for you to share critical information in your community through social media, radio, print materials, and more. Whether you’re part of a community coalition, loca

The Addiction Policy Forum, in partnership with the University of Delaware, has released results from a pilot study testing the effectiveness of a training curriculum for youth. Protect Your Brain is a curriculum developed by the Addiction Policy Forum to strengthen prevention knowledge and equip young people with tools to reduce the risk of developing a substance use disorder. The program also emphasizes the neuroscience of brain health, healthy coping skills, and the uniqu

Addiction Policy Forum led the national endorsement letter with over 100 national, state, and local organizations in support of reauthorizing the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Justice Grant Reauthorization Act of 2025 (S.2540) to extend the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Grant Program (COSSUP). COSSUP provides financial and technical assistance to state and local governments to implement tailored evidence-based substance use disorder (SUD) prevent

Findings suggest that higher levels of stigma are associated with decreased support for naloxone availability Bethesda, MD (July 29, 2025) — The Addiction Policy Forum released a new report today that examines how addiction-related stigma is associated with attitudes toward naloxone access and policy endorsement. For the study, Addiction Policy Forum and researchers from the University of Delaware designed and administered a survey to 57 partner organizations, ranging from pu

President Donald Trump today signed the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of (HALT) Fentanyl Act into law in July 2025, permanently classifying illicit, fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I.

Addiction Policy Forum joined over 595 national, state, and local organizations in support of continued funding of the Second Chance Act in the Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The Second Chance Act provides communities with resources to reduce recidivism and provide critical reentry resources like housing, employment, behavioral health treatment, and other essential services. Over 1,350 grants have been administered to

Summit Recovery Hub piloted a community survey in partnership with the Addiction Policy Forum to better understand substance use disorder (SUD) stigma, including attitudes, misconceptions, and policy support related to SUD services. Stigma remains one of the greatest barriers preventing individuals with SUD from seeking treatment and achieving long-term recovery. A total of 255 individuals responded to the survey administered by Summit Recovery Hub between November 10, 2023,

SalusCare piloted a community survey in partnership with the Addiction Policy Forum to better understand substance use disorder (SUD) stigma, including attitudes, misconceptions, and policy support related to SUD services. Stigma remains one of the greatest barriers preventing individuals with SUD from seeking treatment and achieving long-term recovery. A total of 269 individuals responded to the survey administered by SalusCare between December 8, 2023, and June 6, 2024. The

Tuscarawas County Health Department piloted a community survey in partnership with the Addiction Policy Forum to better understand substance use disorder (SUD) stigma, including attitudes, misconceptions, and policy support related to SUD services. Stigma remains one of the greatest barriers preventing individuals with SUD from seeking treatment and achieving long-term recovery. A total of 361 individuals responded to the survey administered by Tuscarawas County Health Depart