While medications for addiction treatment (MAT) and behavioral therapies are the primary treatment options for substance use disorders (SUDs), neuromodulation interventions have emerged as promising new treatments. These non-invasive therapies use electrical, magnetic, or soundwave stimulation to alter the activity of neural circuits in the brain involved in reward and motivation and implicated in addiction (Oesterle et al., 2025). The goal is to directly influence brain func

In 2024, 48.4 million people in the U.S. ages 12 and older – about 1 in 6 people– met the criteria for a substance use disorder, according to the most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health  (NSDUH) released by SAMHSA. The annual report provides nationally representative data on substance use (e.g., tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs, misuse of prescription drugs), substance use disorders, treatment receipt, recovery, and related behavioral health indicators. Of the 48.4

In recent years, medications originally developed to treat Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and other weight-related conditions—such as semaglutide and liraglutide—are showing promise in treating substance use disorders (SUDs). These medications belong to a class of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and are marketed under brand names such as Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Victoza®, and Saxenda®.  GLP-1 is a naturally occurring hormone produced in the gut and brain that regulates

In recent years, medications originally developed to treat Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and other weight-related conditions—such as semaglutide and liraglutide—are showing promise in treating substance use disorders (SUDs). These medications belong to a class of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and are marketed under brand names such as Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Victoza®, and Saxenda®.  GLP-1 is a naturally occurring hormone produced in the gut and brain that regulates

According to the latest Monitoring the Future (MTF) Panel Study from the University of Michigan, young and midlife adults are reporting sharp increases in several emerging substance use behaviors, including nicotine pouches, cannabis, vaping, and psychedelics.  For 50 years, MTF surveys nationally representative samples of 8th, 10th, and 12th-graders, tracking trends in youth substance use and following a subset of 12th-grade participants into adulthood. Today, the MTF Panel

A new study published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine shows that any level of alcohol consumption can increase the risk of dementia. Researchers also found that tripling weekly alcohol consumption—whether from one to three drinks per week or three to nine—was associated with a 15% increased risk of developing dementia. In the study, researchers analyzed data from more than 550,000 adults between the ages of 56-72 years at baseline and genetic information from an additional 2

A new study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry finds that contingency management (CM)—a behavioral treatment that rewards individuals for meeting treatment milestones—can significantly reduce the risk of death among people with stimulant use disorder.

In a new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine , researchers with JCOIN’s Massachusetts Clinical Research Center found that providing medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) during incarceration can improve outcomes and save lives after release. The study shows that individuals who received MOUD in jail were more likely to engage in treatment and less likely to experience an overdose within six months of release. The study evaluated the impact of a 2019 Ma

Study using AI to analyze community coalition meeting minutes from the HEALing Communities Study (HCS) identifies key themes and how they intersected with decisions when selecting evidence-based practices (EBPs) to reduce overdose deaths.

A study  published in JAMA Network Open  examined pharmacy barriers faced by patients prescribed buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) through telemedicine. The findings show that pharmacy-related challenges were common, with nearly one-third of study participants (31.9%) reporting going without buprenorphine at some point in the prior 12 months due to pharmacy-related barriers. Researchers surveyed 601 adults who were receiving treatment from a multistate telemedi

Recent findings published in Health & Justice  show that the NIH HEALing Communities Study (HCS) was associated with a significant increase in the number of jails that provided overdose education and delivery of naloxone to individuals returning from incarceration in participating communities. These results underscore the value of a community-engaged intervention that leveraged local coalitions to plan and implement overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) strategi

A new study  published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence  examined the relationship between childhood adversity, genetic risk, and the severity of withdrawal symptoms from tobacco, alcohol, and opioids. The study used data from more than 10,000 participants collected through a multi-site collaboration across academic institutions, including Yale University, UConn Health, the University of Pennsylvania, the Medical University of South Carolina, and McLean Hospital. “ACEs are an i

Cannabis use has become increasingly normalized and legalized across the globe, but its impact on mental health is still being understood. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence delves into the complex relationship between cannabis use, depression, and suicidal behavior. Cannabis use has been found to be a risk factor for depression, and consistent cannabis use has been associated with suicidality, suicidal behaviors, and action

In a new article published in JAMA, JCOIN researchers found that 27.6% of United States jails offer all three FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD).

A new study shows that even a single session of aerobic exercise, such as running, cycling, and swimming, can yield benefits for men with methamphetamine use disorder (MUD). The research found that moderate-intensity aerobic exercise reduces cravings and improves decision-making functions often impaired by MUD. The study included an assessment of the effectiveness of exercise as an intervention for MUD, a potentially important response to help alleviate the neurological dama

A study  led by researchers at the University of Colorado Department of Medicine found that nearly one in 10 U.S. adults with a substance use disorder (SUD) were hospitalized over a one-year period. Despite the frequency of these hospitalizations, most individuals with SUD did not receive addiction treatment while hospitalized. The research, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine , used data from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The study identified 60 m

Provisional data  released by the CDC’s National Vital Statistics System indicate a 26.9% decrease in drug overdose deaths nationwide in 2024, falling from 110,037 in 2023 to 80,391. The decline represents an estimated average of 81 fewer overdose deaths per day. Seven states—Louisiana, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin—and Washington, D.C., experienced 35% or more reductions. “The continued decline in overdose fatalities is likely a result

A study published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine  estimates that nearly 17 million children and adolescents in the United States...

A recent study published in   Nature Medicine  demonstrated that an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven screening tool was just as...

A r eview article in SSM - Mental Health  introduces a new classification system for social support programs for individuals with substance use disorder, criminal justice involvement, and related health issues. The authors developed this system based on the source of support, categorizing interventions by whether the support agents are internal (family), external (health and social service providers), or a combination. By examining studies funded by the NIH and NIDA, the revi