A recent report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides a comprehensive look at substance use disorder (SUD) treatment across the United States, including who is entering treatment, what substances are most commonly involved, and what services are being utilized. Drawing on data from the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), the annual report captures admissions and discharges among individuals ages 12 and older receiving treatment a

In a study published in JAMA Cardiology , researchers found chronic cannabis use—whether through smoking or THC-infused edibles—is associated with impaired vascular function, even among young and otherwise healthy adults. Healthy vascular function allows blood vessels to dilate properly, deliver oxygen efficiently, and help regulate key processes within the circulatory system. When vascular function is impaired, blood vessels are less able to expand, which can reduce blood fl

Methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) continues to pose a growing public health challenge in the United States. Despite rising rates of use and overdose deaths, there are currently no FDA-approved medications for treating MUD. Prior studies have shown that naltrexone (used to treat opioid and alcohol use disorders) and bupropion (an antidepressant) have independently been effective in MUD treatment. In a 2021 landmark clinical trial (ADAPT-2), researchers found that combining t

A new study published in JAMA Health Forum found that adolescent cannabis use was associated with an increased risk of developing psychotic, bipolar, depressive, and anxiety disorders by young adulthood. The study included over 400,000 adolescents ages 13 to 17 who were universally screened for past-year cannabis use during routine pediatric visits between 2016 and 2023. Participants were followed through age 25, and researchers examined clinician-diagnosed psychiatric disor

Despite growth in the use of medications used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) – including methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone – most people with OUD in the United States still do not receive medication. National estimates show only 25% of individuals with OUD receive medications for OUD (MOUD), underscoring a persistent gap between need and access. Research published in JAMA Health Forum found methadone treatment among Medicaid enrollees increased substantially ove

Sleep disturbance is a common, yet often overlooked, part of substance use disorders (SUDs). During withdrawal, many people report difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, and sleep disturbance may persist during long-term recovery. The severity of sleep disturbances have also shown to be a predictor of relapse and later substance use (Gyawali & James, 2023 ). With alcohol use disorder (AUD) specifically, insomnia is frequently reported, and untreated insomnia has been i

Findings from a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) study show that quitting cigarette smoking is associated with improved recovery outcomes from other substance use disorders. Using data from more than 2,600 adults participating in the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, a nationally representative study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, researchers examined changes in smoking status and re

Source: University of Michigan The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the University of Michigan published new data from the Monitoring the Future Study, an annual survey of drug use behaviors and attitudes among eighth, 10th, and 12th graders that has been supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for 51 years. The latest findings show that adolescent substance use in the United States remains at historically low levels. The 2025 survey included 23,726 s

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

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

Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) help stabilize brain chemistry, reduce or block the opioid’s euphoric effects, relieve cravings, and help patients engage in other aspects of treatment (NIDA, 2025). The three formulations approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat opioid use disorder include methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. Proven Effectiveness of MOUD Decades of research have shown that MOUDs are effective in reducing opioid use, overdose

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