On March 18, 2026, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced that it has temporarily placed bromazolam, a synthetic benzodiazepine, into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act due to increasing reports of trafficking and misuse. According to the DEA, bromazolam is often used to manufacture counterfeit Xanax tablets and has become one of the most commonly identified benzodiazepines in illicit drug seizures. The agency determined the substance has a high potentia

A randomized clinical trial published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that weekly extended-release buprenorphine during pregnancy was associated with higher rates of abstinence from illicit opioids than daily sublingual buprenorphine among pregnant women with opioid use disorder. Overall maternal and infant outcomes were similar between groups. However, the extended-release buprenorphine group reported fewer serious adverse events, less use of pain medication after delivery,

The words we choose matter—especially when talking about suicide and mental health. Research shows that language can shape attitudes, influence stigma, and impact whether people feel safe seeking help. When harmful or judgmental language is used, it can intensify feelings of shame or isolation for people who are already struggling. The National Center for Health and Justice Integration for Suicide Prevention (NCHATS) has developed a Suicide Prevention Language Toolkit that p

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

Stimulant use disorder is a growing public health concern, with increasing rates of methamphetamine and cocaine use nationwide. Unlike opioid use disorder, there are currently no FDA-approved medications specifically for stimulant use disorder, making effective treatment strategies especially critical. This webinar provided an overview of stimulant use disorder, including the most common types of stimulants, how stimulant use disorder is diagnosed, and what researchers have l

A study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence introduces two new validated tools designed to measure substance use disorder (SUD) knowledge across prevention, treatment, and recovery. In response to the lack of validated tools to measure general knowledge about SUD, the Addiction Policy Forum and researchers from the University of Delaware developed and tested two scales to assess knowledge about addiction, including risk factors, treatment options, and medications used