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Press Releases and Announcements
April 2026 Alcohol Awareness Month
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
Mar 27
APF Releases New Tools to Measure Substance Use Disorder Knowledge
Addiction Policy Forum released new knowledge scales that we developed to better measure understanding of substance use disorder.
Mar 17
APF Releases New Workbook and Guide, Responding to Addiction
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
Oct 28, 2025
Senate Passes Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2025
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
Oct 20, 2025
Communication Campaign Toolkits Released for Naloxone, Fentanyl and MAT Awareness
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
Sep 30, 2025
Research and Science Highlights
Alcohol Remains the Primary Driver of Treatment Admissions in the U.S., followed by Methamphetamines and Heroin
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
5 days ago
Study Finds Association Between Chronic Cannabis Use and Cardiovascular Dysfunction
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
Mar 30
Treating Depression Early in Treatment May Improve Methamphetamine Use Disorder Outcomes
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
Mar 24
Methadone Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder has Increased, but Access Gaps Persist
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
Feb 26
Suvorexant for Sleep Disturbance in Substance Use Recovery
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
Feb 18
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