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Press Releases and Announcements
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
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
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 29
Protect Your Brain: Pilot Study Released
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
Sep 25
APF Urges Congress to Pass the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Justice Grant Reauthorization Legislation
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
Aug 13
Research and Science Highlights
Neuromodulation for Treating Substance Use Disorders
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
Nov 10
Over 48 Million People Have a Diagnosable Substance Use Disorder in the United States
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
Nov 10
Medications to Treat Opioid Addiction Reduce Overdose Fatalities and Improve Patient Outcomes
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
Nov 10
GLP-1 Agonists Show Promise in Treating Substance Use Disorders
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
Nov 7
Nicotine Pouches, Cannabis, Vaping, and Hallucinogen Use Reaching Record Highs Among Young and Midlife Adults
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
Nov 7
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