RESEARCH

Research & Progress

Research projects and new science of note

APF Research Reports

Addiction Stigma in America: How Public Knowledge Shapes Attitudes Toward Recovery

The Addiction Policy Forum and Gallup released Addiction Stigma in America: How Public Knowledge Shapes Attitudes Toward Recovery, featuring findings from a nationally representative study examining Americans’ addiction literacy and how it influences stigma, attitudes toward individuals in recovery, and support for public health policies. The report is also available on Gallup's website. The study included a nationally representative sample of 5,097 U.S. adults surveyed throu

Jun 2

1 in 4 U.S. Adults Don’t Recognize Addiction as a Health Condition

New Addiction Policy Forum and Gallup Study Released Findings from a nationally representative study show that nearly 1 in 4 U.S. adults (23%) either disagree or do not know that addiction is a health condition. Individuals who did not recognize addiction as a health condition were significantly less likely to believe substance use disorders (SUDs) are treatable by healthcare professionals, that early intervention works, or that medications are effective treatments to treat a

Jun 1

Use APF’s New Tools to Measure Substance Use Disorder Knowledge in Your Community

Understanding the science of substance use disorders (SUD), including prevention, treatment, and recovery, is critical to how individuals and communities respond to addiction. Yet despite decades of research, misconceptions about SUDs remain widespread, shaping not only how people think and act towards individuals who are struggling, but also how patients seek care. Strengthening addiction literacy—the ability to access, understand, and apply information about SUDs—is essenti

Mar 30

Study Introduces Tools to Measure Substance Use Disorder Knowledge

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

Mar 11

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, 2025

The Effects of Stigma on Naloxone Attitudes and Policy Endorsement

Naloxone is a life-saving medication that reverses opioid overdoses by blocking the effects of opioids and reversing overdose symptoms...

Jul 29, 2025

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

Apr 7

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

Adolescent Cannabis Use Associated With Increased Risk of Psychiatric Disorders

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

Mar 4

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

Study Finds Quitting Smoking is Associated with Improved Recovery from Other Substance Use Disorders

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

Jan 29

Adolescent Substance Use Remains Near Historic Lows: Findings from the 2025 NIDA and University of Michigan Monitoring the Future Survey

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

Jan 13

10 Key Breakthroughs: Recent Studies Advancing our Understanding of Addiction and Treatment

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

Dec 8, 2025

Understanding Addiction Stigma with Jessica Hulsey

Despite decades of research and growing public awareness about substance use disorders (SUDs), stigma continues to affect how people are treated, whether they seek help, and how communities respond to addiction. Stigma occurs when people are viewed as different, less worthy, or defined by their illness, leading to stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. Stigma can discourage people from accessing treatment, create barriers to recovery, and contribute to discrimination in

7 days ago

Cannabis Use Trends, Risks, and the Evolving Policy Landscape with Dr. Rosalie Pacula

Cannabis access has accelerated globally and across the United States, creating substantial variation in regulatory systems, product availability, potency limits, commercialization practices, and public health risks. In this Ask the Expert video, Dr. Rosalie Liccardo Pacula, Professor and Elizabeth Garrett Chair in Health Policy, Economics & Law in the Sol Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California, examines the evolving policy landscape of cannabi

May 12

Screening for Cannabis Use Disorder and Effective Tools to Educate Youth on the Risks with Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher

As cannabis products have evolved, so too have the risks—especially for young people. Today’s cannabis products contain far higher levels of THC than in previous decades, with some products reaching up to 80-90% THC. This shift is raising concerns due to its association with increased risk of addiction, mental health challenges, and psychosis. In this Ask the Expert explainer, Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the Stanford REACH Lab at Stanfo

Apr 27

Understanding Cannabis Use Disorder

Understanding Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) | Health Risks Explained

Apr 18

How Is Cannabis Use Disorder Diagnosed and Treated? with Dr. Redonna Chandler

A growing body of research shows the effectiveness of several treatment options for cannabis use disorder (CUD). In this Ask the Expert interview, Dr. Redonna Chandler discusses the evidence surrounding the diagnosis and treatment of CUD. Dr. Chandler previously served as Director of the HIV Research Program and the HEALing Communities Study at the National Institute on Drug Abuse and now serves as a scientific advisor at the Addiction Policy Forum. Dr. Chandler discusses psy

Apr 9

What is Cannabis Use Disorder and Who is at Risk? with Dr. Meg Haney from Columbia University

In this Ask the Expert video, Dr. Margaret Haney, Professor of Neurobiology and Director of the Cannabis Research Laboratory at Columbia University Medical Center, discusses cannabis use disorder (CUD) and key risk factors. Although cannabis is often perceived as low-risk, an estimated 5.8% of the population meets criteria for CUD, with severity ranging from mild to moderate and severe.1 Research shows that individuals with more severe CUD experience diminished productivity,

Apr 8

Ask the Expert: What is the HEALing Communities Study?

In this Ask the Expert interview, Dr. Redonna Chandler provides an overview of the HEALing Communities Study (HCS)–the largest addiction prevention and treatment implementation study ever conducted that tested a set of evidence-based interventions and approaches for reducing overdose deaths in communities highly impacted by the opioid crisis. Launched in 2019 through the NIH HEAL Initiative®, the study took place in 67 communities across Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, and

Jun 5, 2025

Ask the Expert: What are Recovery Management Checkups?

Recovery Management Checkups (RMC) are a structured, proactive intervention designed to support and monitor the progress of individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) throughout their recovery journey. The RMC model offers an innovative approach to ensuring individuals receive ongoing care through regular checkups to help identify signs or risk of relapse early, barriers to continued treatment, and opportunities to re-engage individuals who may have disengaged from care.

Dec 2, 2024

Fentanyl Education Resources Available in 13 Languages

In a large-scale effort to make fentanyl and counterfeit pill education resources available to communities, The Addiction Policy Forum...

Sep 19, 2024

Facts About Fentanyl: Understanding the Risks

As fentanyl continues to impact communities at an unprecedented rate, understanding its potency and dangers is critical to reducing harm....

Aug 27, 2024

Exercise Benefits for Recovery from Addiction

Exercise is a safe and effective tool in addressing substance use disorders and depression.

Research You Can Use: Rapid Treatment of HCV for People Who Inject Drugs to Increase Cure Rates

Click here for CME/CE information and disclosures Rapid Treatment of HCV for People Who Inject Drugs to Increase Cure Rates Supported by...

A Strategy Toward Hepatitis C Elimination

Supporting Opioid Substitution Treatment and Hepatitis C Treatment in People Who Inject Drugs: A Strategy Toward Hepatitis C Elimination...