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

What Cannabis Legalization May Mean for Young Teens’ Views About Cannabis

As cannabis laws continue to change across the United States, researchers are working to understand how these changes may shape young people’s beliefs about cannabis. This study, published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, looked at whether early adolescents—about 12 years old on average—had different expectations about cannabis depending on whether they lived in a state with no cannabis legalization, medical cannabis legalization, or recreational cannabis legalization. The res

Aug 6

U.S. Overdose Deaths Are Declining, Just Not for Everyone

This article explains that drug overdose deaths in the United States began to fall steadily around August 2023 after many years of increases, especially during the fentanyl era. This is encouraging news, but the decline has not happened evenly across the country, across all drug types, or across all groups of people. In the study, published in JAMA Network Open, researchers examined 800,645 drug overdose deaths between January 2015 and October 2024 using data from the Nationa

Aug 4

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

Evidence-Based Policies and Practices Across the Criminal Justice System with Dr. Faye Taxman

Improving mental health outcomes for people involved in the criminal justice system requires more than access to treatment, it depends on implementing evidence-based practices that connect individuals with the right services at the right time. From diversion and mental health courts to supportive housing, integrated behavioral healthcare, and coordinated reentry services, research continues to identify strategies that can improve recovery while reducing unnecessary involvemen

Aug 5

Promoting Wellness for Prosecutors and Criminal Justice Professionals with Mary Ashley

The demands of working in the criminal justice system can take a significant toll on the mental health and well-being of the professionals who serve within it. Prosecutors and other criminal justice professionals are regularly exposed to traumatic events, high-stakes decision-making, and emotionally challenging cases, increasing their risk for secondary trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout. As awareness of these challenges grows, there is increasing recognition that suppor

Aug 5

Neuromodulation and the Future of Addiction Treatment with Dr. James Mahoney

Despite significant advances in the treatment of substance use disorders, effective treatment options remain limited for certain substances, including methamphetamine and cocaine. As researchers continue to explore new approaches, neuromodulation has emerged as a promising strategy that may complement existing behavioral and medication-based treatments by targeting the brain circuits involved in addiction. In this Ask the Expert video, Dr. James Mahoney, Associate Professor,

Jul 20

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

Jun 30

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

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...