Drug Facts in Media

Public health researchers have found that the prevalence of school discipline and school policing -- core elements of the school-to-prison pipeline -- predict subsequent school-average levels of substance use and developmental risk.

Results of a new study suggest the prefrontal cortex-habenula circuit is potentially amenable for targeted interventions and prevention.

Chemists have developed a fuel cell sensor that they hope to develop into a handheld analyzer to detect THC on a person's breath. When THC is introduced into their laboratory-scale device it oxidizes, creating an electric current whose strength indicates how much of the psychoactive compound is present.

In new study, opioid use seen to reduce or stop altogether, following prescription of medical cannabis.

With the legalization of hemp cultivation, products containing cannabidiol (CBD) have become popular. Many of these oils and creams claim to alleviate pain and other conditions, and now, new research suggests that CBD could have another function: as a bioplastic. The research team created a CBD-based bioplastic material that could one day be used in medical implants, food wrappers and more.

Substance abuse among U.S. adolescents is diminishing, except for an uptake in cannabis and vaping use, according to a new study. The findings show that low social engagement and participation in structured activities seemed to be the overall best predictors of substance abuse avoidance.

A new first-of-its-kind study of twins finds that residents of states where recreational marijuana is legal use it 24% more frequently than those in states where it's illegal. It's among the strongest evidence yet that legalization increases use.

Illicit drug use is associated with a nearly nine-fold greater risk of death or life-threatening emergencies in intensive cardiac care unit (ICCU) patients, according to new research.

People who use therapeutic cannabis are more likely to also use nicotine products than the general population, according to a new study.

Marijuana and hallucinogen use in the past year reported by young adults 19 to 30 years old increased significantly in 2021 compared to five and 10 years ago, reaching historic highs in this age group since 1988, according to a recent study.

Hallucinogen use has increased since 2015, overall and particularly among adults 26 and older, while use decreased in adolescents aged 12-17 years according to a new study. Estimates of over 5.5 million people in the U.S. used hallucinogens in the past year in 2019, which represents an increase from 1.7 percent of the population ages 12 years and over in 2002 to 2.2 percent in 2019.

Methamphetamine remains a stubbornly prevalent illicit substance in large swaths of rural America, according to a new study. The findings show that methamphetamine remains a common drug, and is driving overdoses in rural communities. About four of five people who use drugs in rural areas across 10 states reported using methamphetamines in the past 30 days, according to the study.