Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention / Public News Service

<a href= — Ohio teens are 4% less likely to have used drugs in the past month than the average teen in the United States. (Prevention Action Alliance)

Ohio Youth Council: Drug, Alcohol Use is Not the Norm

Hundreds of Ohio teens join together today to bust myths about teenage substance use. The "We Are The Majority" rally promotes the fact that most …

Unhoused residents who apply to live at Albuquerque's Hope Village must meet the federal definition of homelessness, have a documented mental, emotional or behavioral disorder and income at or below 30% of the Area Median Income. (courtesy Hope Village)

Albuquerque Opens Center of "Hope" for Homeless Population

In the midst of the pandemic, hope was in the air as construction proceeded on a one-of-a-kind housing project to serve a portion of Albuquerque's …

At least 269 people experiencing homelessness passed away in Denver in 2021, an increase from the previous year. (Adobe Stock)

New Health Center Serves Homeless-Shelter Residents Onsite

People experiencing homelessness in Denver can now access medical and behavioral care at a new health center set up inside a shelter operated by Denve…

The pandemic led more people to be isolated from friends and family, increasing the risk that they started coping by drinking too much. (daniilvolkov/Adobe Stock)

Alcohol Awareness Month: Pandemic Worsens Dangerous Drinking

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, highlighting serious consequences of drinking too much. Excessive alcohol use contributes to more than 95,000 …

Two out of three drug-overdose deaths in New Mexico in 2019 involved an opioid, including prescription opioids, heroin, or fentanyl, according to the New Mexico Department of Health. (brown.edu)

NM Joins Other States in Decriminalizing Fentanyl Testing Strips

For the past two decades, New Mexico has had one of the highest rates of overdose deaths in the nation, increasingly linked to fentanyl. But until …

More than 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

KY Experts: Increasing Fentanyl Penalties Doesn’t Address Overdose Crisis

Kentucky lawmakers are considering a bill that would increase criminal penalties for fentanyl distribution. But critics say the legislation will …

Roughly one in five minors reports drinking alcohol, although research shows underage consumption can disrupt normal growth and development. (Adobe Stock)

Underage Drinking Prevention Gets Boost from Congress

Programs designed to help curb a prevalent problem among Ohio teens are poised to get a financial boost. The $1.5 trillion spending bill passed by …

The opioid epidemic has shifted from prescription medications to heroin and now, synthetic opioids, which health experts say are much more potent. (Adobe Stock)

Harm Reduction Shines as Pathway Out of Opioid Epidemic

As the nation shifts toward ending the pandemic phase of COVID-19, another health crisis appears to be worsening. A new bipartisan Congressional …

North Carolina stands to receive about $750 million through opioid settlements, if all the state's counties and municipalities with populations of more than 10,000 agree to participate. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — North Carolina stands to receive about $750 million through opioid settlements, if all the state's counties and municipalities with populations of more than 10,000 agree to participate. (Adobe Stock)

NC Counties Plan for Best Use of Opioid Money

McDowell County is slated to receive roughly $200,000 a year over the next 18 years from a massive national opioid settlement. Community leaders say …

A spokesperson for the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services says COVID outbreaks among staffers and patients have led to temporary halts to addiction-treatment admissions during the pandemic. (Google Maps)

Union: CT Must Address Staffing at Addiction Treatment Centers

A Connecticut health-care workers' union is raising concerns over what it calls a "staffing crisis" in addiction services that led the state to close …

Drug overdose deaths topped more than 100,000 in 2021, according to the CDC. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — Drug overdose deaths topped more than 100,000 in 2021, according to the CDC. (Adobe Stock)

2021 Saw Record Number of NC Overdose Deaths

Advocates and faith groups are calling for more investments in harm reduction across the state, as new provisional data shows overdose deaths have …

In 2021, the Pueblo Community Health Center delivered one out of every three babies born in Pueblo County. (Adobe Stock)

New "Green" Health Center Expands Access in East Pueblo

When the Pueblo Community Health Center opened its 14,000 square-foot facility in 2003, Pueblo's east side, home to mostly minority residents…

Across the United States, 38 states operate some kind of needle=exchange program. (Wikimedia Commons)

ME Recovery Advocates: Access to Fresh Syringes Saves Lives

Death rates in Maine have been on the rise among people who use drugs, not only from overdoses but also complications due to injection drug use…

Children who have access to good early childhood education are far less likely to go to prison, while children of those incarcerated are far more likely to end up in the criminal-justice system. (Adobe Stock)

$240 Million Prison Project Draws Criticism

Critics of Gov. Pete Ricketts' call for the Nebraska Legislature to fund a new prison argue the money would be better invested in programs with …

Narcan, or Naloxone, can help treat an opioid overdose in an emergency situation. (Flickr)

ME Advocates Urge Expansion of Good Samaritan Law

A bill before the Maine Legislature would expand the state's Good Samaritan law, which protects people seeking help for an overdose from arrest or …

A letter sent to Congress by 240 groups in part calls for $69.5 million for increased access to overdose prevention, harm reduction, and syringe service programs through the CDC's Infectious Diseases and the Opioid Epidemic program. (Flickr)

As Overdoses Climb, NY Groups Seek Solutions

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced another staggering new death count amid the pandemic: more than 100,000 fatal drug overdo…

State health officials say Minnesota has some of the worst disparities in the United States when it comes to fatal drug overdoses. (Adobe Stock)

Amid Opioid Overdose Concerns, CPR Training Effort Emerges in MN

Minnesota is still grappling with the impacts of opioid use, and now, an emerging effort aims to provide CPR training in marginalized communities to …

Naloxone, also known by its brand name Narcan, is a drug that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. (Adobe Stock)

Overdose Prevention Kits Coming to Indiana Jails, Hospitals

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - It isn't often that a vending machine can save someone's life, but that's the case in South Bend, where a free overdose kit …

Groups like the American Heart Association report thar nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure, which is a leading cause of heart disease. (Adobe Stock)

New Research Links Pandemic with Higher Blood Pressure

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- High blood pressure among Americans was already a concern before the pandemic. Researchers now say the crisis has created greater …

Research suggests that the earlier in life teens use alcohol, the more likely they are to abuse it. (Adobe Stock)

Talking with Teens about Good Choices During the Holidays

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The holiday season has officially started, and one group is encouraging Ohio parents to make a special effort to check in with their …

The CDC found drug overdose deaths increased by more than 28% over the past year ending in April compared with 2019. (felipecaparros/Adobe Stock)

CT Treatment Pilot Trains Providers on Addiction Stigma, Pain Management

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Drug overdose deaths across the country are on the rise, and a new pilot program kicks off this month in Connecticut to help …

An estimated 22 million people in the United States are recovering from addiction. (junce11/Adobe Stock)

Workforce Shortage Still Limits Some Substance-Use Treatment Providers

PORTLAND, Maine -- Maine's providers of substance-abuse treatment and some other behavioral-health services are seeing a major increase in …

Connecticut's Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services says the state is closing Hartford's 10-bed mental-health treatment center because the building's lease was not renewed. (Adobe Stock)

CT Closing Mental Health, Addiction Facility for Young Adults

HARTFORD, Conn. - Connecticut plans to close a transitional living facility in Hartford next month for people ages 18 to 25, which means fewer …

California has collected more than 600 tons of unwanted prescription drugs since the Take-Back Day program began in 2010. (Dodgerton Skillhause/Morguefile)

200 CA Sites Open Saturday for Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Saturday is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, when the Drug Enforcement Administration encourages everyone to clean out …

September is National Recovery Month, established more than 30 years ago. (xpix/Adobe Stock)

NH Groups to Rally to Raise Awareness About Paths to Recovery

MANCHESTER, N.H. - September is National Recovery Month, and New Hampshire groups are working to raise awareness about the many paths to recovery …

Approximately 3% of the 1,500 students in Montgomery County who were screened for behavioral health indicators were found to be at risk of substance use. (Adobe Stock)

OH County Working to Treat Stressors that Lead to Youth Marijuana Use

DAYTON, Ohio -- An Ohio county is taking a trauma-informed approach to its work on preventing marijuana use in teens. As marijuana policy changes …

According to the Connecticut Department of Public Health, fentanyl was involved in 85% of drug overdoses in the state in 2020. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — According to the Connecticut Department of Public Health, fentanyl was involved in 85% of drug overdoses in the state in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

CT Addiction-Prevention Groups Seek Aid to Lower Fatal Overdoses

NEW LONDON, Conn. -- Addiction-prevention specialists in Connecticut are pushing for investments in substance-use disorder programs to combat the …

CDC data shows drug-overdose deaths reached a record high of 93,331 people in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Tennesseans Remember Those Lost to Opioid Overdose

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennesseans paused to remember International Overdose Awareness Day today, as the state reported increased numbers of overdose …

Allowing teens to voice their opinions and have make decisions builds trust, experts say.. (AdobeStock)

Talking, Trusting Key to Easing Back-to-School Stress

COLUMBUS, Ohio - With new teachers, classmates and expectations, back to school is full of uncertainties and anxieties. Stressful transitions …

Between 2014 and 2019, fentanyl overdose deaths in Maryland ballooned from 340 to more than 1,900, according to the Maryland Department of Health. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — Between 2014 and 2019, fentanyl overdose deaths in Maryland ballooned from 340 to more than 1,900, according to the Maryland Department of Health. (Adobe Stock)

As MD Opioid Deaths Explode in Pandemic, Town Halls Aim to Halt Crisis

BALTIMORE - The Maryland Stop Opioid Overdose Strategy, or Maryland S-O-S program, launches town hall meetings this week to address ways to combat …

August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day. (Adobe Stock)

NC Faith Groups Say Opioid Settlement Money Should Go Toward Community Resources

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Faith leaders and support groups across the state are calling on lawmakers to commit to spending the approximately $750 million …

Supporters say legalizing marijuana for recreational use would be an economic boon for Ohio, but opponents have concerns about health and safety. (Adobe Stock)

Recreational Marijuana on the Table Again in Ohio

By Troy Pierson / Broadcast version by Mary Schuermann reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. As marijuana becomes more …

An exhibit looking at the opioid crisis in Indiana features personal stories and art installations from people in the recovery community as well as medical professionals. (The Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites)

Exhibit Aimed at Reducing Opioid-Use Disorder Stigma Heads to Muncie

INDIANAPOLIS -- An exhibit at the Indiana State Museum, "FIX: Heartbreak and Hope Inside Our Opioid Crisis," is leaving Indianapolis Sunday and …

Nationwide, drug-overdose deaths increased by 30% between 2019 and 2020. (Andrey/Adobe Stock)

Medical Expert: Fake Prescription Pills May Contain Fentanyl

CHICAGO - Overdose deaths in Illinois rose by more than a quarter from 2019 to 2020, and medical experts are warning that pills not prescribed by a …

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, about one-in-six teens who start using marijuana become addicted to the drug. (fontonize/AdobeStock)

Marijuana, Mood Disorder and Self-Harm: A Troubling Connection

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Substance misuse prevention experts in Ohio are raising the alarm about the dangers associated with marijuana use among teens with …

Narcan, which is available at pharmacy chains in New Hampshire without a prescription, can be used to treat opioid overdoses in emergency situations. (Flickr)

Emergency Responders Urge Continued Focus on Opioid Crisis in NH

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Some New Hampshire cities saw more drug overdoses in May than they have since before the pandemic, and advocates are urging …

Parents' poor mental health due to pandemic-related disruptions can be a contributing factor in negative mental-health outcomes for children. (Pixabay)

Helping Children Navigate Through Trauma

DENVER, Colo. -- School closures, social isolation, gaps in health-care access and other pandemic-related disruptions have taken a toll on children's …

Studies show that needle exchanges save the lives of thousands of drug users each year, and slows the spread of HIV, hepatitis and other infectious diseases. (Wikimedia Commons)

AZ Lawmakers Legalize Needle-Exchange Programs to Fight HIV, Opioids

PHOENIX -- Health-care advocates say Arizona's new needle exchange law could not only save millions of dollars in health care but also slow the spread…

Day One is the only Maine agency that provides an adolescent residential substance-use treatment program. (motortion/Adobe Stock)

Groups Decry Lack of Substance-Use Treatment for Young Mainers

AUGUSTA, Maine - As Maine's legislative session nears an end, groups are urging lawmakers to prioritize making mental health and substance-use …

A New London peer-navigator program could aid first responders in mental-health emergencies. Only 30% of New London police officers have crisis-intervention training, according to the city's Human Services Department. (Mario Beauregard/Adobe Stock)

One CT City Makes Emergency Mental-Health Calls a Priority

NEW LONDON, Conn. - A first-in-the-state pilot program could soon offer a different approach to how agencies in Connecticut respond to emergency …

An outbreak of vaping-related lung injury is under investigation by the CDC. (AdobeStock)

Ohio Group Aims to Stem Surge of Marijuana Vaping Among Teens

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Groups working to prevent substance misuse said immediate action is needed to stem the surge of young people vaping marijuana…

In Sept. 2020, opioid deaths in parts of the United States were 25 to 50% higher than in 2019, according to a GAO report about the effects of the pandemic on the need for mental-health and substance-use care. (Adobe Stock)

State Health-care Workers in Middletown Seek End to Staffing Crisis

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. -- A new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) revealed there has been greater demand for behavioral health …

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveys found that 38% of respondents reported symptoms of anxiety or depression from April 2020 through last February, up from 11% in 2019. (Pixabay)

Need for Mental, Substance-Abuse Treatment Increased During COVID

FORT LUPTON, Colo. -- Suicide rates, overdoses and substance abuse all are on the rise since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a …

In a new survey by the Marie Christie Foundation, only half of college faculty members said they'd be able to recognize if a student was in emotional distress. Fewer than one-third said they could recognize signs of alcoholism or drug abuse. (Adobe Stock)

Could Faculty, Peers Help in College Crisis Intervention?

TAMPA, Fla. -- A new survey of a dozen higher-ed schools revealed many faculty members want to be better equipped to help students who are struggling …

The THC content of marijuana has shot up dramatically since the 1960s, from 2% to 10%, according to health-care advocates. (Adobe stock)

Virginia Health Experts: High-Potency Pot Could Harm Youths

RICHMOND, Va. -- As Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam proposes fast tracking marijuana legalization to July 1, health-care advocates are concerned high-…

Opponents of a West Virginia bill that would limit needle-sharing programs say it would increase diseases and taxpayer costs for treatment. (Adobe stock)

Groups Push to Reject WV Bills Seen as Punitive

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Advocates for impoverished people are urging West Virginia lawmakers to oppose two bills being heard in a House committee …

According to the CDC, in 2017, Nevada doctors wrote 55.5 opioid prescriptions for every 100 people, which is higher than the national average of 51.4 prescriptions. (Psiedelisto/Wikimedia Commons)

Nevada Negotiates $45 Million Opioid Settlement

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- The consulting firm McKinsey and Company has agreed to pay the State of Nevada $45 million for the company's role in the opioid …

CareOregon is giving out $455,000 in grants to eight groups to close health disparities in groups impacted by discrimination. (shane/Adobe Stock)

Health Workers with Lived Experience Help Close Gaps in OR

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Health workers with experiences like the people they serve can provide unique care to communities. In Oregon, organizations that …

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