Cocaine was in 58% of all roadside blood and urine tests containing controlled substances in 2025, a 35% jump from 6 years ago, Ireland’s Medical Bureau of Road Safety revealed. The average concentration was 115.6ng/ml, over 11 times higher than…
News Archives
Nicotine: mental health problems
Citing 3 research studies, Sweden’s University of Gothenburg shared that Nicotine use is linked to mental health problems in adolescents, especially girls. Nicotine altered communication between neurons and produced long-lasting changes in brain activity that persisted even after the nicotine had…
ONDCP’s 1st wastewater drug test report
The Office of National Drug Control Policy released its 1st-ever report on wastewater-based drug testing, to provide near real-time data to respond to the drug crisis. Wastewater data showed national and regional declines in fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine – but…
FDA schedules psychedelics hearing
The marijuana rescheduling hearing has just ended and now the FDA Schedules Psychedelics Hearing, amid a push for medical approval after President Donald Trump’s executive order fast-tracking access to psychedelics for mental health conditions and substance use disorder. The FDA published final clinical…
Drug policy debate: common ground
Few public policy debates are as polarized as drug policy, often framed around 2 competing visions: prohibition and decriminalization. They often overlook the same prerequisite for success – a system capable of meeting the growing demand for addiction treatment and…
Why no alcohol in space?
There are 4 reasons alcohol is banned for astronauts while in space. It can affect their ability to do their jobs. It can damage water recovery systems and other equipment. The public might disapprove. It could get messy (and gross):…
Memorial: marijuana kills
“Marijuana has never killed anyone.” If you’ve ever said those words, take a moment to listen to the families who have buried loved ones after cannabis-induced psychosis, suicide, crashes, CHS complications, and other marijuana-related harms. To honor these lives and…
The cannabis-violence link
When someone is violent during a psychotic break, the toxicology screen rarely tests for THC. Creighton University et al reviewed the epidemiological literature alongside 29 real-world violence cases. Their conclusion: “The convergence of evidence from epidemiological, neurobiological, and clinical studies…
Bystanders could prevent overdoses
Of almost 192,000 accidental or undetermined-intent drug overdose deaths in the US 2022-2024, 76% occurred when the decedent was alone, highlighting the need for targeted messaging and wider distribution of opioid antagonist medications, the CDC shared. “Drug overdose response efforts…
