Addiction Treatment

Cannabis is being increasingly found laced with fentanyl.

The gold standard in opioid addiction treatment, buprenorphine, is drastically underprescribed despite still-climbing opioid overdose deaths, according to a new study. Black patients receive it less often than others.

Former Modesto, Calif., pulmonologist Sawtantra Chopra, MD, pleaded guilty to three counts of illegally prescribing opioids and other medications, the Justice Department said May 11.

Ryan Wade, MD, medical director of the Freedom Institute, an addiction treatment center in New York City, joined Becker's to discuss his new leadership role and the transition from virtual to in-person care. 

Several states are debating instating overdose prevention centers where those with substance abuse issues can go to use drugs in a controlled environment to prevent overdose, The Washington Post reported May 8. 

Kroger settled an opioid lawsuit with West Virginia for $68 million, bringing the state's total opioid litigation dollars to more than $1 billion, state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said in a May 4 press conference.

Here are 15 addiction treatment updates Becker's has reported on since April 5:

Approximately 46.3 million people ages 12 or older, or 16.5 percent of the population, had a substance use disorder in 2021, according to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 

There were more than 103,500 drug overdose deaths in the U.S. from 2021 to 2022, according to the CDC.

California has granted $17 million to 44 community and tribal organizations aimed at preventing youth substance abuse.