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May 18, 2026 | Fact Sheets, Inhalants, Substance Misuse

Inhalants are substances that produce intoxicating chemical vapors that people inhale. These substances are often found in products that are legal to purchase and use and include common household items like glue, cleaning fluid, spray paint, magic markers, and cooking spray. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there are four categories of inhalants: (1) volatile solvents; (2) aerosols; (3) gases; and (4) nitrites. Inhalants produce vapors that can be inhaled, either directly from open containers or by soaking rags in the substance and then “huffing” the rags. Additionally, users spray aerosols directly into their noses or mouths or onto the user’s shirt collar, sleeve, or cuffs to sniff over a period of time. Depending on the substance, inhalants can produce effects similar to alcohol, sedatives, or the early stages of anesthesia....

May 14, 2026 | Model Laws, Recovery, Substance Misuse, Substance Use Disorder, Treatments

The Model Involuntary Commitment for Substance Use Disorder Act establishes protocols and procedures for the involuntary commitment of individuals with substance use disorder that is separate and distinct from the procedure for the involuntary commitment of individuals with mental health issues. This model act also: (1) ensures that the due process rights of individuals with substance use disorder who are subject to involuntary commitment proceedings are respected and protected and that all individuals are treated with dignity, respect, and empathy throughout the process; (2) enumerates the rights of individuals involuntarily committed for substance use disorder treatment; (3) establishes discharge planning requirements to prevent harm upon discharge from involuntary commitment and reduce the risk of overdose upon reentry into the community; (4) establishes an involuntary commitment review board to review the admission and retention of individuals ordered to undergo involuntary commitment for the treatment of substance use disorder in a clinical setting; (5) establishes training and education materials on the process of involuntary commitment for courts, the medical community, and the general public; and (6) establishes a reporting requirement for treatment facilities to ensure the collection and analysis of data related to involuntary commitment and its outcomes....

May 14, 2026 | Controlled Substances, Model Laws, Opioids, Public Health, Recovery, Substance Misuse, Treatments

Drafted in partnership with the O'Neill Institute for National & Global Health Law at Georgetown University Law Center, the Center for U.S. Policy, and Brown & Weinraub, PLLC, this model law assists states in their efforts to maximize funds available to address the overdose crisis. The Model Opioid Litigation Proceeds Act guides states through the establishment of a dedicated fund, separate from the state’s general treasury fund, that is designated for substance use disorder abatement, including prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction infrastructure, programs, services, supports, and resources. All proceeds received by the state arising out of legal claims made against manufacturers and distributors of prescription opioid analgesics, pharmacies that dispensed prescription opioid analgesics, and related parties shall be deposited into the dedicated fund....

May 13, 2026 | News Bites

Each issue of News Bites highlights unique news articles from around the United States in the areas of public health and safety, substance use disorder, and the criminal justice system. Every other month, LAPPA updates readers on news they may have missed....

April 17, 2026 | Fact Sheets, Novel Psychoactive Substances, Opioids, Substance Misuse, Synthetic Drugs

The Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association is monitoring the emergence of novel psychoactive substances appearing on the illicit drug market in the United States. The term “novel” does not denote a new, never-before-seen substance but rather a substance that is newly available in the drug market. This fact examines orphines, a class of potent synthetic opioids. Orphines are a class of synthetic opioids first developed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals in the 1960s, discovered to have anesthetic properties. Drug policy experts believe that orphines are originating from clandestine laboratories in China and that their sudden rise in the illicit drug market is an attempt by clandestine chemists and international drug trafficking organizations to avoid international legal and regulatory barriers. The high potency of orphines demonstrates the need for enhanced surveillance, increased testing capabilities, and timely public health alerts. ...

April 10, 2026 | Case Law Monitor

Each issue of Case Law Monitor highlights unique cases from around the United States in the areas of public health and safety, substance use disorder, and the criminal justice system. Every other month, LAPPA updates readers on cases that are important to the field....

April 9, 2026 | Inhalants, Legal & Legislative Research, Substance Misuse

Inhalants are substances that produce intoxicating chemical vapors that people inhale. These substances are often found in products that are legal to purchase and use and include common household items like glue, cleaning fluid, spray paint, magic markers, and cooking spray. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there are four categories of inhalants: (1) volatile solvents; (2) aerosols; (3) gases; and (4) nitrites. Inhalants produce vapors that can be inhaled, either directly from open containers or by soaking rags in the substance and then “huffing” the rags. Users can also spray aerosols directly into their noses or mouths or onto pieces of clothing and into a paper or plastic bag, balloons, or other devices known as “snappers” and “poppers” and inhale the fumes. Depending on the substance, inhalants can “produce effects similar to alcohol, sedatives, or the early stages of anesthesia.” Substances can also cause a short feeling of being high or a feeling of light-headedness, distorted vision, or disorganized thinking. As of April 2026, forty-seven states, the District of Columbia, and Guam criminalize the possession and/or use of inhalants with penalties ranging from low-level misdemeanors to low-level felonies, usually for repeat violations....

March 12, 2026 | Fact Sheets, Psychedelics, Substance Misuse

Amanita muscaria is a psychoactive mushroom with a bright red cap covered in white spots or warts that is native to the temperate and boreal forests of the northern hemisphere. A. muscaria mushrooms are also called “fly agaric” mushrooms due to their traditional use as an insecticide. Though A. muscaria is a psychoactive mushroom, it is not a classic psychedelic like the mushrooms of the Psilocybe genus, which are commonly referred to as “magic mushrooms.” The renewed interest in psilocybin-containing mushrooms in the 21st century due to their potential use in treating various mental and physical health conditions has sparked consumers’ interest in other types of mushrooms, including A. muscaria, that are more legally accessible. As A. muscaria use increases, there have been public health concerns regarding unregulated sales of A. muscaria products and the lack of consumer knowledge about how A. muscaria differs from psilocybin containing mushrooms. This fact sheet addresses those issues....

March 11, 2026 | News Bites

Each issue of News Bites highlights unique news articles from around the United States in the areas of public health and safety, substance use disorder, and the criminal justice system. Every other month, LAPPA updates readers on news they may have missed....

February 27, 2026 | Controlled Substances, Harm Reduction, Model Laws, Recovery, Substance Misuse, Substance Use Disorder

The Model Addressing Drug Diversion in Healthcare Settings Act (1) requires healthcare entities to establish policies and procedures for the prevention and detection of drug diversion by healthcare professionals and to ensure that treatment and recovery support services are offered to eligible healthcare professionals; (2) requires certain individuals and entities to report healthcare professionals suspected of misusing drugs and/or alcohol, diverting drugs for personal use, having an untreated substance use disorder, or practicing while impaired and to establish penalties for failure to make such reports; (3) requires boards, as defined in this Act, to establish or participate in an alternative to discipline program for eligible healthcare professionals; (4) establishes legal protections for individuals who make reports as required by this Act; (5) provides immunity from civil and criminal liability for specified individuals and entities for actions taken pursuant to this Act; (6) establishes penalties for healthcare entities that fail to take corrective action after discovering diversion by a healthcare professional; (7) establishes program reporting and audit requirements; (8) establishes technology grants for healthcare entities to be used for the prevention and detection of drug diversion; and (9) establishes funding provisions for alternative to discipline programs....