Substance Misuse

July 22, 2026 | Drug Paraphernalia, Fact Sheets, Fentanyl, Harm Reduction, Public Health, Public Safety, Substance Misuse

 “Drug checking” is a strategy to prevent overdoses among individuals who use illicitly obtained drugs by informing these individuals of the substances present in a sample and if those substances include an unexpected adulterant, and while drug checking programs are more common in parts of Europe and Canada, the proliferation of adulterants such as fentanyl and xylazine in the American illicit drug supply over the past decade has led to an increased interest in drug checking—and the equipment used to do it—in the United States. Drug checking equipment (DCE) includes both simple drug checking methods and more complex options. Simple DCE, such as fentanyl test strips (FTS) and other rapid drug test strips, liquid reagent tests, and thin layer chromatography kits, provide qualitative information about the presence of a particular drug/substance—or lack thereof—for which the test is designed. In June 2021, LAPPA published a fact sheet on FTS. LAPPA’s 2021 fact sheet addressed how disposable, single-use FTS work as a drug checking tool, studies investigating their efficacy, and the obstacle to large-scale FTS distribution created by state laws criminalizing the use and possession of drug paraphernalia. Now, five years later, some aspects of drug checking and FTS described in the...

July 15, 2026 | Drug Paraphernalia, Fact Sheets, Harm Reduction, Public Health, Public Safety, Sharps/Syringes, Substance Misuse

Syringe services programs (SSPs), initially limited to the exchange of hypodermic needles and syringes and often still called needle or syringe exchange programs, have been present in the United States in some form since the early 1980s. Often illegal due to drug paraphernalia laws – an issue that still exists in 2026 – only seven U.S. cities had programs by the end of 1991. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in November 2007, there were 185 SSPs in 36 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. As of June 2026, that number has increased to 587 operational SSPs in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, although only 37 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico either explicitly or implicitly authorize SSPs through statute or regulation. This fact sheet provides readers with an overview of SSPs, including the components that make up a comprehensive SSP and the obstacles encountered by programs and their participants....

June 8, 2026 | Controlled Substances, Harm Reduction, Law Enforcement, Legal & Legislative Research, Opioids, Public Health, Public Safety, Sharps/Syringes, Substance Misuse

Syringe services programs (SSP) are harm reduction programs that provide a wide range of services including, but not typically limited to, the provision of new, unused hypodermic needles and syringes and other injection drug use supplies, such as cookers, tourniquets, alcohol wipes, and sharps waste disposal containers, to people who inject drugs. In this summary, readers will find information with respect to SSPs for each state, including citations to applicable statutes and/or regulations, whether the state allows SSPs by statute, whether there are any municipal or county ordinances or regulations in place within the state, program components, miscellaneous provisions, and information on any pending legislation....

May 26, 2026 | Fact Sheets, Substance Misuse

Kava is a psychoactive plant found in the South Pacific Islands, including Hawaii, that has been used by indigenous Pacific Islanders for social, ceremonial, and medical purposes for centuries with relatively low reported health risk. For those purposes, kava is typically consumed in a beverage made using the root of the plant. It is also consumed in capsules, flavored and unflavored powdered extracts, and as a liquid extract dissolved in grain alcohol. Kava contains kavalactones, which can act as a mild sedative, and the substance can also induce muscle relaxation, numbness in the mouth and throat, and provide some pain relief. As with other herbal products sold at retail stores across the United States, kava products are unregulated which can lead to a great risk of harm to those who use these products, particularly when combined with alcohol or other substances....

May 19, 2026 | Controlled Substances, Harm Reduction, Peer Support and Recoery Services, Recovery, Substance Misuse, Toolkits, Treatments

In February 2026, the International Healthcare Facility Diversion Association released a toolkit developed by its Substance Use Recovery and Support Steering Committee, designed to provide best practices and ethical considerations for supporting healthcare professionals (HCPs) in recovery. This resource is intended for use by entities supporting HCPs in recovery from substance use with the potential to return to safe practice....

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....

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 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....