Substance Misuse

January 6, 2023 | Controlled Substances, Fact Sheets, Fentanyl, Kratom, Marijuana, Methamphetamine, Novel Psychoactive Substances, Opioids, Prescription Drugs, Stimulants, Substance Misuse, Synthetic Drugs

Millions of people throughout the world use social media platforms (or “apps”) that provide an easy avenue to reach a large number of people. Legitimate businesses are not the only ones to use social media apps as a marketing tool. In recent years, drug dealers have turned to such apps to solicit buyers and arrange sales. This fact sheet examines the growing use of social media, by drug suppliers, to surreptitiously advertise to a wide audience, by using apps that offer encrypted or disappearing messages....

December 30, 2022 | Criminal Justice, Harm Reduction, Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), Opioids, Recovery, Reports & Studies, Substance Misuse, Treatments

This document provides jail and prison administrators, program managers, medical staff in correctional settings, and reentry staff with a performance management framework to monitor medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in correctional settings....

December 16, 2022 | Controlled Substances, Harm Reduction, Innovative Initiatives, Opioids, Prescription Drugs, Public Health, Recovery, Substance Misuse, Treatments

In October 2022, Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services (DHS), in conjunction with the state’s department of justice (DOJ) and the Office of Governor Tony Ever announced the launch of the Real Talks campaign to help address the rise in substance use in the state. In recent years, much like the rest of the country, Wisconsin has seen a sizable increase in opioid-related deaths. In fact, between 2018 and 2020, the number of opioid-related deaths increased by 46.7 percent. In addition, alcohol misuse continues to be a problem. Data from DHS indicates that adults in the state rank third in the United States for alcohol use. Real Talks Wisconsin is part of a series of DHS programs aimed at preventing and reducing substance use or abuse within the state. Real Talks discusses community prevention programs and encourages harm reduction programs, such as free access to emergency opioid antagonists....

December 7, 2022 | Controlled Substances, Criminal Justice, Fact Sheets, Opioids, Substance Misuse, Treatments

Withdrawal syndrome occurs in individuals who have developed physiological dependence on a substance and who discontinue or reduce their use of that substance. Individuals who use drugs or alcohol prior to incarceration may experience the onset of withdrawal syndrome while in a correctional setting, leading to illness or death. This fact sheet provides an overview on the management of withdrawal symptoms of individuals in the corrections system....

November 1, 2022 | Controlled Substances, Fact Sheets, Fetal and Infant Health, Maternal Health, Opioids, Substance Misuse, Treatments

There are a number of expert recommendations regarding how to identify, work with, and treat pregnant and postpartum women with SUD to ensure the best outcomes for both parent and child. There are also legal requirements regarding notification to state child welfare agencies of infants born affected by prenatal substance exposure or experiencing withdrawal and the creation of family care plans (also known as plans of safe care). This fact sheet provides readers with an overview of those recommendations and requirements....

September 1, 2022 | Fact Sheets, Novel Psychoactive Substances, Opioids, Public Safety, Stimulants, 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 sheet,  examines pyro, a relatively new high potency synthetic opioid increasing in prevalence in the U.S. Pyro belongs to an opioid subclass of NPS called 2-benezylbenzimidazoles, or nitazenes, and is structurally similar to etonitazene, a synthetic opioid that is nationally and internationally controlled. N-pyrrolidino etonitazene is not described or mentioned in any medical literature or patents, meaning that it is a truly “novel” NPS and likely developed independently from the pharmaceutical industry. Researchers believe that N-pyrrolidino etonitazene is coming to the U.S. via purchases on the dark web and is likely being produced in China. N-pyrrolidino etonitazene can be found in powder form or pressed into pills to resemble other substances. Studies estimate that N-pyrrolidino etonitazene is over 800 times more potent than morphine and 20-40 times more potent than fentanyl. Like other opioids, N-pyrrolidino etonitazene use can potentially cause fatal respiratory depression in the person ingesting the drug. However, because...

July 14, 2022 | Alcohol, Controlled Substances, Fact Sheets, Harm Reduction, Opioids, Prescription Drugs, Public Health, Recovery, Substance Misuse, Treatments

Recovery residences provide a sober, safe, and healthy living environment that promotes recovery from alcohol and other drug use and associated problems. These residences are commonly referred to by a number of names, including sober living houses, sober living environments, and recovery homes, and their primary purpose is to provide a home-like environment for individuals in recovery from substance use disorder to help sustain that recovery....

June 22, 2022 | Controlled Substances, Opioids, Prescription Drugs, Public Health, Recovery, Reports & Studies, Substance Misuse, Treatments

The COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented public health emergency throughout the world, prompting providers to turn to telehealth to provide necessary health care to patients at a distance. This paper analyzes the current state of telehealth services at the federal and state levels, as well as the benefits and limitations of telehealth technology use. It also offers public policy recommendations to improve telehealth services in the United States....