News Articles

People with substance use disorders may be at higher risk for SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections: Co-occurring health disorders appear to contribute to increased risk, NIH study suggests. An analysis of electronic health records of nearly 580,000 fully vaccinated people in the United States found that the risk of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection among vaccinated patients with substance use disorders was low overall, but higher than the risk among vaccinated people without substance use disorders. People with substance use disorders—such as alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, opioid, and tobacco use disorders— also had elevated rates of severe outcomes, including hospitalization and death, following breakthrough infections.

Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander youth in the U.S. report the highest prevalence of current e-cigarette use compared to other racial and ethnic groups, according to new Truth Initiative® research published in Preventive Medicine Reports. Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) populations are underrepresented in tobacco research and have historically been combined into one group. However, combining AANHPI into one group may mask critical tobacco-related disparities between diverse and distinct subgroups. Understanding tobacco use prevalence within specific groups is an important first step in addressing tobacco-related disparities.

Reported drug use among adolescents continued to hold below pre-pandemic levels in 2023: The percentage of adolescents reporting they used any illicit substances in 2023 continued to hold steady below the pre-pandemic levels reported in 2020, with 10.9% of eighth graders, 19.8% of 10th graders, and 31.2% of 12th graders reporting any illicit drug use in the past year, according to the latest results from the Monitoring the Future survey. Reported use for almost all substances decreased dramatically between 2020 and 2021, after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and related changes like school closures and social distancing. In 2022, most reported substance use among adolescents held steady at these lowered levels, and these latest data show that this trend has continued into 2023.

Percentage of adolescents reporting drug use decreased significantly in 2021 as the COVID-19 pandemic endured: The percentage of adolescents reporting substance use decreased significantly in 2021, according to the latest results from the Monitoring the Future survey of substance use behaviors and related attitudes among eighth, 10th, and 12th graders in the United States. In line with continued long-term declines in the use of many illicit substances among adolescents previously reported by the Monitoring the Future survey, these findings represent the largest one-year decrease in overall illicit drug use reported since the survey began in 1975.

Marijuana use at historic high among college-aged adults in 2020: Annual NIH-supported study reports changing substance use trends among college students and college-aged adults. Marijuana use continued to rise among college students over the past five years and remained at historically high levels among same-aged peers who are not in college in 2020.This represents the highest levels of marijuana use recorded since the 1980s. The survey also found that marijuana vaping and nicotine vaping leveled off in 2020 after sharp increases reported every year since 2017 for both college students and same-aged respondents who are not in college.

SAMSHA ADVISORY: LOW BARRIER MODELS OF CARE FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS: Despite robust evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of medications and psychosocial treatment interventions for substance use disorders (SUDs), less than 10 percent of people who need treatment have sustained access to care. In 2021, only 22.1 percent of people with a past year opioid use disorder (OUD) reported receiving medications for the treatment of their opioid misuse, and only 6.3 percent of people with a past year illicit drug or alcohol use disorder reported receiving any substance use treatment. Most people who could benefit from treatment do not receive it due to systemic barriers and access issues which are even greater for historically underserved communities. Low barrier care is a model for treatment that seeks to minimize the demands placed on clients and makes services readily available and easily accessible. It also promotes a non-judgmental, welcoming, and accepting environment.