Researchers have reported they’ve created a vaccine to help fight the opioid epidemic that claims tens of thousands of lives every year. While the medication is being hailed as a breakthrough (and it indeed will help save lives), the only way to truly reduce the addiction crisis is to help the millions of Americans addicted to drugs enter qualified, residential drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs.

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One could say that the most important mandate for the human species is to protect the future of the species. So when new research shows an alarming increase in fatal drug overdoses for pregnant and postpartum women, it serves as a warning sign that fast action is needed to improve societal conditions.

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A recent study published in the journal Heart provided a worldwide examination of meth abuse, addiction trends, and the cardiovascular implications of meth addiction. The researchers found that no matter which country they examined, meth abuse was on the rise. Further, everywhere the researchers found meth addiction, addicts in that country suffered cardiovascular complications.

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Scientific researchers are finding a grim answer to why growing numbers of young Americans are dying from the effects of heart failure, endocarditis, strokes, and leaking heart valves. Researchers have determined that opioid abuse among young people is the common denominator for several rising heart-related diseases and fatalities among Americans ages 15 to 44.

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A 30-year law enforcement veteran from Newtown, Ohio, Police Chief Tom Synan has stepped up and launched the Hamilton County Addiction Response Coalition, a partnership between law enforcement and behavioral health programs. The coalition’s goal is to shift the addiction response off of law enforcement departments and instead utilize law enforcement officers’ first interaction with drug users to connect those individuals with treatment services via community engagement. Law enforcement officers contribute by connecting addicts with community agencies that can place the addicts in treatment facilities.

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“Two Dutch nationals, an Englishman, and nine companies have been targeted for sanctions by the U.S. government for allegedly operating an illegal fentanyl ring that generated millions of dollars in virtual currency.” That is the opening line from an A.P. News report outlining the growing risk of shady business dealings involving transnational corporations, cryptocurrency, and discreet shipments of drugs. Given the increasing danger presented by online drug sales and discreet by-mail drug trafficking, families must do everything they can to get help for their addicted loved ones.

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A unique drug, alcohol is known to be an unhealthy substance that carries both short-term and long-term harm, yet the substance is socially accepted and normalized within American society. New research shows how alcohol-related deaths spiked 26% during the pandemic. In the same year, overall alcohol consumption increased dramatically.

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While it is no mystery that drinking alcohol during one’s young adult and college years carries harm, it isn’t always understood the extent of that harm, the frequency of it, and the long-term unwanted effects that result from it. A recent study that followed 1,700 students through four years of college showed with distinct clarity just how harmful college drinking is.

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An alarming new study shows that not only do more Americans lose their lives from alcohol-related causes each year than drug-related causes, but an increasing number of those who die are young-to-middle-aged adults. These findings suggest that the American people need to start viewing alcohol as the harmful drug that it is. To do otherwise will simply lead to more harm and loss of life.

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Over the past few years, dozens of lawsuits have culminated in major pharmaceutical companies being held at least somewhat accountable for creating America’s crippling opioid addiction epidemic. Most recently, New York State settled a $524 million lawsuit with Teva Pharmaceuticals. While the lawsuit is a monumental step in the right direction, it’s even more important that those who suffer from opioid addiction receive proper treatment.

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