Bill Would Help Counter Overdoses by Allowing Libraries To Use NarcanActing to help counter the tragic number of overdose deaths fueled by the opioid epidemic, a Senate committee today approved a bill authored by Senator Joe Cryan that would allow public libraries to keep supplies of life-saving Narcan available.. Click for more Shame Around Mental...

Sober Houses In A Gray Area Between 'Over-Regulating And Under-Regulating'Sober houses are places where addicts can continue their recovery after completing formal medical treatment. Falmouth has one of the highest number of these homes per capita of any town in Massachusetts, in part due to the presence of the addiction treatment center Gosnold. C...

How does resolving cannabis problems differ from resolving problems with alcohol or other drugs? Those resolving cannabis problems do so at younger ages, with less assistance than those resolving other substance-use problems.Learn More   The Opioid Diaries The opioid crisis is the worst addiction epidemic in American history. Drug overdoses kill more than 64,000 people per year, and the nation’s life expectancy has fallen for two years in a row.Learn More   More Imprisonment Does Not Reduce State Drug Problems Data show no relationship between prison terms and drug misuse. Learn More   Death maps show where despair is killing Americans Alcohol deaths are down, but drug overdoses are way, way up.Learn More   During binges, U.S. adults have 17 billion drinks a year U.S. adults consumed more than 17 billion binge drinks in 2015, or about 470 binge drinks per binge drinker, according to a first-of-its-kind study released by the...

Why some people swear by Alcoholics Anonymous — and others despise it The research offers some insights, but it’s complicated.Learn More   Time for Drug Courts To Equip Participants with Naloxone Individuals who use opioids after a period of abstinence are at a higher risk for overdose due to a lowered tolerance, a circumstance in which drug court participants with a history of opioid use may find themselves.Learn More APA releases new practice guideline on treatment of alcohol use disorder Today, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) released a new practice guideline on the treatment of alcohol use disorder. This practice guideline provides evidence-based statements designed to increase knowledge of the disorder and ensure the appropriate use of medications. Learn More   The United States Of Alcohol Abuse Alcohol is a unique legalized drug in American culture. It’s not a crime to consume in all states (unlike marijuana). There is little stigma...

With smokers experiencing a number of triggers to use at popular retail locations, the federal government has decided to fight back on the same playing field. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that its “Every Try Counts” campaign will display at convenience stores and gas stations a number of messages encouraging smokers to quit. The two-year campaign, which will launch in 35 U.S. markets in January, will try to capitalize on research showing that smokers who have previously tried to quit are more likely to try again. One of the campaign's print advertisements reads, “You Didn't Fail at Quitting. You Just Haven't Finished the Process.” The FDA and the National Cancer Institute have partnered to establish an Every Try Counts website that offers consumers tips on quitting and words of encouragement, as well as a mobile app to track triggers and information on access to coaching assistance.

Please note: Wellspring's weekly Addiction News & Policy Update will not publish on Friday, June 30, 2017. Thank you!   America’s new tobacco crisis: The rich stopped smoking, the poor didn’t After decades of lawsuits, public campaigns and painful struggles, Americans have finally done what once seemed impossible: Most of the country has quit smoking, saving millions of lives and leading to massive reductions in cancer.Learn More New warning about alcohol and brain damage Reports on alcohol consumption vary. A few point out some beneficial effects from drinking; most highlight the risks. To add to the latter, a new report shows the damage that drinking can have on the brain. Learn More   Young people not routinely asked about alcohol consumption, survey of A&E departments finds Nine out of ten Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments are failing to identify young people with alcohol problems, preventing them from getting the vital help...

Our Weekly Addiction News & Policy Update is a compilation of news items provided to Wellspring by a variety of sources. Wellspring staff assembles this information and is pleased to provide it to you. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, feel free to contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The content of this email does not represent the official views or policies of Wellspring Center for Prevention. The content has been collected from a variety of sources and is provided for informational purposes only. The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by Wellspring of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. If you do not wish to receive this email in the future, simply email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and ask to be unsubscribed. No Kegs, No Liquor: College Crackdown Targets Drinking and Sexual Assault Dozens of universities have introduced stricter rules on alcohol, especially...

Our Weekly Addiction News & Policy Update is a compilation of news items provided to Wellspring by a variety of sources. Wellspring staff assembles this information and is pleased to provide it to you. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, feel free to contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The content of this email does not represent the official views or policies of Wellspring Center for Prevention. The content has been collected from a variety of sources and is provided for informational purposes only. The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by Wellspring of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. If you do not wish to receive this email in the future, simply email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and ask to be unsubscribed. Marijuana use more common in western U.S., report finds Whether you smoke pot might depend on what part of the United...

During the early 2000’s, New Jersey was on the forefront of tobacco prevention. REBEL (Reaching Everyone By Exposing Lies), NJ’s youth anti-tobacco movement, was represented in every county throughout the state. The youth involved with REBEL helped pass legislation, including the clean indoor air act and changing the age of sale in the state to 19. We began to see the number of youth who began smoking decrease and children no longer had the perception that smoking was “cool”. In fact, most youth thought the opposite. Unfortunately, once the numbers of new smokers decreased, so did the funds allocated to tobacco prevention. With the growing popularity of e-cigarettes and vaporizers, we are now seeing for the first time in years the number of kids using tobacco products including e-cigs on the rise again. The new perception is that e-cigs are not harmful at all. The 2nd graders who get the Footprints...