Latest Articles

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, 2 mg of fentanyl (which can fit on the tip of a pencil) can be enough to kill the average American.
October 08, 2024

Fentanyl 101

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic (lab-made) opioid. Prescription fentanyl is FDA -approved to treat severe pain related to surgery or...

Substance Use Disorder, Opioids
Like other chronic medical conditions, SUDs can be managed.
October 01, 2024

Substance use disorders: Get the facts and find support  

Millions of Americans are affected by substance use disorders (SUDs). SUDs are chronic but treatable medical conditions that change the...

Substance Use Disorder
Changing the way we talk about addiction can help reduce stigma and may even improve treatment outcomes.
September 26, 2024

A better way to say that: Stigmatizing language affects how we treat addiction

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are chronic, treatable conditions that people can recover from, but stigma around them makes it hard...

Substance Use Disorder, Mental Health, Alcohol Use Disorder
Having multiple little talks with your teens about substance use can be more effective than one “big talk.” These talks can be short and informal.
September 24, 2024

8 tips for talking (and listening) to your teens about drugs and alcohol

Talking to your children about drugs and alcohol can be…well, awkward. It’s hard to know what to ask them, what...

Substance Use Disorder, Teen Health, Alcohol Use Disorder
Narcan is a brand of naloxone and is available as a nasal spray.
September 19, 2024

How naloxone reverses opioid overdoses (and why it’s important to have on hand!)

Naloxone is a powerful tool for preventing deaths from opioid overdoses. First responders and health care providers use this medication...

Substance Use Disorder, Opioids, Opioid Overdose
Addiction recovery is not always an easy climb. For some people it’s a complicated path.
September 17, 2024

‘I choose to climb instead of fall’

Rachel George is in recovery for opioid use disorder (OUD). Now she’s sharing her story with NIH MedlinePlus Magazine to...

Substance Use Disorder, Opioid Use Disorder, Opioids