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Controlled Substances and Illegal Drugs

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Commentary
Fentanyl Makes an Already Dangerous Drug Market Deadlier Than Ever
Failure to recognize and respond to how rapidly illegal drug markets have changed with the arrival of illegally manufactured synthetic opioids will continue to put many Americans at risk of exposure to fentanyl, endangering the lives of hundreds of thousands more for years to come.
May 2, 2022
Essay
Army Enlistment Waivers in the Age of Legal Marijuana
Army recruits with a history of marijuana use can ask for a waiver like those who have diabetes or insomnia. They are just as likely as others to complete their first term and make sergeant, and are less likely to leave the Army for health or performance reasons.
Oct 27, 2021

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Commentary
Cannabis Legalization in Europe: Planning Ahead
Since 2012, multiple jurisdictions have changed their laws to legalize the production, possession, and use of cannabis for nonmedical purposes. While most of these changes took place in the Americas, there are signs that the European legal landscape might be changing, too.
Nov 9, 2022
Journal Article
Trends in Out-of-Pocket Costs for Naloxone by Drug Brand and Payer in the US, 2010–2018
The findings suggest that the out-of-pocket cost of naloxone has been an increasingly substantial barrier to naloxone access for uninsured patients, a population that constitutes nearly one-fifth of adults with opioid use disorder.
Oct 27, 2022
Journal Article
The Impact of the Affordable Care Act Insurance Expansions on Opioid-Related Emergency Department Visits
We leverage ACA coverage expansions to study the impact of health insurance on opioid-related emergency department visits while accounting for potentially confounding changes in relevant state-level policies.
Oct 27, 2022
Journal Article
A National Retrospective Study of Antidepressants' Effects on Overdose and Self-Harm Among Adults Treated With Opioid Analgesics
Individuals with a history of depression who received opioid analgesics had a significantly lower risk for overdose and self-harm after they had been taking antidepressants for at least 6 weeks.
Oct 19, 2022
Blog
Legalizing Cannabis, the Russian Nuclear Threat, Digital Offshoring: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on cannabis legalization, the Russian nuclear threat, the effects of digital offshoring, and more.
Oct 14, 2022
Journal Article
A Latent Class Approach to Understanding Longitudinal Sleep Health and the Association with Alcohol and Cannabis Use During Late Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood
Persistent poor sleep health was associated with higher levels of alcohol and cannabis use and consequences, and greater increases in alcohol-related consequences during the transition from late adolescence to emerging adulthood.
Oct 12, 2022
Commentary
What's Next After Biden's Announcement on Cannabis and Racial Equity?
Cannabis legalization isn't just a yes-or-no choice. There are many ways for state and federal policymakers to shape the market and tax it. With deliberations in Washington, D.C., beginning and more states set to vote on the issue in November, now is the time for lawmakers to take stock of how potential changes will or won't help communities of color.
Oct 11, 2022
Journal Article
Laws for Expanding Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder: A Legal Analysis of 16 States & Washington D.C.
This study reports on the results of a qualitative analysis that identified and categorized state medications for opioid use disorder related statutes and regulations in a stratified random sample of 16 states and Washington D.C.
Oct 7, 2022
Journal Article
Expert Panel Consensus on State-Level Policies to Improve Engagement and Retention in Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
This qualitative study used the ExpertLens online platform to conduct a 3-round modified Delphi process to examine expert consensus on the effectiveness and the ability to implement state-level OUD treatment policies.
Oct 7, 2022
Journal Article
Expert Views on State-Level Naloxone Access Laws: A Qualitative Analysis of an Online Modified-Delphi Process
This qualitative study conducted a three-round modified-Delphi process using the online ExpertLens platform. Researchers identified and summarized the views of experts on state-level naloxone access laws.
Oct 7, 2022
Journal Article
Changes in Buprenorphine and Methadone Supplies in the US During the COVID-19 Pandemic
This cross-sectional study found that the per capita supply of methadone declined significantly in the second quarter of 2020 and had not returned to 2019 levels as of June 2021. The per capita supply of buprenorphine increased during the same period.
Sep 30, 2022
Journal Article
Predictors of Long-Term Opioid Use Following Hospitalization for Traumatic Injury in a Racially and Ethnically Diverse Population: A 12-Month Prospective Observational Study
Long-term prescription opioid use can lead to poor health outcomes. This study identifies predictors of long-term prescription opioid use among racially and ethnically diverse patients hospitalized for traumatic injury.
Sep 29, 2022
Journal Article
Consensus-Based Guidance on Opioid Management in Individuals With Advanced Cancer-Related Pain and Opioid Misuse or Use Disorder
This qualitative study provides consensus-based guidance for clinicians and highlights research and policy gaps that warrant urgent attention to meet the needs of people with cancer-related pain and opioid misuse/use disorder.
Sep 21, 2022
Journal Article
Perspectives of Patients Receiving Telemedicine Services for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment: A Qualitative Analysis of User Experiences
We conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 adults receiving care from one fully virtual opioid use disorder telemedicine service who had received three to five weeks of treatment.
Sep 8, 2022
Dissertation
Gaps between Medical Cannabis Research and Policy
Examines what is known about the therapeutic efficacy of cannabis products, the degree to which patients buy dispensary products in a manner that is consistent with clinical research, and what factors may be driving clinically inconsistent purchases.
Aug 24, 2022
News Release
Out-of-Pocket Cost of Naloxone May Keep Many Uninsured from Using Lifesaving Treatment
The cost of buying the opioid antidote naloxone is out of reach for many uninsured Americans, a hurdle that may keep the treatment from saving more people who overdose on opioids.
Aug 19, 2022
Tool
Concurrent Policies Simulation Tool
This tool allows users to select from a range of simulation parameters to explore how different models perform and compare models by various performance metrics.
Aug 19, 2022
Report
What Policy Changes Could Help Save Lives from Illicit Synthetic Opioids Overdose?
In this recording of a July 2022 virtual event, experts discuss findings from the final report by the Commission on Combating Synthetic Opioid Trafficking, and recommendations to reduce the number of lives lost to illicit synthetic opioids.
Aug 18, 2022
Journal Article
Legal Review of State Emergency Medical Services Policies and Protocols for Naloxone Administration
We provide data on the authority of providers at different emergency medical services licensure levels to administer naloxone. We also describe relevant policies regarding which administration routes and dosages are permitted for each licensure level.
Aug 2, 2022
Journal Article
How Much Illegally Manufactured Fentanyl Could the U.S. Be Consuming?
This article provides guidance through two thought experiments that provide a hypothetical upper bound on U.S. consumption of fentanyl.
Jul 28, 2022

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