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In response to President Biden’s call to reclassify marijuana, the DEA began the process of rescheduling marijuana from a Schedule I to Schedule III drug. This move could legitimize marijuana’s medical use, allowing broader research, but critics argue it overlooks potential health risks.

Proponents highlight benefits like chronic pain relief and opioid reduction, while opponents express concerns about addiction and mental health risks. The change, still under review, is set to impact both state laws and medical marijuana access.

If you’re interested in connecting further on this topic, please consider Chris Meyers. Meyers is a professional philosopher currently affiliated with the George Washington University, where he teaches Philosophy of Law and Public Policy. Meyers’ primary areas of research are moral theory, political theory, moral psychology, and public policy. His most recent book entitled Drug Legalization–A Philosophical Analysis, looks into various arguments for and against the prohibition of recreational drugs.

If you would like to schedule time to connect with Professor Meyers, please contact GW Media Relations Specialist Tayah Frye at [email protected].

-GW-

BYLINE: Angelita Faller

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has received $5 million in federal funding to address the growing drug and opioid crisis among youth in Arkansas.

The award comes from appropriations language authored by U.S. Sen. John Boozman passed into law in 2024. The funding is administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

“I was proud to secure critical funding for the Opioid Prevention Project because we all agree it can make a tremendous difference in this fight,” Boozman said. “UA Little Rock MidSOUTH is ideally positioned to leverage this investment. With its expansive network and partnerships, it will enhance abuse and prevention education efforts and target a population at risk of falling victim to opioid abuse and its devastating consequences, which will benefit the entire state.”

The Arkansas Youth Drug-Use Reduction Program will be led by MidSOUTH, a training and education community service unit of the College of Business, Health, and Human Services at UA Little Rock, in partnership with national experts, state and local agencies, and community stakeholders.

The initiative aims to conduct a statewide assessment and develop an evidence-based, Arkansas-specific curriculum designed to educate young people about the dangers of drug use. MidSOUTH was awarded this significant funding due to its proven leadership in drug abuse prevention and training across Arkansas, making it a trusted partner in statewide efforts to combat substance abuse.

“As we face the challenges of opioid misuse, it’s vital to engage our youth in meaningful conversations about prevention and awareness,” said Greg Smith, co-director of MidSOUTH. “The funding will help educate youth about what opioids are and the risks associated with their use. Knowledge is our first line of defense. Our goal is to work together with law enforcement, educators, community prevention agencies, and other stakeholders to foster a safe environment where our youth can thrive and make choices that promote their well-being.”

The program aims to reach 100,000 youth within its first year, with plans to expand as the curriculum is implemented. MidSOUTH’s collaboration with experts and state agencies will ensure that the campaign effectively addresses the unique needs of Arkansas communities and fosters long-term prevention efforts.

“UA Little Rock is honored to participate in the fight against the opioid crisis and to support the health and well-being of Arkansas’s youth,” UA Little Rock Chancellor Christina S. Drale said. “This investment will enable us to work alongside national experts and state leaders to implement a comprehensive prevention program that will provide young people with the knowledge and resources to make positive choices, strengthening the future of our communities. We are grateful to Sen. Boozman for his continued support, and to the dedicated MidSOUTH staff for their leadership in this critical initiative.”

This funding will also provide drug neutralizing agents to citizens to assist in the safe disposal of household medications to keep them out of the hands of youth. An educational campaign will complement the curriculum, broadening its reach to communities across Arkansas. Television and social media advertisements will raise awareness among young people about the dangers of drug use, while also providing parents with guidance on how to discuss drug prevention with their children.

“An important part to drug abuse prevention is peer prevention,” Smith said. “Youth need to be able to recognize peer pressure and feel confident saying no to drug use and surround themselves with friends who respect their choices and values. We are working to build evidence-informed curriculums for youth to share what they learn with their peers. By speaking out, they can help create a culture of awareness and support in their schools. Together, we can empower them with knowledge and tools to make informed choices.”

Effective drug prevention and education programs can help save lives by delaying the onset of drug and opioid use and reducing overdose deaths. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is now the No. 1 cause of overdose deaths in Arkansas. Of the 47,695 Arkansas students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 who participated in the 2023 Arkansas Prevention Needs Assessment, 21.2% have used alcohol, 16.5% have tried drugs, 15.3% have vaped, 9.2% have used marijuana, and 4.2% have used prescription drugs.

“Programs like this are critical for reaching our young people at a time when the opioid crisis continues to devastate families and communities,” Smith said. “This partnership will give Arkansas youth the tools and knowledge they need to make healthy decisions and stay on the right path.”

The curriculum and training materials created from this funding will be provided at no cost to school districts, law enforcement agencies, nonprofits, and other stakeholders. If you are interested in the curriculum, please contact April Null, Arkansas Youth Drug-Use Reduction Program coordinator, at [email protected] or 501-891-2964.

Funding for this initiative was made possible by Congressionally Directed Spending appropriated to the Office of National Drug Control Policy (Grant No. CDS9924G0018-00). The views expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect the views of the United States Congress or the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Leading experts from across the world will join forces in the UK this week in a bid to confront the wide-reaching challenges and curb the devastating effects of gambling.

International researchers, regulators, treatment and support practitioners, policy experts, and people with lived experience are set to gather in Bristol on Thursday, 10 October, for the second annual International Interdisciplinary Colloquium of the Bristol Hub for Gambling Harms Research at the University of Bristol.

Amongst other topics, this year the interrelationship of gambling and sport – including football, cricket and eSports – comes under the spotlight, in the wake of new research by the University which exposed the huge surge of gambling marketing at the start of the Premier League football season.

Keynote speaker Professor Simon Chadwick, founder of The Future Sport Forum, works with sports clubs, including Manchester United, governing bodies such as the Union of European Football Associations (EUFA), and sponsors to positively influence commercial strategy and policy.

Prof Chadwick said: “The Bristol Hub for Gambling Harms Research International Colloquium has very rapidly established itself as an important place for people to meet and discuss one of society’s biggest current problems. Gambling harms constitute a major public health issue, as well a challenge for leaders, managers, and decision makers across multiple sectors. 

“One of these is sport, where sponsorships involving betting brands continue to grow in number. Though we are now seeing some moves to regulate this type of deal, there remains a whole host of issues that sport governors and national governments must get to grips with. I look forward to sharing possible ways to address some of these issues and hearing from other leading experts on this and a wider range of other key areas.”

Delegates will consider factors drawing people into harmful gambling, how this deepens socio-economic inequalities and what innovative interventions can help combat these trends. Illegal gambling, fraud, and cryptocurrency are among other hot topics to be examined by more than 150 attendees from countries, including the US, Namibia, Norway, and Gibraltar.

Although gambling operators are huge global enterprises, regulations are devolved to different countries and sometimes regions, making it hard to keep betting activity in check. This problem has been exacerbated by the surge in online platforms offering gambling services around the clock and across borders.

Keynote speaker Brianne Doura-Schawohl is spearheading international gambling policy change and has a proven track record of legislative progress in this field in the US and across the world. Brianne will present a high-level overview of recent US legislative undertakings, including the legalisation of sports betting nearly six years ago, and how one Supreme Court ruling has fundamentally changed the landscape nationwide.

Brianne said: “Gambling always has been, and will always be, pervasive and deeply rooted within our culture. However, the massive expansion has had unprecedented impacts, including profound and worrisome ramifications on public health. With a woefully inadequate system to address harmful gambling, I will highlight the desperately needed policies, both legislative and regulatory, that would better protect players and the public.

“I am honoured to be a part of this colloquium, which aims to increase awareness and evidence about this global health issue. It will be a great opportunity to learn from others through many robust conversations and presentations highlighting what more we can collectively do.”

People with first-hand experience of gambling harms will also be sharing their stories.

Royal Navy veteran, Matt Losing, who experienced years of gambling-related harms, now works as the Armed Forces project lead at Ara Recovery for All, which provides support and recovery services for those affected. After seven years in recovery personally, he now channels his energies into breaking the stigma and helping others, including offering gambling harms awareness training tailored for the Armed Forces community.

Mother-of-two Julie Martin coordinates peer aid aftercare at Betknowmore UK, which delivers education and support services. Three years ago her husband took his own life after decades of battling a gambling addiction which saw him lose everything.

She said: “More and more lives are tragically being lost to gambling. The industry has got to change now so others can be spared. We need urgent reform so advertising is more robustly regulated and there are effective restrictive measures on people’s gambling in place. Events like this conference are great to better understand the many related problems and consider possible ways to limit the risk and damage.”

In 2022 the University launched the Bristol Hub for Gambling Harms Research to lead pioneering multidisciplinary research into the wide-reaching effects of gambling harms.

The independent hub, funded by a grant of £4million from national charity GambleAware, facilitates world-leading research to improve understanding of gambling harm as a growing public health issue which needs greater scrutiny and regulation.

Prof Michele Acuto, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement at the University of Bristol, said: “We are very proud of the pioneering work of the Bristol Hub for Gambling Harms Research, which unites leading experts in the field to advance our understanding of the complexity of gambling harms.

“Today’s event is an example of our collective endeavour to keep pushing for positive change, as part of the University’s mission to protect public health, overcome inequalities, and champion social justice.”

Newswise — People with alcohol use disorder (AUD) who are at risk of advanced liver disease are less likely to be referred for liver evaluation and care if they present primarily with alcohol-related mental health issues or a mental health diagnosis, according to a study of referral practices in Virginia’s largest health system. The findings point to the possibility of widespread missed opportunities for treating three conditions that commonly co-occur: AUD, mental health disorders, and liver disease. Recent years have seen notable increases in the USA in alcohol-related deaths, mental health disorders, and hospital admissions relating to alcohol use and concurrent mental health conditions. AUD is a significant cause of liver disease, and both addiction and co-occurring mental illness can be barriers to successful liver treatment. Integrating AUD treatment, mental health care, and hepatology (liver care) is necessary to improve outcomes, but data suggests this approach is not the norm. For the study in Alcohol: Clinical & Experimental Research, investigators evaluated which patients with excessive alcohol use and potentially advanced liver disease were referred to hepatology for evaluation and treatment.

Researchers worked with data representing 316 patients experiencing excessive alcohol use who were treated between 2013 and 2023. All the patients in the study had results from FIB-4—a blood test included in routine lab work—correlating to a high risk of advanced liver fibrosis. The researchers collected information on the participants’ demographics, alcohol-related hospital admissions, predicted mortality, referral patterns, and mental health diagnoses and hospitalizations. They used statistical analysis to explore factors associated with referral to hepatology.

Most patients were men, and the average age was 60. Six in 10 were Caucasian, and nearly 4 in 10 African American. Only 37% of patients with excessive alcohol use and a high risk of advanced liver disease were referred for liver care. Referrals to hepatology were associated with higher FIB-4 scores, more co-occurring health conditions, and hospitalization due to AUD-related liver issues or gastrointestinal concerns. Patients less likely to be referred for liver care included those admitted to the hospital for physical injury or alcohol-related mental health concerns, who presented with mental health disorders, or who were older. Of these, patients with depression or suicidal ideation were more frequently referred to hepatology than patients with other mental health diagnoses.

The study identified an opportunity to increase integration of care across specialties serving patients with alcohol-related liver disease and mental health conditions. People presenting with primarily mental health or addiction issues were especially unlikely to be referred for appropriate liver care. The findings highlight the need for healthcare providers to be educated about the importance of multispecialty care, including hepatology and GI referrals. Managing liver disease is necessary for reducing the risk of cirrhosis, cancer, and other conditions and for liver transplant evaluation. Similarly, early identification of AUD in patients with liver disease is essential for improving outcomes.

Referral to hepatology is lower in patients with excessive alcohol use who have mental health disorders despite a high FIB-4 index. K. Houston, S. Harris, A.Teklezghi, S. Silvey, A. D. Snyder, A. J. Arias, J. S. Bajaj.                                                                     

ACER-24-6074.R2

Newswise — Drug overdose is the leading cause of injury deaths in young adults in the United States, with fentanyl causing over 70,000 deaths annually.

Many people who use fentanyl become trapped in their addiction out of fear and a low tolerance for the withdrawal symptoms, which include muscle cramps, nausea, chills, sweats and intense cravings. 

They can’t stop using fentanyl, and they also have trouble starting either of the two medications, methadone and buprenorphine, that can dramatically reduce their risk of overdose death.

Research findings published Aug. 29 in Addiction Science & Clinical Practice may offer hope. A pilot study showed that a small amount of ketamine can reduce or eliminate the withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting fentanyl.

“The main takeaway is that we have found an easier way for people trapped in the grip of fentanyl addiction to get started in treatment,” said Dr. Lucinda Grande, a clinical assistant professor of family medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine. She was the study’s lead author. 

“Methadone can be difficult to access due to strict federal regulations, and starting buprenorphine can cause severe withdrawal symptoms before those who start it become stabilized,” added study co-author Dr. Tom Hutch. He is the medical director of the opioid treatment program at We Care Daily Clinics in Auburn, Wash. “Ketamine, at an imperceptibly low dose, helps bridge that gap.” 

Over 14 months, Grande and colleagues in Auburn and Olympia prescribed ketamine to 37 fentanyl-addicted patients whose fear of withdrawal symptoms had deterred them from trying buprenorphine. Twenty-four patients actually tried the drug, and 16 completed the transition to buprenorphine. 

Most patients reported a reduction or elimination of withdrawal symptoms after each ketamine dose, the effect of which lasted for hours. Of the last 12 who completed the transition, 92% remained in treatment for at least 30 days.

Patients placed a ketamine lozenge or syrup under the tongue. The 16 mg dose is a small fraction of that typically used for anesthesia, the main clinical role of ketamine for 50 years, according to Grande. That dosage also is less than half of the smallest ketamine dose prescribed for depression treatment, an increasingly common use of this medication.

Researchers monitored patients daily or almost daily, and refined the treatment strategy based on patient response and prescriber experience.

Grande developed the concept after she learned that emergency-medicine physician and coauthor Dr. Andrew Herring of Oakland, California, used a higher, sedating dose of ketamine successfully in his emergency department to resolve a patient’s severe case of withdrawal from fentanyl addiction. 

Grande is a primary-care and addiction doctor in practice near Olympia who, in the past dozen years, has used low-dose ketamine to treat more than 600 patients for chronic pain and depression. 

Ketamine has gained prominence in the news since actor Matthew Perry of the sitcom “Friends” overdosed on the drug and drowned. Perry had undergone high-dose ketamine treatment for depression, news reports have suggested.

“Our study underscores the enormous potential of this medication for addressing important health problems such as depression, chronic pain and now fentanyl-use disorder,” said Grande. Ketamine’s positive attributes have been overshadowed by Perry’s death, she said.

Grande hopes this pilot study’s results will be confirmed by larger studies. “I am excited about these results,” she said. “This is a wonderful opportunity to save lives.”