(March 12, 2026) A new synthetic opioid known as N-propionitrile chlorphine—commonly referred to as cychlorphine—has been linked to at least 16 overdose deaths in East Tennessee over the past several months, according to preliminary toxicology reports from the Knox County Regional Forensic Center.

(February 19, 2026) Recent wastewater analysis in Nantucket, Massachusetts has revealed cocaine concentrations up to three times the U.S. national average, underscoring the potential of wastewater surveillance as a tool for tracking community drug trends. Testing conducted since summer 2025 at the town’s Surfside treatment facility found peak cocaine readings of nearly 2,950 nanograms per liter, significantly higher than typical national wastewater benchmarks of around 900–1,000 ng/L.

(February 20, 2026) The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has announced that three FDA-approved Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) — buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone — are now eligible for funding under Title IV-E Prevention Services.

(February 3, 2026) The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., unveiled a series of federal actions aimed at addressing addiction, homelessness and related behavioral health challenges. These moves build on a recent executive order from President Donald Trump focused on expanding national efforts to combat substance use disorders.

(January 30, 2026) The White House has issued an Executive Order establishing the Great American Recovery Initiative, a federal effort intended to coordinate and strengthen the national response to addiction and substance use disorder. The order cites an estimated 48.4 million Americans affected by addiction and calls for improved alignment across federal programs focused on prevention, treatment, and recovery.

Congress has released its proposed FY 2026 budget for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including funding for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The bill advanced out of the House Appropriations Committee with bipartisan support, signaling a strong likelihood of passage in the House.

What happened

In January 2026, the federal government temporarily canceled billions of dollars in grants that fund addiction treatment, mental health services, and overdose prevention. The funding—largely administered through SAMHSA—supports services such as medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), harm reduction, crisis response, prevention programs, and peer recovery support.

Within days, the funding was restored. Agencies notified grantees that programs could continue as approved.

A new Millennium Health Signals Alert reveals compelling evidence that illicit stimulant use (cocaine and methamphetamine) is rising sharply across the United States, marking a concerning shift in substance use patterns and signaling critical implications for clinical care, public health strategy, and addiction treatment systems.

On December 1, 2025, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025 was signed into law, extending critical federal substance use disorder (SUD) prevention, treatment, and recovery programs through fiscal year 2030. This bipartisan legislative achievement, passed overwhelmingly in the House and by unanimous consent in the Senate, reaffirms Congress’s commitment to combating the opioid and broader SUD crisis that continues to devastate communities nationwide.

CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent joins Dr. Eric Garland, Dan Kruger discuss redefining pain management and recovery at April 6-9 event in Nashville.

MALVERN, Pa. (November 12, 2025) — Rx Summit will deliver its most advanced clinical education program yet at its 15th anniversary meeting in 2026, featuring six new sessions co-developed with the American Psychological Association’s Division 50 (APA Division 50), Society of Addiction Psychology (SoAP).