Addiction News and Updates
The cocaine boom, our new FAS publication, alcohol+cancer, and more.
🔬 The Federation of American Scientists has just published a shorter version of our Innovation Agenda for Addiction. We’ve had an amazing response already to the full length version that we co-published with Institute for Progress a few weeks ago. In it, we propose expanding the Priority Review Voucher program to include addiction indications, updating FDA endpoints for SUD trials, and extending exclusivity for new SUD approvals. Please take a look! The charts are my favorite part.
🥄 “The cocaine trade is far bigger and more geographically diverse than at any point in history” - Global boom in cocaine consumption (WaPo paywall). Specific drugs rise and fall over the decades and centuries, like opium, crack, heroin, stimulants, marijuana, fentanyl. Until we have good medication that directly reduces cravings across substances, we’ll never have true safety and freedom for individuals.
🔮 Addiction Predictions for 2025 and Beyond - My predictions post over the holidays was one of our most popular of 2024. If you missed it, take a look.
🍹 US Surgeon General issues a new statement on alcohol and cancer. Public health warnings generally don’t shift behavior much, and no one like scolding, but I think this one could be different. While people have a general idea that alcohol is not good for them, there is not a widespread realization that it causes cancer. The connection between cigarettes and cancer has been the main driver behind success in reducing smoking. If the Surgeon General is successful in getting bigger and bolder warning labels on alcohol, it could change public behavior significantly.
🍭 GLP-1RAs are anti-consumption agents. “Because obesity and substance abuse are so prevalent in the United States, GLP-1RA drugs may be uniquely helpful in addressing overconsumption and addiction issues thereby improving overall health and life expectancy.” As MAHA takes over HHS, the deep connection between addictive foods and addictive substances may become clearer to the public.
✖️ CASPR is now on X (Twitter) and 🦋 Bluesky. Please follow us!
♻️ If you enjoy our Substack posts, please ‘like’ and ‘restack’ them (the recycling button on the posts) — it’s extremely helpful as we grow our audience. Thanks!