Nora's Blog

Image shows microscopic viral molecules for Covid-19, HIV, as well as an image of a brain of a person with a substance use disorder

Research at the Intersection of HIV with Substance Use Disorders amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

We are prioritizing research into how the coexisting crises of COVID-19, HIV, and substance use, including the opioid crisis, combine...

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July 28, 2020

Oxycodone pills spilling out of a bottle

Nora's Blog

Opioid Use Disorders and Suicide: A Hidden Tragedy (Guest Blog)

April 20, 2017 | In 2015, over 33,000 Americans died from opioids—either prescription drugs or heroin or, in many cases, more powerful synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Hidden behind the terrible epidemic of opioid overdose...

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Image showing lethal doses of Heroin and Fentanyl

Nora's Blog

Addressing America’s Fentanyl Crisis

April 6, 2017 | Every day, 91* Americans fatally overdose on an opioid drug. It may be a prescription analgesic or heroin but increasingly it is likely to be heroin’s much more potent synthetic...

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Photo of marijuana coming out of a prescription bottle

Nora's Blog

NASEM Report Recommends Removing Barriers to Cannabis Research

February 28, 2017 | The new report is based on reviews of research on both the cannabis plant itself and its constituents, but its conclusions are substantially similar to the 1999 report: While cannabis...

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Dr. Leanna S. Wenn, Baltimore City Health Commissioner

Nora's Blog

Improving Access to Substance Use Disorder Treatment in Baltimore City (Guest Blog)

February 13, 2017 | Tackling the opioid crisis and overdose epidemic in our nation is a task that involves partnerships among stakeholders at all levels: federal, state, and local governments and other organizations and...

Nora's Blog

Taking Stock of NIDA’s Achievements and Looking to the Future

January 19, 2017 | The need for better substance use disorder treatments, better diagnostic methods, and better prevention strategies has never been greater. The beginning of a new year gives us an opportunity to...

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Nora's Blog

As Some States Implement New Marijuana Laws, Science Should Guide Public Health Policy

December 8, 2016 | After the election on November 8, marijuana is now or will soon be legal for adult recreational use in eight states plus the District of Columbia. Careful thought should be...

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Nora's Blog

Syringe-Exchange Programs Are Part of Effective HIV Prevention

December 1, 2016 | One of the best available strategies for reducing the spread of HIV among drug users is syringe-exchange programs (also called syringe service programs); their effectiveness has been proven through abundant...

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Nora's Blog

The Surgeon General’s Report: Facing Addiction in America

November 16, 2016 | Today marks, I hope, another turning point in our country’s health, as Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health...

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The word addiction in bold on a printed dictionary page

Nora's Blog

Rethinking How We Talk About Addiction

October 27, 2016 | People with substance use disorders and other mental health issues face greater stigma than those with other illnesses. Many of the addiction-related terms widely used in our society—even in the...

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Image of a stethoscope on a pregnant woman

Nora's Blog

Medical Marijuana Might Not Be a Safe Nausea Solution for Pregnant Women

September 22, 2016 | Medical marijuana is becoming more widely accepted and it is being used for a wide range of conditions. Scientific evidence of its effectiveness for most indications is still slim or...

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