Addiction News & Policy Update for Week Ending February 5, 2021

We Need To Talk About Another Pandemic Mental Health Crisis: Therapist Burnout
There is a clear mental health crisis and growing need for care in the United States. A recent Gallup poll showed American's assessment of their own mental health is "worse than it has been at any point in the last two decades."

Cannabis Companies Are Ready to Roll
The haze is finally clearing for U.S. pot companies. Since Democrats won control of the Senate earlier this month, many in the cannabis industry are betting on a more rapid path to full federal legalization and a pickup in deal making as companies rush to scale up.

Primary Care Providers Can Help Steer People to Opioid Addiction Treatment
Evidence indicates that tool could help more patients get prompt care and prevent overdoses

This Ancient African Plant May Be a Cure for Addiction
The Iboga plant has been used for tribal rituals in West Africa for millennia. While the highly toxic root causes days-long hallucinations, it may also be the answer to a problem plaguing modern society. Today, Iboga and its ingredient ibogaine are being closely studied as a potential cure for drug addiction.

Teens Commonly Misuse Their Prescribed Psych Meds
More than one-fifth of American youth reported misuse of their psychoactive prescription, a new study found. In a survey of kids ages 12-17 prescribed opioids, stimulants, tranquilizers, or sedatives, 20.9% -- equating to about 1.3 million youth -- said they used their medication in a way that wasn't prescribed or directed for them within the previous year. https://www.medpagetoday.com/psychiatry/generalpsychiatry/91011