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How New Jersey Plans to Tackle Teen Gambling Addiction
New Jersey lawmakers have introduced a bill requiring high schools to include curriculum on the dangers of compulsive gambling, integrating the lessons into existing physical education and health classes. The initiative aims to educate teenagers early about gambling risks and promote prevention before issues can develop. (Source: NJ1015)
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JAMA Screens Teens’ Addictive Screen Use and Suicide Risk
A recent study published in JAMA analyzed how escalating patterns of addiction to social media, mobile devices, and video games among adolescents aged 9 to 14 are tied to a notably higher risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, as well as anxiety and depression. Researchers found that it’s not merely total screen time but the compulsive, uncontrollable nature of usage over time that correlates with worsened mental health outcomes. (Source: NPR)
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Record‑Setting Cocaine Bust Collapses Puerto Rico to N.J. Pipeline, Prosecutor Says
Authorities in New Jersey dismantled a major drug trafficking operation that funneled cocaine from Puerto Rico, resulting in what prosecutors describe as the largest cocaine seizure in state history. Multiple individuals have been arrested as investigators trace the disrupted pipeline, marking a significant victory against organized cross-territory drug networks. (Source: Patch)
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Health Officials Finding Different Illicit Veterinary Sedative in US Drug Supply
Public health authorities have identified the veterinary sedative medetomidine being added to illegal opioids across multiple U.S. cities, complicating overdose cases due to its resistance to naloxone and severe withdrawal symptoms. Clusters of cases in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh have triggered urgent recommendations for enhanced clinical protocols and broader surveillance to address this emerging threat. (Source: AVMA News)
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New Rules for Methadone Doses at Home Did Not Increase Overdoses
A recent analysis from the University of Pennsylvania’s Leonard Davis Institute found that expanding take-home methadone doses during the COVID-19 public health emergency did not lead to a rise in overdose deaths, with similar trends observed in states that did and did not adopt the relaxed rules. The research highlights improved patient independence and equity in treatment access, particularly for marginalized populations, while pointing out the need for targeted support in rural areas and examining the long-term outcomes of these policy shifts. (Source: Penn LDI Research Updates)
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