newscrisismental-healthSAMHSA Awards $255 Million to 988 Crisis Lifeline—With New York-Based Administrator at the HelmThe 988 Lifeline has handled over 25 million crisis contacts since its 2022 launch. New federal funding will expand capacity as data shows 14.3 million adults had serious thoughts of suicide in the past year.May 18, 20264 min read
newsoverdosefentanylU.S. Overdose Deaths Drop to 70,000 in 2025—Lowest Since Before COVID, But New York Faces Rising ThreatsNew federal data reveals the third consecutive year of declining overdose deaths, yet policy changes and emerging synthetic drugs threaten progress in New York.May 14, 20266 min read
newsfentanyloverdoseDEA Issues Urgent Warning to World Cup Visitors: 29% of Street Pills Contain Lethal FentanylAs the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, the DEA is warning visitors that recreational drug use in the United States carries unprecedented risks. According to federal laboratory data, 29% of pills seized nationwide contain lethal doses of fentanyl—a synthetic opioid so potent that just two milligrams can kill.May 12, 20265 min read
newspolicyfederalWhite House Unveils 2026 National Drug Control Strategy—But Critics Question How It Will WorkThe 195-page strategy document outlines ambitious goals for addiction treatment and prevention, but public health experts point to contradictions with the administration's funding cuts and policy changes.May 8, 20265 min read
newspolicytreatmentRFK Jr. Wants to Transform U.S. Addiction Treatment Using a Controversial Italian ModelHHS Secretary RFK Jr. wants to replace medication-assisted treatment with wellness farms based on an Italian model that rejects proven medications like buprenorphine and methadone.May 5, 20266 min read
newspolicyfederalSAMHSA Issues New Guidance on Addiction Treatment—Restricting Harm Reduction and Emphasizing CounselingNew federal guidance restricts SAMHSA funding for harm reduction supplies while requiring counseling services alongside medication treatment, marking a significant policy shift.May 1, 20266 min read
newspolicyfentanylSAMHSA Bans Federal Funds for Fentanyl Test Strips and Syringes—A Major Shift in U.S. Drug PolicyThe Trump administration is cutting off federal funding for fentanyl test strips, sterile syringes, and other harm reduction supplies through a new SAMHSA directive that reverses years of overdose prevention policy.April 28, 20266 min read
newstreatmentresearchFDA Fast-Tracks Psychedelic Therapies for Depression, PTSD, and Alcohol Use Disorder—What It Means for New YorkThe FDA announced sweeping actions to accelerate psychedelic treatments, including priority vouchers for psilocybin and methylone, plus the first-ever U.S. clinical trial of an ibogaine derivative for alcohol use disorder.April 27, 20266 min read
newsresearchtreatmentFeds Launch $139 Million Project to Transform Addiction Treatment—And It Could Change How New Yorkers Get CareA new federal initiative aims to end the trial-and-error approach to mental health and addiction treatment by developing objective, measurable biomarkers—potentially bringing faster relief to millions of Americans, including those in New York.April 22, 20266 min read
newsfundingfederalThe $2 Billion Cut: How Federal Funding Losses Are Hitting New York's Addiction Treatment ProgramsFederal grants supporting overdose prevention, naloxone distribution, and peer recovery services were abruptly cancelled in January, putting New York's addiction treatment infrastructure at risk.April 21, 20266 min read
newsfundingfederalTrump Administration Terminates Hundreds of SAMHSA Grants, Threatening Addiction Treatment NationwideFederal funding cuts to SAMHSA grants put overdose prevention, naloxone distribution, and peer recovery programs at risk across the United States. The terminations affect programs that millions of Americans rely on.April 20, 20264 min read
newsfentanyloverdoseA Drug 100 Times Stronger Than Fentanyl Is Spreading. New York's DEA Is Racing to Contain It.Federal agents are tracking a disturbing shift in the drug supply: as fentanyl seizures decline, carfentanil—originally developed as an elephant tranquilizer—is filling the void. The DEA's New York division calls it one of the most significant threats in years.April 18, 20266 min read
newspolicyfederalNew York's Top Addiction Official Warns $13 Billion Medicaid Cut Could 'Destabilize' Treatment System StatewideAt a Penn conference, NY's addiction services commissioner warned that losing $13 billion in Medicaid funding would force impossible choices between prevention, treatment, and harm reduction—and likely cost lives.April 9, 20268 min read
newspolicyfederalWhite House Budget Proposes 12% Cut to Health Agency Funding Addiction Treatment NationwideThe Trump administration's fiscal 2027 budget would slash federal health funding by 12.5%, consolidating and eliminating programs at SAMHSA that fund addiction treatment across New York. Congress has final say, but the proposal creates immediate uncertainty for providers.April 6, 20267 min read
newsfederalfundingFeds Drop $100 Million on New Addiction Program That Targets Homelessness—And Faith Groups Are InThe Trump administration just announced a $100 million program to tackle addiction among homeless Americans. Faith-based groups are eligible—but the fine print shows ties to a controversial executive order on involuntary treatment.April 2, 20267 min read
policyinsurancefederalFederal Insurance Rule for Addiction Treatment Coverage Now Under Review—What It Means for New YorkersThe Justice Department announced Friday that three federal agencies will reconsider Biden-era rules guaranteeing equal insurance coverage for addiction and mental health treatment. The move suspends an ERISA lawsuit indefinitely and raises questions about federal enforcement—but New York's own parity protections remain in effect.April 1, 20268 min read
newsfederalfundingFederal Government Launches $100 Million Program to Connect People Experiencing Addiction and Homelessness with Housing and TreatmentThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a $100 million federal investment in the STREETS Initiative, aiming to expand treatment, outreach, and housing support for people experiencing addiction and homelessness.March 31, 20264 min read
newspolicyopioidFederal Government Moves to Ban Synthetic Opioid Sold in Gas Stations Before It Triggers the Next Addiction CrisisFederal regulators are racing to ban a synthetic opioid that's been sold legally in convenience stores and vape shops across the country. The substance, 7-hydroxymitragynine—known as 7-OH—is a concentrated byproduct of the kratom plant that officials say is as addictive as heroin and more potent than morphine.March 25, 20268 min read
newsdeep-divefederalWhiplash at HHS: How Trump's $2 Billion Grant Cuts Threw New York's Addiction Treatment System Into Chaos—Then Reversed in 24 HoursIn January, the Trump administration sent termination letters to thousands of mental health and addiction programs nationwide. New York's safety net scrambled. Then, 24 hours later, the money came back. But the chaos didn't end there.March 20, 20268 min read
researchtreatmentoverdoseFederal Study Shows Ozempic and Weight-Loss Drugs Cut Addiction Deaths by Half—What It Means for New YorkFederal researchers report the first medication that works against addiction to alcohol, opioids, nicotine, cocaine and cannabis simultaneously. The unexpected finding came from diabetes and weight-loss drugs already prescribed to millions.March 18, 20268 min read
newspolicyfentanylDEA Just Banned Three Synthetic Opioids Stronger Than Fentanyl. Why New York Should Pay Attention.The DEA placed three nitazene-class synthetic opioids into Schedule I effective March 11, 2026. These substances are up to 40 times more potent than fentanyl and have been detected in overdose deaths nationwide.March 17, 20268 min read
newsfederalfundingFederal Government Announces $100M 'STREETS' Program to Connect Homeless People With Addiction to Housing and TreatmentThe new STREETS Initiative marks a departure from prior harm reduction policies, directing $100 million toward outreach, psychiatric care, and housing for Americans experiencing homelessness and addiction.March 16, 20267 min read
newsmedicaidfundingFederal Medicaid Probe Threatens Coverage for 1.7 Million New Yorkers — Including Those Seeking Addiction TreatmentThe Trump administration has opened a fraud investigation into New York's $124 billion Medicaid program, threatening to freeze payments if the state doesn't respond within 30 days. For the 1.7 million New Yorkers who depend on Medicaid-funded health care—including thousands in addiction treatment—the stakes couldn't be higher.March 13, 20268 min read
newsmental-healthfundingFederal Government Opens $69 Million in Mental Health Grants, Targets Suicide Prevention and Youth CareThe federal government is making $69 million available to healthcare systems, states, and community providers working on youth mental health, suicide prevention, and involuntary treatment programs.March 10, 20267 min read
opioidfentanyloverdoseFederal Lab Develops New Drug That Could Cut Fentanyl Overdose Recovery Time in HalfLawrence Livermore National Laboratory researchers have developed subetadex, a new compound that cuts fentanyl overdose recovery time from 35 to 17 minutes and remains active in the body for 7.5 hours — compared to Narcan's 30-80 minutes.March 3, 20268 min read
telehealthbuprenorphineopioidFederal Rule Lets Doctors Prescribe Addiction Medication Over Video Calls Through End of 2026Federal agencies extended telehealth flexibilities for prescribing buprenorphine—a medication to treat opioid use disorder—through the end of 2026, allowing New Yorkers to access addiction treatment remotely without an initial office visit.March 2, 20264 min read
deep-diveopioidtreatmentMethadone Treatment Tripled Since 2010, But Most New Yorkers With Opioid Use Disorder Still Can't Get ItNew research reveals methadone treatment has tripled since 2010, yet three out of four people with opioid use disorder receive no medication at all. A pending federal bill could change how New Yorkers access this life-saving treatment.February 20, 20268 min read
policyfederaltreatmentNew Federal Rules for Addiction Treatment Records Just Took Effect. Here's What Patients in New York Should Know.For decades, addiction treatment records were governed by some of the strictest privacy rules in American healthcare. On February 16, federal enforcement of sweeping updates to those rules officially began. What changed, what stayed the same, and what it means for New Yorkers seeking help.February 19, 20266 min read
federalfundingtreatmentKennedy Announces $100M Federal Plan to Link Homeless Americans to Addiction TreatmentThe Trump administration's first major addiction policy move pairs $100 million in new federal funding with a sharp break from harm reduction — a combination that has addiction medicine providers watching closely.February 18, 20263 min read
fundingfederalsamhsaSAMHSA Sends $794 Million in Block Grants to States for Mental Health and AddictionThe federal government sent nearly $800 million to states and territories for addiction treatment and mental health services — the largest single block grant distribution of the year, covering everything from community clinics to substance abuse prevention.February 17, 20263 min read
