Alcohol, Drugs and Impairment Division

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Itasca, IL — The National Safety Council estimates that as many as 433 people may be killed and 49,400 seriously injured in motor-vehicle crashes during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

Indianapolis — Some patients who – as part of a study – received non-opioid painkillers for chronic back, hip and knee pain expressed awe at how the drugs compared to opioid-based treatment in terms of effectiveness, according to researchers from the Regenstrief Institute.

Washington — Drugged driving – particularly involving marijuana and opioids – is now a substantial factor in fatal crashes, according to a new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association and the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (Responsibility.org).

Denver — In Colorado, marijuana use among workers in certain jobs “in which workers have responsibility for their own safety or the safety of others” exceeds that of the state’s general workforce, according to a recent study from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Minneapolis — Non-opioid painkillers are as effective as opioids in treating moderate to severe chronic back pain and hip or knee osteoarthritis pain, according to researchers from the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System.

Washington — Every nine minutes, a child 6 years old or younger is taken to the emergency room because of an unintentional medicine-related poisoning – and one child dies every 12 days – according to a recent report from Safe Kids Worldwide.

Bethesda, MD — Alcohol-related emergency rooms visits surged by more than 60 percent over a recent eight-year period – with women and 45- to 64-year-olds experiencing the largest increases – according to a study from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Washington — Results of a new poll highlight a gap between awareness that marijuana can cause impaired driving and the belief that its use is contributing to the rising number of fatal vehicle crashes in the United States.

Atlanta – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has launched a campaign intended to help reduce opioid-related overdose deaths.