The United States has seen promising declining trends in high school youth students’ use of substances over the last decade or so, with the most significant declines from 2013 to 2023 in teens drinking alcohol, currently using marijuana, or any use of select illicit drugs (CDC, 2023). Yet with overall youth substance use decreasing over the last decade or so, youth overdose deaths have increased significantly. From 2019 to 2020, overdose rates increased by 94%, and in 2022, 22 youth per week died of overdose in the United States (Nash, 2025). This astronomical increase in youth overdose deaths has been attributed to the use of prescription medications laced with fentanyl.
With such a shift, both in substance use and also overdose deaths, it’s worth asking: in the context of a drastically changing world, what has impacted substance use in youth? Coming off of the Inaugural CADCA Youth Leadership Summit in the first week of February 2026, it’s worth taking time to review and assess the shift in youth substance use prevention and treatment over the decades, highlighting changes in approaches to youth engagement to ultimately educate and empower young people as they enter adulthood.
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IDEA - Infectious Diseases Education & Assessment |
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The University of Washington School of Medicine Infectious Diseases Education & Assessment (IDEA) Program created and manages five no-cost, online curricula to help health care professionals and trainees learn how to diagnose, treat, and prevent STD/STIs, HIV, hepatitis C, and hepatitis B. More than 100 lessons offer free continuing education (CME, CNE, pharmacology CE for APNs, CE) and Certificates of Completion. Since persons with substance use disorders may also have a hepatitis C or HIV infection, this Hepatitis C Online lesson and this National HIV Curriculum lesson enhance the addiction workforce competency to serve these populations. The up-to-date curricula are fully funded by the federal government and are free from commercial bias.
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Addiction Science Made Easy |
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Barriers to Buprenorphine Initiation in Patients Using Fentanyl
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| Mobile Telemedicine for Treating Hepatitis C in Rural People Who
Inject Drugs
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Looking for a way to help families and loved ones affected by substance use in your community?
Calling organizations, behavioral health practitioners, and community groups seeking to implement a structured family support program: this training is for you!
The Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) Network is looking for communities interested in implementing the Invitation to Change model, through live, virtual facilitator trainings in April and May 2026.
The Invitation to Change is a holistic, evidence-based model developed by CMC: Foundation for Change to help families and loved ones affected by substance use.
Apply here: https://attcnetwork.org/itc/
Email: networkoffice@attcnetwork.org
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The ATTC Messenger is a monthly e-newsletter published by the ATTC Network Coordinating Office.
Copyright © 2026 ATTC Network. All rights reserved.
www.attcnetwork.org
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