The Lancet series co-authors state that technology companies deliberately design features like infinite scroll, autoplay, and personalized recommendation feeds to maximize user engagement and data collection.

Overview Debates Related claims Topics Sources

The proposed FY26 budget restructuring includes a $1 billion funding reduction affecting community mental health centers, suicide prevention, and substance use treatment programs.

The President's FY26 budget proposed dissolving the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Health Resources and Services Administration to consolidate them into a new Administration for a Healthy America.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reinstated $2 billion in mental health and substance use grants on January 14, 2026, following bipartisan pushback.

On January 13, 2026, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration terminated hundreds of grants totaling approximately $2 billion for mental health and substance use disorder services.

Heavy alcohol use, drug use, and smoking were associated with looking biologically older in FAHR-FaceAge facial photograph analyses, with current smokers appearing older than former smokers.

A study in BMJ Open associated childhood adversity with 60% of drug use in Wales, 57% in England, 49% of violence in Wales, and 46% in England.

Ultra-processed food and addiction researcher Ashley Gearhardt noted that binge eating emerged as a recognized clinical problem alongside the growing dominance of highly processed foods in the food supply.

Documented marijuana use among young adult stroke patients in the study region increased from under 1% in 1993–1994 to 30.6% in 2020, accounting for most of the overall substance use increase.

Documented substance use among stroke patients aged 20 to 54 increased from 4.6% in 1993–1994 to 40.2% in 2020.

The planned 2027 Pittsburgh GLP-1 trial will evaluate whether the drug helps individuals with addiction while reducing criminal recidivism and improving employment, health, and housing outcomes.

The planned 2027 Pittsburgh GLP-1 trial will enroll up to 1,200 adults with alcohol use disorder, opioid use disorder, or both, who face high risk of criminal-justice involvement.

The Center for Addiction Science, Policy and Research and the Allegheny County Department of Human Services plan to launch a GLP-1 clinical trial in Pittsburgh in early 2027.

Half of the up to 1,200 participants enrolled in the planned 2027 Pittsburgh GLP-1 trial will be randomly assigned to take Novo Nordisk's Wegovy.

A clinical trial starting in early 2027 by the Center for Addiction Science, Policy and Research and Allegheny County will evaluate weekly semaglutide injections in 1,200 participants with substance use disorders.

The clinicians' open letter warned that many UK children spend longer on classroom screens than recommended for an entire 24-hour period.

More than 150 UK clinicians sent an open letter to Education Secretary Lucy Powell and Health Secretary Yvette Cooper warning that classroom screen time harms children's physical and developmental health.

An analysis cited in the clinicians' open letter indicates nearly one million children in England use screens in most school lessons, while 2.6 million use devices daily.

A legal mobile phone ban in English schools took effect in June 2026, though devices used specifically for educational purposes remain excluded from the restrictions.

Signatories of the open letter to UK ministers include GPs, paediatricians, audiologists, speech therapists, and Health Professionals for Safer Screens founder Dr. Becky Foljambe.

A Department for Education spokesperson stated the UK government is developing screen-time guidance for children aged five to 18 and consulting on artificial intelligence and edtech safety.