HealthDay (4/21, Thompson) reports a study found that “people have a doubled risk of hospitalization for drug poisoning if benzodiazepines are added to their gabapentinoids,” and that “taking opioids with gabapentinoids is associated with a 30% increased risk.” Researchers observed that “about 9 out of 10 (89%) patients took an opioid alongside a gabapentinoid at some point during the study, while more than half (55%) took benzodiazepines alongside gabapentinoids.” They found the “highest risk of drug poisoning was found in the 90 days before people were prescribed gabapentinoids, suggesting that docs prescribed the drugs because they were concerned about opioid or benzo use.” The study was published in PLOS Medicine.

Related Links:

— “Less-Dangerous Painkiller Still Has High Risk For Drug Interactions,”Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, April 21, 2026

Psychiatry Advisor (4/21, Nye) reports a study found that “children and young adults with vs without autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a higher prevalence of feeding, gastrointestinal (GI), sleep, and anxiety-related disorders.” The study included “1793 children and young adults…diagnosed with ASD, among whom 675 had 1 or more feeding, GI, sleep, and anxiety-related comorbidities.” Researchers noted that “higher rates for feeding and sleeping disorders were observed among younger children, boys, and White children,” while “higher rates for GI disorder were observed in middle-childhood, among girls, and White children.” Additionally, “higher rates for GI disorders were observed in middle-childhood, among girls, and White children.” The study was published in the Journal of Pediatric Health Care.

Related Links:

— “Feeding, Sleep, and Anxiety Disorders More Frequent in Youths With ASD,”Jessica Nye, Psychiatry Advisor , April 21, 2026

HealthDay (4/20, Thompson) reports a study suggests that naloxone “may not fully reverse ODs caused by synthetic opioids.” The researchers “tracked how naloxone worked among 30 patients fed a continuous drip of fentanyl or sufentanil until their breathing slowed. Of the patients, 12 had never used opioids and 18 were daily opioid users.” Study results indicated that “naloxone restored breath within 2 to 4 minutes across all participants, but its effects were diminished. Patients appeared to be awake and partially alert, but tests showed that their breathing had not fully recovered, researchers said.” Considering the results, “bystanders should be ready to give additional doses of naloxone if the first doesn’t restore an overdose victim’s breathing, researchers said.” The study was published in Anesthesiology.

Related Links:

— “Naloxone’s OD-Reversing Powers Challenged By Today’s Opioids, Tests Show,”Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, April 20, 2026

HealthDay (4/20, Thompson) reports a study found that teenagers who started using cannabis saw reduced “brain development across a range of skills, including memory, attention, language and processing speed.” The research team “tracked more than 11,000 children from 9 to 10 years of age until they were 16 and 17, following both their brain development and their substance use.” Results indicated that “teens who used weed had restricted development over time. In some cases, weed users performed just as well as – or even better than – others when they were younger, but fell behind as they grew older. Their progress leveled off, while their peers continued to improve. Researchers also found that THC levels in teenagers was related to worse memory over time, but not CBD levels.” The study was published in Neuropsychopharmacology.

Related Links:

— “Weed Blunts Brain Development In Teens,”Elana Gotkine, HealthDay , April 20, 2026

HealthDay (4/17, Gotkine) reported a study found that “most parents of children and adolescents aged 10 to 19 years are unaware that the U.S. federal minimum legal age (MLA) for tobacco sales is 21 years.” The researchers “assessed knowledge of the MLA of sales for electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), cigarettes, and nicotine pouches among U.S. parents of adolescents.” They found that “percentage of participants who correctly identified 21 years as the MLA of purchase for each substance was 47.1, 47.7, 46.7, and 81.6 percent for e-cigarettes/vapes, cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and alcohol, respectively. For each product, the most common incorrect response was age 18 years (39.8, 39.8, 35.6, and 9.1 percent for e-cigarettes/vapes, cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and alcohol, respectively).” The study was published in Pediatrics.

Related Links:

— “Parents of Children, Teens Unaware of Minimum Legal Age for Tobacco,”Elana Gotkine, HealthDay, April 17, 2026