The CTN Pacific Northwest Node is located at the Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute (ADAI) at the University of Washington. Every two years, ADAI hosts a symposium related to cannabis. The PNW Node would like to invite you to this year’s event and also encourage anyone familiar with CHS to consider submitting an abstract for a digital poster! The Dose Makes the Poison: Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome Goes Mainstream September 18, 2026 | 9:00am – 4:00pm PT  Attend virtually or in person in Seattle, WA CME accreditation pending for providers; Certificate of attendance available for both in-person and virtual attendees  Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) is becoming increasingly visible in clinical settings, but many providers are navigating diagnosis, treatment, and patient communication without clear guidance.  In a recent survey of Washington State healthcare providers, 70% reported treating patients experiencing severe abdominal pain, persistent nausea, retching, and relentless vomiting associated with heavy cannabis use.   Patients may not recognize cannabis as the cause of their symptoms, or may be skeptical that CHS exists at all, making effective care even more challenging. 

The CTN Community Representative Council (CIRCL) is a collaborative of the national CTN that comes together bimonthly to courageously share what’s happening in their communities. This brief is an overview of topics discussed at this meeting and is not an exhaustive review. Download a copy of the brief. The following themes and discussions were highlighted during this meeting: The thoughts and experiences herein are those of CIRCL members and do not represent the National Institute on Drug Abuse or the Clinical Trials Network. The voices empowered by CIRCL are intended to drive research and clinical efforts in the CTN and across the US. Trends in substance use Public health impacts across the US Trust has been lost – how do we regain it? Hep C infection rates may be increasing Housing crisis is getting worse for people with substance use Despite challenges, solutions rise to the top Posted on April 13, 2026.

Here are the latest items added to the CTN Dissemination Library for March – April 2026 (this post will be updated as new items come in): Health plan disenrollment and mortality after initiation of medications for opioid use disorder. Nguyen AP, et al. JAMA Psychiatry 2026 (in press). Comparative effectiveness of social-contextual treatments for improving substance-related problems among Black adults: An individual-level data synthesis. Espinosa A, et al. Addiction 2026 (in press). (CTN-0125) Patient characteristics associated with successful initiation of extended-release naltrexone in the X:BOT trial. Potter K, et al. Substance Use & Misuse 2026 (in press). (CTN-0051) Research ethics in stopping opioid use disorder medication [editorial]. Weiss RD, et al. JAMA Psychiatry 2026 (in press). (CTN-0100) Posted on April 1, 2026; updated April 10, 2026

New Node Coordinator for the Appalachian Node: The Appalachian Node is excited to welcome Ellen Kline (ellenkline@pitt.edu) as our Node Coordinator. The Brief Report for CTN-0135 has been published: Winstanley EL, Leibschutz JM, Murray-Krezan C, Switzer GE, Nash S, Kawasaki S. Brief Report: Meth, Tranq, Gas Station Heroin & Other Drugs Complicating Addiction Treatment. American Journal on the Addictions 2026, 1-4. DOI: 10.1111/ajad.70151. The report describes the results of a single survey item from a national survey (n=396) that was conducted for CTN-0135 using a random sample of clinicians waivered to prescribe buprenorphine in the U.S. The item collected information about clinicians’ perceptions of other drugs, besides illicitly manufactured fentanyl, complicating treatment. Clinicians reported methamphetamine (86.4%), synthetic cannabinoids (42.7%), and xylazine (41.4%) were complicating treatment. Reports varied by geographic region. The study demonstrates that rapid clinician surveys can provide real-time data on changing patterns of drug use’s impact on treatment outcomes. Posted on March 17, 2026

Join the Health Systems Node for the next installment of their Seminar Series: Effects of Cannabis Legalization on Mental Health and Substance Use in Adults and Thoughts on Future Directions in Cannabis Research Thursday, April 2, 2026, 10am PT / 1pm ET Dr. Christian Hopfer, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and addiction psychiatrist, will briefly review the pharmacology of cannabinoids, present results of a recently completed study on the effects of cannabis legalization on mental health and substance use, and discuss ongoing projects including a randomized clinical trial of cannabidiol as a possible harm reduction intervention for cannabis use disorder in young adults. He will also discuss future directions for cannabis research with a particular emphasis on how large health system records could be leveraged to address critical questions in cannabis research. Join the meeting hereMeeting ID: 250 658 877 216 6Passcode: B8jq2m9A Posted on March 17, 2026

In this webinar from the Northeast Node’s Science Series, Dr. Lynn E. Fiellin will discuss the: Role of Digital Health Games, like those developed by the play2PREVENT Lab, which can serve as effective tools for addressing adolescent mental health and substance use challenges by engaging youth where they are and providing scalable, cost-effective interventions. Impact of User-Centric Game Development and examine the importance of involving adolescents in the design and development process of health-focused video games, ensuring relevance and effectiveness through iterative feedback and collaboration. Efficacy of Evidence-Based Interventions reviewing the methodologies and outcomes of randomized controlled trials conducted to assess the impact of digital health games on health behaviors, such as opioid misuse prevention and mental health promotion among high-risk adolescents. Register for this session here!

Join the Guam Behavioral Health & Wellness Center and the Pacific Southwest Addiction Technology Transfer Center (Region 9) for the 6th Annual Behavioral Health and Addictions Virtual Conference! This live virtual event is available at no-cost and will take place during National Recovery Month on September 24-25, 2025 (see time zone conversion chart within the agenda at-a-glance attached for days/times of presentations and workshops). All workshops are eligible for one (1) continuing education credit/contact hour, with select sessions eligible for one (1) CME or pharmacy credit/contact hour. Sponsored by: Guam Behavioral Health & Wellness Center (GBHWC) and the Pacific Southwest Addiction Technology Transfer Center (HHS Region 9) Learn more and register here! Posted on September 19, 2025

Congratulations to the CTN-0139 Co-Care PRaCTICE study sites’ RC and RA on your dedication and efforts to meet the recruitment and enrollment goal. This is to acknowledge your willingness to go the extra mile while attending to the patient participants’ needs and responding to their requests. Thank you for all that you do to create success! Posted on August 7, 2025.

The Primary Care SIG aims to engage primary care in research, develop substance use treatment interventions relevant to community-based practice, and promote the transfer of evidence-based results from substance use research into community-based practices.   Next Primary Care SIG Meeting  Loneliness and SUD in Primary CareJuly 28, 2025, 12-1 pm ETSebastian Tong, MD, MPH Associate Professor Department of Family Medicine University of Washington Zoom link here! (note: this link has been updated)Meeting ID: 958 7249 4214Passcode: 314203 Primary Care SIG Schedule and Leadership The Primary Care SIG meets every other month on the 4th Monday of the month from 9-10am PT/12-1pm ET. Interested in presenting at a future Primary Care SIG meeting? Email Sebastian Tong at setong@uw.edu. To join the Primary Care SIG webinar series listserv, please provide your contact information here. Posted on June 16, 2025, updated on July 16, 2025

Join the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Center for Addiction Research, part of the CTN Ohio Valley Node, is hosting a Summer Speaker Series. The series will highlight cutting-edge UC addiction research and UC-community collaborations related to prevention and treatment. The next session in the series will be held on August 13: Psychedelics as Therapeutics for Substance Use Disorder: A Perspective on Their Neurobiology and Future Clinical Applications August 13, 2025, 12-1pm ET Host: T. John Winhusen, PhD, University of Cincinnati Presenters: Davide Amato, MSc, PhD, PD, University of Cincinnati Jon Kostas, Association for Prescription Psychedelics Register here!