Lead: Tobacco industry contributions to the development of ultraprocessed food in the United States, 1985–2007: A case study of LunchablesLead: Tobacco industry contributions to the development of ultraprocessed food in the United States, 1985–2007: A case study of Lunchables
This Week in Addiction Medicine from ASAM
A concise news briefing shares recent addiction medicine research on topics ranging from tobacco-linked ultra-processed foods to overdose trends, naloxone use, and medication effects. The episode is aimed at those seeking up-to-date, evidence-based perspectives on treatment, risk and policy in substance use and addiction.
8:05•9 Jun 2026
From Lunchables to Naloxone: Fresh Research Highlights in Addiction Medicine
Episode Overview
- Tobacco companies used cigarette marketing strategies and food technologies to shape Lunchables and other ultra-processed foods, raising concerns for children’s health.
- Recent data suggest all four waves of the US overdose crisis may be declining, yet stimulant-only and xylazine-involved deaths are rising and racial gaps remain large.
- Multimodal cannabis use is linked with a much higher prevalence of cannabis use disorder than single-mode, especially when smoking, vaping, oral and dabbing are combined.
- OTP staff see community pharmacies as a way to expand methadone access but worry about stigma and loss of counselling unless telehealth and better coordination are in place.
- Naloxone administration in suspected opioid-related out-of-hospital cardiac arrests is associated with improved survival and neurological outcomes, supporting calls for further trials.
“Philip Morris applied a "consumer-driven product development" strategy previously used for tobacco in the development process to maximize consumer appeal.”
What insights can experts and survivors share about addiction? This news-style episode from ASAM’s "This Week in Addiction Medicine" lines up a series of recent studies, giving busy clinicians and recovery-focused listeners a fast, research-heavy snapshot of what’s changing in the field. The headline story looks at how tobacco companies shaped ultra-processed foods, zooming in on Lunchables.
Listeners hear how Philip Morris used the same "consumer-driven product development" strategy from cigarettes to design kid-friendly snack packs, while also borrowing food-tech know-how to create both lower-nicotine cigarettes and "better-for-you" low-fat Lunchables to keep health-conscious customers on board. The authors argue that policies used against tobacco could also be applied to ultra-processed foods to protect children.
From there, the episode shifts through a quick-fire run of major papers: trends in US overdose deaths and how different substances and racial groups are affected; the link between different ways of using cannabis and the odds of cannabis use disorder; and OTP staff views on expanding methadone access via community pharmacies. You’ll also hear data on naloxone in suspected opioid-related out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, including findings that "patients who received naloxone... had higher probability of survival to hospital discharge".
Further studies compare cognitive effects of buprenorphine versus extended-release naltrexone, examine brain networks linked to alcohol-related cognitive and motor problems, and contrast neonatal outcomes after prenatal exposure to methadone versus buprenorphine. The tone stays concise and factual, ideal for clinicians, policy-makers, and anyone who likes evidence first and opinion second. If you want a weekly briefing that keeps your understanding of addiction medicine sharp without drowning you in jargon, this one’s worth a slot in your routine.
Which of these studies could most influence the way you think about treatment and prevention?
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