According to recent data released by Quest Diagnostics, one of the largest drug-testing laboratories in the U.S., the incidence of positive drug tests among U.S. workers has reached its highest level in two decades over the past year. Furthermore, the results of the study show that this increase was in part driven by an augmentation … Continued
Continue ReadingAccording to a recent analysis article published by CNN Health, one of the latest concerning changes in the illicit drug market across the U.S. and Canada has been the appearance of xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer also referred to as “tranq” or “tranq dope.” Xylazine is used by veterinarians to sedate large animals, and acts as … Continued
Continue ReadingOn February 28th, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“Proposal”) in the Federal Register with the aim to amend the transportation industry drug testing program procedures regulation and specifically, to include oral fluid testing. This would allow employers the choice to include oral fluid specimens in their drug testing … Continued
Continue ReadingEarlier in March of this year, an 28-year-old woman was charged with impaired driving in the death of the nine-year-old Baeleigh Maurice in Saskatoon on Sept. 9, 2021. The woman, who has not yet been identified, is scheduled to make her first court appearance on April 12. At the time of the accident, the victim … Continued
Continue ReadingThe number of people dying from illicit drugs across Canada has reached record numbers in many provinces, while the opioid crisis has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, health experts and advocacy groups have been urging the government for the implementation of safe supply programs in order to reduce the number of overdose-related deaths. In … Continued
Continue ReadingAccording to the results of a new study examining patients receiving treatment for opioid addiction in Ontario, a recommendation change in March 2020 that allowed for more take-home treatments during the pandemic resulted in less overdoses and in increased retention of patients in the program. Specifically, the study, published in the journal JAMA, followed over … Continued
Continue ReadingEarlier in March, a 28-year-old woman was released from Saskatoon police custody after being accused of cannabis-impaired driving and causing the death of 9-year-old Baeleigh Maurice. The victim was riding her scooter at a marked crosswalk in Saskatoon on September 2021 when she was hit by a pickup truck. Subsequently, the suspect was charged with … Continued
Continue ReadingIn a recent article published by Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Dr. Seonaid Nolan and Dr. Julia Zazoulina discussed ways to provide better care for individuals affected by opioid use disorder. In 2021, British Columbia reported record numbers of drug overdose-related deaths, while addiction and health experts have been advocating … Continued
Continue ReadingAccording to Jenny Matthews, the manager of a drug-checking program being evaluated by the BC Centre for Substance Use, checking illicit drugs for deadly toxic substances is the most effective option to prevent fatal overdoses in the absence of a safer supply. Moreover, in her interview with CTV News, Mathews also noted that drug-checking services … Continued
Continue ReadingEarlier in February, B.C.’s Interior Health Authority issued a toxic drug alert for the region due to “extreme” levels of fentanyl and benzodiazepines detected in tested drug samples. According to the health agency, multiple samples were found to contain up to 55% fentanyl, up from the average of 10%. Moreover, levels of the benzodiazepine etizolam … Continued
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