Despite the new provincial guidelines issued in March that allowed physicians more freedom to prescribed opiates and other substances to individuals struggling with addiction, drug testers in B.C. have been reporting higher concentrations of fentanyl and tranquilizes in the province’s illicit drug supply. In order to qualify for the opioid-containing medication, which is covered by … Continued
Continue ReadingAlberta Justice Minister Doug Schweitzer, revealed in early August that the government plans to open a drug treatment court in Medicine Hat with the goal of reducing crime by providing treatment to individuals struggling with addiction. A drug treatment court provides an alternative to prison for nonviolent offenders and is aimed to rehabilitate them, as … Continued
Continue ReadingThe Custody and Control Form (CCF), is the chain of custody form that is used by collectors when obtaining a specimen to send to the laboratory for testing. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) issued a revised CCF on August 17, 2020. The new … Continued
Continue ReadingEarlier in August, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) released new guidelines, the PPSC Deskbook, for prosecuting the illegal possession of controlled substances under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. As part of the new guidelines, federal prosecutors pursuing charges for illegal drug use are now urged to only criminally prosecute individuals with the … Continued
Continue ReadingThe NFL Players Association had announced to all players that the window for annual drug testing was moved to the period of August 7-17 due to the inability of the league to complete the collection process. According to the association, the drug testing procedures were pushed back due to increased COVID-19 screenings. Since the beginning … Continued
Continue ReadingIn recent weeks, the Yukon government has announced a sharp increase in opioid-related deaths. So far in 2020, a total of 13 people have died from drug overdoses, which is double the total number of deaths recorded in previous years. Moreover, 8 of the 13 deaths were a result of consumption of opioids and toxic … Continued
Continue ReadingThe Court of Appeal of Newfoundland and Labrador has recently overturned a decision of the lower court, which had upheld an arbitration award on judicial review. Consequently, three separate reasons were issued by the Court of Appeal addressing undue hardship limits of accommodation which should be considered by employers regarding impairment from medication in safety-sensitive … Continued
Continue ReadingAccording to the findings of a new report released by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA), substance use by Canadians is costing close to $46 billion annually. The report, entitled Canadian Substance Use Costs and Harms, also states that this translates into $1,250 for every person in the country, while substance use … Continued
Continue ReadingAccording to the findings of the first report which analyzed data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) new Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse database, cannabis was the most common substance found in positive drug and alcohol tests among commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The Clearinghouse is a national online database aimed to improve road … Continued
Continue ReadingVancouver Police Chief Adam Palmer, who heads the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) is calling for the decriminalization of simple possession of illicit drugs. Instead, the CACP has proposed to improve access to health care, treatment and social services to deter people from the criminal justice system. “Arresting individuals for simple possession of … Continued
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