Drug & Alcohol Testing Industry News
Genetics and heritability of opioid addiction: New study
A new study carried out by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder examined the genetic basis of opioid use disorder (OUD) in rats. The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry, used over 260 inbred rats from 15 strains that were allowed to...
A case of drug-induced psychosis treated with a second-generation antipsychotic
In recent years In the United States, the Southeast Asian plant Mitragyna speciosa, commercially known as “kratom” has been increasingly used by individuals seeking relief from chronic pain, anxiety, and symptoms of opioid withdrawal. While its use remains legal at...
Hypertension deaths linked to excessive alcohol use on the rise: New study
According to the results of a new study, the estimated number of hypertension deaths linked to excessive alcohol consumption was higher in 2020-2021 compared to 2016-2017, with a higher increase among women than men. The study, published by researchers from the...
27 people hospitalized in Baltimore due to suspected mass overdose
Earlier in July, Baltimore experienced a severe local crisis when 27 people in the Penn North neighbourhood were hospitalized after a mass drug overdose, with five people in critical condition. The overdoses are suspected to be caused by opioid-type drugs, which were...
Young women have less cannabis cravings after alcohol consumption: New study
According to the results of a recent study presented at the Research Society on Alcoholism’s 2025 meeting, alcohol consumption affects cannabis craving differently in young men and women. Specifically, it was found that following any amount of alcohol use, young...
Ontario has one inhalation site despite shift to smoking drugs
A recent CBC article authored by Naama Weingarten and Kate McGillivray examined Ontario's lack of supervised inhalation sites despite a growing shift from injection to smoking among drug users. According to health experts, Ontario is far behind in protecting the...
U.S. health experts raising concerns over “gas station heroin”
In recent months, US health authorities have increasingly voiced concerns over the drug tianeptine, commonly known as "gas station heroin" following a spike in its use and its associated health risks. Tianeptine is an unauthorised drug in the US, and has been...
Alcohol use disorder causes faster immune damage in women’s brains
According to the results of a new scientific study published in the journal Biological Psychiatry, women with alcohol use disorder (AUD) have lower levels of brain immune cells called microglia compared to women who do not have AUD. Moreover, the findings of the...
International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
Every year on June 26, the world observes the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, a United Nations–designated day to strengthen action and cooperation in achieving a drug-free world. At the Drug and Alcohol Testing Association of Canada...