Drug & Alcohol Testing Industry News
Overdose deaths from multiple substances on the rise in Ontario
According to the findings of a new report published by the Ontario Drug Policy Research Network (ODPRN) and Public Health Ontario in September, there has been an increasing number of deaths linked to multiple toxic substances in Ontario since the beginning of the...
B.C. cities banning public drug use
Over the last months, several cities in British Columbia have proposed and implemented bylaws to restrict and ban illicit drug use in public spaces as a response to the exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act granted to the province by Health Canada,...
New Brunswick pursues legislation for involuntary drug treatment
Earlier in September, the New Brunswick government announced it is pursuing new legislation to address drug addiction that could result in individuals being forced into treatment against their will. Specifically, the proposed legislation aims to give police officers...
Oregon sees pressure to change drug decriminalization
In recent months, Oregon state’s drug decriminalization legislation has been facing significant pressure as Portland and other cities prepare to lobby the government to reform or repeal it. In 2020, Oregon became the first U.S. state to decriminalize possession of...
Reviewing B.C. six months into drug decriminalization
A recent analysis authored by Elizabeth McSheffrey and published by Global News examined the challenges faced by B.C. following the implementation of illicit drug decriminalization in the province. Specifically, some of the challenges identified include unnecessary...
Drug alerts in Toronto and Waterloo
Earlier in September, the Waterloo Region Integrated Drug Strategy issued a community drug alert after 31 suspected overdoses and drug poisonings over the span of four days, which were recorded between Aug. 31 and Sept. 3. Moreover, preliminary data on the region's...
October 2023 DATAC Newsletter
Welcome to DATAC's Newsletter for the third quarter of 2023, chocked full of interesting and educational materials for all of our readers! In this quarter's newsletter you will find a spotlight on one of our long time members and Northern Ontario business success...
Kitchener consumption site acquires drug testing machine
Kitchener’s consumption and treatment services (CTS) site obtained a new rapid drug testing machine in August with the aim of reducing local drug poisonings, as well as to help "clean up" the local drug supply and provide more information for individuals who consume...
Transit Windsor experiences bus driver shortage
A recent analysis article published by CBC News examined the current shortage of city bus drivers in Windsor. According to Tyson Cragg, Transit Windsor's executive director, the service is short of approximately 10% of its pool of 200 bus drivers and has been relying...