Drug & Alcohol Testing Industry News
Random tests catch impaired pilots
Earlier this year, in June, Lawrence Russell, a Delta Air Lines pilot was arrested in Edinburgh, Scotland before a flight was set to take off for New York. He was accused of having alcohol over the legal blood limit in his system. While Scottish law enforcement did...
Ontario worker fired after testing positive for cannabis twice
In June, an Ontario arbitrator upheld the suspension and dismissal of an Ontario gold mine worker who failed a drug test for cannabis after a serious workplace incident and a return-to-work test. The employer, Newmont-Goldcorp Canada (NGC), hired the worker in 2007 at...
Damaged fire extinguisher deemed inappropriate reason for drug test
In a new Alberta grievance arbitration decision, Fort Mckay Logistics LP, Fort Mcmurray Division v General Teamsters, local Union No. 362, 2022 CanLII 78227, an employer’s termination of employment of an employee due to a failed drug test was overturned, since it was...
Overdose deaths in B.C. on the rise
According to recent data released by the B.C. Coroners Service, there were 1,018 overdose-related deaths in the province in the first five months of 2023. These figures correspond to a 2.9% increase in the number of deaths reported to the service compared to the same...
Vigilante Aklavik residents try to rid town of drug dealers
Police in the Northwest Territories have been warning residents not to take justice into their own hands after two incidents of residents pursuing and assaulting suspected drug dealers. On June 17, residents of Aklavik, N.W.T. organized anti-drug demonstrations...
July 2023 DATAC Newsletter
Here is our July 2023 Newsletter, packed full of helpful information for all of our readers! In this quarter's newsletter you will find a company spotlight on one of our amazing members, Sure Test Alcohol & Drug Testing, headed by Nancy Wilcox in Halifax, Nova...
London street drugs getting stronger and cheaper
According to a recent article published by CBC News, individuals who use fentanyl on the streets of London have reported it becoming more potent and cheaper than ever, thereby increasing the risk of opioid overdose and death. "I really believe it's getting stronger,"...
Huge methamphetamine seizure in Vancouver
Earlier in June, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced it seized 6,300 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden in jugs labelled as canola oil in Metro Vancouver over the last six months. Specifically, one of the seizures of the drug was the largest-ever...
Alcohol policies across Canada receive a failing grade
According to the findings released in a report published by the Canadian Alcohol Policy Evaluation project (CAPE) and the University of Victoria's Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR), alcohol control policies in all 13 provinces and territories have...