Drug & Alcohol Testing Industry News
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...
Federal court approves random testing at nuclear facilities
On June 6, 2023, the Federal Court endorsed the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s move to require pre-placement and random alcohol and drug testing of workers in safety-critical positions at high-security nuclear facilities, as mandated by CNSC regulatory document...
Hamilton health board approves new opioid pilot program
Earlier in June, Hamilton's Public Health Board unanimously voted to implement a new action plan created to address the ongoing opioid crisis. Specifically, the plan includes an 18-month pilot project which aims to prevent overdose deaths in the city. According to...
Drug testing and alert system introduced for Irish festivals
Earlier in May, Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE) announced the launch of its new drug harm-reduction campaign for music festivals. The program originated as a drug testing pilot that was first introduced at the Electric Picnic music festival in 2022, and will...