Drug & Alcohol Testing Industry News
UBC lab testing new portable drug-checking device
A research lab at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is currently testing a new, portable drug-checking device that could help to identify smaller concentrations of drug components. The laboratory, led by Dr. Jason Hein, associate professor in the Chemistry...
Flexibility in prescribing buprenorphine does not increase overdose deaths: New study
According to the results of a new study, the proportion of opioid-linked overdose deaths involving buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid use disorder, did not significantly increase after prescribing flexibilities were introduced in the U.S. during the...
A look inside the drugs circulating in Calgary
A recent analysis published by CBC News and authored by Judy Aldous and Carla Turner examined the composition of drugs seized in the Calgary community. According to data provided by the Calgary Police Service, in terms of drugs dealt by the gram, cocaine accounted for...
Trades people falling victim to addiction
A recent analysis published by CBC News and authored by Judy Aldous, Carla Turner, and Taylor Simmons examined the reasons behind the rise in overdose-related deaths among men working in trades. Isolation, lifestyle, and physical aspects of the job have been...
DATAC Return-To-Duty Webinar
DATAC is starting off 2023 with some new ways to build your industry knowledge! This year we are bringing you a series of webinars to help you navigate the complicated world of drug and alcohol testing in Canada. Often, due to the lack of regulations for drug and...
Decriminalization and safe supply are key for harm reduction: Opinion
A recent editorial published by the McGill Daily and authored by Yunjie Zhang discussed recent efforts to address Canada’s ongoing opioid crisis, as well as the essential roles of decriminalization and safe supply in harm reduction in Montreal. According to data...
Harm reduction items now available from vending machines in Atlantic Canada
As part of new harm reduction measures funded by the federal government, vending machines that dispense harm reduction items including HIV self-testing kits, clean needles, and naloxone kits have been installed in Atlantic Canada. In addition, there are plans to...
New B.C. drug law exemption could reduce seizures of some drugs in half
According to a new analysis by Postmedia, the recent decriminalization of small amounts of specific illicit drugs in B.C. could decrease the number of seizures of some drugs by more than half. Following the decriminalization, which took place on January 31, B.C....
Xylazine increasingly appearing in Canada’s street drug supply
In recent months, xylazine, a potent sedative circulating in the illicit drug supply in the United States, has been increasingly detected in Canada’s street drugs, as health experts have raised concerns due to its risk of contributing to overdose-related deaths....