Drug & Alcohol Testing Industry News
New cannabis breathalyzer developed by UCLA scientists
Earlier in September, researchers at UCLA and ElectraTect, a UCLA startup, published new research which describes testing a prototype of a "cannabinoid fuel cell" that could lead to the development of a cannabis breath analyzer similar to those used for testing...
Addictive personality: Myth or fact?
A recent analysis article published in The Conversation examined the concept of an addictive personality. In the article, the authors argue that the term “addictive personality” is problematic, as it’s associated with negative connotations, such as weakness,...
Minority and independent truckers challenge hair testing for drugs
Eleven major trucking companies filed an exemption in August requesting that the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) require that hair test results used for drug screening of drivers by these companies be reported in the FMCSA’s Drug and Alcohol...
Western provinces considering implementing more harm reduction drug testing programs
Amid the opioid crisis which is hitting our country, western provinces have witnessed a record number of overdose deaths linked to toxic drug supply. According to data released by the federal government, during the first two years of the pandemic, there was a 91%...
Canadian government launches legislative review of the Cannabis Act
In September, the Canadian federal government announced it would be launching a review of the Cannabis Act to examine whether the legislation governing the legalization of cannabis is meeting Canadians' needs and expectations. "Through this useful, inclusive and...
Benzodiazepines detected in 55 fatal overdoses in B.C. in July
According to recent data released by the B.C. Coroners Service, benzodiazepines have been increasingly detected in B.C.'s illicit drug supply, and have been found in 55 of the 192 fatal overdoses in July. Furthermore, it was found that the detection rate incidence of...
Ontario court rejects random testing of Ottawa airport firefighters
The Ontario Divisional Court has rejected the plan proposed by the Ottawa airport to carry out random drug tests on its firefighters due to the lack of evidence that there is a substance-abuse problem that would warrant such a “highly intrusive” invasion of privacy....
NTSB recommends equipping all new vehicles with blood alcohol monitoring systems
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recommended for all new vehicles in the U.S. to become equipped with blood alcohol monitoring systems that can stop an intoxicated person from driving. The initiative was launched after the release of a report...
No more than 2 drinks per week say new alcohol guidelines
Newly proposed Canadian guidelines for alcohol consumption recommend a maximum of two drinks per week to reduce the risk of negative health consequences. According to a new report published by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) after two years...