Drug & Alcohol Testing Industry News
Advocacy group uses dark web to buy safe supply
The number of people dying from illicit drugs across Canada has reached record numbers in many provinces, while the opioid crisis has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, health experts and advocacy groups have been urging the government for the...
Study: Increased access to take-home treatments reduces the risk of overdose
According to the results of a new study examining patients receiving treatment for opioid addiction in Ontario, a recommendation change in March 2020 that allowed for more take-home treatments during the pandemic resulted in less overdoses and in increased retention...
High-profile Saskatoon case will test impairment laws
Earlier in March, a 28-year-old woman was released from Saskatoon police custody after being accused of cannabis-impaired driving and causing the death of 9-year-old Baeleigh Maurice. The victim was riding her scooter at a marked crosswalk in Saskatoon on September...
Making health care work for opioid users
In a recent article published by Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Dr. Seonaid Nolan and Dr. Julia Zazoulina discussed ways to provide better care for individuals affected by opioid use disorder. In 2021, British Columbia reported record...
Drug-checking improvements wanted: B.C. Centre for Substance Use
According to Jenny Matthews, the manager of a drug-checking program being evaluated by the BC Centre for Substance Use, checking illicit drugs for deadly toxic substances is the most effective option to prevent fatal overdoses in the absence of a safer supply....
Drug alert issued after ‘extreme’ levels of fentanyl and benzodiazepines found in B.C. drug samples
Earlier in February, B.C.'s Interior Health Authority issued a toxic drug alert for the region due to "extreme" levels of fentanyl and benzodiazepines detected in tested drug samples. According to the health agency, multiple samples were found to contain up to 55%...
Drug and alcohol testing resulting in driver shortage
According to Chris Harvey, a top Wells Fargo analyst, federal cannabis criminalization and resulting drug testing mandates in the U.S. have served as the main cause for rising costs and worker shortages in the transportation sector. Harvey serves as head of an equity...
Employer’s ban on medical cannabis was discriminatory, says arbitrator
In December of 2021, an Ontario arbitrator ruled that an employer’s total prohibition of medical cannabis for a safety-sensitive position was discriminatory. Specifically, an Ontario labour board arbitrator had ruled that the employer, Ornge, must attempt to...
Kwanlin Dün First Nation announces new substance use programs
Earlier in February, Kwanlin Dün First Nation Chief Doris Bill had announced a new suite of treatment and harm reduction services to help citizens grappling with addiction. The new services will include funding for private treatment services across the country, as...