Drug & Alcohol Testing Industry News
Canada’s police chiefs support decriminalization of drug possession
Vancouver Police Chief Adam Palmer, who heads the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) is calling for the decriminalization of simple possession of illicit drugs. Instead, the CACP has proposed to improve access to health care, treatment and social services...
Thousands of commercial drivers refuse FMCSA tests
According to the data published in the monthly report of the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), thousands of commercial vehicle drivers have refused to take drug tests since the online launch of the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse in January. The...
Hair testing for drugs would ground truckers
According to the results of a new study published by the University of Central Arkansas (UCA), nearly 300,000 truck drivers would be out of a job if the The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) mandates hair strand testing. The study was conducted by...
Public drinking coming to Canada
In recent months, many Canadian cities have proposed changing laws around public alcohol consumption. Due to the significant impact of COVID-19 and implementation of social distancing measures on the hospitality industry, government officials have been pushing to...
Death penalty for drug smuggling in China
An Australian national, Karm Gilespie, was sentenced to death by a Chinese court in June of this year, after being found guilty of drug trafficking according to the court website. Gillespie was initially arrested at the Guangzhou airport in 2013, carrying over 7.5kg...
FMCSA may not enforce random testing rates for 2020
Earlier in July, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) released a notice regarding its plans for random drug and alcohol testing in 2020. According to FMCSA, it recognizes that covered motor carriers may not be...
Ontario brings COVID-19 testing to the truckers
The Ontario government has created a new system that will make it easier for truck drivers to gain access to COVID-19 testing through a partnership with DriverCheck. The new program is part of the government's efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the province....
Purple heroin warning issued in Eastern Ontario
The Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) has issued warnings of increased incidence of drug-related overdoses in and around the city of Cornwall. Further, many of the overdoses seem to be linked to the drug referred to as “purple heroin,” “purple,” or “purp.” Purple...
Research shows psychedelics can be used in treatment of mental illness
According to evidence from medical and scientific studies, psychedelic drugs can serve as a promising therapy for treatment of several psychiatric illnesses, including depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A recent literature review published...