Drug & Alcohol Testing Industry News
Outdated and incomplete impaired driving stats hinder legislative change
According to a recent opinion article published by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada, the outdated Canadian data on impairment-related crashes, deaths and injuries prevents proper evaluation of legislation and policies aimed to decrease deaths and injuries...
Fatal overdoses at all time high in British Columbia
According to a new report released by the B.C. Coroners Service, May 2020 was the province’s deadliest month ever for illicit drug overdoses. A total of 170 people died from overdoses in May, as the toxic supply of street drugs continues. B.C. has reported a total of...
Pandemic causes disruptions to illegal drug trade
According to the findings of a recent report published by the United Nations (U.N.), the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the illegal drug trade, affecting nearly every country and various kinds of drugs. The report was created using data from governments and...
Opioid crisis may be on its way to Asia
Early in May, Myanmar police announced a record drug bust, seizing the largest-ever haul of liquid fentanyl. As part of the raid, a total of 33 individuals were arrested, including Burmese nationals. This was the first official record of seizure of fentanyl in the...
Pandemic could lead to higher rate of deaths of despair
According to the results of a new study, the total number of deaths from drug overdose, alcohol, and suicide combined was lower in 2018 compared to 2017, and are levelling out for the first time in 20 years. Specifically, the report highlights lower numbers of...
FMCSA looks to crack down on DOT violators
On April 28, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) filed a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register, proposing new licensing rules. Specifically, the FMCSA aims to create limits on State...
Review: OVERDOSE Heartbreak and Hope in Canada’s Opioid Crisis
An opioid crisis is gripping our nation. British Columbia just posted record highs for overdose fatalities in the last few months, but every province is affected. Something needs to change in Canada to help this situation, and Benjamin Perrin has offered up some...
FMCSA grants waiver for pre-employment testing
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the FMCSA, an agency of the DOT, has put a three-month waiver into place for certain pre-employment testing requirements. This waiver comes in response to the President’s Executive Order No. 13924, issued on May 19, 2020, Regulatory Relief...
Arbitrator rules drug test policy too broad
A recent arbitration decision has determined that parts of the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s (SHA) drug and alcohol testing policy are too broad. The policy was created in 2018, following legalization of cannabis. The arbitration ruling was made on March 31,...