Drug & Alcohol Testing Industry News
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,...
U.S. Anti-doping agency launches at-home drug testing program
The US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has announced the initiation of an unprecedented at-home drug testing program which will involve top Olympians conducting self-administered urine and blood tests while being observed remotely on Zoom or FaceTime by USADA personnel....
New York City bans testing for cannabis
A new law passed by the New York City Council referred to as Int. No. 1445-A took effect on May 10, 2020. This new law prohibits employers in New York City from requiring prospective employees to submit to drug testing for tetrahydrocannabinols (THC), the active...
Ontario temporarily lowers price of alcohol sold by restaurants
The province of Ontario has lowered the minimum price of alcohol sold by licensed bars and restaurants to alleviate the burden of the struggling hospitality industry amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “The AGCO continues to work closely with the Government of Ontario during...
MROCC approves DATAC MROA course
DATAC is very excited to announce the release of our very own Medical Review Officer Team Member/Assistant (MROA) course, the ONLY Canadian course of its kind. This course has been approved by the only regulatory body that gives out the MRO Team Member certification,...