Drug & Alcohol Testing Industry News
New machine able to identify trace amounts of illicit drugs
A new drug testing machine used to identify potentially deadly drugs was evaluated in a brief trial at an overdose prevention site in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside earlier in August. The machine uses a technique called paper spray mass spectrometry and can evaluate...
Increase in training leads to more drug impairment investigations
In Edmonton, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of drug tests conducted at the police station since the legalization of cannabis. In fact, Edmonton police are currently conducting more than 10 times the number of drug-impaired driving investigations...
Is your drug testing program legally defensible?
In recent years, drug and alcohol testing has emerged as one of the most contentious issues in Canadian employment and labour law. Drew Demerse, lawyer and partner at Roper Greyell LLP, a workplace law practice based in Vancouver, B.C., has discussed two recent...
Cannabis pardon may make things worse
A new online application system has enabled Canadians to apply for pardons for simple cannabis possession convictions through the Parole Board of Canada's website. However, having a pardon can make border crossing into the U.S. more difficult. Justice Minister David...
Study: Best mental health with no alcohol
According to the results of a new study, giving up alcohol could improve our well-being, even for those people who practice moderation when it comes to drinking. The research, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), examined data collected by a...
Canadian alcohol deaths on the increase
New research carried out by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) demonstrates that alcohol-related hospitalizations and deaths are on the rise, with 10 Canadians dying in hospitals every day due to harm from substance use, with 75% of these deaths...
Ontario emergency rooms see spike in women binge drinking
According to the results of a new research study, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), emergency room alcohol-related visits by women have increased by 86.5%, compared to 53.2% for men, adding an increased strain on overburdened emergency...
Ontario looks to add hard liquor sales to corner stores
According to the new recommendations contained in the report released by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC), the sale of hard liquor should be allowed alongside beer and wine in convenience stores. Moreover, the OCC has recommended expanding online sales options of...
Blockchain tech to be used to track medicinal cannabis quality
In early June at the second annual World Cannabis Congress, Shoppers Drug Mart announced that it will be implementing a pilot program using the StrainSecure™ platform, a proprietary of TruTrace Technologies, which focuses on the testing of cannabis products to verify...