Drug & Alcohol Testing Industry News
Newfoundland and Labrador struggle with increase of cocaine related deaths
There is a growing opioid crisis in Canada, with drugs such as oxycodone, morphine, fentanyl and methadone accounting for most overdose-related deaths. However, in the first half of 2018 in the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, there was a significant increase...
Maritime holiday driver checks result in arrests
RCMP officers in the Maritimes conducted more than 200 checkpoints over the holiday season, which resulted in nearly 50 driver arrests due to charges with impaired driving. "Impaired driving is a serious threat to road safety and Nova Scotia RCMP is committed to...
Data on brain damage due to opioid use lacking
Canada is currently facing a serious opioid crisis, with over 9,000 opioid-related deaths having occurred between January 2016 and June 2018. However, no comprehensive statistics exist regarding individuals who have survived brain-damaging effects of opioids. Canadian...
Deadly synthetic opioid found in Toronto
Ontario police have issued a warning after the discovery of a new synthetic opioid in Toronto. The substance has been linked to overdose deaths around the world, and is now appearing in Canada. The drug’s full name is U-48800, and it has been previously identified in...
Fentanyl found in student’s drugs
The Delta School District has sent an urgent warning message to parents after drugs brought to school by a student tested positive for fentanyl. According to the letter sent to students’ parents, the pills were labeled as Xanax, a medication commonly prescribed for...
New alternative to alcohol contains illegal substance
Health Canada is warning consumers against the potential dangers of a new non-alcoholic alternative drink, Pace, manufactured by Diet Alcohol Corporation of the Americas (DACA). Pace is described by its manufacturer, on its website, as a "healthy alcohol alternative."...
Shoppers Drugmart approved for online medical cannabis sales
Under the current Health Canada regulations for medical cannabis, the only method of legal distribution of cannabis is by mail order from licensed producers directly to patients. Health Canada has updated its list of authorized cannabis sellers and producers,...
Ontario police to socially shame impaired drivers
Due to increasing numbers of impaired drivers on local roads, two southern Ontario police forces have resorted to public shaming as a strategy to potentially deter future offenses. Two police services operating north of Toronto, York Regional Police and the South...
Suncor to implement random testing in 2019
Starting in the first quarter of 2019, workers and contractors of Suncor Energy will be subject to random alcohol and drug tests. Suncor Energy, a Canadian integrated energy company based in Calgary, Alberta, specializes in the production of oil and natural gas in...