Drug & Alcohol Testing Industry News
Second Canadian suspected of working with drug lord El Chapo
A man known as “Cat” or “Catboy” is the second Canadian suspected of working with the well-known Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who is currently on trial in Brooklyn. Stephen Tello, 39, is currently serving an 8-month sentence in Canada. Tello is a...
Canadian to receive death penalty in China for drug smuggling
A court in Dalian in northeastern Liaoning province of China has announced that Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, was sentenced to death after reconsidering his case. Robert Schellenberg, of Abbotsford, B.C., was detained in 2014 and initially sentenced to 15 years in prison...
Alcohol content to be restricted in single-serving sugary drinks
Health Canada is taking steps to restrict the amount of alcohol allowed in sugary, high-alcohol premixed drinks. According to the federal agency, single-serve products create a public health risk, which is increased for youth. The proposed regulations would limit the...
Federal government proposes regulations for cannabis products
On December 21, 2018, the Canadian federal government opened a 60-day consultation period respecting the strict regulation of additional cannabis products (which include edibles, extracts and topical products). According to the background information provided by...
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...