Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic, a class of psychedelic drug, that physicians prescribe to treat severe depression when nothing else works. It was created in the 1960s and used as an anesthetic on the battlefields in the Viet Nam war. It’s still used for that purpose today—in some circumstances. It’s more widely used by veterinarians Read more »
Is SAMHSA Close to Approving Hair Follicle Drug Tests?
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a part of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, is setting the stage to allow the hair follicle drug test to be used as an option for all federal employees. The proposed change, titled the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs, Read more »
Does Refusing to Wear a Mask Equal a Refusal to Test?
Drug testing technicians have guidelines to follow to determine if someone is trying to get out of taking a drug test. Not following company protocol—say not emptying their pockets as directed, for instance—indicates a failure to cooperate. The technician notes that as a refusal to test. What if someone refuses to wear a mask during Read more »
Have New Laws Required Changes to Your Drug Testing Policies?
Changes to drug testing or marijuana laws can leave employers scrambling to stay on top of updating their drug testing policies. For instance, marijuana remains illegal at the federal level but individual states are choosing to legalize the drug for both medical and recreational use. Some state and local governments have gone so far as Read more »
Missing Clearinghouse Deadline Puts Many in Noncompliance
The deadline has passed to submit annual queries or to register drivers with the FMCSA Clearinghouse. Employers in the trucking industry who hire CDL drivers are mandated to meet that requirement. If it slipped your mind, the deadline was January 6th, so if you’ve got drivers out on the road, you’re out of compliance. That Read more »
LSD Use Among Marines Prompts Drug Testing Policy Change
LSD, a hallucinogenic drug, is fogging the minds of our military personnel. The news broke last November when Major General Ray Fox, the commanding general of the 2nd Marine Division ordered a urinalysis for nearly 53,000 active-duty Marines and sailors. Unfortunately, that isn’t the first time the problem had been brought to light. The Department Read more »
FMCSA Reports More Drivers Refusing Drug Tests
There are over 3.5 million truck drivers on the road across the United States and the majority of them wouldn’t risk driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol—ever. Sadly, though, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse documented 45,991 drug violations as of November 1, 2020. Drivers refusing to take Read more »
DOT COVID-19 Guidance Update
Last March, the Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance (ODAPC) provided guidance regarding how to handle drug and alcohol testing safety-sensitive employees during the pandemic. The DOT announced this week that the guidelines remain effective through June 30, 2021. Updates announced on April 4th added instruction for Substance Abuse Read more »