Drug use in America is has gone up and down over the years, and while we’re currently in the midst of a national opiate crisis, a handful of cities are especially plagued by a variety of drugs. According to 2013 research conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), some 68.9% of Read more »
Revised Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form Required June 2018
An important date is coming up for employers, hiring managers, and HR professionals. The current version of the Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control (CFF) forms expires June 30, 2018. Simply put, this means that neither DOT-regulated employers nor their service agents (labs, collectors or Medical Review Officers) can use the “old” CCF form for Read more »
Is Addiction a Disease or a Choice?
The National Institutes of Health, taking into account decades of cellular, molecular, and biochemical research, understands addiction as a disease of the brain. And yet, family members and co-workers impacted by an addicted person may believe drug use is the user’s choice. The drug user may think so too. Let’s carefully consider both positions. The impact of drugs on Read more »
6 Ways Drug Use Hurts the Construction Industry
In the US, drug use is a pervasive problem, and despite its inherent danger and vital role in economic development, the construction industry is one of the hardest hit industries by substance abuse. A report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) on the 2008 and 2012 surveys conducted with the aim Read more »
5 Historical Figures Who Struggled With Drug Addiction
Over the past few decades, impressive advancements have been made in the fields of medicine and healthcare which have provided both diagnostic tests and treatment options for diseases which previously had none. Unfortunately, a strong stigma still exists around mental health, addiction, and psychiatric conditions. One of the reasons for this is that people don’t Read more »
How Long After Use Can Common Drugs Be Identified by Drug Testing?
All drugs are not created equal. While that is a seemingly obvious statement, the differences also extend to how long after the last use each drug is detectable by modern testing methods. Urine, oral fluids, and hair are commonly used as test specimens to screen for common drugs such as alcohol, marijuana, opiates/opioids, cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamines, methaqualones, Read more »
Drug Use Has Surpassed Drunk Driving in Fatal Car Crashes
According to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), drunk driving was the leading cause of death in auto crashes since national surveys began in the 1970s. Now, alcohol is just another substance that can be involved, found in 29% of the drivers who died in auto accidents in 2016. Drugged driving is officially more common Read more »
Synthetic vs. Natural Marijuana: What’s the Difference?
According to statistics, employers pay $7,000 per year for a single employee with a drug-related problem. Consider also that 65% of all workplace accidents are drug or alcohol related, with marijuana found to be the most prevalent drug used among employees. A safe and healthy workplace promotes a productive working environment, and protects both the employees Read more »