Although California passed Proposition 215 in 1996 (which legalized the use of medical cannabis), 2012 is the momentous year when the floodgates truly burst open when Washington and Colorado officially legalized the use of recreational marijuana for adults. Since then, another 26 states, Washington D.C., three overseas territories and three Native-American reservations have joined in Read more »
Which Drug Testing Method is Best for Your Company?
In recent years, largely due to the massive increase in marijuana legalization, drug testing has become increasingly common in the modern workplace. In the United States, drug testing is crucial towards combating both the direct and hidden costs of drug use by employees, which is estimated to cost American companies in excess of one hundred Read more »
How the Construction Industry is Fighting Back Against Drug Use
Illicit drug use is a major problem in the construction industry and it it costs American construction companies billions of dollars every year due to loss of productivity, cost of accidents, and compensation claims. The magnitude of the problem is expected to sharply increase owing to the slew of marijuana legalization and decriminalization in a Read more »
Patients with Mental Illness Receive Half of All Opioid Prescriptions
The American opioid epidemic is one of the most critical public health issues affecting the nation. In August 2017, President Donald Trump was on the verge of declaring a national emergency for the epidemic. According to data from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, approximately 12.5 million Americans misused prescription opioids in 2015, Read more »
When Can Employers Drug Test Their Employees?
With the growing rate of both prescription and illicit drug use in the workplace, many companies around the country are increasingly turning to mandatory workplace drug testing to maintain workplace safety. However, it is important to remember that there are no federal regulations regulating workplace drug testing for private companies. In fact, many judges in Read more »
Post-Accident Drug Testing is Still Alive and Well
There has been a lot of discussion about the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) recent changes to its Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illness regulations, followed by a misinterpretation of the new regulations. Many have mistakenly interpreted it to say that post accident drug testing was no longer permitted, however, nothing could be Read more »
How OxyContin Helped One Family Get Rich from the Opioid Epidemic
There are many ways to make a fortune in the world. You can manufacture unique products, trade popular goods, dabble in real estate, and even invest in the stock market. Or, you could modify a popular painkiller and falsely market it as an addiction-proof drug, and reap incredible riches. This is exactly what Purdue Pharma Read more »
St. Pete’s Largest Hospital Plans $22 Million in New Construction
Bayfront Health, the biggest hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, is currently in the midst of a new $22 million expansion project that began in August 2017, less than a month after a groundbreaking ceremony which was held on July 14. The 18-month project is meant to upgrade Bayfront Health’s existing Level II trauma center by Read more »