The Department of Transportation (DOT) mandates drug testing of the safety-sensitive workforce to keep people traveling throughout the country as safe as possible. There’s no doubt that the DOT drug test is worthwhile. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse (DACH) reported that since the database went live in January 2020, Read more »
Chronic Pain, Medications, and the Workplace
The fact that living with chronic pain requires endurance is undeniable. Many people believe that it would be an unbearable fate to endure. Those suffering from chronic pain understand the true meaning of the phrase, “grin and bear it” though. Even though their body is under constant assault, they still have a life to live Read more »
DEA 2024 National Drug Threat Assessment Released
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) released the National Drug Threat Assessment for 2024 in May and its findings are certainly concurrent with what we’re seeing take place across the United States. There is a definite change from plant-based drugs to synthetic drugs. Fentanyl and methamphetamine continue to destroy lives at an alarming rate. Overdose deaths, Read more »
Rhino Tranq Barrels into U.S. Drug Culture
The Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE) in Horsham, Philadelphia partners with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and tests illicit drugs. In late April, the center discovered medetomidine in the confiscated street drugs tested. Rhino tranq is what this hard-hitting sedative is called on the street and it’s even more powerful than Read more »
What is the DOT Chain of Custody?
The Department of Transportation outlines the process that all safety-sensitive employers must follow regarding drug testing. Employers of the safety-sensitive workforce must adhere strictly to the DOT chain of custody process, as should everyone who handles the specimens submitted for the DOT drug test. Making things even more concrete, collectors, lab techs, and MROs record Read more »
Poppy Seeds and Positive Drug Tests
There’s been an argument going back and forth for years, since the early days of drug testing, in fact, that eating poppy seeds before a drug test can cause someone to test positive for morphine. Over the last decade or so, reputable medical sites, such as Medical News Today and Healthline, have banded together in Read more »
Duties of a DOT DER
The Department of Transportation (DOT) regulates the employers of the safety-sensitive workforce. For instance, every company regulated under the DOT has at least one Designated Employer Representative (DER). The DOT DER oversees the employee drug and alcohol testing program. They adhere to the specifics of the DOT. You can be sure employers of the safety-sensitive Read more »
Psychotropic Medication Overdoses Rising
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), one in five adults in the United States struggle with a mental health condition. Psychotropic drugs are considered an answer to that problem. They affect behavior, mood, thought, and perception. The category encompasses a wide range of medications prescribed to improve a patient’s mental health. Physicians Read more »