News

Washington — Alarmed by a deadly new twist in the nation's drug addiction crisis, the government will allow states to use federal money earmarked for the opioid epidemic to help growing numbers of people struggling with meth and cocaine.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has granted a petition submitted by the American Bus Association that exempts bus drivers from following California’s meal-and-rest-break rules.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) plans to take factors such as texting and other cellphone distractions into account in gathering data for its first large truck crash study in more than 15 years.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has extended the public comment period on its interim final hemp rule for 30 days — until Jan. 29.

By Nicole Jupe, Quest Diagnostics

The FMCSA announces that it is increasing the minimum annual percentage rate for random controlled substances testing for drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) requiring a commercial driver’s license (CDL) from the current rate of 25 percent of the average number of driver positions to 50 percent of the average number of driver positions, effe

The researchers compared marijuana use in Colorado, Washington, Alaska and Oregon -- the first four states to legalize recreational marijuana -- before and after legalization. The investigators also compared trends in those states with states that did not legalize recreational marijuana.

Two U.S. senators have introduced legislation that would require the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to take a formal role in supporting women drivers.

Congratulations to Sandra Serrano, SAPAA President-Elect 2019-2020. Sandra has been an active member of the SAPAA Board of Directors since 2016. As a Board member, she has utilized her experience to help further SAPAA’s mission to promote the highest standards of quality and integrity in the field.

Query Plans Now Available for Purchase

Upgrades to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) DroneZone now allows recreational flyers to request airspace authorizations in controlled airspace where the 

Drivers have diabetes mellitus (DM), specifically Type II DM, at a higher rate than the general public. This is likely rooted in the sedentary lifestyle and poor food choices many drivers make, so some of them are treated with simple lifestyle and diet changes. Others receive oral medications or insulin.

As more states have legalized marijuana for medicinal or recreational use, the number of companies utilizing drug tests, particularly for marijuana, has begun to decline.

CDC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), state and local health departments, and other clinical and public health partners are investigating a multistate outbreak of lung injury associated with use of e-cigarette, or vaping, products.

Summary: The Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS” or “Department”) has established scientific and technical guidelines for the inclusion of oral fluid specimens in the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs (Guidelines).

These reports and detailed tables present estimates from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).

Cannabidiol - better known as CBD - is everywhere, from small specialty shops to large national retail chains. It can be found in foods, supplements, drugs, oils, creams, pet foods and more, and sellers purport that the compound treats everything from cancer to depression. Analysts say the market could surpass $20 billion by 2024.

What is the FMCSA Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse?

A secure, online database that will give employers and other authorized users real-time information about commercial driver’s license (CDL) and commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders’ drug and alcohol program violations. 

The NRC will soon issue in the Federal Register a proposed rulemaking to amend the drug testing requirements of the Fitness for Duty (FFD) Program in 10 CFR Part 26.

Pre-employment and post-accident drug testing have been challenged in courts in almost every state where medical marijuana has been legalized. These differing state laws create uncertainty for enforcing a drug-free workplace, even for safety-sensitive positions. In the transportation industry, these permissive state laws run directly afoul of federal requirements to keep the public highways and skies safe and drug-free.

Federal health officials slammed vaping company Juul on Monday for illegally advertising its nicotine pods as a safer alternative to cigarettes, threatening to fine or even seize the company’s products if it doesn’t correct its marketing.

"Too many people in our country and in our communities are still dying from opioid-related overdoses," said Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "We must and can do a better job of getting naloxone in the hands of people who really need it, and those likely to be nearby when an overdose occurs."

Across the United States and Canada, people are buying cocaine only to discover too late that it contains potentially deadly fentanyl, a new report warns.

 During 2016 and 2017, drug overdose death rates were higher in U.S. cities than rural areas, according to a report from the National Center for Health Statistics.

This NPRM does not change the mandatory use of the Clearinghouse, due to begin on January 6, 2020, for drivers, employers, consortia/third-party administrators (C/TPAs), medical review officers (MROs), and substance abuse professionals (SAPs).