Connecticut Federal Court Case on Medical Marijuana
A Connecticut Federal Court recently decided Cross Motions for Summary Judgment in favor of the Plaintiff in a medical marijuana matter involving Connecticut’s medical marijuana law. Noffsinger v. SSC Niantic Operating Co., LLC. d/b/a Bride Brook Health and Rehab. Ctr., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 150453 (D. Conn. Sept. 5, 2019).
Drug Agency Rule to Slash Opioid Production
The government is seeking to tackle the opioid crisis with a crackdown on the production of prescription opioids permitted to be manufactured next year.
In a release, the Department of Justice and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration proposes slashing "manufacturing quotas for the six most frequently misused opioids for 2019 by an average ten percent as compared to the 2018 amounted," according to an advance version of the release viewed by Axios.
First Marijuana 'Breathalyzer' Test Created by California Company
"We are trying to make the establishment of impairment around marijuana rational and to balance fairness and safety," CEO Mike Lynn told NPR, explaining that his company has created a breath test to detect THC, the principal psychoactive ingredient in cannabis
ASAP is Presenting at SAPAA on September 25th in Kansas City, MO
Laura Dashner, CEO & President and Sandra Serrano, Chief Development Officer are presenting "An Interview with Sandra Sapp" at 4pm on September 25th at the SAPAA Conference in Kansas City, Missouri.
Opioid Sales Have Increased 4% on the Dark Web in the Last 4 Years
Researchers have found out that since the prescription opioid crackdown began, sales from dark web sales for the targeted medications have steadily increased. A new study has found the rules meant to crack down on the use of opioids have turned some individuals to the black market.
Alcohol kills many more Americans than opioids do. Why do we think drinking is healthy?
Alcohol is the most widely used drug in the world, including in the United States.
August 31st is Overdose Awareness Day
International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is a global event held on August 31st each year and aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death.
It also acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have met with death or permanent injury as a result of drug overdose.
Overdose Day spreads the message that the tragedy of overdose death is preventable. Wear Silver to show your support.
More People Are Inhaling Heroin, and It's Destroying Brain Tissue
More heroin users are inhaling the drug and it’s causing them irreversible brain damage and dementia, according to a recent report published in JAMA Neurology.
National advocate mobilizes local communities to combat drug problems
By the end of this year, more than three dozen communities across the country will have begun participation in a national initiative designed to bring together a diversity of stakeholders to solve local problems related to addiction.
More U.S. workers test positive for meth, cocaine and marijuana, study says
More U.S. workers tested positive for cocaine and methamphetamine in 2017, according to numbers from Quest Diagnostics. The company analyzed more than 10 million drug tests. The increase was especially evident in certain parts of the nation.
An Ambitious Research Plan to Help Solve the Opioid Crisis
In spring 2018, Congress added an additional $500 million to the NIH budget to invest in science to find solutions to the opioid crisis. The Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) initiative is being kicked off today with the announcement of several bold projects across NIH, focused on two main areas: improving opioid addiction treatments and enhancing pain management to prevent addiction and overdose.
Fentanyl Now Drives Drug Overdose Deaths in U.S.
More people now die from overdosing on synthetic opioids – mainly fentanyl – than prescription painkillers, according to a recent study.
FDA approves first medication to reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health, is pleased to announce that lofexidine, the first medication for use in reducing symptoms associated with opioid withdrawal in adults, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Lofexidine, an oral tablet, is designed to manage the symptoms patients often experience during opioid discontinuation.
The Heavy Toll of Opioids on America's Labor Force
The opioid crisis is real, growing and heartbreaking. A third of Americans have been prescribed opioid painkillers, and opioids are so addictive that research suggests 1 in 5 who start a 10-day supply become longer-term users.
DATIA (Drug & Alcohol Testing Industry Association) 2018 Conference
ASAP is going to New Orleans and will be at Booth 602, so stop by and visit!
Join your colleagues and industry experts for the industry’s premier educational event. With Over 800 attendees, 85 exhibitors, 25 educational sessions, and pre- and post-conference trainings this is your one-stop shop for staying current on what’s happening in the drug and alcohol testing industry. Learn More
The State of Maine Department of Labor has published a guide on marijuana in the workplace on their website
A provision of Maine’s recreational marijuana law prohibits employers from taking adverse employment actions for off-premises marijuana use, as of February 1, 2018. This law effectively prevents Maine employers from testing for marijuana for pre-employment purposes. The law also affects employers who employ employees subject to federal drug and alcohol testing regulations as well as those employers who are exempt from complying with Maine’s drug testing law.
Listening to Patients’ Voices in Developing New Opioid Addiction Treatments
One of the pillars of the current federal initiatives to end the opioid crisis is the development of new medications to treat opioid addiction. Currently we have three approved drugs—methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone—in a growing number of formulations, including some that are extended-release (long acting). But not all patients respond to the existing medications, and each patient has unique needs.
DOT Update: Only the Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form approved on August 8, 2017, can be used after June 30, 2018
On August 8, 2017, the Office of Management and Budget approved a revised Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form (CCF) and authorized the continued use of the `old CCF’ until June 30, 2018.
DOT regulated employers and their service agents (collectors, laboratories, Medical Review Officers) may not use the `old CCF’ for DOT mandated drug test collections after June 30, 2018.
What is the difference between the revised and ‘old’ CCF?
Ohio Chamber Of Commerce Offers Online Toolkit To Help Employers Battle Addiction
Ohio's employers are asking what they should do about the opioid problem in their own workplaces. The Ohio Chamber of Commerce convened a task force to explore the options. One recommendation coming out of the task force was for employers to be armed with a toolkit of resources to be better prepared to prevent and respond to the problem.
April 28th 2018 is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.4 million Americans abused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.
Driving Under the Influence of Cannabis
Driving is a complex task that requires integrity of sensory, motor, and cognitive function. The driving task may be compromised by factors related to the vehicle, the driving environment, and the driver.
First Maryland case of bleeding from synthetic marijuana reported
A person from Central Maryland was hospitalized for extreme bleeding after using synthetic marijuana — the first such case in Maryland, poison control officials said Thursday.
The person, who was not identified because of privacy laws, went to an emergency room April 3 after experiencing unusual bruising and bleeding from several parts of the body, said Bruce Anderson, executive director of the Maryland Poison Center at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. The person was treated for bleeding and coagulation issues.
On January 1, 2018, the U.S.