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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.

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'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.

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 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.

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.

Since January 1^st, we have required confirmation testing for 14 drugs under a 5‑panel test.  Broken out, here is what DOT drug testing looks like:

ASAP is going to "Soar To New Heights" as they travel to Reno, Nevada on April 16-18th. Stop by and visit us at booth 610. Enhance your education and boost your professional development this spring from networking to professional development workshops, concurrent sessions and inspiring keynotes, the 2018 National Conference will provide an experience like no other. 

Every year on March 17, people from all over the world celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. In the United States, 127 million people – or 53 percent of the country – plan to celebrate. In 2015, millions of people spent $4.6 billion on St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, in the form of decorations and green garb.

Three shaky months into recovery from heroin addiction, Dariya Pankova found something to ease her withdrawal. A local nonalcoholic bar sold a brewed beverage that soothed her brain and body much as narcotics had. A perfect solution — before it backfired.

Drs. Sean Esteban McCabe, James Cranford, and Carol Boyd.

On Thursday, February 1, 2018, the DOT completed the updates to the Drug and Alcohol testing regulations.

FAA, FMCSA, FRA, FTA and USCG remain at 25% for drug testing, while PMSHA did increase to 50%. 2018 Rates

Interested in some background?

An employee/applicant who has violated a DOT regulation is prohibited from returning to the performance of safety-sensitive functions for any DOT-covered employer until the individual successfully completes the return-to-duty process described in Part 40, Subpart O. The date of the violation has no impact on this requirement. For example, an employer, interviewing an applicant in 2017 who had a positive test in 2012, may assume since the positive test was five years ago, this individual can be hired without ensuring he or she completed the return-to-duty process.

According to a recently released study, an annual increase in the number of trips to hospital emergency rooms as a result of alcohol has steadily risen, with an increase of 61 percent in the number of visits in 2014 as compared to 2006.

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) announced that the minimum random drug testing rate for all covered employees will remain at 25% for the year 2018. Learn More

ASAP welcomed the 2018 New Year by heralding a new chapter in its continuing story as the nationwide leader in Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) services. On January 2, 2018, COO Laura Lacey Dashner, LCSW, became the new ASAP CEO! ASAP founder and CEO from 1997 - 2017, Dr. Reed Morrison, assumed a new role as Research and Clinical Consultant.

Today, November 13, 2017, the Department of Transportation (DOT) published a final rule in the Federal Register (82 FR 52229).  The rule, among

More than 63,600 people died from drug overdoses in 2016, a rate three times that of overdose deaths in 1999, according to the December 2017 report from the National Center for Health Statistics, which is part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This action is based on a finding by the Administrator that the placement of these seven synthetic opioids in schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) is necessary to avoid an imminent hazard to the public safety.

Finding new medications to effectively alleviate opioid withdrawal is an important step in enabling transition to medication protocols to treat opioid use disorders. Many patients drop out of treatment early if they cannot tolerate the withdrawal period and are then unable to start medications.

Operators of gas, hazardous liquid, and carbon dioxide pipelines and operators of liquefied natural gas facilities must randomly select and test a percentage of all covered employees for prohibited drug use. Pursuant to 49 CFR 199.105(c)(1) the PHMSA minimum annual random drug testing rate shall be 50 percent of all covered employees for calendar year 2018.

To the medical director at Caron Treatment Centers, giving physicians and patients multiple options in treatment stands as a primary goal. That is why Joseph Garbely, DO, FASAM, is reassured by results of two recent studies, including one published this week, that showed comparable efficacy and safety between sublingual buprenorphine and injectable naltrexone for opioid dependence.

The holiday season, between Thanksgiving and New Year's in the United States, is the most dangerous season of the year for those trying to maintain sobriety and anyone driving on the public highways.

There are more alcohol-related traffic fatalities during the Holiday season than any other time of the year in the United States.

Use a Designated Driver

As previously advised, the 49 CFR Part 40 Final Rule, effective January 1, 2018, was published in the Federal Register on November 13, 2017: 49 CFR Part 40 Procedures for Transportation Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs: Addition of Certain Schedule II Drugs to the Department of Transportation’s Drug-Testing Panel and Certain Minor Amendments. This rule finalizes the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published in the Federal Register on January 23, 2017, at 82 FR 7920.