Even in one of the country’s most marijuana-friendly states, smoking pot off the job and away from work can still get an employee fired.

New research presented at the American Psychiatric Association's 168th Annual Meeting explored how cultural differences can influence the diagnosis of common mental illnesses, including depression, mania and psychosis. Jhilam Biswas, M.D., was inspired to conduct this research by debates over whether "major psychiatric diagnoses are universal versus unique across culture."

On June 1st, the DOT released a PDF of the updated Employer Handbook. If you employ safety-sensitive workers who must have Department of Transportation (DOT) drug and alcohol tests, or you manage a DOT drug or alcohol testing program, this publication can help you understand how to run a program that meets DOT requirements.

The proposed rules would allow federal agencies to collect and test oral fluid specimens as part of their drug-testing programs.

“American workers are increasingly testing positive for workforce drug use across almost all workforce categories and drug test specimen types. In the past, we have noted increases in prescription drug positivity rates, but now it seems illicit drug use may be on the rise, according to our data,” said Dr. Barry Sample, Director, Science and Technology, Quest Diagnostics Employer Solutions.

Help Save Lives and Prevent Injuries

Laura Dashner, COO & Executive VP at ASAP will be speaking on June 4th. Employer Intervention: Protecting the Workplace by Saving Lives.

Drug abuse -- including and especially alcohol abuse -- costs the U.S. economy billions of dollars in lost productivity each year.

 The Final Rule allows employers, collectors, laboratories, and Medical Review Officer to use the electronic version of the Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form (eCCF) in the DOT-regulated drug testing program.

http://www.dot.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/Part%2040%20DOT%20eCCF%20Notice.pdf

“Drug incidents and overdoses related to fentanyl are occurring at an alarming rate throughout the United States and represent a significant threat to public health and safety,” said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart

http://www.dea.gov/divisions/hq/2015/hq031815.shtml

During National Nurses Week and throughout the year, ANA is proud to celebrate the role nurses play in delivering the highest level of quality care to their patients. The National Nurses Week 2015 theme "Ethical Practice. Quality Care." recognizes the importance of ethics in nursing and acknowledges the strong commitment, compassion and care nurses display in their practice and profession. The theme is an important part of ANA’s 2015 Year of Ethics outreach to promote and advocate for the rights, health and safety of nurses and patients.

Baltimore, Maryland- The Johns Hopkins University Center for Learning and Health has been awarded a National Institutes for Health (NIH) grant for a new study and will partner with American Substance Abuse Professionals (ASAP) to provide employment-based substance use testing and substance use case management for study participants.

From Medical News Today

The CDC have reported that drug poisoning deaths involving heroin almost quadrupled between 2000 and 2013 in the US. The report from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) states that the age-adjusted rate of deaths involving heroin increased from 0.7 deaths per 100,000 to 2.7 per 100,000 during this period, with the majority of this rise occuring after 2010. 

While use of opioid analgesics doubled from 1988 to 1994, from 2011 to 2012 opioid use levels have shown stability. The CDC and the NHANES findings also show that opioid use rates were higher among older adults than younger adults, as well as higher among women than men. 

FMCSA will be forming a 26 member advisory committee that will be tasked with updating classroom and new behind-the-wheel training requirements for professional truck and bus drivers. 

Recreational marijuana became legal in Washington, D.C., allowing adults 21 and over to posses up to 2oz. and grow up to 6 marijuana plants in their homes for personal use. The selling of marijuana still remains illegal and cannot be taxed but the District Council is considering a bill that would regulate and allow marijuana to be taxed. 

December 31, 2014

News Digest

According to a recent study conducted by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) an average of 6 people die on a daily basis from alcohol poisoning. What's even more surprising than that number is the demographic that this statistic is based upon; the CDC said it found that white men between the ages of 35 and 64 are dying most often from alcohol poisoning. This specific demographic accounts for 76% of the deaths. 

Painkillers have been prescribed to help people get through the days after a medical procedure or for cancer patients who are suffering. But with a prescription increase of 300% in the past 10 years, prescribed narcotics are getting a lot of light shined on them. 

Aimed at teens but full of great useful information for employers and employees alike, National Drug Facts Week 2015 kicks off on January 26th. Download creative flyers and brochures to educate and inform by visiting the link below. Encourge the conversation about what it means to be Drug free to not stop at the workplace but to continue into the home. 

In Lancent Psychiatry's September issue, a group of 15 researchers looked at participant-level data from three large, long-running studies in Australia and New Zealand to explore connections between adolescent cannabis use and effects of completing young adult mile stones. The goal of this article is to provide a broad picture of the psychosocial sequelae of adolescent cannabis use. 

The NIH has awarded more than $11million over 3 years to three institutes to help support the research into exploring the use of social media to help understand, present and treat substance abuse. According to NIDA Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow, " These awards are the result of an active collaboration among three institutes to develop innovative approaches that advance the science of substance use and addiction."

Drug-free workplace has become a common term with human resource and safety managers. Most professionals agree that with drug and alcohol abuse accounting for 65% of on-the-job accidents, there is a need for drug testing to be an integral part of the workplace. But what is the difference between drug testing and having a drug testing program?

Components of a Drug Testing Program:

1.       A Written Policy