News

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)  announced that its enforcement of federal rail safety rules has led to the highest-ever civil penalty collection rate in the agency’s 50-year history, surpassing last year’s record-breaking rate.

The first-ever Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health reviews what we know about substance misuse and how you can use that knowledge to address substance misuse and related consequences. More here

Responding to the imminent threat to public health and safety, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has placed U-47700 into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, effective on November 14th.  Emergency scheduling of dangerous drugs such as U-47700 on a temporary basis is one of the most significant tools DEA can utilize to address the problems associated with deadly new street drugs.  Learn More

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) today announced a final rule that establishes a national drug and alcohol clearinghouse for commercial truck and bus drivers.  The clearinghouse database will serve as a central repository containing records of violations of FMCSA’s drug and alcohol testing program by commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders. Learn More

The holiday season between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day is one of the deadliest and most dangerous times on America's roadways due to an increase in impaired driving. Since 1981, every President of the United States has demonstrated the commitment to preventing impaired driving by proclaiming December as National Drunk & Drugged Driving Prevention Month or more recently, National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. Learn More

Observed every November, American Diabetes Month is an important element in the American Diabetes Association's efforts to focus our nation's attention on the disease and the tens of millions of people affected by it. Our 2016 theme is This Is Diabetes. We'll showcase real-life stories of friends, families and neighbors managing the day-to-day triumphs and challenges of the disease. Join as we salute the 29 million Americans with diabetes — as well as their loved ones — to raise awareness and to create a sense of urgency about this growing public health crisis.

Have you ever heard of K2, and Spice or Charge Plus and Hurricane Charlie? They are labels given to substances within two categories of the hundreds of synthetic drugs sold in the U.S. K2 and Spice are two of the many names used for synthetic cannabinoids sold as "herbal incense" or "potpourri." Charge Plus and Hurricane Charlie represent a sampling of the names given to synthetic cathinones sold as "bath salts" or "jewelry cleaner" according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).

The opioid antagonist medication naloxone reverses respiratory depression and arrest resulting from an opioid overdose. Because it must be given promptly, often within minutes, to save a life, some jurisdictions and opioid treatment programs make naloxone readily available to anyone who might encounter a person in overdose status.

Following years of declines, the percentage of employees in the combined U.S. workforce testing positive for drugs has steadily increased over the last three years to a 10-year high, according to an analysis of nearly 11 million workforce drug test results released today by Quest Diagnostics, the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services.  

Nicole and Julia will be at EAPA on Oct 31-Nov 2, Booth #418. Register for the drawing, learn about what's new and don't forget to grab some ORANGE candy! Learn More

The FDA is requiring boxed warnings for nearly 400 medications, including prescription opioid painkillers (e.g., hydrocodone, morphine, oxycodone), opioid-containing cough medicines, and benzodiazepines.

When used in combination, opioids and benzodiazepines are associated with risks for respiratory depression, coma, and death.

The agency's action follows a citizen petition filed in February by public health officials asking for changes to existing labels.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. While most people are aware of breast cancer, many forget to take the steps to have a plan to detect the disease in its early stages and encourage others to do the same. Read More

The Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is issued a notice of intent on Aug. 31, 2016 to temporarily schedule the opioids mitragynine and 7- hydroxymitragynine, which are the main active constituents of the plant kratom, into schedule I pursuant to the temporary scheduling provisions of the Controlled Substances Act.

The addiction-treatment industry is most certainly at a crossroads today. With favorable legislation and a growing recognition of addiction as a chronic disease, leaders now have an opportunity to shape the direction of the road ahead. And these are pivotal decisions, according to Marvin Ventrell, executive director of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP), who spoke at the National Conference on Addiction Disorders in Denver on Sunday.

Every September, SAMHSA sponsors Recovery Month to increase awareness and understanding of mental and substance use disorders and celebrate the people who recover.

National Health Center Week has been celebrated for more than 30 years to recognize the services and contributions of Community, Migrant, Homeless and Public Housing Health Centers. While there are countless reasons to celebrate America’s Health Centers, among the most important and unique is their long success in providing access to affordable, high quality, cost effective health care to medically vulnerable and underserved people throughout the United States. Learn More

Sandra Serrano and Nicole Hanratty will be attending SAPAA Worldwide 2016, September 12th-16th. Stop by and see us and learn about the newest industry updates and don't forget to register to win an iPad mini! Read More

ASAP, American Substance Abuse Professionals, supplies drug and alcohol testing, evaluation, treatment compliance monitoring and follow-up testing programs for employers who have drug and alcohol testing requirements for their employees. ASAP specializes in providing these services to employers whose testing programs are regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT).    

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is delaying enforcement of the anti-retaliation provisions in its new injury and illness tracking rule to conduct additional outreach and provide educational materials and guidance for employers. Originally scheduled to begin Aug.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires all entities under its jurisdiction to update their information every two years. You are required to provide this update every two years even if your company has not changed its information, has ceased interstate operations since the last update, or is no longer in business and you did not notify FMCSA.

NHTSA is launching its annual Vehicle Theft Prevention Campaign this July, which is Vehicle Theft Prevention Month, all across the nation. Vehicle theft is a very expensive crime, with the cost of stolen vehicles pegged at more than $4.1 billion – that’s billion with a "B". And July is one of the months when more cars are stolen than any other month.

A study of opioid overdose cases from the past 10 years points to a history of previous addiction, mental illness and having other chronic diseases among the strongest predictors of which overdose patients are most at risk for death or other serious complications.

The Department’s drug and alcohol testing regulation, 49 CFR Part 40, provides the specific requirements for when and how to obtain written employee authorization to disclose drug and alcohol testing information.

Fatal accidents involving stoned drivers have soared in the state of Washington since marijuana was legalized there, according to a study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. But it's difficult to determine whether a high-on-pot driver is too impaired to drive, according to a separate study from the same group.

DOT is determined to keep America’s airlines the safest in the world.  It is with that thought in mind that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, issued a final rule on May 13, 2016, prohibiting the carriage of battery-powered portable electronic smoking devices (e.g. e-cigarettes, e-cigs, e-cigars, e-pipes, personal vaporizers, electronic nicotine delivery systems) in checked baggage.  This includes prohibiting the charging of such devices and batteries aboard aircraft.