drug screening
Workplace drug overdoses on the rise
An increase in overdoses — as well as drug-related deaths — in the workplace nationwide has led to a renewed focus on employment drug policies and screening procedures. A Dayton Daily News examination of new federal labor data found that it was the fifth consecutive year that unintentional workplace overdoses and drug-related deaths both increased…
Read MoreVoters in three states approve marijuana laws
According to recent polls conducted by Gallup and the Pew Research Center, the majority of Americans (61%) support legalization of cannabis for either medicinal or recreational purposes. This was evident on Election Day 2018, when voters in three states approved new marijuana laws. Voters approved medical marijuana laws in Missouri and Utah, while Michigan voters approved a recreational…
Read MorePrescription drug misuse impacts 71% of U.S. workplaces
More than 70% of U.S. employers are feeling the direct impact of prescription drug misuse in their workplaces, according to a survey released by the National Safety Council. It’s a significant sign that employers should be focusing on how legal substances, as well as illegal, can affect their organization. In fact, nearly half of Americans are personally…
Read MoreMaine employers can no longer test for marijuana
Maine is now the country’s first state to institutionally protect employees from unfair hiring and firing practices due to cannabis use. Employers will no longer be able to test applicants for cannabis prior to hiring, or fire an employee for using cannabis outside of the workplace. Lexology notes that the Maine Department of Labor has removed cannabis…
Read MoreNew DOT drug testing panel to take effect January 1, 2018
In response to the current opioid crisis, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has made a final ruling on new DOT drug testing panels. These will go into effect on January 1, 2018. The DOT drug testing program will now include testing for expanded opiates – including hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone, and oxycodone. These four semi-synthetic opioids have been…
Read MoreCalifornia's about to make cannabis legally available to everyone. Here's how employers can deal with it.
On January 1, 2018, anyone in California will be able to buy cannabis, legally, as long as they’re over 21 years of age. But, it’s not quite that simple. “The problem that California employers will have … is you have a state law that allows uses for recreational purposes, but of course you still have…
Read MoreThe prescription drug crisis hits the workplace
Drug abuse in the workforce is a growing challenge for American business. Increasingly, it’s legal drugs that are having a negative affect. Most media outlets right now focus attention on the opioid epidemic’s role in keeping people out of work, but two-thirds of those who report misusing pain-relievers are already employed. This does not only…
Read MoreDrug screening best practices for your business
23.9 million Americans using drugs, having an effective drug screening process for your business is more important than ever. Perhaps you already have a drug screening program or perhaps you’re considering starting one, either way, here are some best practices we’d recommend you consider: Create a formal drug screening policy A formal drug screening policy…
Read MoreIOC requests independent drug testing outside sports federations
the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) take over all sports drug testing as an independent agency, in an attempt to bring credibility to drug testing in athletics. It would be a huge undertaking for the WADA, but having an independent organization conduct drug-screening tests could improve fairness when it comes to Olympic drug testing. WADA does…
Read MoreCalifornia Gov. signs medical marijuana regulation laws
Gov. Brown signed the Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act on Oct. 9. The Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act would require that individuals and businesses that participate in the industry maintain a license for indoor or outdoor cultivation, distribution, transportation and more, and set up guidelines for individuals who want to grow their own medicinal plants.…
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