Drugs

Although the number of alcohol-impaired drivers on U.S. highways has decreased, more drivers are now using marijuana and prescription drugs, according to two recent studies from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Bethesda, MD – Until more research is conducted on the safety and effectiveness of opioid painkillers, the health care community should focus on individualized care for the one-third of Americans who experience chronic pain, an independent panel of medical experts has concluded.

The yearly minimum rate for random drug testing of commercial drivers will stay at 50 percent in 2015, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Most people taking opioid painkillers for long-term treatment are prescribed additional medications that could lead to a fatal drug combination, according to a report by prescription management company Express Scripts.

Atlanta – Health care workers who administer certain toxic cancer drugs do not always adhere to recommended safety guidelines, according to a new NIOSH study.

Madison, NJ – For the first time in more than a decade, the percentage of positive drug tests among U.S. workers has increased, according to a report from lab services provider Quest Diagnostics.

Washington – Workplace programs on alcohol and drug abuse might not reach many of the people who need the services most, according to a pair of reports from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Washington – The number of pilots involved in fatal crashes who tested positive for potentially impairing drugs has nearly doubled in a 23-year span, according to a report from the National Transportation Safety Board.

Lebanon, NH – Disabled workers receiving Medicare benefits are increasingly using prescription painkillers, according to a new study from the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice.

Laws and attitudes are changing rapidly regarding medical marijuana, which has been legalized by nearly half of the states in the country. But each state’s law varies, leaving more questions than answers when it comes to employers with safety-sensitive positions.