Drugs

Washington — Federal action aimed at easing restrictions on marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act could jeopardize federally required drug testing for workers in safety-sensitive jobs, the National Transportation Safety Board warns.

Boston — Unintentional overdoses accounted for more than 1 out of 4 workplace deaths in Massachusetts between 2021 and 2022, the state’s Department of Public Health reports.

Denver — Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) has signed legislation that includes funding aimed at establishing recovery friendly workplaces and supporting people in recovery from substance use disorders.

San Diego — Opioid use related to workers’ compensation claims decreased nearly 10% in 2023, marking one of the largest drops the workers’ comp industry has seen in years, according to a new report.

Boston — Workers in Massachusetts who reported a job-related injury in the past 10 years were 35% more likely to have died of an opioid-related overdose, the state’s Department of Public Health says.

Washington — Federal action aimed at easing restrictions on marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act “may have considerable negative consequences for highway safety and safety-sensitive industries,” the American Trucking Associations claims.

Washington — The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences’ Worker Training Program has published Spanish-language versions of its resources on COVID-19’s impact on mental health and substance use.

Secaucus, NJ — The percentage of U.S. workers whose drug test showed signs of tampering skyrocketed in 2023 to its highest level in over 30 years, according to Quest Diagnostics’ annual Drug Testing Index.

Itasca, IL — The National Safety Council has launched a new set of initiatives targeting opioid overdoses in the workplace.

Washington — OSHA’s Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health has scheduled a virtual meeting for April 18.