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Showing posts from September, 2009

Almost 34 Million Employees Lit Up a Cigarette at Work Last Month

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recently posted findings from their study titled "Cigarette Use among Adults Employed Full Time, by Occupational Category. The study showed that 33.6 million full-time workers aged 18 to 64 (or 28 percent of persons in this category) reported that they smoked cigarettes in the past month based on combined 2006 to 2008 survey data. Groups With Highest Smoking Rate Per Past Month Cigarette Use: Food preparation and serving-related occupations - 44.7 percent Construction work and mining (or extraction work) - 42.9 percent Groups With Lowest Smoking Rate Per Past Month Cigarette Use: Education, training and library occupations - 12.3 percent Life, physical and social sciences area - 15.4 percent SAMHSA Acting Administrator, Eric Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H. stated, “The study provides important insight and updated information that can be used to assist in developing or refining smoking cessation efforts for specific

New Oxycodone Formula Gets Backing of FDA

The FDA recently voted in favor of pushing a new formulation of oxycodone hydrochloride for approval. The new OxyContin formula is more difficult to crush or dissolve which will hopefully make it harder to be used as a drug of abuse . The FDA recommended that Purdue Pharma's application for a new, resin-coated formulation should replace the original version, which has been on the market since 1996. Randall Flick, MD, an anesthesiologist at the Mayo Clinic who voted to recommend approval of the drug said, "Clearly the old formulation is worse than the new, although I think the difference is relatively small," Flick concluded, "Hardcore abusers are likely to devise new ways to break down the harder tablet or figure out which solvents will dissolve it fastest, within 'day or weeks' of the product's release on the market."

Mobile Medical Corporation Unveils New Enhanced Website

Pittsburgh based Mobile Medical Corporation (MMC) reaches yet another historic company milestone by unveiling its exciting new website! MMC's redesigned website provides its users with a more focused and streamlined approach to accessing all of MMC's rich services including substance abuse testing, on-site industrial medical and occupational healthcare resources and solutions. Users can now seamlessly navigate through the new site with ease as enhanced mapping and architecture bring users directly to their destination. Same Easy to Use Log-in process. There will be absolutley no changes to how MMC's clients and contractors access drug testing results and other important information Easy, str eamlined navigation More industry news and information About Mobile Medical Corporation (MMC): Mobile Medical Corporation (MMC) is a National Third Party Administrator of multi-leveled drug testing and occupational healthcare solutions and is a pioneer in onsite nursing and first-aid s

Initial Swine Flu Vaccination Will be Nasal

The initial roll out of swine flu vaccinations will take the form of a nasal spray. The Center for Disease Control reported that 3.4 million doses of MedImmune's needle-free nose spray will be available the first week of October. The CDC's Dr Jay Butler said eventually delivery would rise to about 20 million doses a week. Originally - the swine flu vaccination was to be given through 2 injections that were spaced out over a 2 or 3 week period.

CDC's 2009 H1N1 Swine Flu Situation September Update

Weekly Influenza Activity Estimates Reported by State and Territorial Epidemiologists. Activity levels indicate geographic spread of both seasonal and 2009 influenza and the H1N1 Swine Flu viruses. (P osted September 11, 2009, 7:00 PM ET, for Week Ending September 5, 2009)

Drug Testing Hits the Memphis Campaign Trail

Memphis Mayoral Candidate Charles Carpenter recently took a drug test to show the public he does not abuse drugs. Carpenter believes that it's something everybody seeking the top spot should do. He stated, "It should also be required of the person who runs the city of Memphis." Carpenter's lead should be followed on both the local and national levels both in politics as well as in all workplaces. Over the years companies nationwide have been increasingly drug testing employees from top to bottom as way to help keep job sites safe as well as to stave off negligent hiring law suits. MMC understands that in today’s business and economic environment, risk management professionals and employers alike are looking to continuously improve job-site safety and workplace compliance . And that is why companies nationwide continually utilize MMC’s vast array of cost efficient and diverse testing programs to maintain a better and safe work environment. Email or Call us today to f

DOT Direct Observation Drug Testing Now Mandatory

The Department of Transportation's Direct Observation collection procedures is now mandatory for all return-to-duty and follow-up drug testing. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit lifted the previous stay on July 1, 2009, following the Court’s unanimous decision to uphold the DOT's position in this matter. The language of 49 CFR 40.67(b) now reverts back to the version that became a final rule on June 25, 2008 which reads as follows: § 40.67 When and how is a directly observed collection conducted? (b) As an employer, you must direct a collection under direct observation of an employee if the drug test is a return-to-duty test or a follow-up test.