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Showing posts from April, 2019

Workforce Drug Positivity Hits 14 Year High in 2018

According to the annual Quest Diagnostics Workforce Drug Testing Index the rate of workforce drug positivity hit a fourteen-year high in 2018. In urine drug tests positives increased nearly five percent in both the safety sensitive workforce and general workforce. The largest percentage was seen in marijuana positives, where it increased in almost all workforce categories.For example in federally mandated, safety-sensitive workforce, marijuana positives grew nearly five percent between 2017 and 2018 and nearly 24 percent since 2014. "Our in-depth analysis shows that marijuana is not only present in our workforce, but use continues to increase," said Barry Sample, PhD, senior director, science and technology, Quest Diagnostics. "As marijuana policy changes, and employers consider strategies to protect their employees, customers and general public, employers should weigh the risks that drug use, including marijuana, poses to their business." Additional trends in

April is Alcohol Awareness Month

Every April the National Council and Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) organizes Alcohol Awareness Month as a way of increasing outreach and education for alcoholism and alcohol related issues. The theme for the month this year is “Help for Today, Hope for Tomorrow”. To go along with this theme, the NCADD plans to fill the month local, state, and national events "aimed at educating people about the treatment and prevention of alcohol addiction, particularly among our youth, and the important role that parents can play in giving kids a better understanding of the impact that alcohol can have on their lives." According to the NCADD, one in every 12 adults, or 17.6 million people, suffer from alcohol use disorder or alcohol dependence. While awareness of alcohol abuse continues to grow there is still a stigma and barriers to treatment. To help with this here are just a few ways to knowledge Alcohol Awareness Month: Encourage friends or family members to make small cha