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Proposed rule As recently reported, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that attempts to screen out poor lab tests and expand the number of drugs that could disqualify safety-sensitive employees from their jobs. The new rules would detect substitute drugs and make medical personnel who perform the tests accountable for their actions. Under the new rules, medical personnel who do not perform the substance abuse tests according to federal standards would be barred from doing tests in the future. The new drug-testing rules are aimed at safety-sensitive workers who try to get around the testing rules by using substitute drugs. The new tests also will find adulterants, which refer to chemicals similar to traditional drugs but with a slightly different composition which, as a result, do not show up in laboratory tests. The DOT drug and alcohol advisor reported recently that the rate of attempts by safety-sensitive workers to use substitute drugs has increased. According to DOT, both new applicants and employees are doing adulteration. Adulteration of a specimen, according to federal rules, is the same as a refusal to test and subjects the employee to the same consequences as an employee who tests positive. DOT and the Department of Health and Human Services have authorized all laboratories to test for adulteration and foreign substances. If you need help with a drug or alcohol problem, get it. Using adulterants to hide a problem won't work anymore, and could cost you your job. |
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B.J. McNelis (L-1594) |
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