Not All Drug Tests are Alike. Opioids Now Mandated by DOT

Posted by Dinesh Kumar on December 27th, 2021

The federal government now requires that opioids be included in US Department of Transportation (DOT) mandated drug tests. In recognition of this requirement and the expanded drug use during Covid-19, Safer Places, Inc. has expanded customized drug testing services.

Previous tests (DOT. or other) already included heroin, but didn’t include semi-synthetic opioids such as hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxycodone and oxymorphone, more commonly known as Vicodin, OxyContin, Lortab, Norco, Percocet and Dilaudid.

Note, oddly enough, fentanyl is not included and DOT is not mandating it at this time. Although not required, semi-synthetic opioids and/or fentanyl can be added to employee drug testing.

The truck driving profession involves immense solitude, sleep deprivation and excessive fatigue. It can be annoyingly repetitive, monotonous, demanding and stressful, according to a study by the National Institutes of Health.

Overall drug use is up significantly by most accounts, due at least in part to the pandemic (unemployment, depression, isolation, etc. contribute to drug abuse). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of June 2020, 13 percent of Americans reported starting or increasing substance use as a way of coping with stress or emotions related to COVID-19.

Safer Places offers a wide range of background testing, in addition to customized drug testing, the company offers an innovative array of social media screening and monitoring services as an individual entity or as part of its packages of services.