Drug Testing Consortium-American Regulations for Drug And Alcohol Testing

Posted by SharonEvans on September 21st, 2012

The War on Drugs has been a serious issue for decades and drugs in the workplace, or anywhere else for that matter, are not a good thing to have around. By entering a drug testing consortium, one can find out if another person is abusing drugs. A DOT drug testing consortium is handy for anyone in the transportation industry at all.

According to the Omnibus Transportation act of 1991, anyone who is in the field of safety transportation is required to submit to drug and alcohol testing. This can be pilots, CDL holders, train operators, bus drivers, and so on. The DOT sets the standards and the departments beneath it follow those rules and sometimes add more. Department under the DOT include the FAA and FMCSA, which covers pilots and CDL holders, respectively. A DOT drug testing consortium with an approved service is often needed to handle the thousands of people who operate the various modes of transportation.

The DOT requires that all of these “drivers” must be checked for at least five drugs: Amphetamines, Cocaine, Opiates, Phencyclidine (PCP), and Marijuana. A DOT drug testing consortium with a medical review officer (MRO) can help rule out any legitimate medical reason for a positive results, since amphetamines and opiates are found in many prescribed medications. Although many states have started allowing medical marijuana, the federal government still recognizes it as an illegal drug.

Testing for alcohol typically occurs only with saliva and breath tests. Drug testing will involve a urine test or a hair follicle test. The hair follicle is actually one of the most accurate tests, as it can provide roughly 90 days of information on the substances an individual has used and it cannot be tricked by washing the hair or even bleaching it.

A drug testing consortium can be useful for other industries as well. It is not uncommon for individuals to be tested for a variety of jobs. Public schools have started administering random drug tests to students. Drug tests are being made for personal uses, such as parents testing their kids. A drug testing consortium with a service may be used in divorce and custody court cases. There are many reasons to want to give someone a drug test, but being able to find the most accurate way to administer a drug test is not as easy.

Many different kinds of jobs require drug testing and many business are turning into “drug free workplaces” that require hired individuals to be drug free and remain that way. Drug abuse has become a serious problem in modern America and far too many do not seem to realize the seriousness of the situation. Drug can alter the mind and the body in ways that can be harmful to others as well as the drug users. Knowing that someone is abusing drugs is only the first step into aiding that person in recovery.

For a drug testing consortium of approved DOT drug testing for your personal, business, or transportation needs, visit Drug testing consortium and DOT drug testing consortium to learn more.