DOT Issues New Drug Testing Requirements

As many of you may already be aware, on August 16th the Department of Transportation issued a final rule amending certain provisions of its drug testing procedures that, once in effect on October 1, 2010, will affect anyone in a random drug testing program mandated by the US Coast Guard.  MaritimeLicensing.com has more information on the changes you should be aware of:

The new regulation adds MDMA ­ known on the street as Ecstasy ­ to the list of drugs screened for in DOT mandated drug tests. For initial tests, the agency lowered the cutoff levels for detecting the presence of cocaine and amphetamines, and heroin was added to the list. Initial tests are the first tests done on samples. If a sample shows positive results for illegal drugs, it is then put through a confirmation test.

Drugs that will be screened for once the regulation goes into effect include:

Marijuana

Cocaine

Opiate metabolites of codeine and/or morphine

6-Acetylmorphine, which is heroin

Phencyclidine, commonly referred to as PCP

Amphetamines of AMP and/or MAMP, such as speed

MDMA, street name Ecstasy

For more on the final rule, CLICK HERE for the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Drug & Alcohol Policy & Compliance.

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