Feds Trying to Add Fentanyl to Drug Testing Desk – Security & Compliance

The Substance Abuse and Psychological Well being Companies Administration inside the Division of Well being and Human Companies, is asking for enter on the Necessary Tips for Federal Office Testing Applications and attainable updates to the Urine and Oral Fluid Analyte Desk to incorporate fentanyl.

SAMHSA printed a discover within the Federal Register asserting that its Heart for Substance Abuse Prevention’s Drug Testing Advisory Board will convene through net convention on Dec. 5, and the board shall be discussing including fentanyl to the analyte desk.

The Division of Transportation should comply with the HHS scientific tips for DOT-regulated drug testing laboratory procedures, so individuals within the DOT transportation trade drug testing program must be conscious HHS is contemplating this difficulty. 

Any change to the HHS analyte desk could have an effect on the DOT testing program underneath 49 CFR Half 40, however solely after DOT conducts its personal rulemaking.

Why HHS Desires to Add Fentanyl to Drug Testing

In its proposal, the company defined that fentanyl accounts for a big proportion of overdose deaths in america and is more and more used as a stand-alone substance of abuse. In accordance with the Nationwide Forensic Laboratory Data System 2021 report, fentanyl was the fourth most regularly recognized drug and accounted for practically 12% of all medicine reported by forensic laboratories.

The Trucking Cares Basis, the charitable arm of the American Trucking Associations, just lately donated $25,000 to Voices for Consciousness, a nationwide group geared toward elevating consciousness of the hazards of illicit fentanyl within the U.S.

“The epidemic of lethal fentanyl is having a devastating impact on people, households, and communities,” stated TCF Chairman Phil Byrd. “The Trucking Cares Basis is decided to lift consciousness about this rising disaster and acknowledge elected officers who’re shaping our authorities’s response.”

Easy methods to Remark

SAMHSA is requesting public touch upon the advice of including fentanyl/norfentanyl (together with their proposed testing cutoffs) to its analyte desk. 

Feedback may be submitted previous to the DTAB assembly, throughout the DTAB assembly, and as much as 30 days after the DTAB assembly, however no later than January 4, 2024. 

Written feedback concerning the addition of fentanyl to the HHS analyte desk may be submitted through e-mail to:  DFWP@samhsa.hhs.gov.