NEWSLETTER Volume 2 Issue 2Substance Abuse Testing News Prescription Drug Abuse Prescription drug abuse is now the top form of Drug Abuse in the Un

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NEWSLETTER
Volume 2 Issue 2

Substance Abuse Testing News

help in pills

Prescription Drug Abuse
Prescription drug abuse is now the top form of Drug Abuse in the United States. Most households have at least one, if not several partially used or outdated prescriptions for a family member of the household. What often happens is family members share these drugs within a household or even with extended families thinking that they are helping one another. This is not the case. The sharing or use of a prescription drug not issued to you is dangerous and is against state and Federal Law. Unauthorized use can lead to injury, addiction, allergic reaction, and a variety of other health risks.

What are some of the dangers for employers?

▪ Prescription drugs often have restriction warnings regarding operating machinery.
▪ Those that are unaware of drug allergies can have severe / fatal reactions.
▪ Some prescription drugs can be habit forming.
▪ Without being issued by a doctor properly, cross reactions can occur between drug types because there is no monitoring.
▪ Injury / loss time can occur as a result of the side effects.

What are some of steps that employers can take to be proactive regarding this issue?

▪ Implement a proper drug and alcohol program with education, consistent awareness, policies, and testing.
▪ Make sure your employees are aware of your stance on shared or prescription drug abuse.
▪ Insert provisions within your policy that explain that stance. Such as a stance that all drug use be under the "contemporaneous supervision of a treating physician" and add that the treating physician must have knowledge of the employee's job function and attendant safety issues.
▪ Provide continued awareness and education to employees on the dangers.
▪ Provide continued awareness and training for supervisors on how to notice and handle those that may be under the influence.

Background Screening Updates

Files disorganzied

On-Line Public Access Sites
We are getting frequent calls regarding county courthouse or other public access sites that enable anyone to search for criminal information. These sites let you search by name, case number, and sometimes even region or city. We are advising that these sources should not be used as a substitute for a proper search. Reports from these sites are not complete or sometimes accurate. The information is available as a public access tool and not as a complete and accurate source. This is evident in the disclaimers that are posted on all of these resources. Disclaimers such as, "All information by (source name) is provided "as is", with no warranties, express or implied, including the implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose. (Source name) does not guarantee or warrant the correctness, completeness or utility for any general or specific purpose of the data available through the access of this site." We are finding that information is not double checked for alias's or cross checked with name similarities, that information is not complete, up to date, and often times key information is left out. We are advising everyone that if you are using these sources do not depend on them and definitely do not recite them as concrete history. Some things to watch for:

▪ Sources may be provided by courts and/or state but they are a public resource not a reliable criminal records database.
▪ Note the disclaimers and be aware of the source you are using.
▪ Reports are not complete and often miss key information such as conviction information.
▪ Sources may be delayed by months for updates. Not up to date.
▪ For reliable employment screening purposes always perform proper searches.

Training

REASONABLE SUSPICION TRAINING
Classes continue to fill up fast for our monthly reasonable suspicion training for supervisors class.

NOTE: ALL CLASS DATES ON OUR MOS CAMPUS ARE FILLED UNTIL FEBRUARY 2013.

A reserved seat must be made prior to attending, please do not show up without a reservation; seats will not be available.

However, our online class is always available. Please contact us at 760-244-6886 for information.

If you need training or need a refresher, please contact us and book your class as soon as possible to reserve your spot. On site classes are available, contact our office for details.

Future dates for open classes on the Mobile Occupational Services Campus:

March 14, 2013
April 11, 2013
May 9, 2013

All classes start at 9 am and end at 11 am.

Class from side

Collection & Breath Alcohol Certification
Mobile Occupational Services Training Department will be offering open enrollment again for DOT required certified drug collections and breath alcohol testing. DOT requires anyone performing a DOT collection or breath alcohol to be certified and all certifications must be renewed every 5 years. Employers are required to keep track of certifications and only utilize certified collectors and BAT's.

If you or your collection facility need certification or re-certification, enrollment can be made on our website. Please note that classes on location require a minimum enrollment of students as well as travel fees.

Owner Operators / Independents

ALCO SENSOR IV

Alcohol Testing
We are having difficulty getting alcohol tests completed during random pulls. If you are notified to complete a drug and alcohol test be sure to take or provide your driver with a proper authorization that requests the breath alcohol test as well as the drug test. Please keep in mind, if a clinic does not complete an alcohol due to error and you have documentation to prove it (authorization form) than you are covered. If you neglect to complete the alcohol test than that is a punishable offense by DOT. Also, please provide us a copy of the test after completion so we can properly keep your records and keep you in compliance.

MIS Reports
MIS reports will be completed by March 15th, 2013 for the 2012 calendar year. Please note that because you are owner operators that the MIS Report will show the stats for the entire pool to show compliance. Reports are only sent by request, but are always available by logging into your DEMI account on our website. If you are having an inspection and it is a component requested for your inspection and you can not retrieve your copy, please contact us for a copy of the report.

2013 Consortium Enrollment
Re-enrollment fees were invoiced and due by November 15th, 2012. Once we received your re-enrollment form and fees, your 2013 packet was mailed to you. All those that have not paid have been dropped and DOT has been notified. If you sent payment but did not complete the re-enrollment form, this must be done before we can send out your 2013 packet.

▪ Re-enrollment forms can be completed on our website here.

We now have a NEW consortium pool that covers all fees for a year with one flat rate.

▪ 1 Enrollment Fee for the year with no cost for random testing.
▪ No per test fees for randoms
▪ No collection fees
▪ No breath alcohol fees
▪ Just 1 fee that covers your enrollment for the year.

Enrollment fees are based on the number of drivers. Any additional drivers added after enrollment are invoiced accordingly. Please contact us at 760-244-6886 for information.

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