Approval of the DTAB Recommendations

We are very pleased to announce that yesterday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Administrator – Pamela S. Hyde, J.D. – approved [see attachment] both of the Drug Testing Advisory Board (DTAB) July, 2011, recommendations:

 

• Based on review of the science, DTAB recommends that SAMHSA include oral fluid as an alternative specimen in the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs. 

• DTAB recommends the inclusion of additional Schedule II prescription medications (e.g., oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone and hydromorphone) in the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs.

 

We believe the opportunity to address the illicit use and abuse of these additional Schedule II drugs in the transportation industries is an important way to limit their misuse in our communities and a great way to serve transportation safety, while getting those who need treatment into treatment.  And please know that oral fluid testing will be a bonus to our regulated transportation industry program; and will certainly serve to assist the  DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in its efforts, with others, to establish national per se laws for Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (DUID).

 

As you know, the DOT is required by law to follow HHS procedures for the drugs for which we test and the specimens we test.  Therefore, we will continue to work with the DTAB, HHS/SAHMSA, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and others to bring these approved recommendations to realization in our regulations and throughout the transportation industries.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jim L. Swart

Director

Office of Drug and Alcohol

  Policy and Compliance

Office of the Secretary of Transportation

U.S. Department of Transportation

• DTAB+recommendation+memo+signed.pdf