On January 26, 2012 SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde, J.D. approved the Drug Testing Advisory Board recommendations to 1) include oral fluid as an alternative specimen, and 2) to include Schedule II prescription medications such as oxycodone and hydrocodone in the Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs.

 

This approval is the first step in changing the Dept. of Transportation (DOT) drug testing regulations.  The next step is for HHS to propose changes to the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs.  DOT will then propose changes to the Part 40 regulations to fall in line with the changes in the Mandatory Guidelines. 

 

 Look for notices of the proposed guidelines.  This approval does not change anything immediately.  However, there is no doubt that DOT will be revising their drug testing regulations to allow oral fluid testing, and to expand the scope of drugs to be tested to include the synthetic opiates that are so commonly abused today.