The Defense Department’s drug-testing program is expanding to add screening for two additional prescription medications to the range of legal and illegal drugs it currently detects. Joe Angello, the department’s director of operational readiness and safety, told Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service reporters the two drugs added to the screening program — hydrocodone…

Chris Hamilton, senior vice president of the West Virginia Coal Association, said those two states have suspended 2,000 coal miners who failed drug tests. Some of them are licensed in West Virginia and could mine here. Companies are trying to screen for drug abuse. “A number of companies have instituted mandatory drug testing programs over…

The world’s largest drug testing company using hair analysis received its seventh United States Patent dedicated to liquefying hair to release drug analytes. Acton, Massachusetts, January 24, 2012 – Psychemedics Corporation (NASDAQ:PMD) , hair testing pioneer and global leader for 25 years, announced today that the United States Patent Office issued a seventh patent, US…

In 2007, approximately 27,000 unintentional drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States, one death every 19 minutes. Prescription drug abuse is the fastest growing drug problem in the United States. The increase in unintentional drug overdose death rates in recent years (Figure 1) has been driven by increased use of a class of prescription…

A Mississippi truck driver has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for a drug-fueled chase on Interstate 81 through Maryland in which he targeted police and caused four collisions. McNeel testified at his trial he had used methamphetamine and a synthetic drug known as “bath salts” the morning before the chase on Dec. 20,…

Michael Wymbs, one of five Columbia University students arrested in December 2010 and charged with selling drugs on the New York school’s campus, was sentenced to five years’ probation. Prosecutors said undercover officers, in a five-month investigation nicknamed “Operation Ivy League,” spent $11,000 buying drugs including cocaine, marijuana, Ecstasy and LSD-laced candy, with most sales…

Between 149 million and 271 million people worldwide used an illicit drug at least once in 2009, according to a new review of studies attempting to estimate the extent of the problem. That translates to 1 in 20 people aged 15 to 64 taking an illegal drug. But this global figure is likely to underestimate…

A new “super drug” under federal review would only intensify the painkiller-abuse crisis, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said Sunday. Schumer urged the Food and Drug Administration “to proceed with great caution” before approving sale of a pure hydrocodone pill _ 10 times stronger than Vicodin. A pharmaceutical company has said it will soon apply to…