American Substance Abuse Professionals

12/22/2025

Executive Order to drive completion of rescheduling of Ma*****na but NO immediate changes to DOT regulated testing

On December 18, 2025, the President of the United States issued an Executive Order directing the Department of Justice to complete the rescheduling process of ma*****na from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

We have had inquiries about what impact this Executive Order will have on the Department of Transportation’s longstanding regulation about the use of ma*****na by safety‐sensitive transportation employees – pilots, school bus drivers, truck drivers, train engineers, subway operators, aircraft maintenance personnel, transit fire‐armed security personnel, ship captains, and pipeline emergency response personnel, among others.

First – ma*****na is still a Schedule I drug under the CSA until any rescheduling is complete. It remains unacceptable for any safety‐sensitive employee subject to drug testing under the Department of Transportation’s drug testing regulations to use ma*****na.

Second – until the rescheduling process is complete, the Department of Transportation’s drug testing process and regulations will not change. Transportation employees in safety-sensitive positions will still be subject to testing for ma*****na. Furthermore, the Department’s guidance on medical and recreational ma*****na and CBD are still in effect.

Laboratories, Medical Review Officers and Substance Abuse Professionals must continue to follow 49 CFR Part 40. There are no changes to your roles and responsibilities as they relate to ma*****na.

We will continue to monitor the rescheduling process and update the transportation industry as appropriate.

We want to assure the traveling public that our transportation system is the safest it can possibly be.


Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Drug & Alcohol Policy & Compliance. Official Notice regarding ma*****na rescheduling and continued enforcement of 49 CFR Part 40, issued December 19, 2025.


*****naPolicy

12/17/2025

ASAP hopes your holidays are relaxing and filled with meaningful moments. Your support means a lot, and we truly appreciate being part of your year!

We’re wishing you growth, new opportunities, and continued success as we move into the year ahead!

12/16/2025

🚨 Ma*****na Rescheduling & Public Safety: What Employers Need to Know

The federal government is considering rescheduling ma*****na, and this could have major implications for safety-sensitive employees in transportation and other critical industries.
Join the National Drug & Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA) for a live discussion with Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX), Congressman Andy Harris (R-MD), and industry experts to explore:

• How rescheduling affects drug-testing authority
• Implications for pilots, school bus drivers, truck drivers, and other safety-sensitive workers
• Differences between Schedule II vs. Schedule III
• How employers can protect public safety

📅 Date: December 16, 2025
⏰ Time: 4:00 PM EST
🎥 Live stream (open to the public)

This conversation is essential for DOT-regulated employers, HR leaders, SAPs, DERs, and anyone responsible for workplace safety.

🔗 Register here: https://ndasa.com/2025/12/09/national-conversation-on-ma*****na/

Read More Here: https://go2asap.com/dot-resource-articles-education/ma*****na-rescheduling/

*****naRescheduling

The National Drug & Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA) is hosting a national conversation to discuss the public safety implications surrounding the

10/21/2025

🚨Record-Breaking Drug Seizure by U.S. Coast Guard🚨

The U.S. Coast Guard offloaded over 76,000 lbs of illegal narcotics in South Florida – the largest in its history, valued at $473 million. This operation prevented roughly 23 million lethal doses from reaching communities and dismantled key trafficking networks.

A powerful reminder of the impact of law enforcement and safety programs in protecting our workplaces and communities.

10/13/2025

National Drug-Free Work Week (Oct 13–17) is a reminder that recovery-friendly workplaces benefit everyone.

✅ Clear policies
✅ Supervisor & employee training
✅ EAP + DOT SAP programs tailored to your culture
✅ Drug & alcohol testing as a deterrent

In 2020, 468,000 full-time workers were in recovery—up 44% from the year before (Safety+Health Magazine).
Let’s build workplaces where employees feel safe to ask for help, return stronger, and thrive.

09/30/2025

🚨 Fentanyl use in the workplace is on the rise🚨

According to the 2025 Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index, fentanyl positivity in random workplace drug tests is more than seven times higher than in pre-employment screenings
(1.13% vs. 0.14%).

Even more concerning:
👉 60% of fentanyl-positive specimens
also contained other drugs
👉 Co-positivity with ma*****na
doubled since 2020 (10% ➝ 22%)
👉 Amphetamine co-positivity
also increased (11% ➝ 16%)

These findings underscore the limitations of relying on pre-employment testing alone. Ongoing random, post-accident, and for-cause testing remains critical to safeguarding workplace safety.

09/23/2025

🚨ASAP is Attending SAPAA- Don’t Miss Us!🚨

📢Join us for our session:
Breaking Down the Return-to-Duty (RTD) Process with the Experts!

📍Meet the ASAP Team at Booth 208!
Let’s talk RTD strategies, recovery-friendly workplaces, and how to support second chances the right way.

09/12/2025

🌟 Exciting news from ASAP! 🌟

We’re proud to announce that Tara Sauers has been elected to the SAPAA Board of Directors.

09/02/2025

08/20/2025

A tragic accident prompted the change necessary to ensure safety across all DOT Modes, it created the Substance Abuse Professional process we know today. In this week's article, our Chief Development Officer, Sandra Serrano, authored a detailed guide in the Journal of Employee Assistance for SAPs that should be saved as your quick reference to the changing regulations
Our new guide covers:
• Historical origins of the SAP "Gatekeeper" role
• Current Return-to-Duty processes
• 2025 regulatory updates and compliance pitfalls
• Federal ma*****na/CBD policies
SAPs aren't just clinicians—they're frontline defenders of transportation safety.
What DOT compliance challenges are you facing?
Dive into this article here: https://ow.ly/91CB50WIPbp

DOT Substance Abuse Professionals serve as safety gatekeepers, ensuring compliance for transportation workers.

08/13/2025

New substances. New risks.
When dangerous drug mixtures like "New Jack City" can hospitalize 27 people overnight, it’s clear that training and education are essential to prevention.
With 18% of adults facing substance use disorders and substances like xylazine spreading rapidly, employers need more than basic compliance measures.
The solution? Proactive awareness programs that help supervisors spot early warning signs and educate employees about real, emerging threats.
"Prevention isn't just a policy—it's a mindset rooted in awareness and preparation." – Sandra Serrano, ASAP
Organizations investing in comprehensive reasonable suspicion training see better safety outcomes AND stronger ROI.
Read how ASAP is bridging the knowledge gap: https://ow.ly/bmuT50WFcrV

From compliance to prevention: Modern workplace safety training strategies for emerging substance threats and employee protection

08/06/2025

The Hidden Crisis in Your Workplace: Why Supervisor Training Can't Wait

Workplace overdose deaths have increased by 536% since 2011. That's nearly 1 in 11 worker deaths on the job.
With 13.6 million workers in the U.S. struggling with substance use disorders, the question isn't if this will impact your workplace—it's when.

The Reality Check:
✅ 70% of adults with substance use disorders are employed
✅ 75% of employers report opioid use impacting their workplace
✅ Only 17% of supervisors feel prepared to address workplace issues
✅ Workers with substance issues miss 5 more weeks annually than their peers

The Solution: Reasonable Suspicion Training
Proper supervisor training isn't just about compliance—it's about:
• Prevention over reaction: Identifying early warning signs before accidents occur
• Professional response: Handling situations with empathy and discretion
• Legal protection: Meeting DOT requirements and state-specific mandates
• Cost savings: Reducing turnover, accidents, and liability

As Sandra Serrano from ASAP notes: "There's a critical difference between being proactive to prevent an overdose or accident and reacting to a full-blown substance crisis. Prevention starts with awareness, and awareness starts with training." Read more: https://ow.ly/Am9e50WAFvl

Question for HR leaders and safety professionals: What training gaps exist in your organization? How are you preparing supervisors for these challenging situations?

Effective supervisor drug and alcohol training has become increasingly vital in today's workplace, where impaired individuals are more likely to cause accidents, injuries, and fatalities in safety-sensitive environments1. In fact, 70% of adults who struggle with alcohol or drug use disorders have ...