CADC Services

05/26/2026

Federal Drug Testing Rule Will Require ‘Directly Observed’ Urine Collection From Truck Drivers

Published on May 24, 2026
By Kastalia Medrano

“Every month that passes without certified oral fluid testing is another month when federal workers with paruresis face anxiety, discrimination, and career barriers.”

The Department of Transportation will require “directly observed” urine drug testing in federal workplace situations where saliva testing has been called for, but is not possible. The clarification to DOT drug and alcohol testing procedures is the latest development in the trucking industry’s years-long push for oral fluid testing as an alternative to urine testing.

The new rule was published in the Federal Register on May 11, 2026 and will take effect June 10, 2026.

Truck drivers, who are subject to an inordinate number of federal regulations, don’t choose their method of drug-testing—their DOT-regulated employers do. The campaign for implementation of oral fluid testing has been led by the American Trucking Association (ATA), which argues that it’s necessary to “keep impaired drivers off the road and uphold the trucking industry’s commitment to safety.”

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) approved lab-based oral fluid testing in 2019, and DOT finalized its own regulations authorizing employers to choose this as an alternative to urine testing in 2023. But actual implementation requires at least two laboratories that are Food and Drug Administration-approved to process the tests—one for the initial analysis and another to confirm the results. Currently there are zero.

Oral fluid testing appeals to many employers for a few reasons, one being the efficacy in detecting recent drug use—within the past couple of hours—compared to urine drug testing. Though the trucking industry has become the public face of the campaign, the regulations also affect federal workers in the commercial aviation, rail, public transit and pipeline sectors.

One of the primary concerns expressed by the trucking industry has been that urine drug screens are not witnessed, and therefore easier to circumvent oral fluid testing. Another concern revolves around paruresis, more commonly known as “shy bladder” syndrome—if a driver is unable to produce urine when required to, they’re held for a three-hour waiting period, which obviously impacts their arrival time at their destination. And if they still can’t produce urine during that period, it’s considered a refusal to take the test and they’re removed from their duties. To return, they must “pass” a urine test that is witnessed by a same-gender observer.

The new DOT rule also updates its prevailing terminology by replacing the word “gender” with the word “sex” in accordance with President Donald Trump’s January 2025 executive order, “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.”

“Every month that passes without certified oral fluid testing is another month when federal workers with paruresis face anxiety, discrimination, and career barriers,” Dr. Steven Soifer, co-founder of the International Paruresis Association, stated in March. “We’ve been working on this issue since our founding [30 years ago]. Our members ask the same question every day: When will the federal government complete the work it already approved?”

In April, at the request of the ATA, six members of Congress wrote to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. citing FDA regulatory barriers as the reason no United States labs are certified to process oral fluid tests.

They cited an analysis by Quest Diagnostics that showed “substituted” urine specimens increased 370 percent from 2022 to 2023. Quest has a proprietary lab-based oral fluid collection method, Quantisal™, and as such has been an avid supporter of the campaign.

On May 1, the FDA published a notice of its intent to consider revising the requirements that pertain to toxicology testing. That same day SAMHSA published a list of currently certified labs, which presumably will be updated in the future but for the moment simply confirms that there aren’t any.

However HHS ultimately handles oral fluid testing will set the stage for what happens with hair follicle testing. The department was directed to create guidelines for hair testing in 2015, but has not yet done so

https://www.ma*****namoment.net/federal-drug-testing-rule-will-require-directly-observed-urine-collection-from-truck-drivers/

12/17/2025

Trump to sign executive order reclassifying ma*****na:

By Michelle Stoddart and Katherine Faulders @ ABCNews
Wednesday, December 17, 2025 12:44PM

President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order as soon as Wednesday that will reclassify ma*****na to a Schedule III drug, effectively easing federal restrictions on the drug, according to two senior administration officials familiar with the matter.

Ma*****na is currently listed as a Schedule I drug, under Drug Enforcement Administration guidelines. The change in scheduling would move ma*****na to Schedule III, which DEA regulations say have "moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence" and less abuse potential than high schedule drugs.

While the move would not fully legalize the drug, the executive order is expected to say the current schedule of the drug is impeding the ability of scientists to research the safety and efficacy of ma*****na's possible uses, the officials said.

The order is also expected to say that the long delay in rescheduling ma*****na has not served Americans who could benefit from potential medical uses, especially to treat chronic pain and other illnesses.

On Monday, Trump said that he was considering the move, saying that it would lead to "tremendous amounts of research."

"Because a lot of people want to see it, the reclassification, because it leads to tremendous amounts of research that can't be done unless you reclassify. So we are looking at that very strongly," Trump said on Monday.

In August, reports surfaced that the administration was considering reclassifying ma*****na.

Trump confirmed he was weighing the decision and said at the time it's a "complicated subject," but said he was interested in it because he'd heard "great things" about medical ma*****na.

CNN first reported the news of the expected executive order.

12/17/2025

08/23/2025

As we approach the Holiday Weekend soon, Please be mindful of other people on the roadways and beaches..., "mind you P's and Q's" and Have Fun, Be Safe, and Celebrate America's Working Class!!!

03/16/2024

https://drydrinker.com/blogs/blog/sober-st-patricks-day

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day sober and go green without the Guinness. Discover why many people drink on this day and how you can enjoy it alcohol-free.

06/24/2023

As we celebrate the "4th of July" holidays please be safe and remember some key components to insure your safety and those we love... Don't drink and drive, find a designated driver or alternatives like ride share services, public transportation, or take a cab. Drink responsibly and please be safe and enjoy the Fireworks displays in our communities!!!

"Happy Holiday from all of us at CADC Services!!!"

11/23/2022

How To Celebrate Thanksgiving Sober: Ten Helpful Tips
Written By: Alicia Schultz

Thanksgiving is a wonderful day to celebrate what you’re grateful for, have some laughs, and reconnect with family over a delicious dinner. But whether you’re newly sober, years into recovery, or simply don’t want to drink anymore, this holiday can be challenging.

After all, how can you say “no” to loved ones offering you alcohol during Thanksgiving? What are the best ways to stay occupied throughout the evening, and how can you keep your stress levels in check?

If you could use some extra help staying sober this holiday season, we’ve got you covered. Below are ten tips for a successful sober Thanksgiving. And remember, there’s never any shame in reaching out for support if you’re struggling with drinking during the holidays.

1. Find Support in Loved Ones Who Don’t Drink
Before Thanksgiving dinner, consider confiding in a relative who isn’t a big drinker themselves, and let them know that you might need a sober ally. Chances are, they’d be more than happy to offer you some sober company throughout the evening.

2. Keep a Non-Alcoholic Drink in Your Hand
This tip applies to nearly any situation where you might need some extra alcohol defense: Simply hold on to a nonalcoholic drink (such as fruit punch or soda in a cup) all night. This tip is handy because people will be less inclined to offer you booze when they see you already have something in your hand.

3. Give Your Family a Heads-Up
If you feel comfortable doing so, give your family a heads-up that you’re planning on celebrating Thanksgiving sober. If nothing else, informing everyone ahead of time should discourage them from offering you alcohol when the holiday rolls around.

4. Have a Supportive Friend on Call
Find someone you can call or text if things get stressful—whether they’re a close friend, sponsor, or peer in recovery.

This person can provide much-needed support if, at any point, you feel overwhelmed. They can help you ground yourself in reality and stay focused on not drinking. And, if it comes to it, they can also help you decide when it’s time to head home.

5. Plan How You’ll Say No to Drinking
If you’re like most people, you have at least one family member who gets out of hand when they drink during the holidays. That’s why planning how to say no is essential.

When someone offers you alcohol, you can make an excuse about being a designated driver, be direct about your sobriety, or change the subject altogether. In any case, strategies for saying “no” can be lifesaving when it comes to staying sober on Thanksgiving.

6. Remind Yourself Why You’re Sticking to Sobriety
There are countless reasons a person would quit drinking—whether for their health, family, or overall quality of life. But festive, high-energy environments like Thanksgiving dinner can make it easy to forget about your reasons and consider having “just one.”

So, before you head out, remind yourself of your motivations for not drinking. Remembering your “why” can make it easier to stay on track, even when stressful situations bring on the urge to drink.

7. Make Sure You Can Leave at Any Time
On the off-chance that something at Thanksgiving dinner goes wrong, it’s best to have a quick way to head home. Ideally, you’d bring your own car so you can leave if you feel overwhelmed. But if taking your own vehicle isn’t possible, you could ride with a friend or family member who can take you home if necessary.

8. Spend Some Time Helping Out
Helping out at Thanksgiving is one of the best ways to stay occupied and avoid the urge to drink. Before the meal, you can ask the host if they need any help with food prep or setting the table.

And, after dinner, you can offer to help with cleaning up the dishes, sweeping the floor, or taking out the trash.

These kind gestures are perfect for keeping your hands and mind busy (and the host will greatly appreciate you for them, too).

9. Invite Your Loved Ones to Play a Board Game
A family-friendly board game is an excellent way to have some fun if you’re celebrating Thanksgiving sober. Of course, some of your loved ones might still drink while they play. But the healthy dose of competition means people will be chattering about winning and joking about losing, instead of thinking and talking about alcohol.

10. Stay Positive
The holiday season can be tough, especially if you’re in recovery from alcohol use disorder. It’s natural to feel a little worried about getting through it.

However, staying positive is key. Not only will optimism lift your spirits, but research has linked it with resilience to stress and better mental health overall. So, take a minute to visualize a happy sober Thanksgiving.

While a few instances of stress or anxiety are to be expected, you might have a lot of joyful moments to look back on, too. And after it’s all said and done, you get to leave knowing you’ve just hit another milestone without the booze!