Drugs

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Bethesda, MD – Until more research is conducted on the safety and effectiveness of opioid painkillers, the health care community should focus on individualized care for the one-third of Americans who experience chronic pain, an independent panel of medical experts has concluded.

The yearly minimum rate for random drug testing of commercial drivers will stay at 50 percent in 2015, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Most people taking opioid painkillers for long-term treatment are prescribed additional medications that could lead to a fatal drug combination, according to a report by prescription management company Express Scripts.

Laws and attitudes are changing rapidly regarding medical marijuana, which has been legalized by nearly half of the states in the country. But each state’s law varies, leaving more questions than answers when it comes to employers with safety-sensitive positions.