Positive drug tests among truck drivers rose 18% in 2022 to 69,668 compared with the previous year. Marijuana (because it takes over 24 days of abstinence to show negative) was the most commonly detected substance, with 40,916 positive results in 2022. Since January of 2020, more than 72,000 CDL drivers have been taken off the road after failing drug
tests required by the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. Lonely lives, boredom, sleep deprivation and the pressure to meet deadlines drives CDL drivers to drugs and alcohol. As per a study by the Journal of Preventive Medicine
and Hygiene (JPMH), greater than 1 in 4 CDL drivers consumed drugs. The most abused drug was CNS stimulants such as Adderall and VyVanse, with 21% use (but it exits the body much quicker than marijuana and may not be detected by tests as much as marijuana). The next most abused drug was marijuana at nearly 6%. Substance abuse among CDL drivers remains a pressing issue in the transportation industry, with significant implications for road safety and worker well-being.
Addressing this problem is crucial for improving overall industry performance and public safety. The fact is that many individuals in all walks of life have a difficult time accessing the addiction treatment they need because most addiction treatment programs only offer the most acute level of care, drug and alcohol detox, in an inpatient setting. As everyone knows, dropping everything that is happening in their lives and going away for treatment to an inpatient detox facility is unrealistic to most people. At the Center for Network therapy, we specialize in treating CDL drivers and we offer alcohol detox,
benzo detox, anesthetic detox, opiate detox and stimulant detox on an outpatient basis increasing treatment access. Now CDL drivers have the opportunity to access addiction treatment from the comfort of their home.