Official US Government Icon

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure Site Icon

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

The latest general information on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is available on Coronavirus.gov. For USDOT specific COVID-19 resources, please visit our page.

Preventing Substance Abuse Begins with Knowledge

Quick Links

FOR YOUR SAFETY...FOR YOUR LIFE

Here at the Department of Transportation, we are strongly focused on protecting the safety of the traveling public.  We want to make sure that people whose jobs affect not only their own safety, but that of everyone else who travels or can be affected by transportation systems, are alert, able to exercise good judgment in potential emergency situations, and committed to compliance with safe practices and safety rules.  That is the reason why, for nearly 30 years, the Department has implemented a safety-oriented drug and alcohol testing program for safety-sensitive transportation workers.

But, through our work in this program, we have become aware that preventing substance abuse is an imperative that reaches far beyond the transportation industry.  Substance abuse creates serious effects across our society:  people die, families are devastated, livelihoods are lost.  The effects of substance abuse on transportation safety grow out of this more pervasive problem.

Make no mistake: substance abuse affects your mind, body, and your future.  Whether you are at home, at work, in school, or just out and about, substance abuse poses a risk to you and those around you.  Whether you are an employee or an employer; a teenager, adult, parent or other caregiver; a family member or friend; an educator or health care professional, knowing about substance abuse is a good first step to preventing or dealing with it.

For this reason, we have compiled a list of resources -- mostly from Federal agencies -- that can help you learn about substance abuse and finding treatment; proper disposal of unwanted, unneeded or expired medication; workplace and prevention programs, facts about alcohol and drugs, and data and research on prevention practices.  The list is not all-inclusive, but it's a good starting point for finding out what you can do to prevent or deal with substance abuse issues in your life and the lives of people you know.

Find treatment facilities in the United States or U.S. Territories for substance abuse/addiction and/or mental health programs not related to the DOT Return to Duty requirements.

NOTE:  This page contains links to non-Federal websites.  The U.S. government, its organizational units, and its employees are not responsible for the information found through these links.  No endorsement of these sites or their content is provided or implied.

[back to quick links]  [back to top of page]

    PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS

    ---

    ---

    ---

    ---

    ---

    [back to quick links]   [back to top of page]

    WORKPLACE

    ---

    ---

    ---

    ---

    ---

    [back to quick links]  [back to top of page]

    ADOLESCENTS

    ---

    ---

    ---

          back to quick links]   [back to top of page]

          DRUGS

          ---

          ---

          ---

          ---

          [back to quick links] [back to top of page]

          ALCOHOL

          ---

          ---

          ---

          ---

          ---

          [back to quick links]   [back to top of page]

          Glossary of Agency Terms

          Glossary of Agency Terms
          AAPCS American Association of Poison Control Centers
          AAA American Automobile Association
          BJA Bureau of Justice Assistance
          CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
          DEA U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
          DEdu U.S. Department of Education
          DOJ U.S. Department of Justice
          FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation
          FDA U.S. Food & Drug Administration
          FTA Federal Transit Administration
          HHS U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
          NCPA National Community Pharmacists Assocation
          NIAAA National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
          NIDA National Institute on Drug Abuse
          NIFA National Institute of Food and Agriculture
          NIH National Institutes of Health
          ODAPC Office of Drug and Aclohol Policy and Compliance
          OJP Office of Justice Programs
          ONDCP Office of National Drug Control Policy
          SAMHSA  Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
          UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

          [back to quick links]   [back to top of page]

           

          A red and white checkered hot-air balloon is rising up toward the right, above a complex maze below. A slogan to the right of the balloon says, “Preventing Substance Abuse Begins with Knowledge.”

           

          Last updated: Wednesday, October 4, 2017