About Crystal Meth

February 28, 2014 Drug Education, Drug-free WorkplaceAdam BellLeave a comment

Crystal Meth according to the Coalition against Drug Abuse, has surpassed cocaine as the recreational drug of choice among young people. It is a stimulant so named because of the crystalline form that it becomes after being manufactured. Meth is most often smoked but can also be injected or taken in pill form.

Signs and Symptoms

There are a number of signs and symptoms of meth addiction, including dilated pupils, weight loss, eye twitching, loss of appetite, repetitious behavior, and hyperactivity. Users of the drug can stay awake for days and then, after the inevitable crash, stay asleep for days. Meth can cause rotted teeth and sores about the mouth and face.

The long term effects of meth addiction include brain damage, skin abscesses, blindness, respiratory failure, kidney failure, chest pain, internal bleeding, brittle bones and malnutrition. There are also a number of psychological effects involving psychosis, paranoia, aggressive behavior, mood instability, delusions, suicidal thoughts and schizophrenia. These conditions are caused by sleep deprivation, brain damage, and over stimulation.

Treatments

The first step for treatment of crystal meth addiction is to cut off the supply of the drug and to allow the patient to go into withdraw, a painful experience that requires a rehab center and/or the support of friends and family. Since the desire for the drug will still be present, even after the withdraw phase is completed, some effort is made to address some of the underlining causes of the addiction. These can include depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. Medication and psychotherapy is used to treat these conditions and to prevent the patient from having a relapse and returning to meth use. However the fact of the matter is that crystal meth has the highest relapse rate of any recreational drug.

For more information contact us

Opiates: What You Need to Know

February 20, 2014 Drug Education, Drug-free WorkplaceAdam BellLeave a comment

When people hear the word “opiate”, they often conjure up an image in their mind of the great authors who were addicted to opium such as Charles Dickens, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. However, the fact is that opiates are still a very real part of our society, and they are an extremely addictive and deadly substance. To help people to understand this better, here is a quick overview of whatopiates are, where they can be found in modern society, and how you can tell if a loved one may be suffering from an opiate addiction.

What is an Opiate?

Opiates, also commonly referred to as opiods and narcotics, are a group of drugs that are derived from opium, which comes from the poppy plant. These powerful yet highly addictive drugs have been used for centuries to relieve pain. There are two types of opiates: natural opiates and synthetic opiates. Natural opiates include opium, morpheme, and codeine. A majority of the drugs that are considered opiates are synthetic, or, man-made. These synthetic opiates include Demerol, Oxycontin, Vicodin, Percocet, and Heroin. Heroin however has no medicinal use and is used only as a means to get high.

Prevalence of Opiate Addiction

Unfortunately, while an extremely addictive and dangerous class of drugs, opiate abuse rates have gone up significantly in the last few decades. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH), opiates are one of the most commonly abused prescription medications in the United States, with roughly two percent of the population having abused these drugs. The prevalence of opiate use is significantly higher among high school students, with roughly one in twelve students having admitted to using Vicodin for non-medical purposes. This is particularly problematic, as opioids are an extremely addictive class of drugs in which abuse can easily lead to overdose. In fact, opioid overdose death rates in the U.S. have quadrupled since 1999 alone (NIH). Many people question why opioid abuse rates are so high in this country; the main reason for this is due to misconceptions that exi st surrounding the safety of these prescription drugs. Since doctors prescribe these medications, there is a false belief that it is safe to use them recreationally; however, doctors only prescribe opioids for extreme pain, and they monitor those who take them closely due to their addictive qualities.

Does Someone I Love Use Opiates?

Unfortunately, if someone you love has an opiate addiction, but they are consuming non-prescription opiates, it can be difficult to ascertain if they have an opiate addiction without first discovering the drugs. However, you can often discover an addiction if your loved one begins to act irregular, paranoid, and if they have sudden mood shifts from high to low. If someone you love is taking prescription opiates for pain and has become addicted to them, they may be exuding these same symptoms, and you may notice them taking more than the prescribed dosage of their medication.

Opiates can be perfectly safe painkillers when used under the guidance of a doctor for medicinal purposes; however, these powerful drugs can be extremely addictive, and can be dangerous if their consumption is not controlled. Contact us to learn more about this class of medications, as well as to find out what you can do to help someone fighting an opium addiction.

Buprenorphine: What you need to know

February 13, 2014 Drug Education, Drug-free WorkplaceAdam BellLeave a comment

When actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman was found dead in his apartment of a heroin overdose in February, the syringe was still in his arm. Investigators found a supply of buprenorphine, sold under the brand names Suboxone, Subutex and Butrans.

Buprenorphine is a relatively new opioid (narcotic) medication that was approved in 2002 to treat addiction to heroin and other narcotics. It has fewer side effects than methadone, and taking larger amounts does not produce a greater high, which means there is a lower risk of abuse and overdose. Buprenorphine can still be addictive, however, and has become a popular street drug.

Purpose and Use

The purpose of using a substitute narcotic to treat narcotic dependence is this: taking buprenorphine, (or methadone) prevents the body from going into withdrawal, but does not produce the high associated with heroin or other narcotic drugs. Thus a person taking Suboxone, for example, is able to withdraw from their drug of choice without having to experience the side effects of withdrawal. Side effects can be severe and include intense cravings, profuse sweating, severe muscle and bone aches, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea and fever.

Buprenorphine is also FDA-approved to treat moderate to severe pain, and is sometimes used off-label to treat depression.

Effects

Users of buprenorphine report that it makes them feel calm and relaxed; an overall good feeling, but very unlike the euphoric high of heroin and some prescription narcotics. Side effects include slow breathing; dizziness or confusion; problems sleeping; nausea; sweating; stomach pain; or constipation.

Incidence & prevalence

In a report published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) buprenorphine ranked last in prevalence of abuse among seven commonly abused narcotics, including oxycontin, hydrocodone, methadone and morphine, among others.

The investigators found that the majority of buprenorphine abusers were young white males who had “extensive histories” of substance abuse. Additionally, more than a third of those users said they took buprenorphine in an effort to self-medicate or to ease the symptoms of heroin withdrawal

Trends in the use of buprenorphine (in the US)

Buprenorphine is increasingly being prescribed by physicians to treat opioid withdrawal. When using methadone for treatment, clients have to make daily visits to an Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) to receive their daily dose. This is difficult for those who don’t have easy access to an OTP—especially rural populations—and can interfere with jobs and other activities.

Prescriptions dispensed for buprenorphine, increased from around 50,000 prescriptions in 2002 to approximately 5.7 million prescriptions in 2009. Additionally, the number of OTPs offering buprenorphine increased from 11% in 2003 to 51% in 2011. According to the National Institute for Drug Abuse (NIDA) the number of physicians certified to prescribe buprenorphine doubled between 2005 and 2007.

NIDA plans to test the efficacy and safety of this medication across a range of populations, including teenagers and pregnant women, and to “spread the word” about the value of buprenorphine in the treatment of narcotic addiction. So while the abuse of the drug is decreasing, the legitimate use of buprenorphine is increasing, and the drug is becoming more available through both physicians and OTPs.

Mortality

A one year study published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology in 2006 found that the mortality rate for buprenorphine was similar to that of methadone, about 1%. Subjects in this study did not necessarily die from an overdose, as there is a high comorbidity among opiate addicts.

Mortality reported to poison centers and compiled by the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center between 2006 and 2007 found that there were 5 deaths associated with buprenorphine, compared with 126 with methadone during the same time period.

If you’d like to find out more about buprenorphine, or if you have questions about drug testing, please contact us.

Bath Salts

January 30, 2014 Drug Education, Drug-free WorkplaceAdam BellComments Off

Bath Salts have nothing to do with Epsom salts or anything else that is put in a bathtub. The term “bath salts” refer to the family of drugs containing one or more synthetic chemicals related to cathinone, an amphetamine-like stimulant found naturally in the Khat plant. These synthetic recreational drugs are typically made from MDPV, or methylenedioxypyrovalerone.

Bath salts emerged at the end of the last decade, they rapidly gained popularity in the U.S. and Europe as “legal highs.” In October 2011, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration placed three common synthetic cathinones under emergency ban pending further investigation, and in July 2012, President Obama signed legislation permanently making two of them—mephedrone and MDPV—illegal along with several other synthetic drugs often sold as marijuana substitutes. The term “bath salts” refers to the family of drugs containing one or more synthetic chemicals related to cathinone, an amphetamine-like stimulant found naturally in the Khat plant.

People can take bath salts in a number of ways, by snorting it, injecting it, or even mixing it in food. The bath salts user experiences agitation, paranoia, hallucinations, chest pain, increased pulse, high blood pressure, and suicidal thinking/behavior. The suicidal tendency can last for some time after the stimulant effects wear off. The science is unsettled as to whether bath salts are addictive, but it is noted that stimulant drugs in general tend to make people crave after more of them.

Currently the Synthetic Drug Abuse Prevention Act makes the possession of MDPV and even goes one step further to prohibit chemically similar “analogues” of the named drugs. However history shows us that manufacturers will create new drugs different enough from the banned substances to avoid legal restrictions.

The American Association of Poison Control Center advises if one believes someone has taken bath salts to call the nearest poison control center to ascertain whether the person needs quick medical attention. In 2012 poison centers took 2,691 calls concerning bath salts exposures.

Trends of Drug Use in American Youth

January 27, 2014 Drug Education, Drug Testing, Drug-free WorkplaceAdam BellLeave a comment

Drug Abuse Trends Among American Youth

Synthetic Marijuana: What is it?

January 19, 2014 Drug Education, Drug Testing, Drug-free WorkplaceAdam BellLeave a comment

Synthetic marijuana/spice has caught some recent media attention due to reports of dangerous and even violent behavior from individuals who use it. These products contain dried, shredded plant material and chemical additives that are responsible for their psychoactive (mind-altering) effects. The component of cannabis that produces the desired effect is called THC, and synthetic marijuana is designed to magnify the effects of THC.

Synthetic marijuana has been on the market for a relatively short period of time and for many years it was available for purchase at gas stations, smoke shops and via the internet. Frequent unwanted side effects have been reported and include vivid and frightening hallucinations, delusional thoughts or beliefs and psychological breaks with reality. Popular Science magazine also reports that some teenagers who have tried this drug have suffered seizures, strokes or even loss of eyesight. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has now designated the five most common chemicals used in making spice as schedule I controlled substances, making it illegal to buy, sell or possess them. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse manufacturers of Spice products attempt to evade these legal restrictions by substituting different chemicals in their mixtures, while the DEA continues to monitor the situation and evaluate the need for updating the list of banned cannabinoids.

What makes synthetic marijuana especially dangerous is that it lacks a substance called cannabidol that minimizes the negative effects of THC. Due to the likelihood of permanent brain damage or psychosis, habitual users of synthetic marijuana present a liability to companies that employ them along with posing a possible threat to themselves or others.

Along with “spice,” some other street names for this drug include “black mamba,” “K2” and “sexy monkey.” The variations in synthetic marijuana’s composition also make it very dangerous because there is no way of predicting how different individuals will react to it. According to the scientist who first developed synthetic marijuana for research purposes, recreational use of it is figuratively a game of Russian Roulette. Spice products are popular among young people; of the illicit drugs most used by high-school seniors, they are second only to marijuana.

Past year use of illicit drugs by high school seniors 2012, Marijuana/Hashish 36.4%, Synthetic Marijuana 11.3%, Hallucinogens 4.8%, Salvia 4.4%, MDMA 3.8%, Cocaine 2.7%

It is still not known how the use of Spice may affect human health. Many users have been taken to Poison Control Centers and the effects of using Spice could be serious and irreversible. If you suspect one of your friends, family members or colleagues is using this synthetic drug, don’t wait! Contact us now for further information about our instant or laboratory screening resources.

Flesh Eating Drug

December 8, 2013 Drug Education, Drug Testing, Drug-free WorkplaceAdam BellLeave a comment

Illegal drug chemists are keeping busy, not only in the United States but across the world, synthesizing new and more dangerous drugs seemingly on a daily basis. Desomorphine has gained attention because of its cheap black market synthesis in Russia, where it began being sold as “krokodil” (pronounced like “crocodile”) in 2010.

Krokodil, the flesh eating drug, is so named because the user’s skin becomes blackened, green and scaly at the injection site–like a crocodile’s–as blood vessels burst and the surrounding tissue dies. Gangrene and amputations are a frequent result.

One internist and addiction specialist says that “it’s a zombie drug — it literally kills you from the inside out. If you want way to die, this is a way to die.” In addition to the damage to the veins and soft tissue at the injection site, the drug also fails to dissolve completely in the blood and thus clumps in the veins. These clumps make their way to other places in the body and start to damage tissue.

Most users die within 2-3 years and in the later stages are plagued by decayed structure of the jaw and facial bones; rotting gums, ears, noses and lips; bone infections; ulcers on the forehead and skull as well as rotting and liver and kidney problems.

Desomorphine is synthesized from codeine, which is sold over-the-counter in Russia, using chemicals like hydrochloric acid, iodine and red phosphorous; strong alkalis such as Mr. Muscle, a kitchen and bathroom cleaner; and organic solvents such as gasoline or paint thinner. The result is a toxic mixture of unknown substances that costs only a third as much as street heroin.

Experts hypothesize that the drug first spread across Russia and Ukraine when heroin became less available. So far Russia is the only country in the world to see the drug grow into an epidemic.

Last month (October 2013) CNN reported that five people had been hospitalized in the Chicago suburb of Joliet, IL, after using krokodil; one of the patients lost significant portions of her leg. In the past three days there have been reports that krokodil has surfaced in Ohio, but authorities deny this.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has not documented any officially confirmed American cases of krokodil abuse. To have official confirmation, the Drug Enforcement Administration would need to have a sample of the drug that caused the problem.

If you’d like to learn more about drugs that are commonly abused, or are interested in conducting drug screening tests—either in-home or in a laboratory–please contact us; we can help.

Signs of Drug Abuse

October 31, 2013 Drug Education, Drug Testing, Drug-free WorkplaceAdam BellLeave a comment

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), in 2012 overall drug abuse among young persons ages 12-19 was rising; this was largely due to an increase in marijuana use. Prescription drug abuse has also risen, primarily in the 18-25 year old population. After marijuana and hashish the most abused drugs by high school seniors are synthetic marijuana, Adderall and Vicodin.

People of all races, ages, educational levels and economic statuses use drugs. So how do you know if someone you love—child or adult—is abusing drugs? The most significant indicator is change: change in physical appearance, personality or behavior. Here are some of the specific signs of drug abuse:

Physical

High energy level and/or excessive chattiness
Unusual sleep patterns—sleeping too much, being awake at odd hours or not sleeping for days at a time
Pupils larger or smaller than usual
Tremors or shaking
Runny nose, sniffling
Frequent grinding of teeth or twisting of the jaw back and forth
Several small sores on face
Deterioration of teeth

Behavior and Personality

Change in overall attitude and personality with no other discernible cause
Loss of interest and participation in activities
General lack of motivation and energy
Change in friends
Paranoia
Silliness and giddiness OR moodiness and irritability
Change in personal grooming habits
Unexplained need for money

The specific symptoms associated with the commonly abused drugs above, marijuana and synthetic marijuana, are very different. According to the Partnership for a Drug Free America, signs of synthetic marijuana use include inability to speak, aggression, agitation and excessive sweating. Common signs of non-synthetic marijuana use involve sleepiness, a lack of concentration and coordination, forgetfulness in conversation and increased appetite, especially a craving for sweets.

Every type of drug has different signs and symptoms of its use, and some of these symptoms can look like illnesses such as clinical depression, bipolar disorder or anxiety disorder: it can be difficult to differentiate between drug use and mental illness. If you’d like to find out more information about drug use and drug testing, please contact us.

Is Your Family Protected?

October 25, 2013 Drug Education, Drug Testing, Drug-free WorkplaceAdam BellLeave a comment

According to the a new report from the Trust for America’s Health, the number of people in America who died from taking prescription pain killers doubled in 29 states between 1999 and 2010, and prescription drugs are the most commonly abused substance–after marijuana and alcohol–for Americans ages 14 and older. The same report noted that fatalities from overdose of painkillers outnumber deaths from heroin and cocaine combined.

Prescription drug abuse has been called an “epidemic” in America, with opioid pain killers (Vicodin, Oxycontin) being the most often abused. Other drugs frequently abused are stimulants prescribed to treat Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) including Adderall, Concerta and Ritalin; and central nervous system depressants such as Valium and Xanax.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) defines four ways in which these drugs are abused:

Taking a medication prescribed for someone else
Taking a drug in a higher dosage than prescribed
Taking a drug in a different manner than prescribed (for example, crushing pills and snorting or injecting them) and
Taking a drug to get “high”

When taken as prescribed for a specific mental or physical condition prescription drugs are safe and effective. When they are taken in larger quantities, in a different manner or when no illness or symptoms are present, they affect the brain in the same way that illicit drugs do and cause cravings in the same way that heroin does.

When these prescription drugs are abused, they trigger dangerous physical consequences: Opioids can cause severe constipation and depress breathing; mixing them with alcohol amplifies this effect and can lead to death. Stimulants raise the body’s temperature and cause seizures and heart failure. And CNS depressants slow both the heart rate and respiration, also leading to death when taken in quantities larger than prescribed.

Most deaths caused by prescription drug abuse are due to unintentional overdoses. Over time, a person taking a drug to “get high” will require a larger quantity to achieve the same effect and may not realize they have a dangerously high level of the drug in their system.

If you’re concerned that someone you love is abusing drugs, please contact us. We can answer questions you may have and also provide drug testing kits and supplies.