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Drug Testing

Opiates: Understanding Addiction and Testing

January 12, 2014 Addiction, Drug Testing, Drug-free WorkplaceAdam BellLeave a comment

Opiate Addiction

When it comes to opiate addiction, it is important to know the facts about the affliction. From the perspective of an employer, it is essential to recognize the signs and symptoms of potential drug addiction in your employees. This is especially pertinent in the case of opiates, which can cause complications due to the wide abuse of prescription medication, even if they currently have a prescription for the drug. By investigating the facts about opiate Drug Addiction, protecting the integrity of your workplace should be accomplishable.

Constant and Prolonged Use is Necessary for Addiction

For someone to become addicted to opiates, they must use them on a consistent period for a long period of time. For those taking prescription pain medication to treat pain, alternating days of consumption is essential for preventing addiction and the build up of a tolerance. According to CRC Health Group, “With extensive, continuous opiate use, the body’s natural painkillers (known as endorphins) stop working as they are supposed to. With long-term use, the body stops producing endorphins altogether because it is used to receiving opiates from an outside source. In addicted individuals, nerve cells gradually become degenerated. This results in an increased need for and a high tolerance of the drug.”

Addiction Causes Fundamental Changes in Neuronal Brain Circuits and Cells

Since opiates replicate neurotransmitters in the brain, they often cause an excessive release of dopamine. If the dopamine levels are constantly raised, the brain will naturally deplete itself of dopamine receptors in order to maintain a balance. When this occurs, the user will not have enough natural dopamine to properly stimulate the the decreased number of receptors, leading to depression and anxiety.

Opiate Testing

The prevalence of drug use has shifted toward prescription drug abuse. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health and The White House “nearly one-third of people aged 12 and over who used drugs for the first time in 2009 began by using a prescription drug non-medically.”   In fact prescription drug abuse is the second most abused category of drugs behind marijuana.  More specifically concerning prescription drug use, the biggest concern from employers is regarding oxycodone and oxymorphone, synthetic opiates.  Oxycodone is a type of synthetic opiate that more popularly known through various brand names such as OxyContin, Vicodin and Percocet.  Oxymorphone, also a synthetic opiate, is more commonly known as Opana, Numorphan.  Because oxycodone and oxymorphone are opiates, most employers believe that the standard drug test will test for these synthetic opiates. Unfortunately, they are misled!

Most company’s standard 5-panel and 10-panel test will includes opiates, but will only test for morphine and codeine.  At MedScreens, we have recognized the importance of this trend and have added an expanded panel to our standard laboratory based tests.  Contact us if you have any questions about opiate drug testing.

Manage your Company’s Reputation!

December 29, 2013 Drug Testing, Training ProgramsAdam BellLeave a comment
The importance of drug testing almost goes without saying. Your employees are your company’s most valuable asset; their safety relies on many important factors. Without requiring testing for regular drug screenings you may be putting your staff as well as the public they come in contact with in serious danger.

 

By maintaining a safe work environment, your company can concentrate on what it does best, providing excellent services and products for customers. If an employee is engaging in illegal activity such as drug use not only will he or she harm themselves or others, they can also place your company in a negative light. Reputation is everything and your employees are the individuals your customers come in contact with everyday.

Besides reputation management, regular drug screenings can prevent legal ramifications against your firm due to negligence. In the worst case scenario, your company can face litigation if injuries or other damages accrue due to employee drug use. The Federal Government takes this seriously and imposes serious regulations on companies whose employees fall under their regulator authority.  The federal government has deemed this employee accountability a necessary step in protecting Americans.  They impose serious regulations and penalties on companies whose employees fall under their authority.  Years of research support the benefits associated with a holistic drug testing program.

 

The only way you to provide complete safety of your staff as well as the public they provide services for is to establish and implement a holistic drug testing program that offers pre-employment, random, post-accident, return to duty and follow up testing.  Partnering with a facility that not only offers drug testing services, but specializes in the drug testing industry will ensure a successful program and safe environment for your employees and customers.  

 

MedScreens, Inc. is a highly specialized facility that is well versed in the drug testing industry.  We have well over ten years of expertise in assisting companies such as yours in planning, developing and implementing successful drug testing programs.  We are here as a resource and partner for you.  We invite you to contact us for more information on how to keep your employees healthy and safe in the workplace.

Employee Assistance Program

December 14, 2013 Drug Testing, Drug-free WorkplaceAdam BellLeave a comment
An Employee Assistant Program (EAP) is a growing tool companies use to support the removal of various workplace problems by examining, assessing, intervening, referring and/or managing the employee’s mental health or substance abuse problem.  The American Journal of Public Health reports that in 1985 only 31% of employers offered an EAP, while the Society for Human Resource Management documents that the number of employers offering an EAP rose to 75% by 2008.  According to the Employee Assistance Trade Association (EASNA), the size of the company is directly related to the chance of a company offering an EAP.  Research shows that 52% of companies that employ less than 100 employees the United States offer some sort of EAP while 89% of companies with over 500 employees offer an EAP As part of their benefit package.

 

 

The first EAPs began in the 1940’s as informal peer support programs for employees with alcohol problems.  Due to World War II, the workforce demanded skilled and stable employees.  The effects of the war were felt in the workforce and employers were forced to recruit employees in locations with high rates of alcoholism.  This increased the amount of alcohol related workplace issues.  Employers began to realize that rehabilitating these employees was more cost effective than replacing them; Therefore, Occupational Alcoholism Programs (OAP) were born.  In the 1950s companies including Standard Oil and Consolidated Edison expanded these services to include counseling for mental health problems, and the resulting employee benefit became known as an employee assistance program.

 

Despite the growing rate of EAPs, companies are not required to offer an EAP to employees.  For a company in MS to be a Drug-Free Workplace the employer must either directly contract with an EAP or maintain a list of available EAPs that an employee may contact.  If an employer decides to offer an EAP they may do so by means of an on-site provider (internal) or an offsite provider (external).  The EAP is completely confidential and services are provided by professionals who are prohibited from disclosing any information about the services you use.

 

An EAP is a essential component of a successful Drug-free workplace program. The EAP will provide consultation with regard to managing workplace alcohol and drug issues and can offer coaching on how to best approach an employee to make a referral. The EAP thus facilitates an atmosphere  in which supervisors can focus on work performance rather than employee’s personal issues.  Costs for an employer to provide an EAP varies due to utilization rate, program model and employer size.  Over the past decade employer cost associated with EAPs averages $12 – $40 annually per employee.  Several studies have been conducted to determine the return on invest of an EAP.  All of the studies have supported the general conclusion that an EAP will save an employer between $3 – $10 for every $1 invested on an employee.  According to the National Business Group on Health, studies have shown an average of 17 hours of loss work were saved in 60% of cases.

 

Contact us to learn more about a Drug-Free Workplace Program, Employee Assistance Program or Drug Testing.

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.

Drug Free Workplace

December 4, 2013 Drug Testing, Drug-free WorkplaceAdam BellLeave a comment

In 1988, the federal government adopted the Drug Free Workplace Act and required most government contractors and all federal government grantees to comply with it. Since that time, several businesses have established a drug free workplace policy, instituting random drug testing among their employees.

What is a “Drug Free Workplace?”
A Drug Free Workplace is an employment setting where all employees follow a program of policies designed to provide education and treatment for drug abuse occurring with employees and/or their families. The ultimate goal of the program is to increase and ensure safety in the workplace.
The components of the drug free workplace are a
  • written policy,
  • availability of assistance,
  • employee education,
  • drug testing and
  • supervisor training.
The Benefits of Establishing a Drug Free Workplace
According to the Council on Alcohol and Drugs, research indicates that approximately 77% of illegal drug users are employed; add in the effects of alcohol abuse and the result is a sizeable segment of the national workforce that is impaired. For the employer, that means unsafe working conditions, loss of productivity and smaller profits, more accidents and higher medical claims expenses. Some states offer a 5% to 10% discount on worker’s compensation premiums for Certified Drug Free Workplaces.
Workers’ performance is also affected by substance abuse in their families. The Council on Alcohol and Drugs reports that in a national telephone survey 26% of employed adults stated there had been substance abuse in their families; 42% of these workers report that they have been unfocused or less productive at work because of it.
If you’d like to learn more about establishing a Drug Free Workplace or about drug testing, please contact us.

Drug Abuse or Drug Addiction: What’s the difference?

November 7, 2013 Addiction, Drug Testing, Drug-free WorkplaceAdam BellLeave a comment
Sometimes the phrases “drug abuse” and “drug addiction” are used interchangeably, but this is actually an error. Drug Abuse and drug addiction are two entirely different issues; however, they are connected: drug abuse can lead to drug addiction.
According to the most common definitions in use, drug abuse occurs when a person uses an illegal drug to get high or uses a legal drug in a different amount or manner than that which was prescribed. For example, a person with a legitimate prescription for painkillers is abusing the drug if they crush the pills and snort them, rather than taking the prescribed dose orally as directed.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines drug abuse as “excessive use of a drug” or “use of a drug without medical justification.”  The University of Maryland Medical Center characterizes drug abuse as the “use of illegal drugs, or the misuse of prescription or over-the-counter drugs for at least a year with negative consequences.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) has dropped the terms “drug abuse” and “substance abuse” in favor of the phrase “harmful use”, focusing on the consequences rather than the action of use. This suggests that not all illegal drug use is abuse; some persons are able to use illegal drugs in a way that does not lead to negative life outcomes.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines addiction, also called dependence, as a “chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful effects”. Addiction is referred to as a brain disease because the chronic use of drugs alters the brain structure and functions.
NIDA notes the following as symptoms of addiction: drug taking in larger amounts than planned; inability to reduce drug use despite repeated efforts; a considerable amount of time spent in activities necessary to attain the drug; and repeated use despite knowledge of health or social problems caused by the drug.
Although there are many different definitions of drug abuse, the definition of drug addiction is consistent throughout the literature on the subject. If you’d like to find out more information about abuse, addiction or drug testing, please contact us.

 

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.

Are your supervisors trained?

October 16, 2013 Alcohol Testing, Drug Testing, Drug-free Workplace, Training ProgramsAdam BellLeave a comment
According to the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), “Of the 17.2 million illicit drug users aged 18 or older in 2005, 12.9 million (74.8 percent) were employed either full or part time.” OSHA also states that 10-20 percent of work related fatalities test positive for drugs or alcohol.
According to the United States Department of Labor, in 1984, CSX Transportation implemented Operation Redblock, a way of tackling the issue. The program’s 4000 volunteers are trained to confront substance abusers, and if appropriate, refer them to the company’s EAP, or employee assistance program. Since 1990, less than one percent of the drug tests administered to safety-sensitive employees have been positive.
It is obvious training makes a difference. That is why the Department of Transportation (DOT) currently requires their supervisors to obtain a certain amount of hours of training for alcohol and drug use in the workplace. This training not only ensures workplace safety, but also protects the public.
In a training program supervisors will learn how to make correct decisions, maintain adequate documentation, and learn the appropriate steps to perform when an issue is suspected.  MedScreens, Inc. offers a reasonable suspicion course that will prepare your supervisors for discerning when a reasonable suspicion test would be appropriate, ensure your compliance with established regulations and decrease your company’s liability.

Drug Abuse in Sports: A Growing Trend?

September 27, 2013 Drug TestingAdam BellLeave a comment

Given the recent scandals and increased attention to drug abuse in professional sports, “Drug Testing” seems to be in the news a lot lately  Sources site that twenty NFL football players were suspended for games in the 2013 football season due to violations in the NFL’s substance abuse policy and/or the NFL’s policy on performance enhancing drugs.1 As these results reveal, athletes are not only being tested for performance enhancing substances such as steroids and stimulants, but they are also being tested for typical recreational drugs of abuse as well.

 

Policies are created to protect players who are willing to sacrifice the long-term side effects for a short-term gain. These athletes are willing to risk the detrimental effects to their health in the future for the competitive edge today.  Some even ruin their careers by being addicted to drugs.  LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, aka the “Honey Badger”, entered the 2012 football season as a Heisman Candidate.  However, he was suspended from his football team and was not allowed play due to violating the team’s substance abuse policy.  The Honey Badger later told one NFL team on an interview he fell so many drug tests that he quit counting at 10.2  It has been well publicized at the benefits steroids and other performance enhancing drugs provide on the field, but painkillers and other opiate usage are becoming increasingly common.  These athletes take pain pills to mask symptoms and allow them to keep performing despite injury and/or exhaustion.

 

The ‘Big Four’ sports leagues (hockey, basketball, baseball and football) have all had programs in place for many years. Any sport that is included in the Olympics will generally have an organization at the national level that oversees testing in competition. Combat sports including boxing and mixed martial arts are overseen by athletic commissions at the state level, and drug testing is required in order to be issued a fight license. At the college level, the NCAA conducts testing through a dual-layered program; both at championship sites and on a random, year-round basis.  Some high schools and smaller recreational leagues have begun their own testing programs more recently, probably due in part to the increasing availability of various drugs through the internet. There was initially some controversy about drug-testing in high-schools, but a 1995 Supreme Court decision upheld the right to drug-test.

 

So what are the benefits of having a testing program? Proponents of testing point to the deterrence that is driven by accountability as well as a stronger sense of fair play.  These same proponents would also offer a very valid argument that sports drug testing policies and programs are in place to protect the athlete that is so driven by success that he/she would risk long-term harm to himself to be better than the competition.