Now individuals can have a similar test to the one that their employers or other entities are likely to use.Based on this confirmed positive level, you may be able to judge how long a particular drug stays in your system.
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Now individuals can have a similar test to the one that their employers or other entities are likely to use.Based on this confirmed positive level, you may be able to judge how long a particular drug stays in your system.
A poison is any substance that is harmful to your body. You might swallow it, inhale it, inject it or absorb it through your skin. Poisons can include
- Prescription or over-the-counter medicines taken in doses that are too high
- Overdoses of illegal drugs
- Carbon monoxide from gas appliances
- Household products, such as laundry powder or furniture polish
- Pesticides
- Indoor or outdoor plants
- Metals such as lead and mercury
The dangers of poisoning range from short-term illness to brain damage, coma and death. To prevent poisoning it is important to use and store products exactly as their labels say. Keep dangerous products where children can't get to them. Treatment for poisoning depends on the type of poison. If you suspect someone has been poisoned, call your local poison control center right away.
A request from a local charitable organization for consumers to contact the local EPA to act and regulate dangerous toxins draining int our water supply.
We've banned heavy metals from a host of products we use every day - paint, gasoline and more. But we're leaving coal ash completely unregulated, allowing these dangerous toxins to get in our drinking supply.
Tell the EPA you want it to protect our water and health from coal ash »
The toxins found in coal ash -- a huge waste product of coal-fired power plants -- are seriously dangerous. They can increase the risk of cancer to more than 2,000 higher than acceptable levels. They can damage internal organs and harm developing fetuses and children.
Lead, arsenic and mercury aren't things to mess around with. In the right quantities and concentration they can kill. They definitely don't belong in drinking water that communities depend on.
Tell the EPA to act and regulate coal ash »
Over the world, the greatest loss of life comes from infectious environmental hazards. Providing clean drinking water and education to those affected throughout the world could save more than a million lives annually. Let's start right here in the United States and protect our own drinking water. We have an EPA - what are they doing?
If you are an employee or employer and you believe you have been exposed routinely to potential harmful toxins, you can have a simple, non -invasive evaluation of hair to determine length and volume of exposure. Call your local Toxic Trace facility to set up on site appointments for employees or come into our office for a Private testing. Our tests can provide a basis for recognizing adverse health effects resulting from exposure to various metals and toxins and to provide information that will asist in differentiating metal toxicity from nonmetal causes of disease. Standard 5 panel Heavy Metals testing include mercury, lead, cadmium, chromium and arsenic.
Did you know that drivers of those big, trucks hauling up and down the New Jersey (NJ) turnpike - I95 in other states - could be under the influence of a controlled substance and still be considered "qualified to operate a vehicle".
As long as the driver presents a valid doctor's prescription for his/her use of the controlled substance (except methadone), he/she is allowed to operate a vehicle. I don't find it comforting to know that someone operating a 44,000 pound or more vehicle may possibly be using a narcotic "under a doctor's advice".
If you think an employee or colleague or even a friend is driving recklessly, and you do nothing about it, you are just as responsible for the outcome. We hear less and less about "DUI" and "DWI" and less from MADD on this subject. MADD or Mothers Against Drunk Drivers brought to light the issue of drunk driving - today we have to include alcohol with narcotics as well. How much adderol can you handle without having negative side effects?
Private drug and alcohol testing can be done on site or at a specifid collection site, in order to remove any doubts about drivers' or even employees handling heavy machinery condition. Perhaps just the thought of a "possible screen" before assignment will deter anyone from using a substance in the last 24 hours. This blog is not meant to encourage "pre-testing" in order for an individual to qualify for a employer's screen.
Some west coast trucking companies are going as far as "hair" sampling to determine the last 90 day's of activity in their "new hires". Approximately, 17% of new hires were disqualified due to the presence of drugs in their hair. Urine can provide a 24 - 48 hour window of information on drug use, whereas a 1 and 1/2 inch sample of hair - taken from the nape of the neck or body or arms/legs can provide up to 90 days of information.
As a student member of an athletic league, you want your team to perform at optimum levels. You depend on them for backup and support during your sports event and you have the right to know that your team mates are clean and sober (so to speak).
If your team mate was out last night, drinking or drugging, he or she is certainly not at optimum performance and their lack of respect for their bodies will impede your goals - good clean fun - and winning! We all know, it is not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game. Well, you may be working hard every day to insure your performance is up to par but if your team mates are not doing the same - you suffer.
If the schools do not want to pay for random drug and alcohol screening for students participating in extracurricular activities then parents should accept Sports Team dues which allows the coach to randomly test a player. A coach should have an idea if his players are participating in drinking and/or drugging by their behavior or performance. Alternatively, team members should have the ability to anonymously inform the coach to initiate a drug/alcohol screen. In the long run place the individual participating in alcohol abuse or drug abuse can be put on the road to sobriety. The goal is to remove athletes from a team in order to preserve the safety of other individuals on their team, in order to penalize for behavior not accepted in society and in order to allow for the integrity of the sport and its players.
Athletes around the world are honored for their hard work and good, clean living. Using drugs to enhance performance is just not honest and does not create an even playing field. Abusing alcohol and/or drugs is a sign of other problems that if taken care of early on - allows the true athlete to free himself/herself from addictions that may hinder their true performance.
Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault - DATE RAPE - They use such playful terms such as "e", or "love drug" or "special k" - the slang words sound fun - nothing harmful - but just ask anyone who has been unknowingly subjected to these toxic nervous system depressant drugs and there is nothing fun about the experience. Painful memories follow you for years.
Picture this, you are out with your friends, at the beach, at a local club, dancing, flirting with a cute guy or girl, and all of a sudden you feel more intoxicated than you should? or you feel nauseous, dizzy, disoriented - maybe a weird heaviness in your arms and legs. IF you don't think you should be drunk or intoxicated but you are - let your friends know and have someone you know take you home. If a kindly stranger is right there at your side offering assistance. SAY NO. Unless it is an identified Police Officer or local official. Instead call someone in a position of authority, call attention to your situation and if you have the ability let your friends know that you cannot be left alone until a parent, legal guardian or person in authority comes for you. These "date rape drugs" generally take about 10 - 15 minutes to feel the effects and may have a bitter or salty taste but often times have no taste, color or odor.
Some old advice is never pick up your drink after you have left it unattended while dancing, using the bathroom or just looked away while talking to someone. Always know the person who is preparing your drink - bartender or frat boy - best friend or stranger - watch them and be aware of the taste of your drink. Always have MAD Money - that is the amount of money it takes to get you home safely in a private cab or car service.
If you think you were raped - understand that no one invites or causes or deserves to be sexually assaulted. RAPE is not about morals or even about sex - it is a FELONY CRIME. Men and women alike wake up and have no memory of the preceding hours but their bodies often feel and show signs of abuse. You may wake up partially or fully undressed or maybe your predator left no signs. If you have some uneasy feeling about the preceding nights events, collect your first morning urine specimen and store it in the refrigerator until you can hand it off to a professional drug tester. Preserve your clothes and sheets and do not shower, douche, or brush your teeth until you have spoken to a professional. If you have the previous night's drink glasses or bottles, keep it for evidence. Call your local rape crisis center and ask them for help. www.180nj.org 732-264-4111 or 1-888-264-7273. All your phone calls are confidential.
Your local DNA & drug screening center will test your urine for the following substances - Methlenedioxymenthamphetamine or MDMA; Gamma Buyterolactone; Ketamine; Rohypnol and/or Embalming Fluids. (Marijuana soaked in embalming fluids will have a strong noxious odor while burning and can cause unconsciousness for about 4 hours) If you are unable to preserve your first morning's urine, these drugs can also be detected in hair and nails up to 90 days after the event; however, a clear timeframe must be indicated on the day of testing, ie, "I think that someone gave me a daterape drug on June 1st" - in this way, your drug screener will notify the laboratory where to concentrate for the presence of a drug.
Drinking is not a crime but can only be enjoyed in moderation. Excessive drinking lowers your inhibitions - know when to stop and know how to get home safely. Drugs, whether they are prescribed or not, combined with drinking are a lethal combination - just do a search on Karen Ann Quinlan.
Under federal laws, there is almost no limitation at all on the right of private employers to adopt drug and alcohol testing policies for their workers.
However, drug testing is not for everyone. A company should do it only after careful consideration of many factors, including applicable statutes and regulations, contract or insurance requirements, and combating some perceived problem with substance abuse among the workers.
Drug testing, for example, may be mandated for some types of employees, as is the case with workers subject to U.S. Department of Transportation mandatory testing guidelines. Some federal contracts and grants may require employers to adopt drug-free workplace policies and possibly even to provide for drug-testing of employees.
Other employers may be under no legal obligation to do testing, but feel it is needed due to reports that some employees may be unsafe due to being under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Regardless of the reason for testing, it is essential to carefully draft the policy and consider the various legal issues.
What is a good, basic drug testing policy?
Most policies start out by emphasizing in positive terms the need for safety in the workplace and adherence to job requirements and work quality, and go on to cite goals such as improving safety and productivity. The policy should address certain questions:
- What will be considered a violation? (necessary)
- Which employees will be covered? (necessary)
- What disciplinary measures will result from violations? (necessary)
- Will the company allow rehabilitation? (optional - not required by any Texas or federal law)
Can a company test some, but not all, employees?
It is legal to test some, but not all, employees, but an employer must be careful. The policy should cover all employees in specific job categories. For example, the company could make all workers who operate machinery or vehicles subject to drug testing, but not require testing of clerical staff. Some employers test only those employees whose jobs are inherently risky. Some companies would not even do drug testing were it not for certain laws, such as the DOT drug testing regulations for long-haul truck drivers, oil and gas pipeline workers, and so on. Some contracts specify that workers coming into a client's facility will be subject to drug testing. If that happens, the contractor does not also have to test its other employees who do not go onto that client's premises. The main thing is to decide who will be covered, and then to enforce the policy in an even-handed way.
Simple Facts about Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol affects your brain. Drinking alcohol leads to a loss
of coordination, poor judgment, slowed reflexes, distorted vision,
memory lapses, and even blackouts. About the only organ not affected by the abuse of alcohol is your ears.
Alcohol affects your body.
Alcohol can damage every organ in your body. It is absorbed directly
into your bloodstream and can increase your risk for a variety of
life-threatening diseases, including cancer. (alcoholic men actually have an increased instance of breast cancer) Alcohol contains empty calories - adding non-nutritional calories to your diet, 3 drinks in a night mixed with a soda or juice or equivalent to more than 1000 calories. Alcohol also dries out your skin- adding years to your face before your time.
Alcohol affects your self-control.
Alcohol depresses your central nervous system, lowers your inhibitions,
and impairs your judgment. Drinking can lead to risky behaviors, such
as driving when you shouldn't, or having unprotected sex. It may be fun in the beginning to go to school and hear about the weekend scandals but after awhile the stories become boring whereas the negative consequences increase.
Alcohol can kill you. Drinking large amounts of alcohol at one time or very rapidly can cause alcohol poisoning, which can lead to coma or even death. Driving and drinking also can be deadly. In 2003, 31 percent of drivers age 15 to 20 who died in traffic accidents had been drinking alcohol.
Alcohol can hurt you--even if you're not the one drinking. If you're around people who are drinking, you have an increased risk of being seriously injured, involved in car crashes, or affected by violence. At the very least, you may have to deal with people who are sick, out of control, or unable to take care of themselves.
Alcohol testing by private alcohol and drug screening companies has become common place for employers, sport facilitators and schools. Post accident testing to confirm if an individual was intoxicated at the time of an accident can alleviate company responsibilities for employee and student hardships due to alcohol abuse. Knowing that there will be random screening can also provide a platform for a student to say no and not succumb to peer pressure.A zero tolerance approach for testing and detecting alcohol in the body is to test for Ethyl Glucoronide (EtG). Etg is a minor metabolite of Ethyl Alcohol and can be detected in hair samples months after abuse took place.
Private alcohol and drug screening companies are used today to assist in court cases related to :
DUI/DWI related incidents
Underage Drinking in public and/or private homes
Parolee zero tolerance programs
Traffic Accidents
Contribution to Death
If you think you have a problem with alcohol, you probably do. There are a host of free support groups to find out how much help you need to overcome alcohol abuse. You can overcome addiction to alcohol or any other mind/mood altering substance.
What drugs are included in a Five (5) Panel Drug Test?
Marijuana (THC), Methamphetamine, Amphetamine, Cocaine, Opiates and Phencyclidine (PCP)
What drugs are included in a Ten (10) Panel Drug Test?
Marijuana (THC), Methamphetamine, Amphetamine, Cocaine, Opiates, Phencyclidine (PCP),
Propoxyphene, Methadone, Barbiturates and Benzo-diazepines
What drugs are tested in a basic Date Rape Panel?
GHB, Rohypnol and Ketamine
How long after use are drugs detectable?
The answer depends on which drug; type of specimen; and the sensitivity of the testing procedure.
Hair: Drugs stay in the hair, so detection is dependent on the length submitted for testing. A
standard hair drug test is 1 ½", or 90 days
Nails: This includes Nail Clippings (from the tips of the nails) and Nail Shavings/Scrapings (from the surface of the nail). Nail clippings yield an approximate thirty (30) day timeframe, six
(6) months prior to collection. Nail clippings and shavings yield up to a six (6) month
time frame.
Should I bring copies of my prescription medications to my drug test?
Yes, if you are attending an employment or student based drug screen. Copies of your prescriptions will prove you are medically required to take some drugs that can show up as positive in a drug test. The prescriptions help us to determine whether or not the prescriptions are consistent with the drug test results. With the increase in prescription drug abuse, if you have a prescription and want to know if your levels are indicative of the prescription then bring the prescription or at least the dosage with you. If you are having a private drug screen, for your own information it is not necessary to bring your prescriptions but it is wise to let the collector know what drugs may be found.
How long does THC (Marijuana) stay in the body?
This answer depends on your metabolism and the frequency of smoking. Even if a person has been clean for a month, they may still test positive on a drug screen because there are still residual amounts of the drug in their body. If a person was a heavy smoker and had a slow metabolic rate, it is more likely that THC will stay in his/her body longer than someone who smoked less frequently, and had a higher rate of metabolism.
What is the average turnaround time for test results?
The below-listed screen and test result turnaround times are for our most commonly ordered tests Note that turnaround time begins upon receipt of the specimen at the laboratory.
Negative Drug Screens
Using Hair, Nail or Oral Fluid Specimens 24 - 48 Hours
Positive Drug Confirmations 72 Hours
Date Rape Panels 10 Business Days
Steroid Panels 10 Business Days
Unknown Substance Analysis 10 Business Days
Unknown Poisons and Toxins Analysis 10 Business Days
What does it mean when the report indicates "non-detected"?
There are no all-inclusive drug tests. Only specific drugs or drug categories may be addressed by any test or series of tests. When the toxicology report indicates that no drugs were detected, this merely indicates that none in the specific categories mentioned were found at or above detection limits. Lower drug concentrations cannot be excluded. Furthermore, it does not exclude the presence of drugs in categories not tested. If you are having a private drug screen, to test yourself first before taking an employee or school based drug test, be honest with the collector so that your test provides the answer to your question.
What does it mean when the report indicates "Dilute"?
Creatinine concentration is checked during standard urine drug tests. High creatinine levels indicate a pure test while low amounts of creatinine in the urine can indicate a possibly manipulated test, either through the addition of water in the sample or by drinking excessive amounts of water. It should be noted that people who drink excessive amounts of water on a regular basis may also register with a low creatinine level. Therefore, adulteration should not be automatically assumed, but merely considered. Creatinine is a breakdown product of creatine phosphate in muscle, and is usually produced at a fairly constant rate by the body. Normal creatinine levels for adults are >20mg/dl. If creatinine is diluted, the overall test procedure results will be reported as "Dilute".
What is "Limit of Detection" and do you test this on every test?
The standard testing is to utilize cut-off levels. Limit of Detection means reporting any detectable amount of drug. A test can be performed using Limit of Detection; however, this must be requested in writing on the chain-of-custody form.
Drug Testing with Hair Specimens:
How long does it take from time of consumption for drugs to grow out into the hair shaft?
Approximately 7 - 14 days
What are the different time frames associated with hair testing?
Every one-half inch (1/2") of head hair is approximately equivalent to a thirty (30) day timeframe. Body hair yields an aproximate six (6) month timeframe. A standard hair test is 1 ½", or 90 days.
Can I find out if a person used drugs on a month-by-month timeframe through hair testing? Yes, if you request the laboratory to segment the hair sample. Segmentation of hair must be specified on the chain-of-custody form. For example, if a client wishes to evaluate the last three (3) months for drug use but wants to evaluate each month separately, the following format should be written in the comments section on the chain-of-custody form:
(0-30), (31-60), (61-90)
The numbers refer to days in the month. If there is no time frame specification reflected on the chain-of-custody for hair testing, the standard cut of 1 ½" is tested as a 90 day test.
Check back at Toxic Trace from time to time as we update our blog with more information to help you navigate through drug and alcohol screening services. All our tests, and all your calls are confidential. To help determine the best test available for your circumstances, we have access to staff members that include business, chemistry, environmental engineering, toxicology and forensic certified employees, with over 80 years of combined relevant work experience.
One of the biggest initial challenges a person charged with a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) faces is what type of attorney they should hire to defend their case. Here are some criteria to consider:
Experience, Commitment and Communication.
EXPERIENCE- A person charged with a DUI needs an attorney who has detailed knowledge of DUI law in their state. DUI law is very complex, and the prospective attorney should have a practice which is either devoted to or primarily consists of DUI defense. This experience translates into knowledge of the law, the local courts, judges, prosecutors, administrative hearing examiners and law enforcement. It also means that attorney has been through all phases a DUI case- from the first appearance all the way through a jury trial. An experienced DUI attorney will also have contacts for experts and investigators that can be utilized in defending a DUI charge. Ask him/her about other cases similar to your own where the attorney has achieved success. While the attorney cannot divulge anything specific, your circumstances should not be unfamiliar and the attorney should be able to relay tactics on how he/she has proceeded in passed similarly situated cases.
COMMITMENT- In most areas throughout the country, a person who is charged with a DUI has many choices of attorneys to pick from. A DUI attorney needs to have a commitment to their client to do everything possible to achieve the best possible outcome in their case. So many attorneys believe a client should simply plead guilty as charged at the earliest moment possible. Dependent on your circumstances, this may be the most logical step but be sure that you are fully aware of the results. If you have any doubt, push on with the attorney to find a solution more suitable to your conditions. It is incumbent on every person who hires a DUI attorney that they believe their attorney has their best interests at heart. That attorney should leave no stone unturned when defending a DUI.
COMMUNICATION- DUI is one of the most common types of charge a law-abiding person may face. That being said, it is typical that a person charged with DUI has never been in the criminal justice system (as a defendant) before. It is a fearful and bewildering experience. It is absolutely imperative that a person feel that they have an open line of communication with their attorney. They should never feel bad for calling their attorney with a question or concern. A DUI attorney should be responsive and always return unanswered calls in a timely fashion. This open line of communication will offset the fear and uncertainty throughout the process. Insure that that attorney is also comfortable in communicating with you in your first language.
