Does Second Hand Marijuana Smoke Show Up On A Drug Test?

June 30th, 2010   67 Comments

A commenter asked a great question on one of our older posts.  That question was, does second hand smoke affect the result of a drug test?  It wouldn’t be fair if it did, of course.  As the commenter points out, (medical) marijuana is legal in some states, and if you are not smoking it, you should not be punished for having been around second hand smoke.

The good news is that none of our home drug test kits (hair, urine, or saliva) will pick up exposure to second hand marijuana smoke as a positive result.  Here is what the test manufacturer said on the subject:

“It [second hand marijuana smoke] would not register on our tests.  We had a test where someone was placed in a isolated room with THC smoke was being pumped in for 24 hours straight and the person did not register.  On a lab test it did pick up about 3 or 4 nanograms but as you know instant tests are set at 50ng/ml.”

Does second hand marijuana smoke affect our drug tests?

Even at the confirmatory GC/MS lab urine drug test level of 15 ng/ml, you would still not test positive for marijuana due to second hand smoke.  The cutoff level for the saliva drug test is 100 ng/ml (so again, second hand smoke would not produce a positive).

When it comes to hair, the manner in which the lab analyzes your sample makes external contamination impossible.  Hair drug testing labs only detect the metabolite of marijuana, THC-COOH.  This is only produced when marijuana directly enters the body (and not through someone’s second hand smoke, which is indirect) and is broken down by the body.  The hair test will not pick up contaminants from the outside.

So, even if you have been exposed to second hand smoke, if you have not yourself smoked you should be safe with our tests.  Thank you to our readers for such great questions and I look forward to more in the future!

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Facts About Prison and Drug Use

June 28th, 2010   Add Comment

The terms drugs and prison are often mentioned in the same sentence because of the close association that exists between the two. Not only are people sent to prison due to involvement in drugs in some manner or another, there is some evidence that shows that a large number of crimes are committed under the influence of a drug.

Drug and Prison Statistics

It may surprise many to know that the 85 percent of the estimated 2.3 million prison inmates have had or still do some kind of serious drug abuse history. This is a massive number. About 458,000 inmates were actually under the influence of alcohol or drugs when the crime was committed or are incarcerated due to drug violations like selling or buying drugs.

It is thought that addressing these patterns of addiction and restoring such prisoners to the economy would actually bring down the number of inmates that exist in the prisons today and result in significant taxpayer savings. According to Columbia University’s National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) only 11 percent of the nation’s prison population is receiving some kind of treatment for drug abuse.

It is also estimated that those inmates who are in prison due to drugs are more likely to be incarcerated again. These are also people who are likely to have a history of crime and have a complete network of other people involved in crime.

Drugs are involved in a wide range of crimes – violent (78 percent); property (83 percent); weapon offenses (77 percent) and parole violations (77 percent).

Rehab Programs and their Popularity

The CASA report also states that if all inmates who need drug treatment are provided with the rehab that is required (and it works), the nation would break even in a year. This relies upon the treatments actually working and deterring crime, but if so, “the nation would reap an economic benefit of $90,953 per year” per recovered inmate.

However, the fact is that only a small percentage of people are receiving adequate levels of substance abuse treatment and are therefore merely being given a sentence and being put back into circulation for crime. Instead of increasing the rehab options for inmates, there is an attempt to give harsh punishments to those who are caught in drug trafficking or drug dealing. When punishing someone of a separate crime adequate care is not taken to consider the fact that the perpetrator of the crime needs drug treatment.

What often goes unrecognized is that thousands of low level drug offenders are captured and sent to prison and that many also face harsh sentencing even if they have not been involved in any violent crimes.

Understanding the real truth of drug addiction is essential to be able to help drug abusers in a more permanent manner. Unless a more long term and positive approach is adopted towards drugs and prison, drug related crimes shall continue to occur (and recur). And what this means is that the prison cells are likely to remain full all the time, eating away the tax payer’s money continuously, dragging lives in and out of prison to a halt.

While better recognition of the substance abuse problems of inmates is important to remedying this problem, it is also good to nip possible substance abuse in the bud.  With a home drug test you can check up on your child and make sure they are not risk for the dangers of drugs, both physically and socially.

- Article by Anne Hamilton.

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National HIV Testing Day – June 27

June 25th, 2010   Add Comment

Sunday, June 27 is National HIV Testing Day, and a great opportunity for communities all over the United States to get together and normalize HIV testing. There will be free testing available in many communities this weekend, and we also wanted to make it easier for those that prefer at home testing to test themselves. So we have lowered the prices on our Express (now $54.95) and Standard kits (now $44.95) and are for a limited time offering free First Class Mail shipping with the purchase of a home HIV test. All you have to do is enter the coupon hivday in the coupon code section of the cart and click “Apply Coupon.”

We encourage everyone to get tested if they can. As we wrote earlier this month, in some parts of the US the incidence level of HIV is higher than it is in some African countries (see: “More Adults Have HIV in Washington, D.C. than Rwanda”). It doesn’t have to be this way – take an easy to do HIV test this weekend. Fight the stigma and know your status.

(Banner photo is of the iconic red ribbon at the White House, 2007).

The National Beverages of World Cup Teams

June 23rd, 2010   Add Comment

The 2010 FIFA World Cup is being held in South Africa and the country is gearing up to host not only a soccer tournament but a diverse meeting of cultures. Everyone will be supporting their own country and bringing along with them not only flags, jerseys, and silly wigs, but perhaps even their signature alcohols.

While in excess alcohol is harmful, in moderation it is not. In fact there is proof that a certain, minimal amount of alcohol consumption on a daily basis is something that may actually be beneficial for the heart. Alcohol has also long been part of cultures all over the world, and this is why almost every country has an alcoholic beverage associated with it.  Regardless of which of these drinks you may choose to consume, be sure to have an alcohol test around to help you keep tabs on your own moderation efforts.

Here are some of the national beverages of the countries in the World Cup.

Greece – Ouzo, an anise-flavored aperitif, is a drink descended from older traditional beverages like tsipouro or rakia. Ouzo is a traditional drink that is mixed with water and becomes cloudy white with a faint blue tinge at times. It is served with ice cubes in a small glass. It is a versatile drink that can be consumed straight in the form of shots too. If you are not too fond of the liquorice-like taste of the drink you can mix it with a cola.

Brazil – Caipirinha is the national cocktail liquor of Brazil. It is made from cachaça, sugar and lime. This is a concoction that was not known outside of Brazil much until a few years back. But today it is available in most parts of the world thanks to the availability of good brands of cachaça in various countries. A variation of the cocktail can be made by replacing cachaça with vodka. This variation is called Caipivodka. Another variation made by replacing cachaça with rum is called Caipirissima.

Sake, the national drink of Japan.

Japan – The development of Sake was brought about due to the large availability of rice in this country. In the early days rice was masticated in Japan to create fermentable sugars from starches. The making of sake was associated with religious rites where young virgin women pounded rice to create the delicious drink.

Spain – Patxaran or Pacharán in Spanish is a liqueur that is made from sloe berries soaked in an anise flavored spirit called anisette. A few coffee beans and a vanilla pod are added to the concoction and the liquor is left to brew for a few months. The result is a reddish brown liquid that tastes sweet and has around 25 percent to thirty percent alcohol content.

Italy – Italy is famous for the wine that is brewed here. But it is also known for the aperitif Negroni, a sugary cocktail. This is a blend of vermouth, Campari and gin. It is served on the rocks in a cocktail glass.

Argentina/Uruguay – Drinking mate is like a national ritual in Argentina. Consumed at home and with friends, the concoction is made by seeping dried yerba mate leaves in hot water. The drink is served in a gourd and sipped through a straw. It is nonalcoholic and more similar to tea than anything else.

Chile – Pisco, South American liquor that is distilled from grapes, is a drink that is consumed abundantly in Chile and Peru both. In fact there is a dispute with regards to the legal rights of exporting the drink to other countries.

France – Pastis, the French drink, is a versatile drink that is loved across the world. While most Germans and North Americans may think of beer as the first option for a drink, the French will often order a pastis to relax. A Mediterranean liquor, pastis consists of alcohol, anise, black and white pepper, cardamom, sage, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, sugar and licorice. It has a sharp and sweet taste at the same time.

Mexico – When talking of national drinks, no one can really forget the famous tequila of Mexico. Many people actually have very bad memories of the potent liquor. Distilled from the blue agave plant, the drink has basically two versions that are available today – mixtos and 100 percent agave. Bottled tequila is available in different varieties like blanco or plata, oro, reposado, añejo and extra añejo.

Korea – While Korea has a large list of alcoholic beverages that are specific to the country, Yakju is one that literally means medicinal alcohol. Made from steamed rice, this drink goes through various levels of fermentation.

With the globalization of the world and the fans from all countries coming together in South Africa, you can be sure to find a large variety of interesting and innovative alcohol drinks, wine options, beer brand and liquor concoctions. Make sure that you try them out if you’re fortunate enough to be there but maintain moderation in drinking at all times.

- Article by Anne Hamilton

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How To Stop Smoking

June 18th, 2010   1 Comment

Smoking is a habit that frequently becomes an integral part of the life of a smoker. It becomes ingrained in one’s routine – there is one cigarette that you have in the morning and then after breakfast and one needs to be lighted on the way to work and the schedule goes on even when one is not consciously aware of it.

The idea of giving up smoking is something that almost all smokers consider at some point in time. It might actually be difficult to find a smoker that does not know the harm that smoking can cause. The battle therefore is more than just one of awareness.

Understand the Objective

If you want to quit smoking then you may have to realize that giving up the habit requires step by step management. There is also the need to identify the specific positives that you get from smoking. There are people who smoke from sheer boredom and then there are others that need a cigarette in their hands to relax or release tension. There are also those who start off as social smokers and then cannot kick the habit.

Create your own Game Plan

If you are able to identify the reason why you smoke, you should take specific measures to defeat the craving. If you smoke for relaxation, then substitute the craving with long deep breaths, meditation or exercise. Those who smoke out of boredom should look for a hobby that they are passionate about so that they can keep themselves fervently busy. Social smokers who find comfort in smoking in public may want to check out some counseling classes and those who just have to have a smoke after a meal should try topping the meal with a sumptuous dessert.

Get Support from Friends and Family

If you are trying to quit smoking then you can be sure that you will get all the support that you need from friends and family. Involve them in your decision and tell them to administer a nicotine test to you every week. Just to check. This might help you keep off cigarettes, especially if you do not want to lose face in front of them.

Medication Therapy to Quit Smoking

Nicotine and non-nicotine therapies can be used to ensure that the craving for smoking can be kept at a minimum in the beginning in order to help you manage the change. Nicotine replacement therapy involves the use of nicotine replacement products such as a nicotine patches or nicotine chewing gums. These products work by releasing small amounts of nicotine into the blood stream. This helps in managing the withdrawal symptoms too. The non-nicotine medications help by reducing withdrawal symptoms in a different manner. Bupropion (Zyban) and varenicline (Chantix) are two medicines that are currently being used.

Non Medication Therapies to Quit Smoking

Other ways in which people quit smoking include hypnosis, acupuncture, behavioral therapy and motivational therapy. The extent to which these remedies work is subjective and non-documented in nature.

Whether it is through medication, alternative therapies or pure will the fact is that the only manner in which you can stop smoking is by making a decision and then sticking to it. While there is no substitute for your determination to quit, a nicotine test can help you keep a check on yourself especially if you have your friends or family around helping to check on you once in a while.

-Article by Anne Hamilton

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More Adults Have HIV in Washington, D.C. Than Rwanda

June 17th, 2010   1 Comment

Although we sometimes think of HIV/AIDS as a global problem, it’s important to shine a light back on how it affects us at home. The New England Journal of Medicine recently revealed that 1 in 30 adults in Washington, D.C. are infected with HIV – a greater prevalence than the rates in Ethiopia, Rwanda, or Nigeria.

There are many countries with less serious HIV/AIDS problems than the US.

There are many countries with less serious HIV/AIDS problems than the US. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, Washington, D.C. would fall in the 2 to 5 percent range, the first shade of brown/red. Click to expand.

What is the solution to this dilemma? According to Brad Ogilvie of the Mosaic Initiative, the answer is to get tested.

In an article by Jennifer Grant in the Chicago Tribune, Ogilvie describes the mission and strategy of his organization.  Their goals are to ensure everyone knows their HIV status and to expand home testing from the FDA Approved blood tests (that we currently carry) to other types of test, including a saliva test.  This would make the cost of getting an HIV self test only $8 instead of $50.  The technology is available and put to use in clinics each day but such tests are just not available over the counter yet.

Why aren’t these tests available over the counter?  This question has caused some frustration among HIV/AIDS activists such as Ogilvie.  The primary reasons seems to be concern that a person might self test incorrectly.  Here is a list from The Body of the conditions that are placed on the sale of rapid HIV tests:

“1. Sale is restricted to clinical laboratories that have

  • an adequate quality assurance program, including planned systematic activities to provide adequate confidence that requirements for quality will be met, and
  • where there is assurance that operators will receive and use the instructional materials.”

    • 2. The test is approved for use only by an agent of a clinical laboratory.
    3. Test subjects must receive a “Subject Information” pamphlet and pre-test counseling prior to specimen collection and appropriate counseling when test results are provided.
    4. The test is not approved for use to screen blood, cell, plasma, or tissue donors.”

Do you think that sales should continue to be restricted? Or should such tests be available in the home market? Let us know what you think and remember that you can still obtain anonymous HIV testing with a home HIV test today.

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