Marijuana, the Gateway Drug? Study Sugge...

It’s commonly thought that marijuana is a “gateway drug” – that if a teen starts smoking marijuana, they will be more likely to use other illicit drugs.  A new study suggests this may not be so, and other factors are more responsible for the transition to other illegal drugs. The study was conducted by sociologists from the University of New Hampshire on a little over 1200 teens from the Miami-Dade public school system.  They found that teens who smoked pot and later moved onto other illegal drugs did so less from a “gateway effect”...

Deciding Whether Or Not A Hair Drug Test...

Hair drug testing is one of the latest techniques that are being used to test for the presence of drugs in the system. The technology has been used by parents, corporations, and courts to determine if someone is or has been on drugs. While there are other samples that can be used to detect drugs in the system such as blood, urine, saliva and sweat, using a hair follicle for testing drug presence has specific advantages. But let’s change things up a bit and first look at the criticism! The Main Criticism For Hair Drug Testing The one specific criticism for a hair...

Spice: What Is It, And Can It Be Tested...

You may have heard of the newest drug phenomenon, known variously as “spice” or K2.  Sometimes called “Genie,” this drug has similar effects as marijuana, but unlike marijuana, it is (in most states) legal. Spice works like marijuana. A chemical in the spice mimics the activity THC has in the brain.  This results in a marijuana like high, with the same symptoms.  The potency of the drug varies across brand. Some states have banned the drug, including Iowa.  Kansas and Missouri are trying to categorize spice with marijuana in terms of legality...

Why We Should Support Saliva Drug Testin...

Did you know that two thirds of prison inmates use illegal drugs? A third of the inmates also admit that they were under the influence of illegal drugs when they committed the crime. Estimates also show that two thirds of those involved in fatal highway accidents are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. With such high coincidence levels of drug use and illegal activity, it is only obvious that testing for drugs in prison is a regular routine. Current Drug Testing Saliva drug testing is still not as widespread as urine drug testing. In most cases the samples that are...

New Reports on Lindsay Lohan Draw An Acc...

Although the wealth of reporting on Lindsay Lohan’s continuing struggle with addiction never seems entirely (or even half) true, it has brought to light a lot of interesting information on drugs and drug use.  Take Adderall for example. Adderall has seeped into public consciousness over the past 25 years.  As a drug to deal with ADHD, it has been very popular and is frequently prescribed.  There are two types – IR and XR (instant release and extended release, respectively). Its misuse is also well known.  It is a popular study aid at many colleges to help...