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Understanding Saliva Drug Testing

2024-08-08T16:32:16-05:00

Understanding Saliva Drug Testing

Saliva drug testing, also known as mouth swab testing, is a simple and effective method for detecting drug use. This type of testing is popular in workplaces, law enforcement, and healthcare settings due to its ease of use and rapid results. Here's everything you need to know about saliva drug testing.

How Saliva Drug Testing Works

Collect the Sample: A sample is collected using a swab or absorbent pad placed between the cheek and gum for a few minutes. This process is quick, painless, and does not require special facilities.
Perform the Test: The saliva sample is placed in a drug test container. Instant test kits use immunoassay test strips to detect drugs, providing immediate results. If further confirmation is needed, the sample is sent to a lab for detailed analysis.
Read the Results: Within five minutes, the test results are displayed. A line next to "T" indicates the presence of drugs, and a line next to "C" confirms the test is working correctly. Saliva tests are especially effective at detecting recent drug use.

Advantages of Saliva Drug Testing

Non-Invasive: Sample collection is straightforward and comfortable, avoiding the embarrassment of urine tests.
Rapid Results: Results are available within minutes, making them ideal for immediate testing needs.
Ease of Administration: No special training or equipment is required, making saliva tests cost-effective.
Detection of Recent Use: Effective at identifying drugs used recently, unlike urine or hair tests.
Legal Compliance: In states with restrictions on THC testing, saliva tests targeting the psychoactive component are legal.
Tamper-Resistant: The sample collection process can be observed, reducing the risk of tampering.

Common Substances Detected

Saliva drug tests commonly detect substances such as marijuana, cocaine, opiates, methamphetamines, amphetamines, barbiturates, oxycodone, methadone, MDMA, phencyclidine, benzodiazepines, and propoxyphene.

See which substances our Oral Fluid Drug Test Kits detect below:

10 Panel Saliva Drug Test Kit (Oral Fluid Mouth Swab)

5 Panel Saliva Drug Test (Oral Fluid Mouth Swab

Detection Time Window

Marijuana: 6-24 hours
Cocaine: 1-3 days
Opiates: 1-2 days
Amphetamines: 1-3 days
Methamphetamines: 1-3 days
Phencyclidine (PCP): 1-3 days
Benzodiazepines: 1-3 days
Oxycodone: 1-2 days
Barbiturates: 1-2 days
Methadone: 1-3 days
Propoxyphene: 1-3 days

(These times may vary based on individual factors and test sensitivity.)

Common Uses for Saliva Drug Testing

Workplace Testing: For pre-employment, random, post-accident, and reasonable suspicion testing.
Law Enforcement: For impaired driving checks and DUI checkpoints.
Rehabilitation Centers: For monitoring and relapse prevention.
Schools: To deter drug use among students and athletes.
Military and Law Enforcement: To ensure fitness for duty and security clearance.
Events: For on-site testing to ensure safety.
Home Use: For testing and establishing accountability with children or other loved ones.

Conclusion

Saliva drug testing is a practical, non-invasive, and reliable method for detecting recent drug use. Its quick results and ease of administration make it a popular choice for various testing scenarios. Understanding its advantages and limitations helps in effectively applying this testing method. By staying informed about the benefits and application of saliva drug testing, you can ensure accurate and timely drug detection, contributing to a safer environment.

How the Covid-19 Pandemic Affected Drug Use at Work

2022-02-27T14:04:00-06:00

The year 2020 presented a wide range of challenges to many of us. One tragic and alarming trend was a dramatic rise in substance abuse and overdose deaths throughout the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), we saw an 18.2% increase in overdoses in 2020. But how did drug use trends change within the workplace?

Data in the Quest Diagnostics 2021 Annual Report on workforce drug testing is drawn from over 7 million employee drug tests administered in 2020, and it shows mixed results.

The overall rate of positive results on workplace drug tests declined slightly from 4.5% in 2019 to 4.4% in 2020. Positive test results for marijuana continued to rise steadily, while amphetamine positivity rates stayed steady at 1.1%, which is what it has been every year since 2016.

Many workers in industries performing public safety or national security roles “requiring a high degree of public trust” are subject to federally-mandated drug testing requirements from the Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Defense (DOD), or Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRL). In 2020, positivity rates among these Safety-Sensitive workers decreased 8.3% from 2019, but were still 10% higher than the 2016 rates.

As the Safety-Sensitive workforce positive rates decreased, the general workforce rates increased. Overall positivity rates for the general workforce in 2020 increased 3.8% over the previous year, with 5.5% of all tests positive, putting the rate 12.2% higher than in 2016. Nevada and Oklahoma had the highest positivity rates in the country, and Nebraska and Wyoming showed a few of the lowest positivity rates.

Cocaine Positivity Rate Declines

In the general workforce, positive tests for cocaine were down 18.5% at 0.22% positive compared to 2019. This is the lowest number of positive cocaine tests since 2012.

Marijuana Positivity Rate Skyrockets

The positive test rate for marijuana continues to skyrocket in the general workforce, with positivity rate in 2020 being as high as 3.6% in comparison with the 2019 rate of 3.1%. The Safety-Sensitive workforce positive test rate for marijuana started to improve slightly in 2020 at 2.2% positive. While this is still 10% higher than the 2016 rates, it is at least an improvement.

Post-accident marijuana usage in the general workforce is also heading for the stars with 6.4% of tests administered following an accident testing positive. This is a huge cause for concern for employers and employees alike who strive to ensure a safe workplace. Positivity rates in the Safety-Sensitive workforce post-accident tests stayed steady at 1.6% throughout 2019 and 2020.

Not surprisingly, positivity rates in states that have legalized recreational marijuana usage is consistently rising. Positive workplace marijuana tests increased 118.2% since 2012 and sat at 4.8% positivity in 2020. In the states that have not legalized marijuana, the rate also increased, but only 68.4% since 2012 and were charted at 3.2% positive.

Nevada, once again, had one of the highest positivity rates for marijuana in 2020, with the northern midwest and Rocky Mountains area showing the lowest rates.

Ecstasy Positivity Rate Climbs

Positivity for MDMA/MDA 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine–usually referred to as ecstasy–is also on the rise, increasing 25% from 2019 to land at 0.01% positive in 2020. Yes, this is a small number, but ecstasy rates have slowly, yet steadily increased year after year and could become a larger issue if the trend continues.

Helpful Resources for Employers

The US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recommends Workplace Prevention Basics as a resource for employers to learn about preventing substance abuse in the workplace. Find more information about Drug-Free Workplace Programs here

If you want to learn about simple, cost-effective employment drug testing solutions for your business, email us at cs@homehealthtesting.com.

6 Signs of Employee Drug Use

2021-07-01T17:57:00-05:00

Most employers want to respect the privacy of their employees, yet they also need to ensure a safe and productive work environment. Navigating those two important principles can become challenging when there is reason to believe an employee is using drugs. It is important to exercise caution and adhere to regulations regarding employee protections. On the other hand, employee drug abuse is both dangerous and expensive, costing businesses an estimated $81 billion annually and often playing a role in on-the-job injuries and even deaths.

Whether your organization already conducts periodic employment drug screens or not, it’s best to know what the common signs of employee drug abuse are. If you see signs of drug abuse, document what you observe as factually as possible.

How can I tell if an employee is using drugs?

While the only way to know for certain is to obtain a confirmed positive result on a drug test, here are six common signs that could mean an employee is using drugs.

Missing Work or Coming in Late
Accidents On or Off the Job
Decreased Productivity at Work
Behavioral Changes or Erratic Behavior
Changes in Appearance or Speech
Impaired Awareness or Poor Judgement

What to Do if You Suspect Employee Drug Abuse

First of all, if the employee holds a safety-sensitive position and you have reason to believe he or she may currently be impaired, take immediate action. You can remove them from duty and conduct a “For-Cause” drug screen if an employee shows discernible signs of being unfit for duty. This is the best course of action when the health and safety of both the employee and others are involved.
If the situation doesn’t require immediate action, but you suspect drug abuse, document your observations in an objective and factual way. Your workplace sleuthing doesn’t necessarily require you to make accusations right off the bat. Gather information from first-hand sources only, avoiding hearsay or gossip. If an employee shows a pattern of unsafe behavior at work, you can conduct a “Reasonable Suspicion” drug test.

If your organization already has a workplace drug testing program in place, review your policies before you confront or take disciplinary action against an employee for suspected drug use. The laws outlining legal next steps vary from state to state, so you’ll want to make sure you act in accordance with your state’s laws.

The Americans with Disabilities Acts protects individuals with alcohol dependency and those who develop an addiction to legally prescribed medications. It does not offer protection to a current user of illegal drugs, but it does cover a person in recovery who has already quit using them.

Federal contractors and safety-sensitive positions within the Department of Transportation (DOT) are required to establish a Drug-Free Workplace according to federal guidelines, and are mandated to carry out routine workplace drug screening.

An employer is permitted to conduct drug tests in five situations.

Pre-employment
As part of an Annual Physical
For-Cause and Reasonable Suspicion
Post Accident
Post Treatment after rehabilitation

Urine testing has been the standard method of workplace screening for some time, but mouth-swab drug tests are becoming increasingly popular. They are easier to perform in a work environment, and saliva tests indicate past drug use within a shorter detection time window, generally between 1 hour and 3 days. This gives a better indication of what substances an individual has used more recently, which is more likely to directly affect performance at work due to impairment or withdrawals.

However your drug screening policy is structured, clearly communicate your expectations and policies to your employees before you hire them and whenever you implement a change. Your ultimate goal is not to catch someone doing something they shouldn't, but to foster a productive, drug-free workplace from day one.

Highest Positive Workplace Drug Test Results in 12 Years

2018-01-31T16:45:00-06:00

Drug use in the American workforce is compiled in the Annual Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index and 2016 showed the highest positive drug test results in 12 years. The report analyzed results of over 10 million workplace drug tests to find that 2016 positive test results went up five percent over the previous year to 4.2 percent of all tests. This is the highest annual positive rate since 2004.

In 2016 there was a 12 percent increase in Cocaine positive tests. Cocaine positive testing has now increased 4 years in a row. The press or media typically highlight our opioid epidemic and the marijuana laws, but cocaine use is also on the rise.

In the same study, they cited that heroin detection has plateaued and prescription opiate positive testing actually declined 28% from .96 percent of test results to .69 percent. These facts are hopeful that possibly some of the attention on the opioid crisis is having a positive impact.

Quest Diagnostics also publishes this data on an Interactive Map showing urine drug test positivity regionally in the USA.

Looking at this map shows that that the Southeast clearly leads the nation in positive drug test results. The national average is 4.2% of employees tested were positive, but look at the rates (dark green) in the these states - all above the national average:

If you want to know more about what drugs are showing up in your own area, go to the Interactive Drug Map and click on the drug list at the bottom left and you will see how your area compares to the rest of the country.

For example, here is where positive cocaine tests are the highest

The interactive map is useful for determining the drug culture of your own area and gives any small business the ability to determine the best drug testing policies for your business and workforce.

Drug Test for Prescription Drugs

2017-06-21T17:40:00-05:00

Alere Toxicology just released a brand new CLIA waived 5 Panel Rx Drug Screen with specimen validity test. The new I-RXA-157-01 tests for:

Benzodiazepines (300 ng/mL)
Buprenorphine (10 ng/mL)
Methadone (300 ng/mL)
Opiates (300 ng/mL)
Oxycodone (100 ng/mL)

This new test targets the most commonly prescribed and misused prescription drugs and will provide instant results for clinicians. The integrated cups are easy to use since they are self contained and are ideal for sending preliminary positive specimens to a lab for confirmation.

A temperature strip and specimen validity test are built in to check for specimen tampering checking Creatinine (CR), Nitrites (NI), Oxidants (OX), pH (PH), and specific gravity (SG).

The urine drug screen for prescription drugs are available at POCTestSupply in boxes of 25 tests.

How long does oxycodone stay in your system?

2015-10-21T17:01:00-05:00

The world's largest consumer of oxycodone is the United States with hydrocodone with acetaminophen being the most frequently prescribed drug according to SAMSHA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This being the case, many people want to know how long these drugs will stay in your system. The truth is that there are no exact timetables that will give you a definitive answer. However, there are some general guidelines that may help.

There are a couple of factors that determine the duration of a drugs' presence in the body. Firstly is metabolism. The quicker your body processes what you ingest, the quicker it also leaves the system. Second is hydration and body mass. Fatty tissue has a tendency to store chemicals longer then lean tissue and staying hydrated means less fluid retention. Finally, there is the amount and frequency of use. A first time user can pass a drug through their system generally quicker than a frequent user whose body has built up a tolerance to the drug. Similarly, someone who takes a lower dosage of the drug will test lower sooner than someone who took a higher dosage.

Different types of tests call for different detection times. Oxycodone is detectable in blood tests for roughly 24 hours, in saliva tests for 1-4 days, urine tests 3-4 days and hair tests up to 90 days. This is backed up by findings done in a 2014 study by Ron R. Flegal for SAMSHA.

The study took two groups of 12 healthy, drug-free people and gave one group a single 20mg dose oxycodone and the other group a single two tablet dose of 10mg hydrocodone with 325mg acetaminophen each. They then measured the detection times of the dose through blood, saliva and urine tests over a 50 hour time period. The results show that both oxycodone and hydrocodone showed up in blood and saliva within 15-30 minutes and showed positive in urine within 0-2 hours. For the blood test, the two drugs were out of the detection range in under 25 hours and out of detection range on the saliva test in roughly 35-50 hours. The urine test took the longest as the drugs were detectable up to hour 50.

It is extremely important to note that these are not guarantees that oxycodone will be out of your system in the time frames mentioned. The only way to know for sure is to be tested.

Alcohol Testing with your iPhone

2013-05-16T17:20:00-05:00

Are you leaving a party after having a few glasses of wine or beer and feeling anxious about getting behind the wheel? Are you afraid of getting pulled over and failing a police officer’s breathalyzer test? You can now test your blood alcohol content (BAC) using your iPhone. Three different iPhone apps have been developed to measure the effect of the amount of alcohol you have consumed. The user must be at least seventeen years of age in order to download and install any of these iPhone apps.

Last Call

The Last Call by Avvo, Inc. is a free iPhone app that calculates a user’s blood alcohol content by allowing him or her to monitor their blood alcohol level with each drink consumed. You enter each drink into your Last Call log in the same way as you would use an app to keep track of nutrition or exercise data. As you consume each drink the app will update the total amount instantly. Your total blood alcohol content will identify high levels of blood alcohol. This is particularly helpful if you have had one too many drinks and you don’t feel comfortable getting behind the wheel. This app also has a feature that connects the user with local taxi cab companies. Last Call will also connect you with the top DUI attorneys in the area should you find yourself in a sticky situation with the local authorities. The Last Call app can also be used on an iPad or iPod Touch.

While the Last Call is a good idea, it would not be a reliable solution to tell you when you are impaired since you, the impaired one, are responsible for entering the data while you are drinking.

BreathalEyes

BreathalEyes blood alcohol content scanner is available for $1.99 and is designed for iPhones and iPads from developer Xplor Apps, LLC. This app only works on intoxicated users. It is designed to measure blood alcohol content by scanning the user’s eye and analyzing the horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN). Nystagmus is involuntary twitching and movement of the eyeball that occurs after an individual becomes tipsy. The brain function and faculty control is impaired and an individual’s eyeball bounces horizontally. BreathalEyes is able to display a user’s blood alcohol content with an effective range of 0.02% to 0.20% by analyzing the spontaneous eyeball bobbles. The developer claims that there is more than four decades of research behind this technology. Major benefits of the BreathalEyes app include the fact that it does not require a network connection and the app does not clutter your screen with any advertisements. There is an option to share your BreathalEyes results publicly on social networks. The BreathalEyes app will not record your data unless you choose to share it. This app works best on iPhone 4 or later devices.

If the technology behind BreathalEyes is reliable then it may be a good solution for measuring blood alcohol content. The folks over at Huff Post tested the app and got some mixed results and stated "we found that, while the app reliably gave higher scores to those who were boozing than those who were abstaining, it still gave a 0.05 BAC to several ladies and gents who were stone-cold sober." However, the BreathalEyes website clearly says it only works on intoxicated people.

The one drawback to BreathalEyes is that you cannot measure yourself and must have another person available to scan your eye with the phone camera.

Breathometer

The Breathometer device is available for preorder through its own website and is a $49.00 add-on device designed for most smartphones. Breathometer links onto a key chain or slips right into your pocket. You plug the Breathometer device into the audio jack of your smartphone when you want to use it. Once the device is plugged in you simply exhale into the device in order to test the blood alcohol concentration level on your breath. Using the Breathometer is a fun way to test your blood alcohol level. You can also share your Breathometer with friends and let them test it out. An added bonus is that the device is sleek and looks fashionable on your key chain.

The Breathometer seems to solve the user issues of the two previous apps since it can give the answer without the help of data input or another person. The drawback is having to carry a device in addition to your phone while it is small and does fit on a keychain, you are still responsible for having the device when you need it.

Your Phone - No app necessary

If you are questioning your ability to drive, the most reliable solution is to use your phone as a phone and call a cab or a friend to pick you up.

The Future of Marijuana in the Drug Free Workplace

2013-05-07T15:48:00-05:00

Recent developments in marijuana legislation and legalization has left many companies and individuals alike wondering whether drug free workplaces are required to test for marijuana. As marijuana laws change many people believe that it should not be lumped in with other drugs that are traditionally tested for such as meth, heroin and cocaine. The legalization of marijuana in some states is complicating workplace drug testing.

In 1989, the Federal Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 became law. This law required that all federal contractors who receive $100,000 or more, as well as all federal grant recipients, must comply with its requirements. What is often overlooked is that the Act did not require drug testing. Actually, here is a quote from the Department of Labors website's FAQ about the Drug Free Workplace Act:

Is drug testing required or authorized under these regulations?

The Act and these rules neither require nor authorize drug testing. The legislative history of the Drug-Free Workplace Act indicates that Congress did not intend to impose any additional requirements beyond those set forth in the Act. Specifically, the legislative history precludes the imposition of drug testing of employees as part of the implementation of the Act. At the same time, these rules in no way preclude employers from conducting drug testing programs in response to government requirements (e.g., Department of Transportation or Nuclear Regulatory Commission rules) or on their own independent legal authority.

What the Drug Free Workplace Act did require was policies, information, education about the dangers of drugs and resources if you have a drug or substance issue, but not testing.

There are many arguments both for and against testing for marijuana. Some people believe that those who are operating heavy machinery or dangerous machinery such as forklifts should be regularly tested for marijuana usage because it may affect their ability to do their job. However, others believe this is unfair because these same employees are not tested for alcohol abuse and alcohol abuse is equally if not more detrimental to motor skills and response times. Some companies today are fine with medicinal marijuana use as long as the person is not in a position in which it could be a safety hazard.

While as of now there is no actual mandate requiring the testing of employees for marijuana, federal employees are still usually tested for marijuana and it is likely these companies will continue to do so until it is legalized on a federal level. This means that employees that are both directly employed by the federal government and indirectly employed through federal contracts are very likely to be drug tested for marijuana usage.

Employers will grapple with these issues for years to come as both State and Federal laws change. Take a look at this employer's point of view in Colorado since his company has federal contracts and he does not want to have any problems meeting his Federal requirements, but realizes it may be harder to find employees who can pass a drug test.

From the drug test perspective, there are few multiple panel tests that don't include marijuana, but that may be changing. We have been notified that drug testing manufacturers will be adding multi panel tests without marijuana in the next few months. So we may have a twelve panel drug test in stock soon that omits a THC test. The question remains, when will workplaces adopt new policies to adapt to the social and legal changes in our country.

Heroin in the Suburbs

2013-04-16T17:20:00-05:00

USA Today published Heroin is Back , a detailed story from Charlotte, NC to Maine to California, all seeing heroin spreading to the suburbs. Concerned about a rise in heroin dependence in the detox ward, Carolinas Medical Center wanted to dig deeper in the data and found that their heroin patients came from the five best neighborhoods in the Charlotte area.

Many Americans are becoming addicted to prescription painkillers and as they find it more difficult to either get the prescriptions or find them illegally on the street, they are turning to heroin to feed their habit which is causing great concern for the medical community. Moving from a prescription drug to a street drug imposes many risks for the user since street drugs can be of unknown quality or dose and heroin specifically requires needle use.

"As bad as oxycodone is, heroin is worse," Publicker said. "It's worse because here in Maine, it's injected. We're talking about a novice population of drug injectors who are not educated about needle use."

Plain and simple, heroin is cheaper too. According to DEA Special Agent Amy Roderick in San Diego, one oxy pill may sell for $100 a pill while you can buy heroin for $80 a gram.

"You're just getting more bang for the buck," Roderick said. "Once you're addicted to an opiate, you're addicted. If you can't get what you want, you'll take what you can get,"

Across the country this epidemic is playing out, it started with prescription painkillers being loosely prescribed and creating addicts. Then as slightly more regulation was brought in to curb the amount of the painkillers prescribed or to prevent the way they could be used, the addict was already hooked. So while some areas of the country are seeing less prescription painkiller use, there are many areas seeing increased heroin addictions or heroin overdoses.

Suboxone Use Grows

2013-02-01T20:45:00-06:00

Buprenorphine is used to treat opioid dependence and ease the withdrawl symptoms of drugs like heroin. Buprenorphine is marketed under the names Suboxone and Subutex and was approved by the FDA in 2002.

The drug is closely regulated and doctors must be approved in order to prescribe it, in 2005 there were only 5,656 physicians certified to prescribe Suboxone for the treatment of addiction to opiates. The 2010 data is now available and there are now 18,582 certified physicians prescribing Buprenorphine and the number of patients receiving it has risen from 100,000 in 2005 to 800,000 in 2010.

The sharp rise in the use of Buprenorphine has also had its impact on Emergency Department visits involving the drug, see this chart provided by SAMHSA Drug Abuse Warning Network

[caption id="attachment_1282" align="aligncenter" width="400"]

Emergency Department (ED) Visits Involving Buprenorphine: 2005 to 2010[/caption]

While many of those visits were from patients seeking substance abuse treatment or having a drug reaction or interaction, a full 52% or 15,778 of those visits were for non-medical use of the drug. Nonmedical use includes taking more than the prescribed dose of a prescription medication or, taking a prescription medication prescribed for someone else, or misusing or abusing a prescription medication.

How Long Does Marijuana Stay in Your System?

2013-01-08T16:24:00-06:00

Embed on your site:

Listen to the expanded video version with a few more details about THC detection times

How Long Does Marijuana Stay in Your System? Infographic

The data used to create this infographic is gathered from research on drug testing methods and the information presented by drug screen manufacturers. Some resources include Redwood Toxicology, Cannabis Drug Testing, California NORML. The information presented is only a guide or estimate since drug testing has many variables that can influence a positive or negative outcome.

How Long Does Marijuana Stay in your System? is the most frequently asked question that we receive at HomeHealthTesting.com. While there is no definitive answer, we have presented some guidelines. The only way to really know if you are positive is to test yourself. You can test yourself with a cheap drug test and know if you are positive. Buy a THC urine drug test

How long does THC stay in your system?

The most common drug tests used are urine, saliva and hair. Each test has a different detection time which is important to know. The urine drug test is the most commonly used because it is cheap and has a longer detection time than a saliva test. There are several very important factors that can influence how long THC will be present in your urine:

Weight
Body Fat
Amount Used
Frequency of Use

Since these factors will vary greatly for each individual, there are no definitive guidelines to tell you how long you can test positive for THC.

On a Urine Drug Test, THC will appear as a positive within 2-5 hours of use. How long it will still show on a urine drug test is estimated based on frequency of use, but does not take into account the weight and body fat of the marijuana user:

One Time User may show positive for 1-6 days
Moderate User may show positive for 7-13 days
Frequent User may show positive for 15 or more days
Heavy User may show positive for 30 or more days
Some Heavy Pot Smokers have reported being positive 45-90 days after quitting

On a Saliva Drug Test, THC will test positive within one hour of use, but may only show positive for about 12 hours after last use.

On a Hair Drug Test, THC will show up about 7 days after use and most hair drug tests will test for a 90 day period. However, THC does not always bind to the hair follicle which makes it not always considered an accurate testing method for marijuana use.

The most reliable way to know if you are testing positive for marijuana use is to drug test yourself.

PDF version here: How Long does Marijuana Stay in your System? PDF

How Long Does Alcohol Stay In Your System?

2013-01-01T17:15:00-06:00

Once in the bloodstream, alcohol leaves the system in two ways:

10% leaves through breath, perspiration, and the urine.

90% is metabolized (broken down in the body).

Pretty much everyone, regardless of age, size, or race, metabolizes alcohol at the same pace. That pace is .015 of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) per hour. So that means for every hour you are not drinking, .015 of the alcohol in your body is being metabolized and disappearing from your body (thanks to David J. Hanson, Ph.D. for this information). So, if your BAC was 0.08 (legally impaired), it would take about 5.33 hours for the alcohol to be eliminated from your body.

So starting from a BAC of 0.08….

After 1 hour – your BAC would be 0.065

After 2 hours – your BAC would be 0.05

After 3 hours – your BAC would be 0.035

After 4 hours – your BAC would be 0.02

After 5 hours – your BAC would be 0.005

Alcohol would be eliminated from the body at about 5 hours and 20 minutes (the body metabolizes alcohol at the rate of about 0.005 per twenty minutes, as 0.005 x 3 = 0.015).

So it is easy to tell when your body will be free of alcohol. It is not so easy to tell, however, what your BAC is if you do not have some kind of alcohol tester, be it a breathalyzer or a disposable alcohol test.

Getting to a BAC of 0.08 is not that difficult. For a 140 lb man, it would be 3 drinks in one hour. If someone is binge drinking, they could get into a situation where alcohol remains in their body for 10 hours or more.

Does drinking coffee help you process alcohol faster or sober up?

No. Only time can sober you up, the time it takes alcohol to metabolize or move thru your body which is about the same for everybody - the rate of about .015 percent of blood alcohol content (BAC) per hour. Many people say black coffee or cold showers help them sober up, but it is not true, the body has to process the alcohol.

How does alcohol effect driving?

This chart shows the Blood Alcohol Level and an approximate number of beers to get you to that BAC and the effect it will have on your driving skills. As you can see it can only take two beers to get you to a .02% BAC which will effect your judgement skills and then three beers can make it difficult to steer a car.

With an alcohol test you can test your BAC as it is processed by your body. Even though you stopped drinking hours ago, the home alcohol test can, like a breathalyzer, detect your steadily dropping BAC.

Where to get a home drug test?

2012-12-14T20:33:00-06:00

[caption id="attachment_1242" align="alignleft" width="300"]

Home Drug Test at Walgreens[/caption]

While it may be difficult to know where to look, you can now find home drug tests in most drug stores. The drug tests are typically found around other home tests or "Health Monitors". The drugstores offer multi panel drug tests that can test for four, six or twelve different drugs or a single test for Marijuana or Cocaine.

Our recent survey of CVS, Walgreens and Walmart showed that a twelve panel drug test averaged $39.41 and a Marijuana (THC) only test averaged $15.53

[caption id="attachment_1259" align="aligncenter" width="660"]

Drug Test Kits CVS[/caption]

Why are the drug tests at the stores more expensive than the ones you can buy online?

Here is the reason:

[caption id="attachment_1250" align="aligncenter" width="300"]

at home drug test box[/caption]

While each of these home drug tests will give you a result in five minutes, the test actually includes laboratory testing if you choose to send the urine sample to the lab. As you can see on the box it says "laboratory testing, if necessary". If you use the at home drug test and get your answer in five minutes and choose not to send it to a lab, there is no refund of the included lab fees.

Before you purchase a home drug test, you need to decide if you will need lab testing. Lab testing of a urine sample is typically used after a positive drug screen, but it is not required. If you are using a drug test for yourself or someone else and the test is negative then you are finished. However, if the test is positive you may want to send the urine sample to a lab so they can confirm if the test is actually positive for the drug you tested for or if it is a false positive caused from some other drug or chemical. For example, the drug Zantac can cause a false positive on a Meth drug test.

While the drugstores averaged $15.53 for a marijuana test, over at homehealthtesting.com we sell a marijuana drug test for $1.90. The test we sell is manufactured by the same company that sells the more expensive tests in stores, however it does not include the lab testing fees. Some people believe the tests in the drug store are more expensive because they are more reliable and that is not true. The truth is those tests include lab testing that you may not even use.

When looking for a home drug test, look for a test that is FDA cleared and it should clearly state the accuracy level of the test since it is required for the FDA approval. If you get a positive result on a urine drug test, you can always take that urine sample to drug testing lab in your own town and get the lab confirmation, but you don't have to pay for that service until you need it.

You can rely on the quality of the cheap drug tests you find online, if they are FDA cleared. In drug testing, don't be fooled with the "you get what you pay for attitude" and don't pay for something you don't need.

Advertise Happiness

2012-12-06T19:23:00-06:00

After a long stressful day at work you come home to cook dinner, feed the dog, do the dishes and then finally settle down to unwind by watching television. As you try to relax you are assaulted with commercials about depression with a soothing voice asking "Are you sad?" or "Are you tired?". There are days the answer is yes, but does that mean medication is necessary.

Then the Abilify commercial informs you that 2 out of 3 people being treated for depression still have symptoms of depression, so you should add Abilify to your current medication. Instead of adding Abilify, maybe we should question why 2 out of 3 people are not being helped by their antidepressants or better yet question why 11 percent of Americans are taking an antidepressant.

Antipsychotics or psychiatric medications are the largest revenue producers for pharmaceutical companies. An estimated $15 billion per year goes to fuel the demand of psychiatric prescription drugs with antidepressants being the most profitable of this class of drugs. What used to be prescribed by psychiatrists is now easily prescribed by your family doctor to treat depression, anxiety and fatigue.

Pharmaceutical companies often spend more on advertising than they do on research and development of drugs. The TV commercials asking us personal questions should not be used to "sell" drugs. If we have a physical or emotional problem then we should make an appointment with a doctor, however, we should not be asked on a daily basis to evaluate our emotional state from our living room. The power of suggestion and repetition is great. If you see several ads for dessert then you want dessert and you go and get it. Same with drugs, after you have had heard "are you sad?" enough times, you begin to question it for yourself.

As a culture, we are so worried that children may be influenced to take up smoking, that we have put every limit possible on the tobacco industry to prevent advertising. But what do children think when they see the repeated advertising for depression? Are children answering the questions for themselves or are they looking at Mom or Dad and wondering if they are sad?

If we have the audacity to require tobacco companies to pay for advertising to prevent smoking and warn of the dangers, then maybe we should demand that the pharmaceutical companies start running "happiness" ads. What about the soothing voice saying "What are you grateful for today?" or "Turn off the TV and take your dog for a walk."

Marketing Oxy - at what cost?

2012-09-17T16:22:00-05:00

Oxycontin is the number one selling prescription pain pill sold in the USA with sales reaching $3 billion per year. There are other forms of prescription opioids and all together their sales have quadrupled over the last decade. The warning bells are sounding in our country that we have a prescription painkiller epidemic on our hands.

In 1998, Purdue Pharma the maker of Oxy, made a marketing video that was shown to 15,000 doctors that claimed Oxy was less addictive than other drugs. The paid doctor in the video urged other doctors to prescribe opioids more often. That doctor now says some of his statements went too far and there were no studies of the long term effects of the drug.

A four year investigation into Purdue Pharma and their marketing arm Purdue Frederick ended in 2007 when Purdue Frederick Company pled guilty to charges of knowingly and fraudulently misbranding Oxycontin as being less addictive, less subject to abuse and diversion, and less likely to cause tolerance and withdrawal problems, than other pain medications. Purdue agreed to pay a $634.5 million fine.

That 1998 video highlighted seven patients who were successfully using Oxy. Take a look at this follow up video completed in 2012, fourteen years since they endorsed Oxy. What happened to the poster children of Oxycontin?

Suboxone - Miracle Drug Relegated to the Streets

2012-08-31T18:45:00-05:00

Suboxone (generic name: buprenorphine) has been called a miracle drug in the treatment of opiate addiction by doctors and addicts alike. It has been a legal prescription drug since Congress went out of its way to pass the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000, which was solely aimed at allowing suboxone to come to market. Suboxone has been shown to save lives, reduce crime and reduce the spread of HIV infections. To top it off, unlike methadone, suboxone is almost impossible to over-dose on and it is not addictive.

“People who are treated with suboxone are able to get back to school, they’re able to go back to work, they’re able to start paying taxes and taking care of their children,” says Dr. Miriam Komaromy, who directs a state funded treatment hospital in New Mexico.

Pretty heady stuff for a drug that is slowly being relegated to street crime status. How is it that a drug the US government poured millions of dollars and decades of research and development into is so hard for doctors to prescribe?

The problem can be broken down as follows:

Because suboxone is an opiate it has created a War of the Roses within the US government between the FDA, which is pushing for distribution in order to stem the disease of drug addiction and the DEA which is forcing regulations on distribution in order to stem crime associated with addiction.
Doctors are forced to complete special training just to obtain a license to prescribe the drug and are restricted to the number of patients they can prescribe to. Roughly a quarter of US licensed doctors can treat 100 patients a year. The rest are restricted to only 30 patients a year.
Many physicians are reluctant to prescribe suboxone for fear of attracting opiate addicts into their practices, which creates its own set of problems.
Since 2000 the addiction rate for opiate pain relievers has tripled in the US. The demand for suboxone has far outreached the antiquated limits the DEA has imposed on the medical community to deal with the problem.
Addicts are unable to afford the doctor visits necessary to receive the prescriptions.

Put this all together at a time when the US is going through an opiate pain pill epidemic and you are left with addicts attempting to self medicate on the streets from drug dealers who keep up with demand by getting their hands on black market suboxone pills. A situation which feeds a street crime culture that puts a burden on all of us and leaves “a miracle drug” twisting in the wind.

Put a face to Oxy Epidemic

2012-08-01T16:53:00-05:00

If you want to put a face to the epidemic problem of painkillers in the USA, take a look at this video by the folks over at Oxy Watchdog. Thanks Erin for sharing your story about your brother, Pat, and for allowing others to share their stories on your Memory Wall

Prescription Drugs and America’s War on Drugs

2012-07-31T16:40:00-05:00

Here’s a surprising and somewhat alarming statistic that was recently released by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an annual survey sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA):

Of the 36,450 overdose deaths in the United States in 2008

20,044 were from prescription painkillers,

more than all the illicit drugs combined.

This is a brief breakdown on how these drugs were obtained for persons aged 12 or older in 2009-2010 who used pain relievers non-medically in the past 12 months:

55% got the drug from a friend or relative for free
17.3% reported they got the drug from a doctor
4% got pain relievers from a drug dealer or other stranger,
0.4% bought them on the internet.

Among those who reported getting the pain reliever from a friend or relative for free, 79% reported that the friend or relative had obtained the drugs from just one doctor.

For us, here at Home Health Testing, there is no question that there has been a significant up-tick in orders for our OxyContin/OxyCodone urine drug tests which is a first hand indicator that more people are concerned about the abuse of prescription drugs.

The results of this survey also bring to light the momentum for a broader change in domestic drug policy (as opposed to foreign drug policy) that appears to be building in the US. Just two months ago, at a conference held here in North Carolina a top echelon of law enforcement officials, including Attorney General Roy Cooper, reaffirmed its commitment to curbing prescription drug abuse.

Armed with the disquieting information that prescription drug abuse kills more people each year than heroin and cocaine combined, these officials were unanimous in voicing support for expanding a state wide database to help doctors and investigators pinpoint those bouncing from doctor to doctor obtaining prescriptions in a practice known as doctor shopping.

Currently, only about 28 percent of North Carolina's 32,000 medical doctors are registered to use the system, said Bill Bronson, director of the state's drug control unit.

What Are Downers? Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium), Alcohol, Barbiturates

2012-07-14T23:00:00-05:00

The Downers: Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium), Alcohol, and Barbiturates

Downers, a colloquial term for depressants, are drugs that decrease mental or physical activity. Downers are functionally opposite to uppers or stimulants which are drugs that increase activity of the mind or body. Depressants are widely used as prescription medications and illegitimately as recreational drugs. Benzodiazepines and barbiturates are the most commonly prescribed depressants. Alcohol is also classified as a depressant.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are prescribed according to the underlying disorder. For example, benzodiazepines that have a short action are prescribed for insomnia while long-acting ones are used for treating anxiety disorders. Benzodiazepines are also prescribed for managing symptoms of alcohol withdrawal and treating other disorders including muscle spasms, seizures, and convulsions. This class of drugs is also used before medical and dental procedures.

Xanax and Valium are among the more popular brand names of benzodiazepines that are considered to be generally effective as well as safe in the short term. However, in some cases these may have an opposite effect and lead to aggression. There is also a risk of increased tolerance, physical dependence and severe withdrawal symptoms. Although benzodiazepines do not interfere with normal embryonic development, these are generally not prescribed during pregnancy due to risk of cleft palate and neurobehavioral effects in newborns.

Barbiturates

Barbiturates have literally been phased out from routine medical practice since the time benzodiazepines appeared on the scene. Barbiturates carry a high risk of addiction and benzodiazepines are a safer option. The elderly are at a higher risk when using this class of drugs because with age it becomes more difficult for the body to get rid of barbiturates. Ultra-short acting barbiturates are used in hospital settings for preparing patients for surgery when there is obviously much less likelihood for illicit use. Long acting barbiturates, on the other hand, are used to treat insomnia, anxiety and different types of seizures and are known for their recreational use.

Long term use or overdose can lead to cognitive impairment, sluggishness, shallow breathing, and in severe cases, coma and/or death. Barbiturate overdose in conjunction with opiates or other depressants such as alcohol or benzodiazepines is even more dangerous.

Alcohol

Alcohol has the same effect on the body as barbiturates and benzodiazepines in that it affects the inhibitory neurotransmitter and works as a sedative and hypnotic. It also decreases the effect of other depressants.

Alcohol meant for ingestion is basically ethanol and its effect depends largely on the amount consumed and the time taken to drink a specific quantity. Short term effects of alcohol include dehydration, intoxication and slurred speech. Alcohol is specifically dangerous for diabetics as it increases insulin production, which in turn causes blood sugar levels to lower and may possibly lead to death. Long term effects include addiction. People less tolerant to alcohol may experience vomiting and unconsciousness. Very high levels of blood alcohol, up to six times the level of intoxication, are rarely seen (unless huge amounts are consumed) but are known to be fatal.

Downers have a sedative, hypnotic and anxiolytic (meaning anti-anxiety or anti-panic) effect. While temperance in alcohol consumption is advocated, benzodiazepines and barbiturates are prescription medications that should be taken only as prescribed.

Learn more about how you can drug test for these substances by visiting our urine drug test page or our alcohol test page.

What Are Uppers? Cocaine, Amphetamines, and Methamphetamine

2012-07-11T23:00:00-05:00

The Uppers: Cocaine, Amphetamines, and Methamphetamine

Uppers are central nervous system stimulants that temporarily increase mental or physical function or both. The word “uppers” is a colloquial term for stimulants that make you alert and enhance locomotion. Amphetamines, one type of “uppers,” are widely used as prescription medication and commonly prescribed to treat Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).

Cocaine, amphetamines and methamphetamine, all uppers, produce wide ranging effects by enhancing the activity of the central and peripheral nervous system. Effects vary according to the type of substance. While some can reduce anxiety and elevate moods, others lead to euphoria. At the same time, these can also cause anxiety and other psychological disorders, conditions that they are meant to treat. The primary effect of uppers is due to the interference they create with levels of neurotransmitters that carry signals from and to the brain.

Cocaine

Cocaine is an alkaloid obtained from the leaves of the cocoa plant. Generally, it is a stimulant and suppresses appetite and specifically, works as an inhibitor of reuptake of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. It also inhibits reuptake of norepinephrine, a precursor of epinephrine, which is a hormone as well as a neurotransmitter. After discovery, cocaine was initially used to “make the coward brave” and “render the sufferer insensitive to pain.” It was only in the early twentieth century that its addictive properties became known.

Cocaine is a powerful stimulant of the nervous system and its effect lasts from 15-30 minutes to an hour. With prolonged use it can cause itching, abnormally rapid heartbeat, hallucinations and paranoid delusions. Heart pain and even heart attack risks are greatly increased (according to a study on cocaine by the American Heart Association, the risk of heart attack in the first hour after using cocaine is 24 times the normal level). Chronic intake eventually leads to lack of serotonin and dopamine in the brain. After the initial euphoria, it causes abnormal depression and discontentment.

Amphetamines

Amphetamines are a class of drugs used as stimulants in the treatment of ADHD, depression, and narcolepsy. Amphetamines are known to increase wakefulness and focus along with decreasing fatigue and appetite. Apart from this, amphetamines also cause distorted sensations, dilated pupils, flushing, restlessness, headache, erectile dysfunction and uncontrollable movements. Chronic use or high dosage may also lead to convulsions, itchy skin, pallor and acne.

Like other stimulants, amphetamines are also used recreationally and as performance enhancers. Recreational users call amphetamines pep-up pills, speed or crank. In younger people it is known to lead to memory impairment and increased risk of heart attack. Although overdose of amphetamines is rarely fatal, it may lead to chest pain, psychosis and hypertension.

Abuse of amphetamines leads to increased tolerance, which means the amount of drug needed to create the same effect increases over time. Withdrawal can be difficult. It is a dangerous cycle and users may resort to taking other drugs such as benzodiazepines, barbiturates and even heroin to stay calm.

Methamphetamine

It may surprise you to learn that there is no difference between amphetamines and methamphetamine except that the latter is water soluble or mixed with methanol (the term for this is methylated). That translates into quicker absorption. Eventually, once it is inside the body, it breaks up into amphetamine. It is also highly addictive and methamphetamine addiction is much more difficult to treat than many other kinds. Post withdrawal cravings often require antidepressants such as bupropion and aripiprazole but work with very little success.

Reckless use of any medication, more so stimulants, is not advisable and they should only be taken under strict medical supervision.

Learn more by visiting our urine drug test page.

Nicotine Tests and Insurance Policies: A Guide

2012-07-10T23:00:00-05:00

Nicotine Tests and Insurance Policies

A Guide To The Types of Tests Used In The Rapidly Growing World of Nicotine Testing

The life expectancy of a smoker is about 10 years less than a non-smoker on average. This stark finding was published in the British Medical Journal a few years ago. Over time various clinical research has proven that smoking can cause many health issues like heart disease, lung cancer, COPD and more. This is exactly why health insurance and life insurance companies make it a point to charge a higher premium for those who are confirmed as smokers.

Certainly some people do not think this is fair, and it may very well not be. But to obtain health care or life insurance today, you are likely to face a nicotine test. You may even face one to obtain employment.

Nicotine testing is used by insurance companies to test whether the claims made in the application form are correct or not. Therefore nicotine testing is very much a part of the medical screening process that is conducted to finalize the premium that shall be charged. The premium that a non-smoker can expect to pay for a life insurance plan or a health plan is significantly lower than the amount that a smoker will need to pay.

While a tobacco test can be carried out by using a blood sample, a urine sample or a saliva sample, the one test that can detect nicotine in the system with the longest detection period is the hair drug test. The issue is that a hair follicle test for nicotine testing is fairly expensive and therefore is not feasible for testing all those who apply for a life insurance plan or for medical insurance.

In many cases, financial institutions that sell life insurance and health plans use a urine test to determine whether the applicant is a smoker or not. This is essentially a cotinine test that determines the level of cotinine, a by-product of nicotine being processed in the body. A cotinine test can detect nicotine up to 4 days after use in the human system.

If you have had a casual cigarette and want to ensure that a nicotine test does not give you away resulting in a high premium, you should consider checking your nicotine levels at home before you agree for a medical test. A home nicotine test can ensure that you are completely clean and ready for the test. Most home nicotine testing requires a small sample of urine and takes less than 5 minutes for results to appear. The home test is based on the standard cut off level of 200 ng/ml.

The tobacco test conducted at home is not very expensive and therefore can be used without feeling the pinch of losing a lot of money. In any case, the reduction that you can expect in the premium shall more than justify the amount spent on the home nicotine test.

The product can detect any kind of tobacco and can be used to detect pipe tobacco, cigars, cigarettes and even smokeless tobacco. So if you really want to come out clean during the medical checkups organized by insurance companies, take the home nicotine test to ensure that the nicotine has actually run out of the system, and that your efforts to quit will indeed be rewarded.

Although we certainly would not recommend lying to insurance companies on your application, there is no reason why you should feel that you are doing something wrong or get charged a higher premium if you are a casual smoker. An insurance company may try and squeeze a higher premium from you even if you smoke a single cigarette in a year. Avoid coincidences where the medical test date coincides with a casual cigarette that you may have smoked with nicotine testing at home.

Home Health Testing is committed to providing a variety of information on our tests. Please check out the Nicotine Testing section of our blog for more information about nicotine tests.

Article by Anne Hamilton.

How To Catch Someone Trying To Pass A Drug Test

2012-07-08T23:00:00-05:00

Adulteration is the tampering of a urine sample in order to produce a desired result. There are many adulterants that are on the market that try to do this. Adulterants can either create false negatives or destroy the drugs in the urine, or both. People also try to dilute urine in order to get a false negative result.

Fortunately, drug tests are ready to take this challenge on. One of the best ways to test for urine sample adulteration or dilution is to determine certain urinary characteristics such as pH, specific gravity, oxidants/PCC, nitrite, glutaraldehyde and creatinine.

pH: This tests for the presence of acidic or alkaline adulterants in urine. Normal pH levels should be between 4.0 and 9.0. If outside this range, the sample may have been altered.

Specific gravity: This tests for sample dilution. The normal range is between 1.003 to 1.030. If the value is not within this range it may be the result of dilution or adulteration.

Oxidants/PCC: This tests for the presence of oxidizing agents such as bleach and hydrogen peroxide. UrineLuck, a popular adulterant product, is one of the agents tested for. Normal human urine should not contain oxidants or PCC.

Nitrite: This tests for common adulterants like Klear or Whizzies. These adulterants work by oxidizing the marijuana metabolite THC-COOH. Normal urine should contain no trace of nitrite. If the urine is nitrite positive, then the urine was probably adulterated.

Glutaraldehyde: This tests for the presence of aldehydes. Adulterants that it tests for include UrinAid and Clear Choice. Both contain glutaraldehyde which can cause false negatives by disrupting the enzyme used in some urine tests. Glutaraldehyde is not normally in urine; so when it is found it is generally a good indication that adulteration has occurred.

Creatinine: This is a waste product of creatine which is naturally found in muscle tissue and urine. A person may try to dilute their results by drinking excessive amounts of water or using diuretics like herbal teas to “flush” their system. Like specific gravity, creatinine is a way of checking for dilution and flushing/”cleansing” tactics. If specific gravity and creatinine are low, the urine may have been diluted. If there is no creatinine in the urine (or it is below 5 mg/dl) then the specimen is not consistent with normal human urine.

Home Health Testing offers two drug tests that have the technology to detect adulterants and make sure the urine sample is fresh. These are the 4 and 5 panel iCups (see below). Through easy to read color charts you can determine the pH and specific gravity of a sample, and also find out if there are any Oxidants/PCC in the sample. Dilution products and products like UrineLuck WILL be detected. If you are worried about someone trying to cheat a drug test you are administering, these tests are for you! The 4 panel tests for marijuana, cocaine, opiates and methamphetamine, while the 5 panel tests for all of those and amphetamines. Order now!

A Brief History of Alcohol

2012-07-06T23:00:00-05:00

Many archaeologists believe that wine made from grapes was a part of man’s regular diet as many as 10,000 years back. Surprisingly, it is also believed that other kinds of alcohol like beer and mead existed even before. Along the way developed various social uses for the intoxicating drink, including pepping up men before a battle, calming fights, closing a deal and seduction. Many of these traditions associated with alcohol are still in existence.

Prehistoric man is known to have made beer from grain and water even before the method of making bread was discovered. The Greek, Norse, Egyptian and Babylonian history has proof of production and consumption of alcohol. In fact the Egyptians created a straw to drink beer that contained wheat husk. Clay tablets with more than 20 detailed recipes have been found in the remains of the Babylonian civilization.

The earliest records of alcohol consumption in Chinese civilization go back to 800 B.C. Fruit and grain were distilled and fermented to produce brandy, cognac and sake. The distillation process that was so prevalent in China as far back as 800 B.C. did not reach Europe till the eleventh century AD.

Since the Greeks worshipped Bacchus the god of wine, their wines were flavored with herbs like dandelion, mint, wormwood seeds, crab claws and more. The Romans who also worshipped this god (under the name of Dionysus) had a different way of paying tribute by creating an orgy of intoxication. Beer was introduced to the Northern parts of Europe by the Roman legions.

It might surprise some to know that many monasteries perfected the art of making beer since it was allowed during fasts too and was not considered to break the fast. The extent of consumption here reached very high levels. Some records indicate consumption of more than 5 liters a day.

Slowly the beer and wine that were brewed at home started to be produced centrally. Taverns and public houses opened up. When there were issues with the brewing, the issues were blamed on the ‘brew witch’ and witch burning became common.

It was only around Renaissance that brewing and distilling became an art. “Brew master” became an occupation and the methods adopted were passed from teacher to apprentice. As technology advanced with art and culture during these times, the methods of producing wine, alcohol and other kinds of liquor became perfect and stronger and purer creations were made. Gin, brandy, and sambuca were created. Some of the spirits started to be associated with specific countries like the Russian Vodka, the Scottish Whisky and the Mexican Tequila.

Till this time, alcohol consumption was considered to be healthy and over drunkenness was not considered to be an issue. As consumption broke all barriers, people like Benjamin Rush authored books that detailed the ‘Effects of Ardent Spirits on the Human Mind and Body’. For the first time temperance was recommended and there were attempts by the government to impose a tax on distilled spirits causing the Whiskey Rebellion in the United States in 1794.

Later issues like prostitution, gambling and other vices were associated with the retail saloons that served alcohol and other liquor and the history of prohibition and smuggling started too.

-Article by Anne Hamilton.

The Ultimate Hair Drug Test FAQ

2012-07-05T23:00:00-05:00

To see our tests, check out our hair drug test page.

What drugs are tested for by the hair drug test?

The drugs tested for by the PDT-90 hair follicle drug test are marijuana, cocaine, opiates, methamphetamines, ecstasy and PCP. The Express, Standard, Legal Workplace, and the Illegal & Prescription hair follicle drug test detect marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, methamphetamines, ecstasy and PCP. So, the only drug type the PDT-90 does not test for that the other kits do is amphetamines.

How much hair is needed for a hair drug test?

Length:

The minimum amount of hair needed for a hair drug test: a half inch. A half inch of hair represents about a 30 day drug history.

The maximum amount of hair needed for a hair drug test: the lab will only analyze the most recent inch and a half of hair (giving you a 90 day drug history). However, when you submit your hair sample, do not shorten the hair you provide. If your hair is 8 inches long, submit the entire 8 inches in length. The instructions in your kit will explain how to wrap the excess hair around the collection foil.

Thickness:

The thickness/width of the sample you provide should be 120 hairs or so. This is about the diameter of a pencil.

How do you collect the hair?

You can collect the hair from multiple places on the head. You must cut the hair from as close to the scalp as possible. After you cut the hair, you place it in a collection foil with all the root ends arranged together.

If you for some reason have a sample of hair that cannot be arranged with all the root ends together, the laboratory may still analyze the sample, but following the collection procedure carefully is still suggested.

The root ends being arranged together is NOT important if the hair sample is less than an inch and a half long. The reason the root ends must be arranged together if the hair is longer is because upon receiving the sample the laboratory will cut the hair down to an inch and a half in length.

How long does it take drugs to enter the hair?

It takes about 5-7 days for the hair affected by the drug use to grow out above the scalp. In the case of body hair, it takes longer.

How do you properly package long hair?

If the hair is long, you can wrap the remaining hair around the collection foil.

Can I submit hair collected a while ago?

Yes (but not too long ago). For example, you can collect the sample before the test arrives or a month ahead of time.

Can I use hair from a hairbrush?

We do not recommend this for a number of reasons. Hairs from a hairbrush may not all be from the same time period or person. It is also nearly impossible to arrange them so that all the root ends of the sample are together. If the sample is not properly collected, the lab may be unable to analyze it (and in such cases, Home Health Testing does not accept the return of the product). We recommend that the person you are hair testing knows they are being tested.

Can I submit just one hair?

Unfortunately, you may not. The sample size is about 120 hairs (please see above for more information).

Can I use body hair?

You can submit body hair in the following tests: the Express Hair Follicle Drug Test, the Standard Hair Follicle Drug Test, the Legal Workplace Hair Drug Test Kit, and the Illegal & Prescription Hair Follicle Drug Test.

The only test that does not accept body hair submissions is the PDT-90 Hair Follicle Drug Test.

How do I collect body hair?

Be sure to collect hair that is at least half an inch long. You can collect hair from the underarms, arms, legs, or chest.

What time frame does body hair represent?

A sample of body hair an inch and a half in length will give you a history of about 5-6 months, as body hair grows more slowly than hair on the head. This also means that it takes longer for drugs to grow out into the body hair than the head hair.

What is the difference between Standard and Express versions of the hair follicle drug test?

The differences between the Standard and Express versions of the hair follicle drug test are just the amount of time it takes for the lab to process the sample, and the type of prepaid shipping mailer you receive with your kit to get the sample to the lab. You can see the differences between the hair drug tests on this chart here.

Can the test hold up in court?

This is a somewhat tricky question. First, the only test that can hold up in court is the Legal Workplace Hair Drug Test Kit. This is because, unlike the others, it is NOT anonymous. It includes a Custody and Control form and all results are reviewed by a Medical Review Officer. This is why it is recommended for workplaces. The test has been used in custody cases, but it is highly recommended that one consults their lawyer before purchasing the test to find out if the test will hold up in court in one’s particular state or situation.

Why did Marijuana (THC) show up negative?

In some cases when donors use marijuana, the metabolite is not detected by a hair test because it didn't bind with the hair shift. This may be due to the type/quality of marijuana ingested or what is was mixed with (tobacco for example). This is only the case with marijuana and not with other illicit drugs. According to HairConfirm who manufacturers these tests, it takes smoking 5-6 full joints in most cases, for the drug to stick to the hair shaft in order to get a positive result. If someone consumed less, it may not show up on a drug test.

Do detox or masking products work?

The HairConfirm Lab tests the actual molecules embedded in the hair shaft, therefore no external or topical source or agent can alter the test results. None of these so-called detoxifying shampoos or products can alter a forensic hair test performed in a laboratory, so therefore these tests are basically cheat proof.

Vicodin Facts

2012-07-04T23:00:00-05:00

What You Need to Know

Vicodin is a prescription drug that contains hydrocodone and paracetamol. The medicine is prescribed for severe pain and is commonly recommended by physicians in the US. This prescription drug is considered to be an opioid-based medicine, meaning that it is a derivative of opium, something that is also used to make heroin.

While effective, Vicodin is extremely addictive and also shows withdrawal symptoms. The common roots of the prescription medicine with heroin make it one of the most abused prescription medicines in the United States. The advisory panel for Food and Drug Administration has recommended that the drug be removed from the market due to the likely overdose of this product.

Effects of Vicodin Consumption

The initial effects of this prescription drug include change in heart rate, constipation, nausea and dizziness. As the addiction for the drug advances other effects such as hallucinations, confusion, lightheadedness, sedation and blurred vision also set in.

Vicodin Abuse

It was estimated in 1999 that about 2.6 million Americans were abusing pain killers with Vicodin being the most common. In most cases the abuse does not start on its own. Patients who are prescribed the drug tend to get addicted to the drug and are unwilling to stop medication. Physicians generally tend to identify these symptoms and stop prescribing the medicine. This leads to exaggerating and faking symptoms to get the doctor to prescribe the drug that they have gotten addicted to. Some patients even visit multiple doctors to extract a prescription from them.

The pain that one feels during the withdrawal of the prescription drug itself becomes the most persuasive motivating factor for abuse. If the medication has been stopped, the only way one can really check on whether someone is continuing to abuse the drug is to opt for a Vicodin test.

Vicodin Test

A Vicodin test can be done up to 4 days after the consumption of the drug. A home Vicodin test can easily detect 100 nanograms of the drug per mL. The test actually checks for hydrocodone, which is the active ingredient in the medicine. All that you need to do is to take a urine sample and follow the instructions. The result of the test shall be ready within 5 minutes at an accuracy of 98%.

Withdrawal Symptoms

Once the abuse has been established with the use of a Vicodin test it is necessary that a proper rehabilitation be sought for managing the situation. The withdrawal symptoms of the drug can be extremely difficult to manage without some kind of professional advice and help.

Some of the withdrawal symptoms include restlessness, muscle pain, cold flashes, involuntary leg movement, vomiting and diarrhea, irritability, watery eyes, runny nose, loss of appetite, insomnia and extremely shaky chills.

The addictive nature of the drug almost necessitates that the consumption of this medicine be controlled. If you know that someone in your family has been prescribed this medicine, it is pertinent to be careful and be aware that the drug can be abused very easily. Using a Vicodin test kit at home can help if you suspect anything before consulting the doctor for further help.

You can check out our Vicodin Test / OxyContin Test if you want to test for this drug and put an end to its abuse.

Article by Anne Hamilton