Drug and alcohol abuse stories seem to be on every news channel today. Stars like Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears have had to go through rehab for their addictions. However, addictions do not just affect the elite; they have become a social concern globally.
The important thing to realise is that addiction affects all ages and social groups in some form or other. Its effects can be severe and many organizations are trying to find a solution. Since drug and alcohol abuse has far-reaching consequences, a drug and alcohol test has become a mandatory part of the workplace.
A Staggering Statistic
• It is believed that over ten-percent of the population of the United States has a substance abuse problem and many of them have full-time jobs.• When employees work under the influence, they have three-times the accident rate as their co-workers. These accidents often injure someone else.• Drug and alcohol use impairs the user’s reactions, coordination, and judgment.
Just imagine if you had an impaired employee driving a forklift in a busy warehouse or handling caustic materials in a factory. The outcome could be very costly and even deadly. To try to gain control over these types of situations that could occur, Employers have initiated a drug and alcohol test program for all their employees.
What Is a Drug and Alcohol Test Program?
A formalized test program begins prior to employment. Most employers, whether they are Corporations, Unions, or Government, screen all prospective employees with an alcohol and drug test. They want to be assured that their new employee does not abuse drugs or alcohol and will not have unnecessary accidents that could cost the employer.
After the employee passes their test and is employed, they will be subject to a random drug and alcohol test. The randomness factor is a deterrent. It forces employees to report to work clean and sober.
Some of the common methods used for the drug and alcohol test include:• Urine analysis – Easily identifies recent drug and alcohol use• Breathe test – An excellent alcohol test. Identifies use in prior 24 hours.• Hair follicle test – A very accurate test that offers a three-month history of drug and alcohol use in individuals.• Blood test – A very accurate test but more costly than some of the common ones used.
A drug and alcohol test program in the workplace has been proven to reduce workplace accidents, and has actually increased overall productivity and attendance.
Drug and Alcohol Test
Drug and Alcohol Testing
Today a drug and alcohol test will uncover drug misuse of illegal drugs like cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, prescription drugs like painkillers and anti-depressants and alcohol misuse.
Drug and alcohol misuse has become a major health issue that not only affects family members but impacts society as well. Since it is estimated that close to 10% suffer from medical problems due to alcohol misuse, a number of alcohol tests have been developed that helps diagnose individual’s alcohol use.
Alcohol Tests
Various authorities, the courts and even employers, use testing to help determine and monitor alcohol use of an individual over a certain period. An alcohol test is designed to assess heavy drinkers. These people routinely consume 60 grams of alcohol a day. A shot of whiskey, a glass of wine or a pint of beer contains approximately 8 grams of alcohol. A person would need to drink at least 7-1/2 of these to consume 60 grams of alcohol. In comparison, a 750 ml bottle of wine with 13% alcohol content contains approximately 150 grams of alcohol.
There are several types of alcohol tests available including saliva, urine, blood and hair tests. The most revolutionary alcohol test is the hair test. It can give a consumption history of up to six months. Other methods, including a blood test will only cover a period of a month. How does the hair test work?
As our hair grows, special markers are absorbed. These markers known as EtG’s and FAEE’s remain in the hair forever. Since they are only produced when alcohol is in the bloodstream, it is a very accurate test for alcohol misuse. As more alcohol is consumed, more markers become present in the hair sample. This alcohol test on hair will give a definitive history of the donor’s alcohol use. Once a history of alcohol misuse is uncovered, treatment can be administered. Progress can be monitored periodically through additional hair tests.
Drug Testing
Drug tests can be done on a donor’s saliva, urine, blood or hair. Since most drugs break down in the body rather quickly, the tests look for chemicals that are left behind. These are called metabolites.
Although over the counter drugs can sometimes give a false positive, a hair test is the most accurate and can give a donor’s history of up to three months. A normal hair test is done on a 4 cm hair sample and results can actually show the donor’s monthly drug use.
These results can be an invaluable tool in determining if an individual is misusing drugs and needs to participate in a drug treatment program.
In addition to the effects that drug and alcohol misuse has on the body, heavy use can lead to impaired judgment, aggression and sometimes depression. Misuse of drugs and alcohol has a negative impact not only on individual’s lives but can also affect co-workers and family members.
A drug and alcohol test is a form of intervention and can be beneficial in determining an individual’s dependency and potential treatment.
Hair Drug Testing Explained
Hair follicle drug testing can provide a definite history of what illegal substances a donor has used over a long period. A hair test for drugs is a very useful tool when you want to determine if the individual has had sustained or intermittent drug use. A hair sample drug test will even show what months drugs were used in and what months there was none. How can a drug test be so precise?
Hair Follicle Drug Testing
When a drug is consumed, it is absorbed directly into the blood stream. Hair follicles have their own blood supply so drugs that have been consumed will be present and can remain there permanently.
Since hair grows at approximately 1.3 cm per month, a 4 cm sample will reveal a three-month profile of drug use. By breaking down the sample into 1.3 cm sections, a profile indicating monthly drug use becomes very evident.
Is a Hair Test for Drugs Accurate?
When compared to other drug tests such as the commonly used urine test, if it is not administered within three days after drug use, then drugs have a chance of being undetected. The only exception is cannabis. The only limitation on hair follicle drug testing, however, is the length of the sample the laboratory has to work with.
Since a hair sample drug test is the most accurate method for determining if an individual is a drug user, courts in the UK widely accept its results. Corporations and Unions throughout the country do also.
A small sample is all that is required to determine the amount of matabolites embedded in the hair follicle. The industry standard is to test a sample of hair that is at least 4 cm long. This will result in a 90 day history of drug use. It has been shown that there is no difference in test results between a bleached hair and one that is natural. Since it takes approximately 5 days for hair to grow above the scalp, any drug used more than 5 days prior can be detected in hair follicle drug testing.
Body hair can be used if no hair from the head is available. Since most body hair is replaced once a year, test results on body hair will generate a year of drug use history.
Can Over The Counter Drugs Create a False Positive?
Since it is possible that certain over the counter drugs can create a false positive during the hair sample drug test, any positive results are tested further to determine what drugs were flagged positively. Medical personnel may also interview the donor to determine if any other meds could have been flagged falsely.
Although a drug test seems to have finality, in most cases it is just the beginning. If a donor has been diagnosed with an addiction problem, many resources available can help them overcome their addiction and lead a normal life.
