By now most people have heard of Synthetic Cannabinoids, i.e. K-2, Spice, etc. The newest craze is Bath Salts – watch Dr. Oz report on this.
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/deadly-new-drug-pt-1
Archive for the 'student drug testing' Category
Bath Salts? It’s really a drug and it’s legal!
Published July 20, 2011 Cannabinoids , drug testing , Drug-Free Work Week , Human Resources , Incense , Ivory Wave , JWH-018 , K2 , methamphetamine , Spice , student drug testing , teen drug use , Tests and Services , toxicology , Uncategorized Leave a CommentExperTox Opens New Lab
Published June 7, 2011 drug testing , Human Resources , Incense , Ivory Wave , JWH-018 , K2 , Meconium drug testing , Occupational Exposure Testing , Occupational health , Occupational medicine , Poisoning , Prescription Drugs , Safety , Spice , student drug testing , teen drug use , Tests and Services , toxicology , Toxins , Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Have you ever wondered how a true forensic lab runs? If you are in the Houston area, we would like to invite you to visit us at our Open House on June 16, 2011. See more information at the link below.
Our state of the art laboratory was designed by President Loretta Anderson and RGR Partnership, LTD and constructed by Tribble and Associates Contractors. The new lab space has over 3100 square feet with the option to utilize an additional 5000 square feet of off-site storage as needed.
The lab was designed with optimal work flow, employee convenience and with environmental sensitivity in mind. There are separate departments for accessioning, specimen preparation, screening, EIA, ELISA, Heavy Metals ICP-MS, GC/MC, LC/MS, extraction hoods and analyzing (test data). In addition, there is a dedicated department for Certifying Scientist for reporting results.
Top Signs Your Child May Be Using Drugs or Alcohol
Published March 16, 2011 alcohol , Cannabinoids , drug testing , Hair testing , nail testing , Prescription Drugs , student drug testing , teen drug use , Tests and Services Leave a CommentTags: alcohol, drug test, drug testing, expertox, teen drug abuse, teen drug use
Drugs and Alcohol
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s (NIDA) 2008 “Monitoring The Future” study on illicit drug and alcohol use by teens and youth, drug use trends that concern both parents and schools reflect:
- 10.9% of 8th graders, 23.9% of 10th graders and 32.4% of 12th graders use marijuana
- 15.4% of 12th graders have used prescription drugs for non-medical purposes. Vicodin continues to be abused at high levels.
- 2.7% of 8th graders, 7.2% of 10th graders and 9.6% of 12th graders had abused Vicodin
- 1.8% of 8th graders, 3.9% of 10th graders and 5.2% of 12th graders had abused OxyContin for nonmedical purposes at least once in the year prior to being surveyed
From peer pressure to looking for a way to deal with family and life challenges, drug and alcohol use by teens is a problem. More importantly, parents and schools may work hand-in-hand in monitoring and managing substance abuse.
What are some of the signs and symptoms of teen drug and/or alcohol use? The short list includes:
- Behavioral issues
- Changes in relationships with family members or friends
- Mood changes or emotional instability
- Withdrawn or depressed; uncommunicative
- Periods of sleeplessness or high energy, followed by long periods of sleeping
- Absenteeism or loss of interest in school or extracurricular activities
- Failure to fulfill responsibilities at school or home
- Disappearance of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as well as alcohol or money
- Personal appearance, habits or action changes
- Poor hygiene and personal care
- Track marks on arms or legs
- Frequently breaking curfew
- Using over-the-counter eye reddening washes and/or breath mints and gum more frequently
ExperTox supports both parents and schools through its drug and alcohol testing services designed to target those most vulnerable areas of substance abuse by youth and teens. Alternative specimen testing options allow for drug detection over varying time periods, from recent use to six months or more, including oral fluid, blood, urine, hair and nails.
These tests include:
- Drug Tests
- Alcohol Tests
- Synthetic Opiates such as Hydrocodone and Oxycodone (OxyContin)
Rub-a-dub-dub, Drugs in your tub?
Published January 18, 2011 drug testing , Drug-Free Work Week , Ivory Wave , student drug testing , teen drug use 1 CommentTags: crystal meth, drug test, expertox, Ivory Wave, meconium drug testing, meth, Salt, teen drug abuse, teen drug use, weight loss
Are there new drugs in the market posing as bath salts? Yes this is actually true. Ivory Wave is marketed as a bath salt or plant food and is labeled ‘not for human consumption,’ but the substance’s true purpose is no secret online. Ivory Wave is the newest drug on the market – and it’s legal.
Ivory Wave contains two drugs, Lidocaine and Pyrovalerone, one is used by dentists in anesthesia and the other is a hallucinogen. The drug is popular among meth users and is smoked or snorted to produce a high. Law enforces say it started becoming popular in the U.S. when pseudoephedrine (active ingredient in crystal meth) became only available by prescription. Users of this drug feel paranoia, volatile aggression and believe their hallucinogens are real.
Now lawmakers and law enforcers are scrambling to stop the latest drug fad from taking over the US like it did in the UK, prompting the Home Office to ban it.
Lee County Sheriff Jim Johnson said he has had deputies injured trying to arrest salt users and also has seen other people seriously injured by the paranoid individuals. “This is one of the worst behavioral drugs I’ve ever seen,” said Johnson. “They are like mad people and they have no control over it. They are seeing things, hearing things and deputies and first-responders end up in the crossfire. Something has to be done to stop this before is spreads.”
One of the most noteworthy stories from the UK was 35-year-old Sarah Forsyth. She did not start taking Ivory Wave to get high, but as a diet supplement. It worked as an appetite suppressant and she dropped 10 dress sizes. She also endured the side effects like paranoia, aggression and was no longer able to sleep. Even after she lost the weight she was unable to quit using and began to hear voices and have vivid paranoid hallucinations. She soon became very ill, fell into a comma and eventually passed away.
To those of you thinking that Ivory Wave was just another bath salt, you now know the truth.
Comprehensive K2 Legislation in TX
Published January 13, 2011 Cannabinoids , drug testing , Human Resources , JWH-018 , K2 , Occupational health , Occupational medicine , Spice , student drug testing , teen drug use , Tests and Services , toxicology , Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: drug test, expertox, Human Resources, JWH-018, K2, Occupational medicine, teen drug abuse, teen drug use
Read more about the new bill being brought to the Texas Senate this week. It is the most comprehensive bill in the country!
Back to School and Immunizations
Published August 16, 2010 Human Resources , Immunization , Occupational health , Occupational medicine , student drug testing , Tests and Services , Uncategorized , Vaccine Leave a CommentAugust is National Immunization Awareness month. This is the perfect time to remind family, friends and co-workers about immunizations. Parents are enrolling their children in school, young adults are preparing to enter college and employers are planning for this year’s flu season.
Vaccines offer safe and effective protection from many infectious diseases. Getting immunized is a life-long life protecting community effort, everyone from infants to the elderly need to keep current on their immunizations. Immunization is one of the most significant public health achievements in the past century. Several diseases such as small pox and polio have been eradicated due to vaccines. There are still cases of measles, diphtheria, rubella (chicken pox), and pertussis (whooping cough) in the U.S. and adults and children still die from these and other vaccine preventable diseases.
Children attending school in Texas are required to have been vaccinated for 9 communicable diseases. Children going into daycare have to be vaccinated for a total of 12 diseases. Young adults entering college should check with the registrar’s office to find out what immunizations are required before enrollment. Not all colleges and universities have immunization requirements but there are recommendations for students who will be living in dormitories. Your state’s Department of Health website will have all the information you need for immunizations.
The state of Texas grants and acknowledges the rights of a parent to exempt their children from vaccination requirements for school, daycare and college for reasons of religious beliefs or medical reasons. In 2003 the Texas legislature passed changes that expanded reasons a parent can claim an exemption. This process is complicated and time consuming. If you plan to have your child exempt from vaccination requirements don’t wait until the last minute. Check with your state’s Department of Health to obtain the official forms and instructions to complete this process.
Now is also a good time to remind any senior citizens in your life to check with their health care providers in regard to flu and pneumonia vaccine. Children and the elderly are most at risk for communicable diseases.
Health insurances will cover immunization costs. If you are uninsured check with your city/county health department on where you can go to get reduced cost or free vaccinations. In Texas you can call 211Texas toll free to get this information. You can also call the Immunization Branch Customer Service number (800) 252-9152 if you have any questions or need more information about immunizations.
Lou Ann Enis, Registered Nurse and Occupational Health Supervisor
How Safe is Spice or K-2?
Published August 9, 2010 Cannabinoids , drug testing , Human Resources , JWH-018 , student drug testing , teen drug use , Tests and Services , toxicology , Uncategorized 2 CommentsOne of my friends had surgery recently and has really had a very difficult time dealing with the pain from the surgery. Yesterday she made a comment on her Face Book page that she was going to ask her doctor for a prescription for a stronger pain medication. Someone “jokingly” recommended that she go buy some “Spice” since it is supposed to have the same effects as THC and is legal in Texas.
My heart about went to my throat! Knowing that we test for not only JWH-018 but also an entire Synthetic Cannabinoid panel and having done some reading on these substances I was hoping and praying that my friend would not follow through with that.
The reality is that no one really knows what the long term effects of using these synthetic cannabinoids have on the human body. According to Marilyn Huestis, PhD, chief of chemistry and drug metabolism at the National Institute for Drug Abuse, ”When you take these drugs, you are hijacking the part of the brain important for many functions: temperature control, food intake, perception, memory, and problem solving, and people taking these high-potency drugs are affecting other important functions throughout their bodies — hormone functions, for example.” To see more about the possible effects go to http://tinyurl.com/ykeawnf.
The standard drug tests do not detect for these synthetic cannabinoid drugs. It requires a specialized testing process. So many people are using this as a substitute for marijuana and when going for either pre-employment or random drug tests, testing negative.
Currently JWH-018 and the other Synthetic Cannabinoid drugs are not federally controlled in the United States. However, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency it is labeled as a “Drug and chemical of Concern” in 2009. While it may not be federally controlled, several states have passed or proposed legislative action against spice and some cannabinoids.
Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, North Dakota and Tennessee it is illegal (either to have in your possession or the sale of JWH-018 and/or other synthetic cannanbinoids) in all or parts of these states. The following states have either legislation proposed or impending enaction against JWH-018 and/or other synthetic cannanbinoids: Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Texas and Utah.
How To Collect a Hair Specimen for a Hair Drug Test
Published April 16, 2010 drug testing , Hair testing , Human Resources , Occupational health , Safety , student drug testing , Tests and Services Leave a CommentTags: drug test, drug testing, hair collection, hair drug test, hair drug testing, hair follicle drug test, hair follicle test
People are surprised when they have their first hair drug test. They are unsure of the procedure and are surprised by the amount of hair that must be collected. To complete both a drug screen and a confirmation on a presumptive positive screen result, we need a hair sample that is approximately the width of a Sharpie marker. Lengthwise, 1/2″ of hair equals 30 days. A common hair test is for 90 days, so the hair must be at least 1 1/2″ in length. ExperTox can test for longer periods of time – it all depends on the length of the Donor’s hair.
We decided to show you how it is done so there will be no surprises if you must have this type of test completed. Check out our own Lou Ann Enis, Registered Nurse and Occupational Health Supervisor, as she walks us through the steps.
Let us know if you have any questions or comments!
Substance Abuse In A Can – Inhalants
Published March 8, 2010 drug testing , Drug-Free Work Week , student drug testing , teen drug use 1 CommentTags: ACE, aerosol cans, bagging, cleaning fluids, drug abuse, huffing, inhalant abuse, inhalants, lighter fluid, paint thinner, teen drug abuse
First-time substance users generally don’t find their drugs on the street. They find it in their home among everyday items used by the family. Do you have aerosol cans, cleaning fluids, and removers scatters around your house? These are inhalants, a “gateway” drug easily accessible by young teens.
Inhalants are products that produce breathable chemical vapors that cause mind-altering affects, similar to alcohol. Because inhalants are breathed, they quickly enter the user’s blood system, causing an almost immediate affect. According to the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 729,000 young people, ages 12 and up, used some type of inhalant to get high during the past 12 month period. 70% of these first-time users were under 18. In fact, according to The Alliance for Consumer Education (ACE), 1 in 5 children will abuse inhalants by the 8th grade. 8th grade students show the highest level of inhalant abuse, with a higher percentage being female.
Why do young people use inhalants? It’s easy – they can find them anywhere around their own home or garage. They are also cheap. Common types of inhalant products include but are not limited to:
- Spray paint
- Nail polish remover
- Hair spray
- Cleaning fluids
- Lighter fluid
- Gasoline
- Paint thinner
- Felt-tipped markers
- Glue
How are these everyday products used to get high? The inhalant user may sniff or snort the fumes directly from the container. They may also spray the product directly into their nose or mouth. Other ways fumes are introduced include “bagging”, where the vapor is sprayed directly into a plastic or paper bag, then placed over the nose and mouth to breathe the fumes; and “huffing”. Huffing occurs when a rag or clothing is soaked with the product, then it is held over the nose and mouth or even stuffed into the mouth.
How can parents recognize the signs and symptoms of inhalant use? We would first like to recommend prevention, and this is a good month to get started, National Poison Prevention Month. Lock up or protect any products that could potentially be abused. Keep an inventory of items and pay attention to how quickly products are used up. Then look for these common signs and symptoms:
- Intoxication similar to someone that has used alcohol
- A drunken appearance
- Slurred speech
- Muscle weakness
- Impairment
- Hallucinations/Delusions
- Confusion
- A chemical odor on a person’s breath or clothing
- Stains on a person’s face, hands and clothes
- Hidden empty spray containers or rags that reek of fumes
Inhalant abuse is not something to be taken lightly. The products used are toxic and hazardous. Improper use of inhalants can cause damage to the brain and nervous system; organ damage; convulsions and seizures; choking caused from inhaled vomit; secondary injuries from accidents; and even death.
To learn more about inhalant abuse and how to talk to your teen, visit The National Institute on Drug Abuse’s website on inhalants for more information.
Teen Drug Use and a Parent’s Dilemma
Published January 5, 2010 drug testing , Hair testing , student drug testing , teen drug use , Tests and Services , toxicology Leave a CommentTags: drug testing, drug-free, student drug testing, teen drug abuse, teen drug testing, teen drug use
Fact: Illegal drug use by teens is prevalent and a major concern for all parents. According to Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), in a 2005 survey one-half (50%) of all teens have tried an illicit drug by the time they finish high school with 15.5% of youths ages 12 – 17 indicating they were approached by someone selling drugs within the last month.
Now, couple the direct concerns associated with drug use and abuse with an additional parent dilemma – how their reactions may affect their relationship with their child. No parent wants to believe their son or daughter may be experimenting with or using drugs. Suspicions arise due to:
- Significant changes in behavior, grades at school and relationships
- Choices in friends and peer groups
- Pieces of evidence, such as if a teen smells like marijuana smoke after going out with his or her friends, or finding pills, powders or residues in their room, car or personal belongings
- Prescription drugs, money or other valuables missing from the home
Trust is a real factor. When a parent fears breaking a bond of trust with his or her child because they may be wrong, they subconsciously hold off on addressing the possible drug use issue. The reality is this – once a person makes an assumption, doesn’t their level of trust and associated behavior change anyway? How will a mother or father feel if their child is involved in a serious car accident, thrown in jail for possession or theft, or any other life-changing event due to drug impairment or use when they suspected but did nothing about their suspicions?
Keeping an open line of communication and making decisions based on facts is critical to a healthy relationship, as well as reducing the chances of drug use by your teen. To learn more about how to talk to your teen about drugs and what to do if you suspect drug use, check out these resource websites:
