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 'toxicology' 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.
The Dangers of Energy Drinks and Alcohol
Published March 8, 2011 alcohol , Human Resources , teen drug use , Tests and Services , toxicology , Uncategorized Leave a CommentWhen you consume a combination of Uppers and Downers, do they cancel each other out?
The answer is No. Since the latest fad drink, Four Loko, hit the scene, red flags have been raised with law enforcement and physicians around the country. Why are they worried about this drink?
Mixing caffeine with alcohol is nothing new. Party goers and bar patrons have been combining these two substances ever since energy drinks hit the market. But it wasn’t until recently that they were both sold in one colorful can.
The “Four” in Four Loko came from the main ingredients: alcohol, caffeine, taurine and guarana. These drinks also include carbonated water, sugar and natural and artificial flavoring.
Taurine is an organic acid. Despite being present in many energy foods, it has not been proven to be energy giving.
Guarana is an effective stimulant that contains twice the caffeine found in coffee beans. A review published by the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association states that the amounts of taurine and guarana found in popular energy drinks are far below the amounts expected to deliver therapeutic benefits or unfavorable actions. But like most things in excess, too much guarana may contribute (alone or in combination with caffeine and taurine) to onset of seizures in some people.
Caffeine is a stimulant. It increases blood pressure and heart rate. Caffeine can cause headaches, jitteriness, agitation, stomach problems and abnormal breathing. It’s the equivalent of an adrenaline rush.
On the other hand, alcohol is a depressant. Alcohol slows down the brain’s functioning and impairs one’s ability to walk, talk and think clearly. Combined, the stimulant and the depressant do not cancel each other out. “Some people have the idea that the caffeine will negate the effect of alcohol, but that’s simply not true,” said Glenn Whelan, assistant professor at the University of South Florida’s College of Pharmacy.
According to Dr. Anthony Cardell, a cardiologist at Centre Medical and Surgical Associates, consuming one can (of Four Loko) equals about three glasses of wine or three to four bottles of beer. The caffeine content is about 135 milligrams, which is the equivalent of three cola sodas, one and a half Red Bulls or one cup of Starbucks coffee.
The main problem is that caffeine appears to override the natural sleepiness that occurs when someone drinks alcohol. Caffeine also postpones that feeling of drunkenness, so those who mix alcohol and caffeine in a drink are likely to keep drinking beyond their normal limits.
Scientists aren’t exactly sure how the body processes the mixture of caffeine and alcohol because the combination (based on the quantity found in alcoholic energy drinks) is too dangerous to test on humans in scientific experiments.
Researchers from the University of Florida conducted a study in 2008 where they interviewed college-age adults leaving bars. They found that bar patrons who reported drinking alcohol mixed with energy drinks (6.5 percent of study participants) were three times more likely to be intoxicated than the drinkers who consumed alcohol only. The average breath-alcohol concentration reading for those who mixed alcohol and energy drinks, was 0.109. Consumers of energy drink cocktails also left bars later at night, drank for longer periods of time, ingested more grams of ethanol and were four times more likely to express an intention to drive within an hour than patrons who drank alcohol only.
Like the conclusion in most of the articles written on this subject, the fact is, you should always drink responsibly. If you choose to drink, know what you are consuming. Know the dangers of mixing alcohol and caffeine. On the home page of the Four Loko website, their is information on how to drink responsibly and several links to responsible drinking resources.
References:
- Clauson, KA; Shields, KM; McQueen, CE; Persad, N. “Safety issues associated with commercially available energy drinks”. Journal of the American Pharmacists Association : JAPhA 48 (3): e55–63
- Johannes, Laura (March 2, 2010). “Can a Caffeine-Packed Plant Give a Boost?”. The Wall Street Journal: p. D3
- Iyadurai SJ, Chung SS (May 2007). “New-onset seizures in adults: possible association with consumption of popular energy drinks”. Epilepsy Behav 10 (3): 504–8
- “Dicey alcohol-caffeine mix not fully understood” Article from: The Washington Post Article date: December 5, 2010 Author: Linda Shrieves Copyright
Possible Addition to the K2 Legislation in Texas
Published February 1, 2011 Cannabinoids , drug testing , Ivory Wave , JWH-018 , K2 , Spice , teen drug use , Tests and Services , toxicology 1 CommentTags: drug test, JWH-018, K2, Spice, teen drug abuse, toxic substance
This was on the news on KHOU Channel 11 in Houston, TX this week. http://www.khou.com/home/Texas-could-consider-banning-Bath-Salts-114880629.html
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!
September is Cancer Awareness Month
Published September 14, 2010 Cancer , leukemia , March for Babies , March of Dimes , Tests and Services , toxicology , Uncategorized Leave a CommentTags: bone marrow, cancer, candle, leukemia
As September is Cancer awareness month, Expertox is proud to recognize Eric Helmreich, a 22 year survivor of AML, Acute Myeloid Leukemia, and current Lab Technician of Expertox forensic toxicology. Eric, who received his diagnosis when he was just 2 years old, was the first ontologous bone marrow transplant – meaning he donated bone marrow to himself – at Texas Children’s Hospital, a client of Expertox.
After winning his battle with cancer, Eric’s family, as well as a small group of other families who endured the drama of childhood cancer, formed the Houston area Candlelighters association, www.candle.org, to provide practical and emotional support to other families battling childhood cancer. Eric, as he has gotten older, became a valuable member of Candlelighters assisting with many of their fundraising activities and moral support ventures to benefit local families affected by childhood cancer.
The next event is a weekend camp where entire families affected by a child’s diagnosis come to relax and escape. Candlelighters covers all the camp expenses for the familes thanks to generous donations at fundraising events such as their annual Golf Tournament at Wildcat Golf Course coming this April 2011. To assist Eric in his ventures of helping local families please donate to Candlelighters at www.candle.org and/or register to be a blood, organ, and/or marrow donor through the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center at www.giveblood.org. Nothing can be done to prevent childhood cancer, but much can be done to support those affected.
Common Medications Can Poison My Pet?
Published September 9, 2010 Animal , Food Poisoning , Pet , Pet Poisoning , Poisoning , toxicology , Toxins , Uncategorized 3 CommentsTags: aspca, pet, pet poisoning, Poisoning
Did you know that things you consider to be safe can be very dangerous to your pet? According to the VPI Pet Insurance company, poisonings cost dog and cat owner policy holders almost $7 million over a four-year period between 2005 and 2009.
The number one cause of poisoning was accidental ingestion of medications, human and pet. Wow! The very thing that we take to make us feel better – can hurt our pet. The truth is, with just a little bit of care, this can be prevented. Put all medications up and out of reach from pets (yes, just as you would from little children), keep all lids on the medications. Last year alone, the ASPCA handled over 45,000 calls regarding prescription and over the counter drugs that pets had ingested!
According to the ASPCA, the most common human medications that cause poisoning are the following:
- NSAIDS
- Antidepressants
- Acetaminophen
- Methylphenidate (for ADHD)
- Fluorouracil (for Cancer)
- Isoniazid (for Tuberculosis)
- Pseudoephedrine
- Antidiabetics
- Vitamin D derivatives
10. Baclofen (muscle relaxant)
If you think that your dog or cat has been poisoned, contact the ASPCA’s Poison Control Center hotline at 1-888-426-4435.
Poisoning with Ethylene Glycol (Antifreeze)?
Published September 1, 2010 Animal , Food Poisoning , Pet , Pet Poisoning , Poisoning , toxicology 2 CommentsTags: animal, food poisoning, pet, pet poisoning, toxicology
What? You may not have heard of this, but it is more common than you may think. It is a very deadly and silent killer. Ethylene glycol is a sweet, odorless chemical ingredient found in antifreeze.
According to the Forsythe County News in Cumming, GA there is a case where a lady by the name of Lynn Turner (now deceased) was convicted in 2007 for the poisoning of her boyfriend by using Ethylene Glycol in 2001 and sentenced to life without parole. At the time of her conviction she was already serving a life sentence for using antifreeze to murder her husband in 1995.
According to Tulsa World, Cooper who was a 3-year old German Shepherd in Bartlesville recently passed away from antifreeze poisoning. Cooper was a drug dog with the Bartlesville Police Department. His partner and trainer, Officer Troy Newell kept Cooper in a carefully monitored environment. No one knows for sure whether this was intentional or not however there are rewards being offered for anyone with information.
The important thing to remember is that it only takes a small amount to make a deadly difference to our pets and loved ones. Please make sure to clean up any spills that you may see to avoid this happening to your pets and loved ones. There are tests that can be done; however they must be done very quickly and treated immediately.
Story on Lynn Turner – http://tinyurl.com/24gxjpk
Story on Cooper – http://tinyurl.com/29antuf
A mother’s view: Smoking K2 became fatal error for son
Published August 31, 2010 Cannabinoids , drug testing , Incense , JWH-018 , K2 , Spice , toxicology 10 CommentsTags: JWH-018, K2, Spice
The following article was published in the Duluth News Tribune on August 29,2010 and with the author’s permission we are republishing it here.
Duluth, please ban the synthetic THC substance found in K2, Spice, California Dream and other marijuana-mimicking products.
On May 15, my son, Charlie Davel, smoked K2 and within hours died after leading police on a high-speed chase, turning the wrong way onto a freeway and hitting a parked tow truck. His vehicle was traveling faster than 100 mph.
This was not my son in his right mind.
He had many things going for him. He was a devout Christian and a star wrestler in high school. He was college-bound, had just bought a fishing license and so much more.
We, his friends and family, believe K2 was the major factor that caused him to act irrationally, costing him his life.
The officer investigating Charlie’s death, Detective Jay Dunston of Waukesha County, told us about K2 several days after Charlie’s death. I had never heard of it. The officer learned Charlie had used it after conducting interviews with those who had spent time with Charlie in the hours before his death.
Charlie is far from the only person victimized by this substance. In early June 2010, David Rozga of Indianola, Iowa, smoked K2 and then went home and shot himself. I have been in contact with David’s parents. I also have been in contact with the mother of a young man in Hastings, Minn., hospitalized after smoking K2. Just a few weeks ago, the state of Indiana began to announce documented injuries with K2. More recently, I read of Derek McQueen, who smoked K2 and tried to slit his throat. I am attempting to have contact with him. The son of Rick Bell and Cheryl Berg of the Eau Claire, Wis., area, smoked K2 and has been hospitalized for more than two months. Their stories are featured elsewhere on this page.
I have several friends in ER nursing. They say more and more young people are coming into the emergency room with the severe effects of K2 and similar products. Earlier this spring they had patients who came in, and the medical staff had no idea what they had taken.
When Charlie died, only two states had made these substances illegal. Today there are at least eight.
This stuff is poison! It is unregulated, and you never know how potent a batch will be.
Taxpayers will have to pay lots of unnecessary money if this substance is not made illegal. My son’s ambulance bill alone was nearly $2,000. His emergency room visit, to say he was dead, was more than $5,000. As a 19-year-old adult, he was responsible for the bill. The financial department of the hospital called and left a message for him to say so. (Gosh, don’t they talk to each other there?)
I have heard the officer who chased Charlie was assigned administrative duty for awhile as a result. That means he’s not out fighting crime. How much does that cost? I am guessing he also will receive post-traumatic counseling.
The Sheriff’s Department closed the freeway for four hours after Charlie’s crash. The Highway Department spent hours cleaning up the site. This included picking up pieces of automobile and cleaning flesh, blood and a variety of fluids. I have no idea the financial burden of the county for this. Not to mention the emotional trauma of everyone involved. If I were a highway worker, I would rather plow snow and fix roads than clean up a horrific accident scene in the middle of the night.
The state Department of Transportation must have been involved, too. It sent Charlie a letter a week after the accident to say his license was suspended. I think the letter said the suspension was because he was driving way too fast. (Gosh, doesn’t anyone communicate?)
The city of Duluth will make the right decision when it bans the sale, possession and use of this poison. We won’t know how many lives such an action will save. We won’t know how much emotional pain, agony and heartache will be prevented. We won’t know how much taxpayer money will be saved. But we do know that if this product continues to be legally available, more will die, more will hurt and more will pay.
Teens and young adults often participate in risky behavior. My son was no exception. About once or twice a year, it seemed, he did something without thinking it through. This time, it cost him his life. And every day I ask myself, “Why?”
Maybe so his story will save others.
Bonnie Davel lives in Waukesha, Wis.
K-2 on the Houston News
Published August 12, 2010 Cannabinoids , Continine Testing , drug testing , Human Resources , JWH-018 , teen drug use , Tests and Services , toxicology , Toxins , Uncategorized Leave a CommentAs I was getting ready for work this morning, I saw this clip on the news and thought I would share it as it directly relates to the previous blog.
http://www.khou.com/home/Doctors-concerned-over-possible-link-of-K2-heart-damage-100529464.html
