Drug addiction is the process of hijacking the function of central nervous system by the drug. As the total control of the body is maintained by the brain, any defect in the brain leads to abnormal condition and finally results in death. The death related with use of one or more drug is called as acute drug death or overdose or poisoning. The majority of premature death is from the age 20- 44. The most victims are men than women at the mean age of 30. (more…)

Drug addiction is the chronic brain disease rather than a moral issue. Drug addiction is similar to that of other chronic disease such as diabetes, asthma, kidney failure and hypertension. Drug addiction alters the activity of the brain and brings about the changes that last forever. Hence drug addiction is called as chronic brain disease. Brain consists of network of nerves where it provides signals for each and every action produced by the body. The main parts of brain affected by the drug addiction are the cortex, limbic region and hippocampus. The resulting distorted brain insists to do illegal things and get addicted to the drug. (more…)

PCP or phencyclidine which was earlier used as an anesthetic agent has now been replaced by newer drugs. But it still rules the cartel mechanism as it has potent stimulatory and hallucinogenic properties. It is used for the purpose of recreation especially in parties, etc. One of the characteristic effects which it produces is disassociation. By this effect, the person seems to lose contact with his body and the whole surroundings by blocking the action of glutamate on its receptor. (more…)

Birth control pills are used to prevent pregnancy. On the whole birth control pills are two types, a combination pill and mini pill. The modes of action of both the pills are similar. The main components in the combination pill are the progesterone and estrogen which have combined action. The mini pills consist of only the progesterone. Habitual consumption of these pills develops adverse side effects. Similar to other medications birth pill also develops certain side effects. Prescription is based on the factors such as age, weight, physical health and gynecological history. Consumption of pills on the advice of gynecologist will be better because side effects will be reduced. Certain women who show allergic reaction towards estrogen can avoid combination pill. (more…)

Morphine is natural opium which occurs as white crystals or white powder and has bitter taste and alkaline reactions. When orally ingested, it is well absorbed by the intestines and this first pass metabolism is bypassed if morphine is injected and the time interval between the intake of drug and the appearance of drug in blood is very minimal. Still urine remains to be the most effective specimen for the testing the presence of morphine in the body. But it can also be recovered from blood and bile. (more…)

Of all the forms of addiction, the worst is smoking. It affects people both on the active and passive smoking and is the major etiological agent for a large number of cancers and also has an unbreakable relationship with the lung pathologies. (more…)

Codeine is natural opium obtained from poppy seeds. It is mainly used therapeutically in cough medications by virtue of its property of depressing all centers except oculomotor, vomiting and sweating. It is a peripherally acting analgesic. It stimulates the propulsive activity of the intestine. One important indication for abuse for codeine is that it acts synergistically with alcohol and barbiturates. (more…)

One of the most common features of drug abuse is the lack of concentration. This lack of concentration is associated with a lot of work place of accidents. This type of work place accidents tend to cost the company in terms of health and accident coverage for insurance. Post-incident drug testing is based on this fact.

This is done in places where any work place accident has occurred. The main purpose of this drug testing is not to expel the person but to cut the costs of insurance if the person met with accident due to hang over or when under the influence of drugs of abuse.

Say for instance, you are informed that one of your employees while working at the construction site met with some accident. When you go there and do a drug testing using the person’s sample and it shows positive for alcohol, then you can strongly prove the point that the accident occurred due to the personal habit of that person and you need not pay the medical cover from your company.

One important fact to be noted is that you can prove it from your side only if the drug is found in either blood or saliva. These are the body secretions that indicate recent drug use. Whereas the other formats of drug testing detect past drug use too which makes it non feasible to use them. You should remember that you have to do a confirmatory testing of the samples again in some registered laboratory.

Ten panel drug screen, twelve panel drug test, five panel drug screen test, 30 alcohol drug testing are some of the methods of testing that are basically considered for use in the preliminary testing of the samples. In serious cases blood testing or saliva preliminaries are done if they are not able to get urine sample from the donor.

Related Links:
drug testing in the workplace
employment drug testing
breathalyzer

Suggested Reading:
Goodness of a drug free work place
Drug testing for employee
Pre employment drug testing – Urine Drug Testing
Effects Of Drugs In The Work Place
Harms Of Hiring Drug Addicts In Work Place
How Drug Addiction Affects Work – Work Place Drug Testing