You are currently browsing the Drugs & Alcohol weblog archives for the day 13/10/2008.
13/10/2008 by admin.
The ability for concerned parents to drug test at home has now been an option for almost 20 years.
Despite this, little research is available on the effectiveness or harm this home test has had, with many assuming the test to be destructive to the relationship, invasive and many claiming it breaches a childs human rights to privacy, (of self destruction, depending on your perspective )
Our view has always been that the best and only person able to decide on the merits and pitfalls of home drug testing is the parent contemplating it.
The commonest home drug test performed in the UK is Cannabis drug testing. This is most commonly performed as a voluntary urine sample test, but there is a growing movement towards saliva or oral fliud testing. Neither can be performed covertly and require a sample to be volunteered by a donor. Results are 97-98% reliable when compared to laboratory methods and results are available in under 10 minutes on site. the technology is really no more complicated than a home pregnancy test.
Most parents implement random testing for only short periods of time following the realisation that drug experimentaion has occured. If implemented properly the testing can motivate avoidance behaviour in the young person who gains a legitmate excuse to say no in peer group settings where experimentation and sharing occur.
If home testing has a negative affect it should be reviewed quickly and professional help for the percieved drug problem sought. Home drug screening will not work for all parents, but for many it has enabled confirmation of their concerns, a quantification of the extent of the problem and a useful monitoring and motivational tool to assist them in managing the problem at an early stage.
More on home drug testing options
Posted in Drug Testing, Teenagers, drugs | No Comments »
13/10/2008 by admin.
Numerous factors influence how long it takes for alcohol to work it’s way out of the body. Your age, weight, metabolism (liver & kidney function), prescription and other drugs, what you’ve been eating and when you last ate as well as how fast you were drinking and when you last drank. Even the type of alcohol makes a difference.
Most of us cant afford to guess what our blood alcohol levels are, the consequences are simply too great.
19% of all UK drink drive convictions happen the morning after. Invariably these drivers were expecting that the alcohol they consumed had been cleared from their blood.
Many factors have contributed to a rise in these prosecutions, including larger restaurant and pud wine measures (now up to 350ml) A trend to stronger premium beers and largers. Extended licensing hours and 24 hr supermarket “off licenses” offering low cost alcohol.
You will not find reliable tables of indicators of how high your blood alcohol will be after a set volume of alcohol, or how fast the alcohol will be cleared. They do not exist due to the multiple variables listed above.
Estimating the affect of alcohol is dangerous. Blood alcohol levels and the resultant brain function/impairment are variable and unpredictable. The combination of other depressive drugs such as benzo, barbs, opiates and even Cannabis can significantly impair congnitative skills, so alcohol should never be considered in isolation.
By its very nature, alcohol impairs the brains ability to make a reliable judgement of ability or intoxification. This impairment is clearly still in place while the blood alcohol remains elevated and can last for many hours after drinking has stopped.
Avoid drinking into the small hours.
Do not drink for at least 10 hrs before testing for zero BAC
Employ reliable simple zero tolerance testing before considering driving such as 0.02%BAC breath alcohol detectors.
Do not drive if any hangover affects persist, even if BAC is negative, performance will still be impaired
BAC = Blood Alcohol Concentration
Posted in Alcohol | No Comments »
13/10/2008 by admin.
The new Oraline saliva drug testing kit is unique in that:
The oraline saliva testing kit makes saliva drug screening quick, easy and affordable and delivers accurate results
There is no need for special training or expensive equipment to administer the Oraline Saliva Drug Test
Provides on-site rapid-results for
Marijuana 4ng detection for 14-24hrs
Cocaine 25ng detection for 24-48hrs
Opiates 2ng detection for 7-21hrs
Methamphetamines 3.75ng detection for 72hrs
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Posted in Oraline, Saliva Drug Tests, Drug Testing | No Comments »