You are currently browsing the Drugs & Alcohol weblog archives for the year 2008.
25/11/2008 by admin.
Just come across this newly launched campaign from Alcohol Focus Scotland (AFS). There has been a lot in the news recently about what are safe levels of alcohol in pregnancy. Here is soem information form AFS about the campaign.
As more research is published about drinking alcohol during pregnancy, Alcohol Focus Scotland launches a new campaign - ‘Alcohol and pregnancy don’t mix’.
The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of the ‘avoid alcohol when pregnant’ message among women who are pregnant, are thinking of trying for a baby, and among the wider population who may encourage women to have a drink without understanding the possible harm.
We are concerned that women have been given conflicting advice about whether or not drinking alcohol during pregnancy will cause harm to their developing baby. There is proven risk that heavy drinking during pregnancy can lead to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) however the exact level for risky consumption is unknown. What we do know is that the risk of damage increases the more alcohol is consumed and that binge drinking is especially harmful. This means that no alcohol is the best and safest choice. This is also the advice given by Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer and the British Medical Association.
Click here to visit Alcohol Focus Scotland
Posted in Alcohol Focus Scotland, Alcohol & women, Alcohol & pregnancy | No Comments »
17/11/2008 by admin.
Just read this encouraging article below from todays Guardian online. It seems treating cocaine & heroin addicts for their addiction does reduce crime levels.
Research published today shows that heroin and crack cocaine addicts receiving drug treatment commit fewer crimes to feed their habit.
The Manchester University study, based on data from the police national computer, shows that the number of offences committed by addicts - such as theft - fell by almost half once they had entered drug treatment programmes.
The research results were based on 1,500 heroin and crack cocaine users who had recently been convicted and sentenced to undergo rehabilitation treatment in the community rather than jailed.
The study found that the total number of crimes for which they were charged in the year following the start of treatment fell from 4,381 to 2,348. The biggest category of theft fell from 1,234 to 635. The highest proportion of crimes committed while they were in treatment were for breaching a previous sentence.
Reductions in crime were consistent across the board. Violence more than halved, as did offences of fraud, drug possession and prostitution.
Paul Hayes, of the National Treatment Agency, which funded the study, said: “While this confirms the value of using substitute prescribing … to stabilise drug users, it also shows crime is cut rather than eradicated. This reinforces the need for drug workers to go further and do more to actively get users off drugs and reintegrated into society.”
Posted in Heroin addiction, Cocaine Addiction, Drug & Alcohol Addiction, Drug Treatment, Heroin | 1 Comment »
17/11/2008 by admin.
Just read this article from Guradian online about public opinion to drug testing for certain occupations. Here is an extract below
Britons have become more hardline in their attitudes towards drugs and the people who use them, a major poll commissioned by The Observer has revealed.
The toughening in public opinion includes an overwhelming desire for key workers, such as police officers, teachers and doctors, to face regular testing.
According to the survey, which was carried out by ICM research and is reported fully in Drugs Uncovered magazine, free with today’s Observer, the proportion of people who think that drug laws are too liberal has risen from a quarter in 2002 to 32 per cent. Meanwhile, those who believe that legislation is not liberal enough has fallen from 30 to 18 per cent and support for decriminalising certain drugs has dropped from 38 to 27 per cent.
Similarly, 85 per cent now feel that police officers should undergo routine testing to see if they have been using illicit substances compared with 61 per cent six years ago, when The Observer last conducted an in-depth poll on drugs. Just 46 per cent believed teachers should face testing then; now 68 per cent do. The same trend emerged for pilots, drivers, doctors and nurses.
Click here to read the full story
Posted in Drug Testing News, Drug Testing, drugs | 1 Comment »
14/11/2008 by admin.
Often overlooked the DA7000 offers a few unique features and great value for money.
Ideal for business users, healthcare and & individuals demanding the highest levels of accuracy the DA7000 has a robust design for everday use. Its unique auto-diagnostics ensures sensor function for every test, indicating to the user when to exchange the sensor module to ensure every test result is accurate.
The DA-7000 offers higher accuracy utilising the NEW Semicom sensor technology, with auto diagnostics to ensure performance. Easy to change sensor modules for ”self” service changing when instructed to renew sensor.
Full presentation box, battery, user manual, 6 mouth pieces & carry case with strap.
The DA7000 Breathalyser uses universal mouth piece tubes available in either standard or professional formats.
Posted in Breathalyzer reviews, breathalyzer buying guide, DA7000 Breathalyser | 1 Comment »
14/11/2008 by admin.
This question was asked this week, by a company requiring a breathalyser to meet the current US Coast Guard requirements for alcohol detection devices.
The 2009 Alcoscan AL6000 currently has the following quality approvals
NF/CE Mark
DOT/NTHSA Approved
Meets US Coast Guard Requirements
Accuracy: +/- 0.005% at 0.10% BAC
Posted in Breathalyser Mouthpieces, AL6000 Breathalyser, Value breathalysers | 1 Comment »
14/11/2008 by admin.
Detecting alcohol is simple and easy with modern biotechnology. A simple dip strip test is available which can either be used in saliva to give an immediate measure of the blood alcohol concentration, or in any liquid to detect the presence of alcohol.
If used in liquids other than saliva, the alcohol test strip will not be able to show the concentration of the alcohol, as the colour pad is specific to determining blood alcohol levels from human saliva. All that can be determined is the presence of alcohol by a blue green colour pad change. If no alcohol is present, the pad stays ‘off white.’
Results take just 2 minutes. Each foil has colour interpretation guides printed for easy interpretation of results. Alcohol test strips are quick, cheap to buy and easy to use with no additional equipment needed. There’s no need to buy massive quantities, with pack sizes starting from just 3 tests
Posted in Teenagers, Alcohol | 1 Comment »
14/11/2008 by admin.
Single use saliva tests to detect cocaine use are now available for public and professional use here in the UK. The tests need no additional materials or training to complete a screen for cocaine and crack cocaine, in under 5 minutes, using a simple sample of saliva.
Just revove the cocaine test from its foil and remove the cover to expose the tongue like swab which can be wet with saliva dirrectly or dipped into a sample pot. The drug test membrane then works and will display a positive result if cocaine is present (one control line only) and a negative result (control and test line, 2 lines) if cocaine is not detected at above the sensitivity of the test membrane. The sensitivity is set to avoid any accidental environmental exposure to cocaine from bank notes or other sources. Results are reliable and easy to interpret.
The cocaine saliva drug tests are sold in packs of 5
Cocaine urine test kits are also available.
Posted in Cocaine Addiction, Cocaine | No Comments »
14/11/2008 by admin.
Many people consider giving a breathalyser as a present, particularly at christmas, when drink driving campaigns are being run and the party season is in full swing.
So which breathalyser makes the best choice and which breathalyser makes the best value gift ? Here are a few suggestions for digital breathalysers which will not dissapoint in use and are presented in perfect presentation boxes for best impact and easy wrapping.
At the lower end of the market the AL2500 comes in a perfect presentation box, including batteries and user manual. The Al2500 breathalyser is small and compact and is ideal for an occasional use personal testing device. The AL2500 breathalyser does not use mouth pieces, while this does reduce the accuracy compared to top end professional breathalysers, it retains adequate accuracy for personal home use with +/-0.02% BAC and an alarm setting of 0.05% BAC
For greater accuracy go for the AL2500 Prime unit in black. This version of the AL2500 breathalyser comes in a black finished case and incorporates an advanced flow checking technology which means the Al2500 Prime Breathalysers will only give measured readings after good quality blown samples. Recommended ! Units start from £23-26.00 delivered.
Under £50.00 buys you the all new 2009 model DA5000 breathalyser. With upgraded electronics and programming the DA5000 breathalyser offers professional levels of accuracy with the highly reliable semicon sensor. With flow check, firewire and auto-diagnostic sensor checking accurate results are easy to obtain. The DA5000 breathalysers come in an attractive presentation box with batteries, user manual, carry strap and soft case. 5 mouth piece units are included with the DA5000 breathalyser and these should last the personal user the life time of the breathalyser. The DA5000 displays when to replace the sensor module, which can be performed at home, avoiding having to send the breathaliser for calibration service. Excellent value and again highly recommended.
£75.00 is all it takes these days to buy a top end DA7000 precise digital breathalyser. With professional inbuilt technologies, the DA7000 breathalyser offers high levels of accuracy, combined with simple one button operation, and easy change sensor facilities. Presented in an easy to wrap box with batteries, user manual, wrist strap, soft carry case and 5 mouth pieces, the DA7000 comes ready for testing and will offer years of trouble free high accuracy alcohol testing.
Posted in Value breathalysers, Breathalysers | 1 Comment »
11/11/2008 by admin.
Breathalyser mouthpieces are used with all top end and professional quality breathalysers. They serve two purposes.
On older CA2000 based models a simple cover is available, usually refered to as “breathalyser cover” to differentiate it from the longer mouth pieces or tubes (which also fit these models)
Universal breathalyser mouth piece tubes are available in standard or professional options. In the professional option the breathalyser mouthpiece tube incorporates a one way or uni-directional valve. This only allows the passage of breath into the breathalyser, and closes if the pressure becomes negative, preventing the breathaliser triggering if the sampler sucks on the tube in an attempt to prevent accurate sampling.
The professional uni-directional breathalyser mouthpiece tubes are recommended for all compliance or screening breathalyser test environments, as the extra chain of custody offered increases overall accuracy.
Key features
When choosing a breathalyser look for a breathalyser requiring mouth pieces. These prevent infection control risk and increase accuracy. Units that you simply blow at, will never achieve the same accuracy, even with the same electronics, and are a false economy.
Mouth pieces are mainly used as disposable as this prevents any infection control risk.
If breathalysers are being purchased for individual use or family use where infection risk is not an issue, they are robust enough to last the lifetime of the breathalyser and most are supplied with 3-5 mouth pieces. They can be washed and sterlilised using Milton or other home sterilising solutions, and even go through dish-washers
For employment or clinic screening buy a combination of standard and professional mouth pieces.
Universal fitting breathalyser mouth pieces fit all these breathalysers
More details on Breathalyser Mouthpieces here
Posted in AL6000 Breathalyser, Breathalyser Mouthpieces, Da8000 Breathalyser, DA5000 Breathalyser, AL7000, Breathalysers | 1 Comment »
11/11/2008 by admin.
The AL6000 breathalyser offers the latest in cutting-edge breath alcohol sensing technology as well as powerful and convenient features to ensure the highest accuracy.
A big advantage to the Al6000 model over earlier breathalysers is that it has interchangable SEMICON sensor modules and so does not require to be sent away for recalibration service.
Special Features of the AL600 Breathalyser
Self change sensor module to calibrate
Active pressure sensor ensures deep-lung breath sampling
Cumulative test counter
Low battery indicator
Auto power off
Dual-Mode- The 6000 Pro is also the worlds first and only personal breathalyser that can be operated in dual-mode; it can be operated with a mouthpiece (5 included) for digital accuracy or you can blow directly into the unit to share between multiple people and obtain a broader range readings (eg. “Lo”, “Mod” or “Hi”)
AL6000 breathalyser will detect and indicate to user when a replacement sensor module is required and display “CAL” or “SEN” display until a replacement sensor module is fitted.
Click here for more information or to buy an AL6000 Breathalyser
Posted in Breathalyser reviews, AL6000 Breathalyser, Breathalysers | 1 Comment »