Warning Signs of Substance Abuse (Drugteststrips)

Using illicit substance abuse badly affects the physical and mental health of an individual. In this article, let's take a look at why people get into this habit and what are the warning signs of substance abuse.

Here are some of the common reasons for people getting into substance abuse.

*Social activity: At social gatherings when you are in the company of others who are using illegal substances you get influenced. In such a situation, you are more likely to get tempted to try drugs, because you see every one there does it.

*Peer pressure: Peer pressure is an important factor which is responsible for addiction. Drug users influence non-drug users to try illegal substance to fit in the group.

*Poor family relationships: People who have a poor relationship with family members are likely to feel a sense of low esteem and might use illicit substances to come out of the feeling. If parents are not careful enough in maintaining an affectionate relationship with kids, kids feel isolated and left out. Such kids are likely to use illegal substances.

*To 'feel good': Attracted by the sayings of drug users, that drugs makes them feel good, young people tend to experiment the feel good factor by using illegal substances.

Warning signs of substance abuse:

People under the influence of illicit substances exhibit certain warning signs. They are:

*Change in physical appearance: You can find people abusing substances not groomed as they should be. There is strange smell from clothes, body and breath. The eyes are reddened and pupils are enlarged. They are nervous in speech and movement.

*Change in social behavior: People taking illicit substances tend to stay away from their usual company - school-mates, friends, parents, siblings and others in family. They do not show interest in social or group gatherings.

They feel awkward to mix up with people who are non-drug users. They try to avoid normal people and demand more privacy.

*Fall in performance: There will be a fall in academic performance, increased absenteeism. They won't take part in extra-curricular activities. Same is the case with working personnel. Whether it is a student, or an employee, performance falls drastically because of less ability to concentrate on their routine things.

*Mixing up with suspected drug users: People taking illicit substances do not like to mix with non-drug users. They like the company of drug users.

*Rebelliousness: People abusing illicit substances have a rebellious attitude. They do not go by the rules of workplace, educational institute, etc. They are aggressive, short tempered and pick quarrels with people around.

*Low motivation: Substance abusers have low motivation and are not enthusiastic. They do not focus on studies or job, and feel less energetic for doing any activity.

These symptoms are a serious warning that the person is abusing illicit substances. Parents, employers and educational institutions need to take immediate action by getting the person medically examined and seek further course of action to stop the use of substance abuse.

DrugTestStrips is an online store offering reliable and FDA approved drug test kits at affordable prices. Marijuana drug testing kit from drugteststrips.com is a simple to administer dip-and-read test designed to detect marijuana use in urine.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Warning Signs of Substance Abuse (Drugteststrips)

Using illicit substance abuse badly affects the physical and mental health of an individual. In this article, let's take a look at why people get into this habit and what are the warning signs of substance abuse.

Here are some of the common reasons for people getting into substance abuse.

*Social activity: At social gatherings when you are in the company of others who are using illegal substances you get influenced. In such a situation, you are more likely to get tempted to try drugs, because you see every one there does it.

*Peer pressure: Peer pressure is an important factor which is responsible for addiction. Drug users influence non-drug users to try illegal substance to fit in the group.

*Poor family relationships: People who have a poor relationship with family members are likely to feel a sense of low esteem and might use illicit substances to come out of the feeling. If parents are not careful enough in maintaining an affectionate relationship with kids, kids feel isolated and left out. Such kids are likely to use illegal substances.

*To 'feel good': Attracted by the sayings of drug users, that drugs makes them feel good, young people tend to experiment the feel good factor by using illegal substances.

Warning signs of substance abuse:

People under the influence of illicit substances exhibit certain warning signs. They are:

*Change in physical appearance: You can find people abusing substances not groomed as they should be. There is strange smell from clothes, body and breath. The eyes are reddened and pupils are enlarged. They are nervous in speech and movement.

*Change in social behavior: People taking illicit substances tend to stay away from their usual company - school-mates, friends, parents, siblings and others in family. They do not show interest in social or group gatherings.

They feel awkward to mix up with people who are non-drug users. They try to avoid normal people and demand more privacy.

*Fall in performance: There will be a fall in academic performance, increased absenteeism. They won't take part in extra-curricular activities. Same is the case with working personnel. Whether it is a student, or an employee, performance falls drastically because of less ability to concentrate on their routine things.

*Mixing up with suspected drug users: People taking illicit substances do not like to mix with non-drug users. They like the company of drug users.

*Rebelliousness: People abusing illicit substances have a rebellious attitude. They do not go by the rules of workplace, educational institute, etc. They are aggressive, short tempered and pick quarrels with people around.

*Low motivation: Substance abusers have low motivation and are not enthusiastic. They do not focus on studies or job, and feel less energetic for doing any activity.

These symptoms are a serious warning that the person is abusing illicit substances. Parents, employers and educational institutions need to take immediate action by getting the person medically examined and seek further course of action to stop the use of substance abuse.

DrugTestStrips is an online store offering reliable and FDA approved drug test kits at affordable prices. Marijuana drug testing kit from drugteststrips.com is a simple to administer dip-and-read test designed to detect marijuana use in urine.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Why is it Necessary to Conduct Nicotine Test at Home? (Drugteststrips)

Nicotine, alcohol and illegal drug abuse is found to be more causative factor for deaths than any other problem in the United States. Nicotine is a nervous system stimulant and is addictive both physically and psychologically. With increase in tobacco consumption, there has been a necessity to detect the abusing individuals. Earlier, Nicotine testing was possible only in sophisticated hospitals and commercial laboratories. However, these days there are special home drug test kits that help you to detect nicotine abuse at home. Here is some information which helps you know the importance of Nicotine testing at home.

Tobacco-leading preventable cause of premature death
Tobacco abuse causes health problems such as bronchitis, pneumonia, brain and heart strokes, and other cardiovascular diseases. It is also responsible for mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus, pancreas and stomach cancers that may lead to death and hence is considered a leading preventable cause of premature death. Tobacco smoking results in more than 400,000 deaths in the United States every year. It is hence important to prevent Nicotine abuse among people. Conducting Nicotine test at home regularly can help reduce tobacco abuse.

Millions of smokers in US
Nicotine abuse in US has become common. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health states stated that there were about 58.7 million cigarette smokers aged 12 or above in 2009. This contributed to about 23.3 percent of the population. Cigarette smoking was found to be more common among unemployed adults aged 18 or older and constituted about 41.9%.

Effects of Tobacco abuse

Nicotine
The chief component of tobacco, activates adrenaline that in turn stimulates the central nervous system. This increases blood pressure, respiration, and heart rate. Nicotine also affects brain pathways that control pleasure and reward.

Tobacco smoking causes lung diseases such as pneumonia, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It also increases the risk of heart diseases. Different hazardous chemicals including carcinogens in the smoke cause mouth, liver, and stomach cancers. Increased risk of diseases at earlier stages of life due to the abuse leads to premature deaths. Nicotine abuse also affects the personal and social life of the individuals. It is hence important to identify the abusers at primitive stages.

How to identify the abusers?
Tobacco abuse among your family members can be identified by certain signs and symptoms. Some of them include:

Smell of tobacco
Stained teeth or fingers
Shortness of breaths
Dizziness
Headache
Irritability
Loss of appetite
Frequent cough
Nausea
Sleep disturbances

Once you identify these signs, conduct a nicotine test at home to confirm the abuse.

How to conduct the test?
It is very easy to conduct a Nicotine test at home. Different types of kits are available for conducting urine, saliva and hair tests that detect the presence of Cotinine
a metabolite of Nicotine.

Urine test
Urine test is the most common method for testing Nicotine. It can detect cotinine for two to four days after tobacco use. The concentration of cotinine is higher in urine compared to saliva or blood. So, many home test kits are designed to detect cotinine in urine. The testing materials of the kit react with cotinine of the sample and give a positive or negative result.

Saliva test
It is a cheap and non-invasive method. A saliva sample is taken from the individual through a mouth swab. The saliva test kit checks for the presence of nicotine and cotinine. They can be detected for up to two to four days after use. As it is difficult to cheat the test by adulteration, it is considered to be ideal test that can be conducted at home.

Hair test
In this method, hair taken from any part of the body is checked for the presence of cotinine. The detection time for cotinine using hair test is more when compared to the fluid tests. The test is capable of detecting nicotine use for up to 90 days.

How reliable are drug test kits?
Home Nicotine test kits provide quick and accurate results. Some of them are sold in the market only after the approval of Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Hence, they are found to be more reliable and can be used safely at home.

It is most important for parents to detect tobacco abuse in their children. Nicotine test kits serve this purpose well by enabling them to conduct the test in privacy and comfort.

Processing ...

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Simple Ways to Get Out of Unhealthy Habits (Drugteststrips)

Many people today are suffering from unhealthy habits such as smoking, alcohol or illegal substance abuse. Unhealthy habits often result in health related issues. They can also negatively impact professional, social and economic well-being of an individual. Being aware of the harmful effects of unhealthy habits, many people are continuing with them assuming that getting out of these habits is very difficult. Some even think that it is impossible. In this article, we have mentioned some simple tips to help them come out of the unhealthy habits.

Do you want to change your unhealthy habit?:
If your answer is 'yes', then you can easily come out of unhealthy habits! It's true! The desire to break your bad habits itself is the primary step to achieve it. There are many people who do not even think of stopping these habits in spite of being aware of their harmful effects. You are at least better than that kind of people. But, don't just limit it to imagination. Make a proper planning and employ right measures to make your wish come true.

Take a firm decision:
A strong decision to quit bad habits can bring a positive change in your life. It is very difficult to achieve success if you don't have commitment. So, make firm determination to get out of substance abuse. Take it as a challenge and define specific goals to achieve success in a step-wise process. Practice healthy habits in your daily routine to detach yourself from unhealthy habits.

Stay away from substance abusing friends:
You may encounter many obstacles in the process of quitting unhealthy habits. It will be very difficult for you to break these habits in the company of substance abusing friends. It is better to avoid them. Simply reject any invitations from them and be bold to make them know that you are not interested in those habits.

Spend more time with family:
Emotional support from your family can help you get rid of drug or alcohol abusing habits. Instead of going out with your drug abusing friends, go for a walk or an outing with your family members. Get involved in family-related responsibilities, functions or activities.

One of the common reasons for drug abuse in many individuals is stress. Abusing drugs in order to reduce stress aggravates the situation. Individual may suffer from compound effects of stress and substance abuse. Therefore, this unhealthy habit of managing stress should be replaced with healthy options. You can have a simple and open chat with your family members. Share your feelings on substance abuse and accept their suggestions to give up the habit.

See the positive side of life:
Look at the benefits of healthy lifestyle. Inculcate healthy habits like regular exercise. Include nutritional food in your diet. They are known to reduce the risk of serious health issues like heart attacks and cancer.

Breaking unhealthy habits like substance abuse is possible. In fact, you can successfully get rid of unhealthy habits with the help of the above mentioned tips. So, be prepared to enjoy your healthy life by quitting unhealthy habits.

Processing ...

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Hvordan man kan forhindre din teenager kommer i usunde vaner? (Drugteststrips)

Teens are more likely to risk taking because their brain is not fully developed. They tend to be attracted by unhealthy habits easily. Teenage is the critical period for the onset of unhealthy habits such as drug abuse. According to a recent report from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse started 9 out of 10 addicted people smoke, drink and/or using other drugs before the age of 18 years.

Substance abuse during the teen has some devastating consequences on persons. Some of the consequences can include lower grades, unemployment, traffic accidents, risky sex, chronic health problems, crime and violence. It can also lead a person to suicide or death.

As a responsible parent it is your duty to ensure that your teen does not get into these destructive unhealthy habits. Here are some tips that can help you guide your teenager from unhealthy habits.

Your child gets older:
You must accept that your child is growing, and he/she can change. When they come into the teen years, the physical and mental changes. They feel independent and try to form their own social circles. They believe the teen is a freedom from all the rules and regulations set by parents and teachers. This is the time where the possibility of making wrong choices more. As a parent you should monitor their activities and guide them in the right direction.

Maintain open communication:
As mentioned above, like many teenagers be independent. But maintaining an open and trusting communication with your teen is essential to help your teen make right choice. Communicating with your teenager on a regular basis and encourage him to talk about his interests, dreams, concerns and fears.

Remember that careful monitoring and trouble or yelling at their activities will result in a communication gap. If you put certain limitations, you must explain their significance, so that they do not take it in a negative sense.

Help your child choose friends wisely:
The influence of friends teenagers is very powerful. Many teenagers simply follow their friends without worrying about the consequences. Teenagers are using drugs or alcohol many times to fit in their friends circle. Many teenagers start with experiments because of peer pressure and end up in dependency.

Teach your child in the early stages of selecting a friend. help your child develop a sense of identity, where he feels safe. This causes him to create a set of standards for themselves and choose friends, corresponding to these standards.

Give tips on how to avoid peer pressure:
Peer pressure is often the result of not choosing friends wisely. There are enough teenagers in our society that can encourage your child to get into unhealthy habits. Teenagers who lack self-confidence and self-esteem are more likely to join these groups for emotional support.

Teens turn not to bad peers if they receive sufficient support from the parents. So spend time with your child and give tips on how to avoid peer pressure. In this way, you can teach him to stay away from unhealthy friends and strengthen your relationship.

Explain about the risks associated with unhealthy habits:
Prevention of teenagers from unhealthy habits requires constant monitoring and appropriate corrective measures, as your child does not like. Instead, you can achieve your objectives by continously to explain to them about the risks associated with unhealthy habits. Tell him how it negatively affects his physical, financial and social well-being. Give examples of people who suffer because of their unhealthy habits. Keep him engaged in healthy activities such as physical exercises, sports, yoga, etc.

Set yourself as an example:
The environment in which the child has been brought up determines his habits. Try to be a good role model for your child. What you practice is a more powerful message than what you learn. Set up your behaviour and attitudes to unhealthy habits. Remember, you can't expect your child to stay away from bad habits like you depend on.

Help your child understand the nature of addiction and the risks associated with teen drug use. Keep in mind that prevention is better than cure. It is better to prevent your teen from getting into unhealthy habits, than to make him leave them later.

Treatment ...

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Eat Right to Exercise Better and Stay Healthy (Drugteststrips)

Exercise coupled with right diet is the best way to stay healthy. Food is the only source of energy to human body. Unless you take proper food, you cannot maintain your body in a right way. And if you include exercise in your routine, then eating right is mandatory to experience perfect results.

'Eating right' means including all the necessary supplements in the diet that facilitate proper functioning of the body. And if you are performing strenuous activities, then the body has to be supplied with additional supplements that make you perform better. Here, we will learn few things about what to and what not to consume in order to lead a healthy life.

Benefits of regular exercise are matchless
Regular physical activity is what keeps the body active. An active body keeps itself away from any kind of illness. Exercise to the body is a boon as its benefits are matchless. Regular exercise takes care of the metabolic activities of the body. In addition to reducing the unwanted fat levels in the body, regular exercise reduces the risk of heart strokes, diabetes, anxiety, depression, and premature death. It increases the strength of bones, muscles and joints; enhances psychological well-being, coordination and balance, appetite, blood flow and oxygen supply to each and every cell of the body. The list of benefits provided by the regular exercise is very long.

An ideal fitness routine includes
Exercise done in the right way helps the body remain healthy. If it is done without following an ideal routine, it will only have disastrous effects on the body. Many experts suggest that 20 to 30 minutes of aerobic activity should be done at least three or more times a week which should be coupled with muscle strengthening activities and stretching twice a week. People who may not be able to do this level of activity can do at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day, for five times a week. If you are starting the exercise or resuming after a great gap then it is recommended to start with less strenuous exercises such as walking or swimming.

Eat healthy
Just doing physical exercise is not the only solution to have a healthy life. An exercise routine without healthy diet gives incomplete benefits to the body. Healthy food includes right amounts of carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats and fibers, sugar and cholesterol. Artificial food or junk food should be avoided.

Good options include
The right options that should be included in your diet to make it healthy are vegetables, fruits, grains, milk, meat, beans, poultry and poly or mono saturated oils (which reduce cholesterol). Having an item from each of the above groups make it a good balanced diet, thus giving you right amount of required minerals, vitamins, proteins, fats and carbohydrates. If you are on a fitness regime, then you can take the required nutrients in excess amounts based on your aerobic or muscular activity.

How much and what to eat before and after exercise
Exercise includes a complete body work out. Hence, heavy meals should be avoided as they make it hard for the body to perform. At the same time, it is also recommended not to go on an empty stomach for a workout. Hence, a light meal is generally recommended. You can go ahead with your workout after two hours of having it. As your body requires high amounts of energy during workout, it is better to have more amounts of carbohydrates (present in bread, pasta, fruits and vegetables) in the meal.

Food after the exercise should be taken after two hours. It is very important as the body requires raw materials to get energized after workout. It should be a light meal or snack which contains high amounts of proteins, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats (yoghurt, almonds, banana, protein shake, brown rice etc.).

Drink water
Water is very important for body. During workout, lots of body water is expelled out as sweat, which makes the body dehydrated. Hence, required amounts of water should be taken before, after and during workouts.

Stay away from drugs or alcohol
Apart from inculcating the healthy habits, it is also important to stay away from bad habits. All the good effects of physical exercise and healthy diet are overshadowed if you consume drugs or alcohol. Drugs and alcohol consumption results in dreadful effects on the body, making the life miserable, hence they should be avoided.

Remember, you are not living your full life until you maintain a healthy lifestyle. Regular exercise and right food is part of a healthy lifestyle. In addition, you should stay away from the bad habits such as drug or substance addiction.

Processing ...

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

How to Turn Away from Substance Abuse (Drugteststrips)

Staying away from drugs is the most challenging task ever. It calls for a great deal of determination to prevent any sort of substance abuse. It is neither achieved in one day nor through a single process. Staying away from substance abuse needs consideration of various factors which include mental, physical and environmental factors. Good understanding of these factors is very crucial as it helps in taking away this problem right from its roots. Let us understand in detail about the things to be followed to stay away from drug abuse.

Understand how it develops
The very first step to keep yourself away from substance abuse is to be aware of "how actually one develops this habit". This habit in most of the cases is unconsciously developed. By the time a person realizes that he is addicted to a drug, the damage is already done. And this damage is entirely irrevocable. Hence, it is wise on part of an individual to be proactive and understand the actual cause of this problem and prevent the habit before it develops. The basic reasons for getting into drug addiction include mental illness, work pressure, depression, bad company, temptation, etc.

Avoid temptations and peer pressure
This is the major cause for drug addiction, as temptation and peer pressure are very hard to overcome. These are the probable motivators for substance abuse for any individual. Drugs make the individual habituated to them. This tunes the mind of the drug abuser towards it and the temptation to abuse it regularly starts immediately.

Another aspect that affects drug abuse is peer pressure. This is very common among teens. Most teens, even adult drug abusers provoke others to abuse drugs. They tend to tease the persons who refuse to abuse, which makes the non-abusers to take up drugs in order to fit into the crowd. It is very hard to overcome peer pressure, it needs great courage to say 'NO' and stand by your own principles.

Stay away from substance abuse hangouts
One of the best ways to turn away from drug abuse is to stay from the substance abuse hangouts. They are the potential starters for drug abuse in a society. These places encourage temptation and peer pressure will be high. Avoiding these hangouts will be of great help in preventing and overcoming the drug abuse. Especially, it is very much useful in cases of out-of-city parties or rave parties.

Practice healthier living habits
The most positive way of turning away from substance abuse is to practice healthier lifestyle. Healthy living ensures good habits, mental strength, good health and most importantly averts the negative influence. Being a part of social activities, being in a good company, exercising physically and mentally, and good diet is a part of healthy lifestyle. Healthier lifestyle imparts positive energy and increase confidence to overcome any kind of wrong temptations.

Keep a balanced life
The main reason for developing drug addiction is lack of mental strength. An individual most often succumbs to pressures associated with life and work. These pressures result in imbalances leading to addiction of drugs. One of the best possible ways to ensure a well-balanced life is to be in a good company. This enhances the positive outlook on life which leads to good mental health. Hence, for a good living one needs to balance all the phases of his/her life well, which results in ultimate happiness, thus depriving from the negative habits.

Staying away from drug abuse may sound impossible, but nothing is impossible before strong determination and will power. All the above points provide a clear understanding on how to deal with the problem of substance abuse. Hence, by concentrating on these aspects, one can lead a healthy and happier life.

Processing ...

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Importance of Using Alcohol Breathalyzers at Home (Drugteststrips)

Alcohol usage is one of the most common problems in the United States. National Survey on Drug Abuse and Health states that about 130.6 million people aged 12 or above were alcohol drinkers in 2009. This implies that more than half (51.9 percent) of 12 or older Americans are current alcohol drinkers. Many health implications are associated with alcohol abuse. It increases the risk of health problems such as liver and heart diseases. It also affects mental health. Alcohol abuse in drivers results in fatal accidents and crashes.

These lethal effects make it necessary to conduct alcohol testing. The first and the best place to conduct alcohol testing is 'home'. Among various testing tools available, alcohol breathalyzers are easy and efficient to use at home. Here is some information that helps you know the importance of using alcohol breathalyzers at home.

Drinking and driving is dangerous
Driving under the influence of alcohol is very dangerous. Many vehicular accidents and traffic fatalities are associated with drunk driving. This is because alcohol affects the parts of the brain that control vision, skill and judgment. Blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% is found to affect driving skills of alcohol abused persons. Anything above this is considered unsafe and illegal. So, it is always better to check BAC at home using alcohol breathalyzers.

How alcohol breathalyzers work?
Alcohol breathalyzers are the devices which analyze alcohol content in the air expelled from your lungs. Different technologies such as infrared absorption spectroscopy, fuel cell and semiconductor oxide are used by them. These days infrared absorption spectroscopy is used often to detect alcohol content.

Special devices called spectrographs analyze interactions between particulate matter and radiation. Alcohol breathalyzers measure the absorption of infrared light by the molecules in breath sample. Reaction to the infrared light is different for different molecules. This helps the device detect the chemical composition of the sample. The analyzers can therefore detect the alcohol content present in your breath sample. The blood alcohol content is then calculated from it and presented as result.

Helps you decide whether you are in a condition to drive or not
It is known that alcohol abuse is the most probable reason for car accidents. BAC of suspected drunk drivers is therefore checked by traffic and police officials. However, in order to detect your driving risk, you can conduct a self-test at your home by using an effective alcohol breathalyzer. It helps you to decide your driving condition. Using this, you can avoid any legal hassles that are linked with driving under the influence of alcohol.

Detects alcohol drinking habit in kids
The other major use of alcohol breathalyzers at home is to detect drinking habit among kids. Kids are more susceptible to alcohol abuse because of their peers. They try to hide the drinking habits from family members. Poor academic performance and behavioral problems are also associated with alcohol abused children. So it is necessary for parents to monitor their activities and prevent them from alcohol consumption. Home breathalyzers help you to detect the abuse easily.

Affordable and easy to use
Different models of portable alcohol breathalyzers are available in the market at affordable prices. They are efficient in providing quick and accurate results. They are designed in such a way that they can be handled and used by anyone. Hence, they are more preferred for alcohol testing at home. It is better to buy alcohol breathalyzers which are approved by the Department of Transportation (DOT) for reliability and safety.

It is therefore beneficial to use alcohol breathalyzers to detect alcohol abuse among your family members. They also help you to reduce the risk of traffic problems associated with alcohol abuse.

Processing ...

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Common Drugs of Abuse - Cut off Concentrations and their Detection Periods (Drugteststrips)

Drug abuse is widespread and is one of the top health concerns in many countries. Drug abuse causes multiple problems to the abuser, his/her family and the immediate society. Physical and mental effects are quite obvious in the drug abuser. Drug abusers cannot function as normal citizens of the society. They neglect their families, become poor socially and economically and may also involve in crimes. It is very important to detect the drug abusers using drug tests to make them stay away from harmful drugs. Here we will look at some of the common drugs of abuse, their detection periods and cut-off concentrations in different drug testing samples.

Common Drugs of Abuse
National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) recently stated that about 22 million Americans were abusing illicit drugs in 2009. Some of the commonly used illicit and prescribed drugs are Marijuana, Methamphetamine, Phencyclidine (PCP), Cocaine and Opiates.

Marijuana
Marijuana is the most commonly abused drug in America with almost 16.7 million users. Marijuana is a psychoactive drug. The immediate effects of marijuana include relaxation, euphoria, and hallucinations. However, marijuana addiction leads to problems such as short-term memory impairment, red conjunctiva, and increased heart rate and blood pressure.

Methamphetamine
There were more than 500,000 methamphetamine users in America in 2009. Methamphetamine is also a stimulant that causes euphoria, mood elevation, and appetite suppression. High doses of the drug lead to restlessness, anxiety, irritability, tremors, and paranoia. It may also result in fixed and dilated pupils, and heart and brain dysfunction.

Phencyclidine (PCP):
Around 45,000 people started using Phencyclidine in 2009. PCP, a "dissociative" drug, stimulates central nervous system. Short-term effects of PCP addiction are drowsiness, lethargy, and disorganized thoughts. PCP abuse causes visual, tactile, and auditory misperceptions; slurred speech; and sweating. Severe psychological effects are seen among PCP drug abusers.

Cocaine:
There were 1.6 million Cocaine users in United States in 2009. Cocaine is a powerful nervous system stimulant. Cocaine enhances euphoria, alertness, energy and motor activity. High dosage cocaine abuse leads to convulsions, tremors and increased body temperature. Drug tests for cocaine detection check for presence of Benzoylecgonine which is the main metabolite of the drug.

Opiates:
Opiates including morphine, codeine, and heroin are derivatives of opium. High dosage of opium consumption causes depression of central nervous system leading to dizziness, lethargy, and drowsiness. Liver diseases, respiratory depression, and spontaneous abortion are caused by long-term use of opiates. Morphine and Morphine Glucuronides are the metabolites of opiates that are detected in drug tests.

Drug detection
Urine, saliva, and hair are the common samples taken to perform a drug test in order to detect the elevate levels of the above mentioned drugs. Detection period and cut-off concentrations of various drugs vary based on the type of test. The drug cut off concentration level is defined as the minimum level of drug or metabolite concentration in the specimen, which can be considered as a positive result. Amount of drugs that can be detected is based on several factors such as drug detection time, frequency of use, metabolism, specimen type, methods of drug testing, and others.

Urine Tests
Most of the illicit drug abusers are commonly tested by using urine tests. Urine drug test kits are available in the market for on-site tests or laboratory analysis. Urine drug tests are least expensive compared to all other types.

The cut off level for marijuana in urine is 50 ng/ml and can be detected between 2 to 4 days of consumption. Habitual marijuana use can be detected up to 30 days in urine. Cut off level for methamphetamine is 1000 ng/ml and can be detected between 3 to 5 days. PCP 25 ng/ml and detection period is 3 to 7 days. Cocaine 150 ng/ml and can be detected between 4 to 5 days. The cut-off level for opiates earlier was 300ng/ml. However, in order to reduce possibility of false positives, it is increased to 2000ng/ml. Opiates such as heroin, codeine or morphine can be detected for 2-4 days.

Hair Drug Tests:
Hair drug tests are accurate and can detect any type of drugs for 90 days. A hair sample of 1.5 inches of length is enough to conduct hair drug tests.
The cut off concentrations of common drugs of abuse using hair drug tests are: Cocaine (Benzoylecgonine) - 0.5 ng/mg, Amphetamines (Amphetamine) - 0.5 ng/mg, Marijuana - 0.005 ng/mg, Opiates (Morphine) - 0.2 ng/mg, Phencyclidine (Phencyclidine) - 0.3 ng/mg.

Saliva Drug Tests:
More recent drug use can be detected by saliva drug tests. These are more expensive than urine tests and less expensive than hair tests. They are easy to use and the chances of adulteration are very less. Detection period of saliva tests is not known for some drugs. However, methamphetamine and PCP can be detected for 1-3 days.

The cutoff concentrations for the above mentioned drugs using saliva tests are Cocaine - 20 ng/ml, Amphetamines (d-Amphetamine) - 50 ng/ml, Marijuana (THC-COOH) - 12 ng/ml, Opiates (Morphine) - 40 ng/ml, Phencyclidine (Phencyclidine) - 10 ng/ml.

Whatever the test may be, the cut-off concentration is a crucial parameter to detect the presence of drugs in order to provide accurate results.

Processing ...

reade more... Résuméabuiyad