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How are Drugs Categorized?
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Essentially drugs of abuse represent a variety of substances having different activities in the body, but they all have one activity
in common, they are PSYCHOACTIVE. This means they affect mental and physical response of an individual. In general, drugs of abuse
can be categorized in the following drug groups:
- STIMULANTS
- DEPRESSANTS
- PSYCHEDELICS
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What are the Typical Drugs of Abuse in the Workplace?
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There are three drugs that are most commonly used on the job. They include marijuana, cocaine, and alcohol. Heroin, which probably
ranks fourth, can be a problem in organizations employing large numbers of unskilled laborers. Additionally, in some places in the
United States, PCP and amphetamines may pose a problem.
Marijuana, hashish, and hashish oil are substances obtained from dried parts of the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa.
It is usually consumed by smoking a marijuana cigarette, also called a joint, although occasionally it is ingested in food or
imbibed in tea or other drinks.
Cocaine is a white powder extracted from the leaves of coca plant, which grows primarily in South America. It is consumed by sniffing,
by inhalation or smoking, or by intravenous injection. A crystallized form of cocaine base (crack) is inhaled by "smoking" the
ignited vapors in small glass pipes.
Heroin is white to brown powder or gummy substance derived from the opium poppy. It is injected directly into a vein, sniffed,
or smoked.
PCP (phencyclidine) is a chemical that can be cheaply made in clandestine laboratories. It is usually smoked on a cigarette,
but can be sniffed or injected.
Amphetamines are part of a class of drugs including Benzedrine, biphetamine, and dexedrine. Methamphetamine, a potent stimulant of
the amphetamine class of drugs, is usually illicitly manufactured and sold in powder, liquid, or tablet form. It is normally
mixed with various cutting agents (the purity varies) and is the most commonly abused member of the amphetamine family.
Although such substances as caffeine, nicotine and nonprescription drugs, including aspirins, are the drugs most commonly
consumed during work hours by employees, these substances are apt to cause less direct deterioration of performance on the job.
One exception documented by studies is nicotine. Long-term use of nicotine will most likely produce significant health costs to the company, since smokers have increased sick time, higher accident rates and greater Workers Compensation costs.
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How Long do Drugs Stay in the System?
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The length of time a drug remains in the body is dependant upon the drug or drugs and the frequency of use. It varies to a
certain degree depending on an individual's weight, age and health. For most individuals, detectable levels of marijuana
stay in the system for 2-5 days and cocaine for 2-3 days. If an individual is a chronic user, retention of the drug in
the system can be significantly longer. In extreme cases where use is excessive, regular and over a prolonged period
of time, the retention can be up to 60 days. However, it is important to note that this is the exception.
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What is a "Screening" Test?
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Screening is the initial test performed on urine specimens to determine the presence or absence of drugs. When a urine sample is
tested with a drug present, the screening test can also establish the probable identity of the drug. The most important quality
of a screening method is that it is highly sensitive to the presence of drugs for which the test is being conducted. However,
highly sensitive tests tend to be less reliable at identifying exactly which drugs are being detected. For example, a
screening test for amphetamines might be positive when certain commonly used decongestants are present. For this reason,
it is essential to double check all positive screening results with a more specific method.
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What is a Confirmation Test?
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When a specimen tests positive on the initial or "screening" test, the positive result must be confirmed by a method chemically
different to identify the specific drug(s) detected. Both the screening and confirmation tests are equally sensitive, but the most
important characteristic of the confirmation test is that it is highly specific. This means it can detect whether the drug is
actually a substance of abuse.
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What is the Preferred Method For Confirmation Of Presumptive Positive From Initial Urine Screens?
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Gas Chromatography, coupled with Mass Spectrometry, or GC/MS, has evolved as the preferred method for confirmation of a positive
urine test. It provides the greatest level of specificity and, therefore, the greatest margin of certainty and legal defensibility.
In addition, it is the only method which provides a documented data record suitable for review and interpretation by an outside expert.
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What Does "Sensitivity" and "Cutoff" Mean in Drug Testing?
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The ability of any test to detect low level of drugs has an inherent limit. The concentration of a drug in the urine sample, below
which a test can no longer be considered reliable, is the "sensitivity" limit. The "cutoff" point is the concentration limit that
will actually be used to test the samples. Any sample testing below this level is considered a negative. Manufacturers of
commercial urine screening systems set cutoff limits of their tests well above the sensitivity limits to assure accuracy
and reliability and to minimize the possibility of a sample which is truly negative giving a (false) positive result.
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How Should Urine Specimens Be Collected?
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The method of choice is to have the participant urinate into a collection container in a secured area. The specimen should then be
transferred to one or two specimen bottles, which should be carefully labeled and sealed with tamper evident tape before leaving
the collection area.
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Can Drug Tests Be Beaten?
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It is possible, but the odds are very low. The science of drug testing has become more sophisticated in recent years. Temperature
strips, used at the time the sample is taken, assure that the sample matches the body temperature. The chance for substitution or
adulteration generally is limited by the integrity of the testing process and is detectable, in most cases, at the laboratory.
When professionally administered, the protocols and chain-of-custody procedures of drug testing are not susceptible to tampering
or deception.
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Is It Possible For People To Test Positive For Cannabinoids if They Passively Inhale Marijuana Smoke From Those Nearby?
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Some individuals may claim "passive inhalation" of marijuana smoke caused their positive test. However, studies have shown that the exposure would have to be so constant,
so prolonged, and in such a confined space (sealed phone booth with four smokers smoking non-stop for eight hours) as to represent an absurd possibility.
For this reason, many companies use a higher limit of detection for cannabinoids (50 ng/ml). This adjustment is high
enough to rule out passive inhalation as a reason for a positive test result.
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What Is The Purpose Of The "Chain-Of-Custody" Form?
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The chain-of-custody form documents the transfer of the specimen from the time of collection through the process at the laboratory.
This procedure has proven effective in preventing tampering or switching specimens. The chain-of-custody form is an important legal
safeguard, since the chain-of-custody is the area of drug testing most often challenged in court.
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Can Other Medications Or Foods Produce A Positive Result In Someone Who Is Not Abusing Drugs?
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Most of the popular stories about things that trigger a positive result are based upon misconceptions. There are over-the-counter (OTC)
medications with high concentrations of decongestants that can produce a positive result for amphetamines. Appropriate confirmatory
testing will tell whether the drug detected is an amphetamine or an OTC decongestant.
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What is a Negative Urine Drug Screen?
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A negative screening test does not necessarily mean a drug or metabolite is not present in the specimen collected and submitted
for testing. The result only indicates a drug or metabolite was not present at or above the threshold for the screening test
employed. A negative result also indicates the specimen is negative for the drug (drug classes) tested. Other abused drugs may
be present but not detected by the screening methods used.
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What is a Positive Urine Drug Screen Result?
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Presumptive Positive: A positive screening test result indicates that a drug or metabolite may be present in the specimen.
The positive screening test result is only presumptive and the result should be confirmed by additional testing.
Confirmed Positive: A positive urine drug result determined and reported after proper performance of screening and confirmation testing.
It indicates drug use but is not an indicator of impairment, intoxication or frequency of drug use. Detection of a drug(s) or metabolite(s) identifies
drug use; a conclusion of drug abuse requires consideration of other factors including behavior, recent drug prescription, repetitive testing, etc.
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Answers to frequent drug testing questions