Tag: Accredited Drug Testing

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This year Accredited Drug Testing attended the National Association of Professional Background Screeners Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida. It was an incredible experience and we learned a lot! Keep reading everything for everything we got up to.

Day 1 began with a networking event at the beautiful Gaylord Palms Hotel & Convention Center. While seeing old friends and meeting new ones we were able to enjoy the scenery inside the tropical landscape within the hotel. Soon after we were whisked away into the Opening Ceremony where the previous Chairman of NAPBS officially inducted the new Chairman for the 2017-2018 year. Welcome Scott Hall and we cannot wait to see what you do!

napbs 2017 round up

Day 2 started bright and early with an amazing keynote from the former Executive Vice President of Operations for the Walt Disney World® Resort, Lee Cockerell. “As the Senior Operating Executive for ten years Lee led a team of 40,000 Cast Members and was responsible for the operations of 20 resort hotels, 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, a shopping & entertainment village and the ESPN sports and recreation complex in addition to the ancillary operations which supported the number one vacation destination in the world.” One of Lee’s major and lasting legacies was the creation of Disney Great Leader Strategies which was used to train and develop the 7000 leaders at Walt Disney World. He is since retired and has gone to write several best-selling books implementing the “magic” he learned while at Disney while providing several methods to career success and since the theme for NAPBS was “Creating Magical Connections” Lee was the perfect candidate for the keynote and we learned a lot from this speech. Well done Lee!

napbs 2017 round up

Then it was off to the races with several breakout meetings including this very informative session from Bill Judge of Encompass Compliance Corp. entitled The Drug & Alcohol Testing Compliance Minefield: Your Road Map to Success where Mr. Judge went into detail on several things employers deal with before, during and after implementing a drug testing policy in their company. After an afternoon of learning the tradeshow was open and ADT was ready in Booth #337 to provide information and guidance on all things drug testing while providing insight on all of our additional background check services!

napbs 2017 round up

This afternoon we met several background checking professionals looking for guidance when it came to expanding their drug testing services. If this sounds like you or your company, please email our Marketing & Sales Coordinator alison@accrediteddrugtesting.net to schedule a consultation with our President and CEO James Greer, who has over 20 years of professional experience in this field!

Then it was time to kick back and enjoy Happy Hour with Pam, a laid-back keynote where Pam Devata of Seyfarth Shaw LLP spoke on several legal issues challenging the background check industry and how companies can overcome them. This talk was informative and enjoyable, thanks again Pam!

And suddenly it was the third and final day of the conference, which started with a great talk from Joe Riley of Joe Riley & Associates on how to sell more drug tests. Joe provided incredible insight on how background screeners could capitalize on what their clients are asking for when it comes to drug testing. napbs 2017

And it was back to the trade show where TazWorks and several other exhibitors were doing giant raffles and prize giveaways including a Mustang convertible an attendee was able to win!

napbs 2017 roundup

However short we had the best time at NAPBS 2017 and cannot wait to bring all the knowledge and everything we learned from our peers in this industry back to the office and continue to be America’s favorite drug testing provider. Whether for businesses or individual use, when you need a test, choose the best! Join us here next week for the latest and greatest in drug testing news. And thank you to the National Association of Professional Background Screeners for a great conference.

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What Is Fentanyl

Image result for fentanyl

Fentanyl is a medication used to help relieve severe ongoing pain. It belongs to a class of drugs known as opioids. It works in the brain to change how your body feels and responds to pain.

Most Americans recognize fentanyl as the main cause of overdose in substance abusers. These Americans are not wrong. Fentanyl is the more deadly cousin of heroin. It is killing people by the thousands. The picture below shows a lethal dose of heroin next to a lethal dose of fentanyl. It is clear to see that Fentaynal is much stronger, in fact about 100 times stronger than heroin alone.The lethal dose of heroin is equivalent to about 30 milligrams, and the lethal dose of fentanyl is about 3 milligrams. This is enough to kill an average-sized adult male.

Let us compare numbers, we will look at the State of New Hampshire, in the year 2015.

In that year, the state saw a total of 439 drug overdoses, mostly related to opioids, and about 70% of these opioid-related deaths involved fentanyl.

The History of Fentanyl

Fentanyl was created in the 1960s by Paul Jannsen. He developed the drug by testing chemicals similar in structure to, what is known today as Demerol. When fentanyl was combined with citric acid, it formed a salt, which then entered medical use as a general anesthetic under Paul Janssens trade name Sublimaze.

In the upcoming years, fentanyl was introduced for other circumstances. By the mid-1990s, the fentanyl patch was created, followed by the fentanyl lollipop, dissolving tablets, and sublingual sprays. By the time 2012 hit fentanyl was the most widely used synthetic opioid in medicine.

Heroin VS Fentanyl

So what’s the difference? Heroin, is a derivative of Morphine, which naturally occurs within opium poppy plants, while fentanyl is man-made and (as noted before) up to 100 times more powerful than heroin.

Image result for heroin poppy plantsEssentially, these two drugs produce the same euphoric effect on the body binding themselves to the receptors of the brain and creating an impact on the respiratory system, central nervous system, and cardiovascular system. Image result for fentanyl chemical structure

The real difference between heroin and fentanyl arises from the differences in their chemical structure. Where they are almost identical, Fentanyl, being man-made is gets to the brain much faster than heroin, as it bypasses through the fat and tissue in the brain, it is able to reach an opioid receptor more rapidly. Once the fentanyl has reached the receptor it binds itself so tightly that only a tiny amount is enough to start the chemical chain of events the human body ignites once opioids enter its system.

The Effects Of Fentynal

With the war on drugs being in full effect, fentanyl became the perfect alternative for substance abuses. Most street fentanyl is created in underground laboratories, which use faulty measuring equipment. By the time it hits the streets, there is no telling its effect on a human body. Heroin and fentanyl look identical, most street drugs are cut with a multitude of chemicals and substances by the time a user consumes the drug. Like a game of Russian roulette, you never know if you will get the shot with the loaded gun.

Drug Testing for Fentanyl

Fentanyl does not show up in a standard 5-panel drug screen, which is the most commonly used. A standard 5-panel drug test screens for the 5 most used street drugs. MDA, PHP, Cocaine, Marijuana, and Opiates. Fentynal, being synthetic would not show up under the opiates category. A specific drug test screening for fentanyl must be requested in order to detect the drug. For more information regarding fentanyl testing, please call 1-800-221-4291, or visit www.accrediteddrugtesting.net.

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Last Thursday afternoon in a press conference the 45th President of the United States declared the Opioid Epidemic a “National State of Emergency”.

“The opioid crisis is an emergency, and I’m saying officially right now it is an emergency,” he told reporters at his golf resort in Bedminster, New Jersey. “It’s a national emergency. We’re going to spend a lot of time, a lot of effort, and a lot of money on the opioid crisis.”

What is a State of Emergency?

For those of us who don’t work in government, a “state of emergency” can sound frightening, but what does it actually mean? A government or division of government (i.e. on a municipal, provincial/state level) may declare that their area is in a state of emergency. This means that the government can suspend and/or change some functions of the executive, the legislative and/or the judiciary during this period of time. It alerts citizens to change their normal behavior and orders government agencies to implement emergency plans and frees up disaster funding for cities and states dealing with the epidemic.

Refresher on the Opioid Epidemic

A lot of people don’t know that the gist of the has been happening in the early 1990s when doctors came more aware of chronic back and muscle pain many Americans were facing. And because of this need pharmaceutical companies created opioids to meet this demand but the public and doctors were vastly unaware of the long term side effects these pills could cause.

Fast forward to early 2010s where addiction and abuse of opioids are at an all time high, especially in the United States. And once users started seeking out a stronger high, or move on to other kinds of opioids, heroin abuse was on a huge upswing.

There is a lot of speculation as to why this happened, many believe doctors were getting paid to prescribe these highly addictive drugs, others believed pharmaceutical companies knew of the addictive elements of opioids early on and wanted to get people hooked but regardless on average 90 people die every day from opioid abuse. And by 2027, as many as 650,000 people will die from this prescription drug abuse if it is not stopped.

What can we do?

From a citizens’ perspective, all we can do is help those we see in need by directing them to the nearest substance abuse counseling program and helping them kick this deadly habit. From a government perspective, declaring the opioid crisis a national state of emergency is the first step in a long series of pieces to fix this disaster before we lose any more of our fellow Americans.

Did you know Accredited Drug Testing now offers testing for expanded opiates? If you are or know of a loved one in danger of opioid prescription abuse, call 800-221-4291 to schedule your test today and take the first step on the road to recovery.

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The Drug & Alcohol Testing Industry Association (DATIA) has awarded Accredited Drug Testing, Inc. the National Accreditation For Administration of Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs Status. This accreditation means that our facility, operations, and personnel meet the highest standards in areas such as regulatory compliance, client confidentiality, accountability, company service standards, operational practices, business ethics, and professional competency for drug and alcohol testing program management.

A primary requirement of the NAADATP Program is that principal(s) of Accredited Drug Testing, Inc. have attended comprehensive training on standards of program management and have passed an industry developed exam on these policies and procedures. This accreditation is awarded to a limited amount of companies each year and the selection for the award is competitive and rigorous.

According to DATIA’s Executive Director, Laura Shelton, “as a Nationally Accredited Institution for the Administration of Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs, Accredited Drug Testing, Inc.’s clients can be assured that they are committed to offering superior program services while adhering to the highest professional standards. We congratulate them on this achievement.”

The Nationally Accredited for Drug and Alcohol Testing Program Management (NAADATP) program was created by quality-minded leaders in the drug and alcohol testing industry interested in raising the level of proficiency in drug testing as well as alcohol testing program management. This program aims at upholding the highest standards of program management. This program aims at upholding the highest standards of program management in the company’s operations and personnel.

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A private high school in Kentucky signed off on randomly drug testing their students on July 4th, this past week. The board at Trinity High School has been attempting to officially implement this for years with 2 years of testing under their belt.

How long have they been doing it?

Six hundred students were tested during their initial year of drug-testing, with 24 students (4 percent) testing positive. During the just-completed school year, they tested 800 students – with just 3 percent testing positive (24 students). While the rates are low, the school considers one positive test a test too high, and is doing everything they can to enforce their stance on drugs and binge drinking.

What’s it costing?

Including using a hair drug test, which can detect any drug use of up to 90 days prior. The standard in the industry is a urine 5 panel drug test, which can test for up to a week prior. Adopting a hair test as the random test of choice is very expensive, one test usually goes for $139.99. This price will be covered by the tuition the families are paying for their students to attend Trinity, at $13,700 a year when paid in full and the price goes up for payment plans.

When a student tests positive, their first reaction is not punitive. The school meets with the parent(s) and student, review the results and encourage them to use community counseling resources to interrupt this risky behavior. During this phase of drug testing, no school consequences occur. School counselors are available for support and guidance. If a student tests positive, he will be tested every 100 days until further notice. If he tests positive again school consequences begin. This has been rare so far.

Parents love it!

Parents support the program because, the school says, they understand it empowers their kids to make better decisions. At parties or in unsupervised homes, teens often are pressured or forget good advice from parents, school and church. A parent told us “we hear frequently that it really does help in peer situations to be able to say, “I can’t. My school tests.””

 Though Trinity wasn’t the first school to test in this area, several other schools have visited them to learn more and adopted their policy as their own.

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Danny Duffy has been in the MLB for 6 years with the Kansas City Royals, but this is the first year he has been called for 12 random drug tests… and it’s only July. The MLB has not made a comment about it yet but firmly stands behind its’ random drug testing policy.

Why does he think this?

He can’t help but think something is up and took to twitter to talk about the subject:

Danny Duffy Tweet

It’s happened before…

Duffy isn’t the first player questioning why they’ve been submitted to so many drug tests this year.Brewers slugger Eric Thames, who returned to the majors from Korea and has hit a plethora of dingers, wasn’t so sure the drug tests were as random as the league claims.

“I went the long way around to come back here. This whole thing is surprising me, as well. I really have no goals for this year. I wasn’t trying to break any records or set anything. I just wanted to apply what I learned in Korea to see how it would fare here. I’m shocked at all the results. I’m just here to play ball, and do my best to stay healthy, and stretch as much as I can. So, yeah, if people keep thinking I’m on stuff, I’ll be here every day. I have lots of blood and urine.” Thames said in an interview addressing the drug testing.

How can ADT Help?

While the MLB can claim the tests are random, there is a difference between random drug testing, and drug testing under a “Reasonable Suspicion” claim. Accredited Drug Testing Offers “Reasonable Suspicion Training” for any supervisors or HR Managers that want to be able to test under reasonable suspicion, or send an employee to get a drug test when a supervisor believes they may be using or under the influence of drugs. Only companies that have at least one employee that have gone through Reasonable Suspicion Training are legally allowed to test for reasonable suspicion.

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Kratom, or  Mitragyna speciosa, is a tree native to southeast Asia which has leaves that can be manufactured into a high-producing drug when ingested. Sold over the counter, Kratom has been abused all over America, with calls to the U.S Poison Control Center associated with Kratom spiking rapidly between 2010-2015. Kratom is commonly marketed as treatment for Addiction, Anxiety, and Depression. At head shops, gas stations, and other general retail businesses, Kratom is sold in the form of raw leaf, powder, gum, capsules, tablets, and as a concentrated extract.

Effects of Kratom:

  • Increased energy and alertness.
  • Decreased appetite.
  • Increased sociability.
  • Heightened libido.
  • Analgesia (pain reduction).
  • Drowsiness.
  • Calm, dreamlike mental state.
  • Cough suppression.
  • Reduction in symptoms of opioid withdrawal.

Signs of Kratom use:

  • Pupillary constriction (tiny pupils).
  • Facial flushing (blushing).
  • Tremors or loss of motor coordination.
  • Constipation.
  • Sweating.
  • Dizziness.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Itching.

Common Uses/Misuses of Kratom

Kratom is used as a painkiller, antipyretic (fever reducer), anti-inflammatory, antitussive (cough suppressant), antihypertensive (to lower blood pressure), as a local anesthetic, to lower blood sugar, and as an antidiarrheal. There are no studies linked to the effectiveness of these uses.

Image result for kratom imagesKratom is also illicitly abused, in a fashion similar to prescription pain-killers, touting opiate-mimicking effects. Although Kratom is used by all age groups, there has been a recent increase in use among young adults.

FDA Warnings

The FDA released a statement in 2017 warning against Kratom use.  The conditions that are being treated with Kratom should be treated by licensed professionals. There is also high potential for abuse, as Kratom produces effects similar to Opiates and Stimulants.

Testing for Kratom

Standard drug tests cannot detect  7-Hydroxymitragynine and mitragynine, the main psychoactive components of Kratom. The only way Kratom can be detected is through laboratory testing. It is estimated that Kratom can be tested for up to 5 days after ingestion.

For information on Kratom testing, or to order a Kratom Drug Test, Visit Accrediteddrugtesting.com, or call 800-221-4291

 

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64,000 Americans died from overdoses last year — 175 every day, seven every hour.

These are real-life statistics of the effects the opioid epidemic has had on the American population.

On Thursday, October 26th, President trump declared the opioid crisis as a public health emergency.

This Opioid Crisis is the worst drug crisis in American history.

President Trump

Opioid addiction does not discriminate. It does not target one age, one race, one income level. Opioid addiction is everywhere.

Eric Bolling, a former reporter for FOX news has felt the effects of this epidemic first hand.

Bolling’s only child, 19-year-old Eric Chase was found dead September 9th, 2017, the same day his father left his job at Fox News.

After undergoing an autopsy, the report concluded the 19-year-old contained numerous illegal substances in his system, including the deadly drug fentanyl.

On September 11, 2017, the post-mortem toxicology report revealed Eric Chase had cocaine, marijuana, Xanax, and the opioid drugs, fentanyl and cyclopropyl fentanyl, in his system. 

Many friends expressed their condolences to Eric Bolling and his family.

On October 26th, 2017 Eric Bolling tweeted “Adrienne and I thank you for your continued prayers and support. We must fight against this national epidemic, too many innocent victims.”

According to time, since 2000 the number of opioid-related deaths has risen more than 137 percent.

opioid crisis
Map shows opioid-related deaths per 100,000 residents in 2015; 2c x 4 inches; 96.3 mm x 101 mm;

“This epidemic is a national health emergency,” Trump said during an address at the White House. “Nobody has seen anything like what is going on now. As Americans, we cannot allow this to continue. It is time to liberate our communities from this scourge of drug addiction.”

“We can be the generation that ends the opioid epidemic. We can do it.” These encouraging words stated by President Donald Trump challenges Americans to do all that they can to hinder this heartbreaking disease.

accredited drug testing

Visit Accredited Drug Testing to stay up to date on this topic, and other topics relating to the Drug and Alcohol Industry.

 

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What is DATIA?
DATIA

DATIA: Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association.

The Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association (DATIA) was founded in 1995 and has grown to represent over 1500 member companies, and expanded its scope. DATIA now represents the entire spectrum of drug and alcohol service providers including collection sites, laboratories, consortiums/TPAs, MROs, and testing equipment manufacturers.

The Accredited Collection Facility Program, administered by the Drug & Alcohol Testing Industry Association (DATIA), created by leaders in the drug and alcohol testing industry interested in raising the level of accuracy in urine specimen collections.

This enables collection facilities to assure their clients that they are committed to offering superior collection services.

For some entities, like those regulated under DOT Part 40, its employees must be drug tested by a company with DATIA Certifications.

Drug & Alcohol Testing Industry Association (DATIA) Mission and Purpose

  • Promote the highest possible standards of professionalism, quality control in the drug and alcohol testing industry, and develop and oversee education, certification, and accreditation programs for the drug and alcohol testing industry
  • Serve as the voice for the industry on regulatory and legislative matters of drug and alcohol testing, collection issues as well as drug-free workplace regulatory issues
  • Serve as a body for discussion and resolution of common problems and issues affecting the drug and alcohol testing industry;
  • Inform its members of issues affecting their businesses through newsletters, legislative alerts, and meetings;
  • Collect and disseminate information on drug and alcohol service and product providers through a national directory distributed to business and the general public; and,
  • Actively cooperate with other entities, organizations, and service providers involved with or affected by drug and alcohol testing on common interests and values

The Accredited Collection Facility Program involves upholding the highest professional standards in the following two main areas:

(1)the collection facility and its operation and
(2)the collection facility’s personnel.

To obtain accredited status, collection facilities are required to adhere to strict standards in areas such as:

  • Regulatory compliance
  • Company services standards
  • Specimen handling
  • Operational practices
  • Business ethics
  • Facility equipmentAll accredited collection facilities are also required to maintain a staff of Certified Professional Collectors that are formally trained in DATIA’s Collector Training Course or that received training from the CPCT on their staff and successfully completed the DATIA Certification Exam.

What Is A SAMHSA Certified Lab?

SAMHSA: The Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration

Formerly known as NIDA, National Institute of Drug Abuse, SAMHSA is a Federal department of Government which regulates and certifies laboratories drug testing specimens. Currently, SAMHSA regulated laboratories are the only type of labs that may process any employee who is governed by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT).

SAMHSA Policies

SAMHSA Laboratory Certification is the highest standard available for drug testing labs and ensures the most accurate processing. Through SAMHSA all non-negative, and positive donor specimens are tested.

The Lab will conduct specimen validity tests (SVTs) to determine if the specimen was adulterated or substituted. Tests found to be adulterated or substituted are also reported to the MRO and may be considered a refusal to test.

At the laboratory, the staff will determine if a flaw in the specimen exists.If a flaw exists, the specimen is rejected for testing.

If no flaw exists, this is the process that a specimen will undergo under SAMHSA Guidelines.

  1. Open only the A bottle and conduct a screening test.
  2. Specimens that screen positive will be analyzed again using a completely different testing methodology.
  3. If the specimen tests negative in either test, the result will be reported as a negative.
  4. Only if the specimen tests positive under both methods will the specimen be reported to the medical review officer as a positive test.
  5. Report the findings of the analysis of the A bottle to the Medical Review Officer (MRO)
  6. Store the A and B bottles for any reported positive, adulterated, or substituted result for at least 12 months.

Accredited Drug Testing Certifications

SAMHSA Certified

Accredited Drug Testing Is DATIA Certified, and has also been recognized as Nationally Accredited though DATIA. There are only 25 drug testing facilities that have been rewarded this privilege.

Accredited Drug Testing only utilizes SAMSHA Certified Laboratories.

At Accredited Drug testing, we hold our company to the highest values in the Drug Testing Industry to provide our clients this the best services.

“When you need a test, chose the best”!

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What is Ketamine

Ketamine is categorized as a dissociative anesthetic. A dissociative anesthetic is a drug that distorts perception of sight and sound and produces feelings of detachment or dissociation from the environment and self. On the streets, the drug is sold as either a colorless, odorless liquid or as a white or off-white powder.

History Of Ketamine

Image result for ketamine

Ketamine was developed in the 1960s to replace phencyclidine (PCP) as an anesthetic agent.  Most of the time, it is used in veterinary medicine as an animal tranquilizer, although also may be used in human medicine as an anesthetic. Used improperly, on the streets, the drug is often injected, consumed in drinks, snorted, or added to joints or cigarettes. Ketamine was placed on the list of controlled substances in the US in 1999.

Teens are Primary Users

ketamine

One of the most alarming facts about Ketamine is the primary age group of abusers is between the ages of 12 and 25 years old. According to the Drug Abuse Warning Network, individuals aged 12 to 25 accounted for 74 percent of the Ketamine emergency department mentions in the United States in 2000. Use among high school students is a growing concern. Nearly 3 percent of high school seniors in the United States used the drug at least once in the past year.

A Club Drug

In addition to Rohypnol and GHB, Ketamine is also considered a “club drug”, or “date rape drug” and may be used in drug-facilitated sexual assault situations.
Adults sometimes place the drug in the drink of an unsuspecting user and await the effects of the drug to take place. Once the individual is under the influence, there are risks of amnesia and blackout.

Effects Of Ketamine

Ketamine is a very dangerous drug and even using it a single time can have serious repercussions including the potential for long-term side-effects, coma or death. According to the National Institute on DruImage result for ketamine drug statsg Abuse, “Ketamine distorts perceptions of sight and sound and produces feelings of detachment from the environment and self.” At low doses, users can experience impaired attention, learning ability and memory. In higher doses, it can cause dreamlike states, hallucinations, delirium, unconsciousness, and flashbacks-reoccurrences of a certain aspect of the drug experience at any time. Other associated side effects are depression, delirium, amnesia, impaired motor function, high blood pressure, and potentially fatal respiratory problems.

Street Names

The most popular name used for ketamine in the streets is “Special K”. There are also many other common street names that refer to this drug.

  • K
  • Cat Valium
  • Super C
  • Green

Ketamine street names that are brand or type-specific include:

  • Ketaset
  • Ketalar
  • Ketalar SV
  • Ketanest
  • Ketanest S

Drug Testing For Ketamine

As with testing for any other drug, there are specific procedures for Ketamine drug testing. Ketamine is not included in a 5-panel drug screen. The only way Ketamine use can be detected is by studying the levels of “Norketamine” in the blood and urine. The parent drug, Norketamine is detectable in the blood and urine of users for up to 7-14 days depending on dosage and frequency of use. In some cases involving regular users, Ketamine can be detected in a drug screen beyond the typical 7-14 day period.