Tag: Accredited Drug Testing

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Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, a new illness only recently acknowledged by the medical community has been seen more commonly since new states have been legalizing medical and recreational marijuana.

medical marijuana

It affects a small population — mostly, a subset of marijuana users who smoke multiple times a day for months, years or even decades.

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome is characterized by cyclic episodes of nausea and vomiting and frequent hot bathing. Image result for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome

Chalfonte LeNee Queen suffered periodic episodes of violent retching and abdominal pain that would knock her off her feet for days, sometimes leaving her writhing on the floor in pain.

“I’ve screamed out for death,” says Queen, 48, who lives in San Diego. “I’ve cried out for my mom, who’s been dead for 20 years, mentally not realizing she can’t come to me.”

Diagnosing Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome can be frustrating and expensive.

There is no blood test to link the stomach ailment with marijuana use, so physicians often order pricey CT scans and lab tests to rule out other medical problems.

One way doctors have been diagnosing the illness is when a patient says that hot baths subside the symptoms. For whatever reason, unknown, patients who develop this disease find a significant relief in hot showers and baths. Toxicologists say the heat may distract the brain from pain receptors in the abdomen but, like  Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome itself, is still very misunderstood.

cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome

The exact cause and onset of  Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome remain much of a mystery today in the medical field. The first diagnosis of this illness can be dated back to 2004 by an Australian doctor.  Since  Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is a newly recognized illness, only been seen more commonly throughout the US due to the recent passings of Marijuana laws, it is often mistaken for something else.

Toxicologists say the chemical compounds in marijuana may throw off the normal function of the body’s cannabinoid receptors, which help regulate the nervous system. Some people may be genetically predisposed to the syndrome, or marijuana’s potency or chemical makeup may have changed over time, says Dr. Craig Smollin, medical director of the San Francisco division of the California Poison Control System and an ER doctor at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital.

endocannabinoid system

Since most people, especially cancer patients are told that marijuana is known to aid in nausea and vomiting, it seems hard for a patient to believe that the link to their aggressive and chronic vomiting spells is due to marijuana.  19-year-old student Cameron Nicole Beard, of East Moline, Ill., said she struggled to believe her doctors about the link between pot and severe vomiting.

“Who wants to be told you can’t smoke marijuana when you think marijuana can help?” says Beard, while recovering from a marijuana-related vomiting episode at a University of Iowa hospital in Iowa City, Iowa, last month. She said she had lost 20 pounds in 10 days.

There is still no direct cure for Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, although doctors are getting better at treating the symptoms. They have been using old anti-psychotic medications and cream for muscle aches.

For questions on detecting marijuana use, please visit Accredited Drug Testing, or call 1-800-221-4291.

 

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On November 13th, 2017 The United States Department Of Transportation, DOT, published its final rule regarding DOT drug and alcohol policy.

The DOT compliant drug screening will expand its current 5-panel urine test, to include expanded testing on Opiates, including Hydromorphone, Oxymorphone, and Oxycodone.

Effective January 1st, 2018 a DOT urine drug analysis will test for

  • Amphetamines
  • Cocaine
  • Marijuana
  • MDA
  • PCP
  • Opiates
    • Hydromorphone
    • Oxymorphone
    • Oxycodone

The opiates category of a 5-panel drug screen tests for the illicit drug heroin, and the licit drugs codeine and morphine.

Please be advised, due to the addition of the number of drugs being tested, a small price increase on  DOT drug tests will take effect.

Our labs, Medical Review Officers, and CEO will review this new panel and provide additional information as it becomes available.

Accredited Drug Testing will add an amendment in its policy regarding these changes, effective January 1st, 2018.

Things to remember

1. Blind specimen testing is no longer required.
Blind specimen testing is a specimen submitted to a laboratory for quality control testing purposes, with a fictitious identifier, so that the laboratory cannot distinguish it from an employee specimen.

2.CCF forms
You should not order new CCF forms– the current CCF forms are valid until June 30th, 2018. If you have not yet done so, now would be a good time to look into eCCF forms ( Electronic CCF). Doing this will save you time and save you the hassle of shipping and storing paperwork.

For any other questions regarding DOT Compliance – please email info@accrediteddrugtesting.net, or reach us directly at (800)221-4291.

accredited drug testing

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When it comes to drug testing, especially for employment purposes, we are constantly bombarded with detection periods for drug testing and how drugs come up positive. We are here to debunk any mystifying details about the entire process so the next time you are called for a test, you are prepared.

Positive vs. Negative Tests

Most people don’t tend to dive deep on what makes a drug test positive or negative, they usually go into the test knowing whether they have passed or not simply be evaluating their personal drug use. But what if you have a prescription for painkillers or even have a Medical Marijuana Card? Then things can get a bit complicated. So let’s look at the process step-by-step from the beginning.

When getting scheduled for a drug test it is important to know that you will need to have a phone number on file that you can be reached at for reasons later on. But first, you will be scheduled for a drug test through Accredited Drug Testing by visiting our website (the one you are currently on) or by calling our national scheduling office at 1-800-221-4291.

Once you receive your donor pass you will proceed to the testing location at your earlier convenience (with Accredited Drug Testing you can even proceed the same day!). Once there you will take the test required (in certain cases urine, oral, or in others hair) and your end of the process is done from here on out.

After you take your drug test, your “sample” is then sent to a laboratory for testing. It is important to note that you will only come up positive for drugs that are included for testing in the test you took. For example, if you were sent to take a 5 Panel Urine Drug Test which only covers:

-Amphetamines

-Cocaine

-Marijuana

-MDA

-Opiates

-Phencyclidine (PCP)

You wouldn’t test positive for Oxycodone or Barbituates because your test doesn’t cover those panels. Even if you were actively taking those drugs. So as an employer it is important to know what exactly you are looking for in a drug testing so you are ordering the correct one for future candidates or randomly screening your current employees.

The test is then sent to a Medical Review Officer for a confirmation test. This test confirms the drugs found above the minimum levels required in your system. There are different levels for every drug and these levels are measured in nanograms for milliliter for urine and oral tests. These are considered the “cutoff levels”. A drug will not be found positive unless it meets that minimum level to be found in your system.

Who decides the “Cutoff” levels?

Cutoff levels for federally regulated drug testing programs (Department of Transportation for example) are established by mandatory guidelines set forth by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Additionally, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) rule 49 CFR Part 40 harmonizes with HHS and describes the required procedures for conducting drug and alcohol testing for the federally-regulated transportation industry. Many non-regulated employers mirror the cutoff levels established by the government.

For the latest and greatest in drug testing news, continue to check AccreditedDrugTesting.net for more!

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Accredited Drug Testing, Inc has been in business for over 4 years, and in that time we have grown exponentially. We are the nation’s leading provider of drug and alcohol testing. Our President and CEO James Greer has been an expert in the drug testing community for over 20 years. He is a successful entrepreneur and has grown the company to be an active and honored part of the drug testing industry. In drug testing, there is a lot of confusion especially when it comes to the rules and regulations associated with the industry and the ever changing laws on things like medical marijuana. And this is how we came up with the idea for American Drug Talk.

American Drug Talk is a show designed to talk about the issues affecting the nation’s drug and alcohol testing industry. Upcoming episodes will address issues such as medical marijuana in the workplace, U.S. Department of Transportation Drug and Alcohol Testing regulations (commonly referred to as Part 40), regulations on background checks. The show will also address issues facing today’s society in regards to the opioid epidemic and answer the viewers’ questions on any and all drug and alcohol testing policies and procedures.

There will also be training in several episodes to teach the skills needed to succeed in successful drug testing administration. All of the episodes will also include a guest that is an expert on the topic at hand. Occasionally there will be a guest on hand to speak about opinions they have on drug testing and the industry.

But most importantly, American Drug Talk is a conversation about drug use and testing throughout the nation. James Greer is our host and leader into demystifying the world and regulations of the testing industry. This show is meant to entertain and educate viewers each week with thought provoking discussions and lessons. We hope you tune into each week as we discuss America’s drug and alcohol testing industry.

 

American Drug Talk Ep. 1: Welcome

Watch Episode 1 Above!

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MMA Legend Conor Mcgregor and undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather’s upcoming match will be one for the books on August 26th, 2017.

What fight?

The athletes have done several press events to build anticipation for the fight, now dubbed “The Money Fight” being held in the T-Mobile Area in Las Vegas, Nevada. Where they face off and taunt each other with scare tactics.

But one thing both athletes have agreed on is being part of a USADA robust testing program. This program is very similar to the UFC Anti-Doping Program Mcgregor is still a part of. And while many are considering this fight a circus, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is insisting that this will be treated and regulated like all other boxing matches before it.

Who’s been drug testing?

Mcgregor has yet to be tested under the USADA’s program but has been tested 5 times in 2017 under the UFC testing program and has consistently come up negative. Mayweather, on the other hand, had been tested twice this month under the new program but hasn’t been tested in over 2 years since his fight with Andre Berto in September 2015. Mayweather is coming out of retirement for the big “Money Fight” this month.

For Mayweather some are worried this month was a bit late to begin testing but officials are insistent the drug testing will be continuous  moving forward.

“There is no maximum number of tests that can be performed and like our other programs, we will test robustly leading up to and during the fight in order to maximize deterrence and detection,” the spokesperson said. “Each athlete’s test history will be published on the USADA website and updated weekly.”

Who’s in charge?

The testing is administered through the United States Anti-doping Agency (USADA) but has not been registered with the Nevada State Athletic Commission as of yet. The USADA and NSAC have had differences in the past which spelled trouble for Mayweather during his Pacquaio fight in 2o15.

For the latest in drug testing industry news and DOT news, check out the rest of our blog at accrediteddrugtesting.net

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This week in the news, a U.S. Navy veteran went into a routine appointment at his local VA Clinic in Panama City Beach, Florida to get a cholesterol test done when he found something attached to his test results, the results of a drug screening. One he did not ask for.

His first reaction was that it was “kind of weird” the Panama City Herald reports.

Robert Williams, the veteran in question, said this was an infringement of his fourth amendment rights which include “the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

A representative from Senator Marco Rubio’s office said the tests are not a part of the VA’s policy and aren’t to be given without the consent of the patients. Williams tested negative for all the drugs he was screened for, but he wasn’t concerned about the results- he is adamantly opposed to drugs- but that wasn’t the issue.

He claims this was a privacy infringement, but a representative of the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System (GCVHCS) defends the drug screening that took place. “This test does not require consent from the veteran, but the veteran is free to do the test or not. … If there is proof a veteran isn’t taking his/her controlled substances responsibly, or doesn’t allow the provider to monitor the effectiveness of the medication(s) prescribed, the provider may stop the veteran’s prescription” representative Jerron Barnett wrote in a prepared statement to the press.

They have a right to do a urinalysis; it’s the drug test that’s a search of your person,” he said. “Just because they have a sample or tissue of mine does not mean they have a right to test it.” He also wonders how many more veterans will be subject to this testing without their knowledge and for those that do test positive, how it will affect their VA benefits such as health care, housing-related assistance and disability.

“The real question is who authorized this?” he said. “Whose idea was it? And who told (my doctor) his patients had to be drug-screened?” He said the VA’s inconsistent responses are in line with many issues plaguing the agency.

“That’s the thing about VA; they have deniability,” Williams said. “Everything about their process is built with an opaque protection for the people so you’ll never get to the bottom of this, whose decision this is.”