Health Information Center

You might be tempted to say that something like drug testing has no place in an office and it should be kept out. But the fact is that companies are experimenting with drug testing because drug and alcohol misuse is ever increasing.

A recent survey suggests that 17 percent of the adult population are regular illegal drug users. It is the responsibility (duty of care) of all employers to provide a safe working environment. An employee or contractor on your worksite who is affected by drug use cannot assist in providing a safe workplace. They are a danger to themselves, their work colleagues and others. Statistics suggest employees who are regular drug users are ten times more likely to take sick leave and 33 percent less productive than abstainers.

Integrity Sampling is a group of highly qualified technicians who provide a uniform, independent drug and alcohol testing service throughout Australia and New Zealand. It specializes in the development of workplace drug and alcohol policies, drug and alcohol awareness education programs, independent workplace drug and alcohol testing and a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week call-out service. Integrity Sampling technicians are all proficient in the use of the Cozart (R) drug detect ion systems and the Alcolizer breath analysis equipment. All these technicians are required to comply with strict policies and procedures, which have been developed in accordance with the highest requirements of Australian Standard 4760 for oral fluid drug testing.

Continue reading ‘Why Drug Testing? – Alcohol Screening Test’ »

Prescription drugs can be hazardous to your health, and many are seriously addictive and can even kill.

However, a recent study in Florida, drug-related deaths in Florida reveals that far more people suddenly fall victim to lethal drug combinations – called polydrug abuse – that each drug, and can occur at the recreational users, as well as those trapped by addiction to prescription drugs.

It is common knowledge that addiction to prescription drugs has become a national nightmare.

However, the sudden death of prescription drugs is the subject of the news every day. The Florida study, an analysis of the 168,900 deaths in 2007 by the Medical Examiners Commission, Florida, found that deaths from prescription drugs are three times the rate of deaths caused by traditional illicit drugs such as heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine.

Continue reading ‘Florida Prescription Drug abuse can lead to a fatal Polydrug’ »

While there are no standard treatments for drug abuse rehabilitation, there are specialized treatments as well as various approaches to drug rehabilitation. Programs such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, problem-solving groups, insight-oriented psychotherapy and 12-step programs are popular amongst rehab centers, especially for Outpatient drug-free programs. How successful any of these rehabilitation programs can be is largely dependent on the cooperation of the patient.

Intensity of treatment vary from rehab center to rehab center; same is the case with types of outpatient services. In the drug rehab center parlance drug education and counseling is referred to as Low-intensity program. There is also the so called intensive day treatment for outpatients that is comparable to inpatient programs in services offered. These kinds of of special treatments, of course, cost more.

Short-Term Inpatient Programs

Short-term inpatient programs are usually run for a full month focusing on detoxification, abstinence and lifestyle change counseling. Your cooperation and willingness to succeed is very crucial in this kind of rehabilitation program. The medics and professional counselors will not be able to carry out their work on effectively if you do not do as you are told or comply with all instructions. Continue reading ‘Drug Treatment, Types, Setting, and Duration’ »

There is a wide range of drugs that are abused by the people for non-therapeutic effects and there are different testing kits that are used to detect the presence of these drugs. The drug addictive effectiveness differs from the drug ingested from person to person.

Common Drugs That Are Detected Through Drug Testing

The following are some of the common drugs that are abused by the individuals, which can be detected with different testing devices.

· Amphetamines (AMP): This is a schedule II forbidden drug used according to the prescription, which is also accessible in the illicit market. These drugs are the stimulants that affect the brain and body rapidly. These are psychologically addictive and if the addicted person stops using them will face various problems like, assault, anger and anxiety. Usually this drug effects for 24 hours and will exist in the body for 2 to 6 days.

· Barbiturates (BAR): These drugs are central nervous system depressants that are used to heal the tranquilizers, mesmerizing and anticonvulsants. Its effects are similar to that of alcohol intoxication effects. The detection period of Barbiturates is about 3-8 days. Continuous abuse of barbiturate can lead to clinically considerable level of tolerance and physical dependence.

Continue reading ‘Common Drugs That are Detected Through Drug Testing’ »

Drugs are the biggest threat to the existence of mankind. Drug abuse ranks higher as a threat to us, even more than nuclear weapons. Drugs have wiped out civilisations in the past, and unless remedial measures are taken up seriously, we may also end up in the same situation. Fighting the drug menace is a double pronged strategy. Firstly, governments around the world try to destroy the drug manufacturing and supply business, while the civil society tries to educate its people about the pitfalls of drug abuse and also try to save those unfortunate ones caught in the quagmire of drug addiction. The process of helping people out of addiction is a long and hard one and only a drug abuse treatment centre can make meaningful contributions towards this.

There are several reasons for the increase in drug abuse in our country. Drugs are easily available in many parts of the world. Increased purchasing power is another factor. But the most important factor is the human brain. Human brain is a very complex thing. Some people inherently suffer from inferiority complex, and it is such people who usually fall prey to drug abuse. Researches have shown that most addicts try to hide behind drugs to cover up their sense of alienation. Some are drawn into it by bad friends.

Continue reading ‘Drug Abuse And How To Escape From It’ »

AN INTRODUCTION TO LOWER BACK MUSCLE PAIN
Many musculoskeletal painsare often easily diagnosed and successfully treated, unfortunately lower back muscle pain is not one of them. The cause can sometimes be elusive, therefore the diagnosis can be incorrect and then the wrong treatments ensues.

PAIN AND WHAT IT TELLS YOU
“Pain is a signal something is wrong.”
It the lower back pain is short lasting and mild it may be nothing to worry about, on the other side if it severe and lasts for a few days up to a week or more, you body is most likely trying to tell you something. Failing to listen to your body’s signals can make issues worse, extending the duration of lower back pain, often for prolonged periods.
General keys as to when to refer to a doctor are:
If the pain is severe
If there is swelling
If you hear a cracking or snapping at the time of the injury
If you cannot perform your normal day to day duties
If there is disturbed function following an accident or injury such as nausea, dizziness, blurred vision, paralysis or weakness.
If the pain continues beyond 7-10 days.1

Continue reading ‘LOWER BACK MUSCLE PAIN – AN INTRODUCTION’ »

Drug tests are conducted to find out whether a person has abused illicit drugs or not. Drug tests are increasingly becoming compulsory at many work places. People always look towards the ways to pass the drug tests. They may look at a household product or homemade solutions, or whether they need to go through a Napolitano newborn’s screening. Drug tests are now a norm particularly when seeking employment. Often, if a person does not clear the drug testing it can lead to disqualifying for a job.

What are the Methods for Testing the Drug Abuse?

There are four primary types of testing the drug abuse by taking the samples: Urine, Hair, Saliva, and Blood. Most common is the urine test which has the benefit of being inexpensive and less intrusive than the blood test. The following information gives about the methods which are followed by the drug abusers to pass a drug test.

Method #1 – Urine Tests

· They are the least expensive of the test methods

· They can be done at home (for example by parents)

· They detect use primarily within the past week (longer with regular use)

· They can be affected by abstaining from use for a period of time before the test

· They are often temperature tested to insure sample integrity

Continue reading ‘Different Methods to Test Drug Abuse’ »

Sometimes people who are not necessarily into illegal street drugs can be prescribed Methadone by their doctor or a hospital. This happens sometimes because they have a chronic pain condition that is so severe that lessor painkillers cannot control the pain for them. It is also the case sometimes where people will take a pain pill for their pain, but it wears off much to quickly due to the high intensity of their pain. In cases such as these, a doctor might prescribe Methadone because it tends to stick longer in the system.

This “sticky factor” is a huge part of what makes Methadone so addictive. It is really, really hard to get off Methadone once you are hooked on it. The problem is that the drug is so sticky that it tends to cling to your opiate receptors in your brain for much longer than other opiate painkillers would. This creates a very uncomfortable and very long detox process.

Keep in mind that treating chronic pain with an opiate is a bit like trying to use alcohol as an anesthetic for surgery. Consider this analogy for a while and you will start to see how painkillers are working in our brain in order to try and treat physical pain. What is actually occurring is that the actual site of the pain is not being treated at all, but instead the opiate drugs are fogging the physical brain so much that the person simply stops being concerned with any pain that their body might be in at the time. Getting to this point when a person is in intense pain means that you have to seriously medicate them to the point of being practically oblivious. Imagine using enough alcohol with a patient to properly prepare them for surgery and you have an idea of just how “out of it” a person can be on Methadone.

Continue reading ‘Avoid Opiate Addiction at All Costs’ »

Many concepts have seen a transformation in past two centuries and one of them is change in moral and cultural values of societies. Use of Alcohol was previously seen as a status symbol, but with time, it turned into a form of addiction for many. Reasons and factors did vary from regions and different cultures.

Unfortunately, it took more time to realise that alcoholism is a drug addiction. “Because we have been led to believe that drug addiction or alcohol addiction is a disease. We have been told that the only way to “recover” is to attend treatment and endless AA, NA meetings for the rest of our lives. ”

Any drug addiction including alcohol addiction is not a disease rather a choice. One does not has to be a passive bystander to an illusory disease of drug addiction or alcohol addiction; one should give up his will; be marked as an alcoholic or “in recovery”; or turn up meetings and treatment for the rest of his/her life!

Continue reading ‘Is Alcoholism a Drug Addiction?’ »

I Thought I would share my thinking on how alcoholism gets started.

Some of us are born with a genetic make up that predisposes us to it. Anyone can have it. Some groups that are more susceptible than others are Scandanavians and American Indians. My kids are both. Just because the genes are there does not mean you will be an alcoholic, other things go into it.

Home Life is a big one. The attitudes, behaviors, perceptions, value systems at home while growing up can lead to need for escapism.

How we choose to escape makes a difference. Escaping in non-harmful ways is best especially if we later turn back to whatever the problem was we were getting relief from and figure out how we are going to healthfully and effectively deal with it. We will feel rewarded and self confident in ourselves . Unhealthy escapism will always include escaping but not coping later on. Not developing strategies to deal with any given situation or thing, this leads up back to escapism in a vicious cycle never growing from the experience.

Continue reading ‘Why Alcoholism?’ »