Prescription Drug Abuse - Harming Newborns

Prescription drug abuse continues to be in the forefront of drug testing and is a growing problem.

The increased use and addiction to painkillers has now surfaced in the most vulnerable of patients - newborns, according to an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The number of babies born addicted to these painkillers has nearly tripled in the last decade, which equates to one baby per hour, according to the study.

Dr Stephan Patrick of the University of Michigan Health Centre Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the lead author of this study, indicated that "Generally, babies are soothed by wrapping or holding or being fed. Typically these babies can't be consoled".



For more information on Drug Testing please visit our website, email enquiries to sales@drugtestaustralia.com.au or call 1300 660 636 or +61 2 4920 3225

Posted by Drug Test Australia

Original from Datia Focus, Fall 2012, pg 4. Neil Fortner

New Website! Online Store! Come visit us at Drug Test Australia

Come see our newly updated website at www.drugtestaustralia.com.au

Our new online store has new products available in Saliva Drug Testing and Urine Drug Testing and a range of Breathalysers, as well we have our AS 4760 compliant device ToxSure II.

We offer nationally accredited Training Packages for delivery onsite or in our office.

Because health and safety is important to us, we source only the highest quality testing equipment from the US and deliver unsurpassed service and procedures in accordance with AS/NZS ISO 9001:2008, AS ISO 15189:2009. Equipment detection cut-off levels (the ng/ml level of substance in the system) are compliant to AS/NZS4308:2008 and AS4760-2006 and non-negative specimens are assessed only at NATA approved laboratories.

  

                                                      

We provide information of Drugs and detection periods and Drug types, testing methods and drug testing standards

Drug Test Australia is committed to helping create safer workplaces and reducing the risks associated with alcohol and drugs of abuse.

We are a part of Hunter Healthcare Group, a corporate healthcare organisation with services spanning corporate immunisation, public and private hospitals, aged care nursing services and onsite occupational health.

Visit our website for more information, or to make a product enquiry.

If you have an enquiry you can contact us at sales@drugtestaustralia.com.au or call us on 1300 660 636

Alcohol self-assessment - Are you drinking too much?

If you're not really sure about the amount you are drinking take this short test.

It'll help you to assess the effects of your drinking and if it suggests you're drinking too much you'll get advice on how to cut down or seek further help.

QUESTIONS

1.How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?

a) Never (0 points)

b) Once a month or less (1 points)

c) 2 to 4 times a month (2 points)

d) 2 to 3 times a week (3 points)

e) 4 or more times a week (4 points)

2.How many units of alcohol do you have on a typical day when you are drinking?

1-2 (0 points)

3-4 (1 point)

 5-6 (2 points)

7-9 (3 points)

10 + (4 points)

What is a unit?

You can't just count each drink as a unit of alcohol. The number of units depends on the different strength and size of each drink, so it can vary a lot.

Here's some examples:

• Pint of beer, 4%, is 2.3 units
• 500ml can of strong lager, 6%, 3 units
• 250ml glass of wine, 11%, 2.8 units
• 330ml can of cider, 5%, 1.7 units
• Single (25ml) measure of spirits (e.g. vodka or gin), 1 unit

3.How often do you have six or more units on one occasion?

a) Never (0 points)

b) Less than monthly (1 points)

c) Monthly (2 points)

d) Weekly (3 points)

e) Daily or almost daily (4 points)

What’s binge drinking?

Binge drinking usually refers to drinking lots of alcohol in a short space of time or drinking to get drunk. 

There is no consistently agreed measure of binge drinking but drinking more than eight units on any day for men, and more than six units for women, is the measure normally used.

The vital thing is to avoid drinking heavily in one session or drinking to intoxication.

Binge drinking is a major factor in accidents, violence and anti-social behaviour.

4. How often during the last year have you failed to do what was normally expected from you because of your drinking?

a) Never (0 points)

b) Less than monthly (1 points)

c) Monthly (2 points)

d) Weekly (3 points)

e) Daily or almost daily (4 points)

5.How often during the last year have you found that you were not able to stop drinking once you had started?

a) Never (0 points)

b) Less than monthly (1 points)

c) Monthly (2 points)

d) Weekly (3 points)

e) Daily or almost daily (4 points)

6. How often during the last year have you needed an alcoholic drink in the morning to get yourself going after a heavy drinking session?

a) Never (0 points)

b) Less than monthly (1 point)

c) Monthly (2 points)

d) Weekly (3 points)

e) Daily or almost daily (4 points)

7.How often during the last year have you had a feeling of guilt or remorse after drinking?

a) Never (0 points)

b) Less than monthly (1 points)

c) Monthly (2 points)

d) Weekly (3 points)

e) Daily or almost daily (4 points)

8.How often during the last year have you been unable to remember what happened the night before because you had been drinking?

a) Never (0 points)

b) Occasionally (1 point)

c) Monthly (2 points)

d) Weekly (3 points)

e) Daily (4 points)

9.Have you or somebody else been injured as a result of your drinking?

a) No, this has never happened (0 points)

b) Yes, but not in the past year (2 points)

c) Yes, during the past year (4 points)

10.Has a relative, friend, doctor or health worker been concerned about your drinking or suggested you cut down?

a) No, never (0 points)

b) Yes, but not in the past year (2 points)

c) Yes, during the past year (4 points)

RESULTS

0-8 points

Based on your answers today you're drinking in a way that is sociable and is unlikely to harm your health.

As long as your drinking does remain within recommended levels, there is only a low risk that the way you drink will contribute to future health problems.

The NHS recommends that women should not regularly drink more than 2-3 units a day and men should not regularly drink more than 3-4 units a day.

Remember, there can be risks from one-off episodes of heavy drinking too.

8-20 points

Based on your answers today your drinking does appear to be putting you at increased risk of developing health problems, so you might want to think about cutting down.

The following can help you cut down:

• Work out a daily limit and stick to it.
• Do more activities that don't involve drinking.
• Eat before and while you're drinking.
• Don't let anyone top up your drinks.
• Tell your friends you're cutting down.
• Count your units.

The NHS recommends that women should not regularly drink more than 2-3 units a day and men should not regularly drink more than 3-4 units a day.

20-100 points

Based on your answers today your drinking is already causing you problems.

The NHS recommends that women should not regularly drink more than 2-3 units a day and men should not regularly drink more than 3-4 units a day.

For more information please visit our website Drug Test Australia.com.au call us on our hotline 1300 660 636 or send an email enquiry

Posted by Drug Test Australia Original at http://www.nhs.uk/Tools/Documents/Alcohol%20self%20assessment.htm

When social drinking becomes a problem

By Melissa HogenboomBBC News

Alcohol-related health issues among baby boomers are on the rise. Daily drinking can start off as a social event but turn into dependency, addiction experts say. So when does social drinking become alcoholism?

In the festive season, with office parties, Christmas, and new year, there is opportunity aplenty for yet another tipple.

Since the 1950s, alcohol consumption in the UK has gradually increased. The NHS now spends more on alcohol-related illness among baby boomers than any other age group, with £825m spent on 55 to 74-year-olds in 2010-11 compared to £64m on under-24s.

Estimates also suggest about nine per cent of men and three per cent of women in the UK show signs of alcohol dependence.

But it is the functioning alcoholic that can slip under the radar - before their health issues are severe enough to need treatment.

Straight vodka

Dr John Marsden, an alcohol and drug dependency expert from King's College London, says a typical functioning alcoholic can manage to hold down a job despite having a "very severe drinking problem that they have been incubating over a very long period".

"Alcohol problems are difficult to understand because they do not occur overnight. They are hidden from view which makes functioning alcoholics a group we cannot easily help."

Rob C, who is 61, was one of them. At his worst he was drinking 1.5 litres of straight vodka per day.

"Then I began to suffer blackouts, losing whole days and not remembering anything."

He would be first to arrive at work, which made him able to set out his "drinks for the day with what looked like a bottle of mineral water".

"I would hide bottles around the office. You think nobody else knows, that it doesn't smell, that you're getting away with it. But of course they did notice."

Life saver

For several years, maintaining a full-time finance job, he drank increasingly more during the day.

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote

There was work, there was money and increasingly the motivation to alter ones mood quickly. Alcohol has been the drug of choice to do that”

Dr John MarsdenAddiction expert

What started as a social pastime nearly cost him his relationship. Now sober for eight years, looking back he says that even if a colleague had said something at the time, he would not have listened.

"I resented the changes at work and told myself I deserved a drink. I would buy wine at lunchtime and drink it from a polystyrene cup."

Wine turned to vodka for a "bigger kick" and lunchtime turned to morning through to night.

Early retirement on medical grounds made his addiction worse. It was only when his partner threatened to kick him out that he sought help with Alcoholics Anonymous, who he says saved his life.

Rob is not alone. In the last decade there has been a 63% increase in prescriptions for the treatment of alcohol dependency in England, as well as a 20% rise in deaths from liver disease.

Prof Sir Ian Gilmore, a liver specialist and chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance, believes the number of people dying from liver disease will keep rising.

Continue reading the main story

A silent killer

• Most cases of liver disease are attributed to alcohol, viral hepatitis or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
• The liver has no pain fibres so there are often no signs that damage is happening
• Doctors recently unveiled a colour-coded blood test which can reveal the damage caused by excess drinking

• Are you drinking too much? Take the NHS test

The majority of people who have alcohol-related health problems are middle-aged, which Sir Ian says is a consequence of chronic alcohol misuse - many years of frequent heavy drinking, rather than binge drinking - a session of drinking large amounts of alcohol in a small space of time.

But he says that though there is a big overlap, it is important to remember not all heavy social drinkers are dependent on alcohol.

"Some people can control their drinking after work, others can't. If people are frequently drinking harmful levels of alcohol - over 50 units a week for men, 35 for women - most will end up suffering some form of physical, mental or social harm."

A lifetime's worth of drinking is catching up with baby boomers, says Emily Robinson from the Alcohol Concern.

The charity hopes that their campaign, Dry January, will help get people thinking about how much they drink, especially at home when units are harder to measure, and crucially, before they reach a stage where drinking is affecting their health.

"The issue of people drinking every day is worrying as it's a way of slipping into dependency, as you need to drink a little more each time to feel the same effects," she says.

Dr Marsden suggests the line between social drinking and dependency is clear. He says the first question that needs to be asked by clinicians or family members is: "Has anyone expressed concern to you about your drinking?"

Continue reading the main story

What's a unit?

• Half a pint of standard strength (4%) beer, cider or lager
• A single pub measure of spirit (25ml)
• Half a standard glass of wine (175ml)

• Alcohol units guide

This question assesses whether a person's behavior has negatively impacted on someone close to them, he adds.

"If your alcohol consumption has caused a problem for someone else - I'm not rushing to label you an alcoholic but suggesting you need to take a closer look at your behaviour."

There is a clear reason the baby boomer generation is now most at risk from alcohol-related problems, argues Dr Marsden.

A hard-working generation led to an appetite for entertainment and relaxation.

"There was work, there was money and increasingly the motivation to alter one's mood quickly. Alcohol has been the drug of choice to do that."

For more information on Drug and Alcohol Testing visit Drug Test Australia or call 1300 660 636 or send an email inquiry to sales@drugtestaustralia.com.au

Posted by Drug Test AustraliaOriginal http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20498044

Safe Workplace versus Privacy and Human Rights; Companies push for random drug, alcohol testing

Two cases in Canada pit workplace safety against employee privacy and dignity

Two current high-profile legal cases, in which companies want to implement random testing of their employees for alcohol and/or drugs, may determine whether such testing expands in Canadian workplaces. At the centre of both cases is the need for a safe workplace versus privacy and human rights.

In New Brunswick, Irving Pulp and Paper wants employees at its mill operations to undergo random alcohol tests but the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP) is opposed. On Friday the case reached the Supreme Court of Canada.

In Alberta, Suncor Energy is trying to bring in a random drug and alcohol testing program for employees and contractors at its oilsands operations in Fort McMurray. The CEP is resisting Suncor's efforts, with an arbitration hearing that was scheduled for today postponed until Jan. 2.

The Supreme Court of Canada is reviewing a case which will determine whether Irving Pulp and Paper can implement a random alcohol testing program at its mill operations in New Brunswick. (Blair Gable/Canadian Press)

Calgary lawyer Birch Miller, who specializes in this area of law, writes that these cases will indicate "whether random alcohol and drug testing policies have a future in Canada."

Random drug testing arrived in Canada from the U.S., first for cross-border commercial truck and bus operations, as required by the U.S. government. In the U.S., where drug testing is federally regulated, random testing is prevalent everywhere, according to Peter Deines of CannAmm Occupational Testing Services, the largest occupational drug testing company in Canada.

Although they do have some clients in the U.S., as a Canadian company CannAmm can only long for the business opportunities in the U.S.

Random drug testing much more prevalent in U.S. than Canada

Drug testing is prevalent in only a few industries in Canada. In an addition to cross-border transport, there's energy production, heavy industrial construction, potash and industrial engineering, Deines explained in an interview with CBC News.

Peter Deines of CanAmm Occupational Testing Services says that drug testing is prevalent in only a few industries in Canada but is prevalent everywhere in the U.S.(Gregg Ingram/Courtesy CanAmm)

He explains that in Canada the testing is mostly limited to "very safety-sensitive oriented workplaces," whereas in the U.S. there is no similar safety limit. Even in retail, financial, manufacturing, education, and health, American workers undergo random drug testing.

"The amount of testing Wal-Mart does in the United States greatly exceeds the entire number of tests that are done in the Canadian market," Deines says.

In the U.S. companies say they test for reasons other than safety — to identify theft risk, employee reliability, improve productivity — while in Canada the courts have only accepted workplace safety as a legitimate reason to do drug testing.

"The tradeoff in Canada is between the privacy and human rights element and the duty to provide a safe workplace," Deines explains.

Drug and alcohol testing 'discriminatory'

The Canadian Human Rights Commission, which is appointed by Parliament, says in a policy paper on alcohol and drug testing that, "drug and alcohol testing are prima facie discriminatory."

Alcohol or drug dependence, whether past or current, is considered a disability. Canadian law prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability.

The Commission adds that "discrimination based on the actual or perceived possibility that an individual may develop a drug or alcohol dependency in the future" is also prohibited.

However, "employers can justify discriminatory practices and rules if they are a bona fide occupational requirement."

Employers can test for drugs or alcohol when there is reasonable evidence of substance abuse, after an accident or incident where the employee's role may have been a contributing factor, and as follow-up testing after treatment for drug abuse.

The conundrum under Canadian law involves random testing.

The Commission accepts that truckers and commercial bus drivers can be subject to random testing. In other industries, important factors in determining if random testing may be done include whether employees are under direct supervision; whether less invasive alternatives exist to "determine whether employees in safety-sensitive positions are impaired on the job;" evidence of high incidence of drug use on the job; and if the employer has a rehabilitation program in place.

Drugs tests don't determine impairment

The Commission also draws a distinction between random testing for drugs versus alcohol. Noting that drug tests cannot measure whether a person is "under the influence" at the time of the test but only detect past drug use and not "whether that person is impaired at that moment, or is likely to be impaired while on the job."

Suncor wants to implement random drug and alcohol testing for employees at its oilsands facility near Fort McMurray, Alta.(Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)

Therefore, the Commission argues that "random drug tests cannot be shown to be reasonably necessary to accomplish the goal of ensuring that workers are not impaired by drugs while on the job." Also, requiring a drug test "as a condition of employment may be considered a discriminatory practice on the ground of disability or perceived disability."

Deines looks at the Canadian numbers for post-incident and reasonable cause testing and sees a problem. When testing in reasonable cause situations the results turn up positive about 30 per cent of the time. Deines explains that "because there are so many factors in the worksite, it's difficult to prove causality, but what you notice is a very high correlation between incidents and drug and alcohol abuse."

CannAmm reports that "[r]andom drug and alcohol testing has emerged in Canada as the most effective safety compliance tool in ensuring employee fitness in safety sensitive roles."

Opposition to random testing

Abby Deshman, a lawyer with the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, argues that random testing "imposes a privacy-invasive, dignity-invasive regime on a large number of people without any real proof that these people are going to pose a threat to workplace safety," adding that "there's very little evidence that it does actually work as a deterrent."

(The CCLA is an intervener at the Supreme Court in the Irving case.)

Abby Deshman, a lawyer with the Canadian Civil Liberties Union, considers random drug testing 'privacy-invasive and dignity-invasive' for employees. (Courtesy Abby Deshman)

Deshman is especially concerned when companies say they want to bring in random testing "in the name of workplace safety without actually having any evidence that there's a problem in the workforce, or having an analysis that this is actually going to improve workplace safety."

Although the CHRC notes the difference between alcohol and drugs random tests, Deshman argues "some justification for the intrusion into worker dignity and privacy" is still needed.

"Can you actually show us that there's an alcohol problem in the workplace, can you show us this policy is the best and least intrusive way of addressing those concerns and if these are questions that haven't been asked and answered…, then you shouldn't be intruding on employee privacy and dignity without it."

Deshman told CBC News she wants Canadian society "to critically reflect on workplace privacy violations even when they're done in the name of workplace safety and really demand we know exactly why they are being put in place, that there's a really good rationale, that it really does increase workplace safety and not just defer to a general assertion that this is a dangerous job and we need to take all precautions."

The jurisprudence in Canada is anything but definitive on random testing but the Irving and Suncor cases are expected to add some clarity. Meanwhile, other possible cases loom.

The Toronto Transit Commission wants to bring in random drug and alcohol testing and the Canadian Forces want to greatly expand the number of troops subject to identifiable random drug testing, rather than just the anonymous testing program currently in place.

For Deines and Deshman, both workplace safety and the dignity and privacy of employees must be considered.

For more information on Drug Testing or Breath Testing, please contact us at Drug Test Australia on 1300 660 636 or email enquiries to sales@drugtestaustralia.com.au

Posted by Drug Test Australia, Original http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/12/07/f-random-drug-testing.html

By Daniel Schwartz, CBC News 

Posted: Dec 10, 2012 7:58 AM ET 

Last Updated: Dec 10, 2012 3:57 PM ET 

Read 263comments263

About: Urine Drug Screen

A urine drug screen is designed to detect illegal (and some prescription) drugs in the urine.

How the Test is Performed

It is necessary to collect a "clean-catch" (midstream) urine sample.

As you start to urinate, allow a small amount to fall into the toilet bowl (this clears the urethra of contaminants). Then, in a clean container, catch about 1 - 2 ounces of urine and remove the container from the urine stream. Give the container to the health care provider or assistant.

You may be asked to remove all your personal belongings. You will then be placed in a room where you have no access to your personal items or water. In this environment, you cannot dilute the sample, nor can you use someone else's urine for the test.

If the sample tests positive the sample is then taken to the laboratory for evaluation.

How the Test Will Feel

The test involves only normal urination.

Why the Test is Performed

The test is performed to detect the presence of illegal (and some prescription) drugs in your urine, which indicates recent use of the drugs.

Normal Results

No drugs in the urine.

What Abnormal Results Mean

If the test result is positive, it is helpful to confirm it with gas-chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In some cases, a test will register a false positive. This can result from interfering factors such as some foods, prescription medications, and other drugs.

The GC-MS will help tell the difference between a false positive or a true positive, resulting from the presence of an illegal drug.

View Our AS 4308 Compliant Urine Test Kits

View Our Urine Drug Testing Dipcards

Posted by Drug Test Australia

For more information go to www.drugtestaustralia.com.au

Email Enquiries: sales@drugtestaustralia.com.au

Phone: 1300 660 636

Original http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003364.htm

Drug testing set to increase among office workers

Posted by Drug Test Australia

Pre-employment testing is being brought back into public discussion after it was announced that Australian resources and construction companies may soon extend drug testing to their office based staff as employers move towards more egalitarian style workplaces.

Employers often use behavioural testing and other selection procedures to screen applicants for hire, and the types of tests and selection procedures vary, and can include cognitive tests, personality tests, skills tests, medical examinations, credit checks, and background checks.

Depending on the type of test, employment testing can be conducted either online or in the employer's office, with pre-employment screening services aimed at determining which applicants are legitimately qualified and fit for the advertised role from those who are not up to task.

Pre-employment checks are often used by employers as a means of objectively evaluating a job candidate's qualifications, character, fitness, and to identify potential hiring risks for safety and security reasons. As such, risk minimisation is one of the most common reasons for organisations to begin drug and alcohol testing.

Different companies will have different requirements for their employee drug testing program. Options can include pre-employment drug testing, random drug testing, for cause drug testing, post-incident drug testing, target drug testing, annual physical drug testing, pre-promotion drug testing, treatment follow up drug testing and return to work drug testing. However, should it be conducted on office workers?

Managing Director of Employment Office, Tudor Marsden- Huggins, said there was a growing trend towards employers moving to a ‘one size fits all’ approach to ensure all staff were treated equally. “Many employers are questioning whether it’s fair to have one rule for some staff and a different one for others,” Mr Marsden-Huggins said.

“What this means is that everyone from miners and construction workers in high risk areas right through to secretaries and finance staff in generally safer roles at some organisations may have to undergo random drug testing,” he said.

Mr Marsden-Huggins said the issue was causing headaches for human resources staff as they balanced their employee’s right to privacy with the desire to create an equal workplace.

“Whilst drug testing in high risk roles is accepted as necessary for health and safety reasons, I expect some office workers may question if it is justified for their particular position such as those working behind a computer all day,” Mr Marsden-Huggins said.

“Unfortunately drug use is a problem in Australia and HR departments must tread carefully to balance the right to privacy with creating healthy, happy and productive workforces,” Mr Marsden- Huggins said.

Ultimately though, pre-employment testing such as drug testing will increase the likelihood of you securing supreme quality, skills-matched candidates that are going to be an idyllic culture fit and enduring assets – saving you time and money long term.

Peter Orthmann Hansen

Original http://www.employmentoffice.com.au/recruitment-news/17/07/12/drug-testing-set-increase-among-office-workers