Friday, August 26, 2011

Toxicity of Aromatase Inhibitors May Explain Lack of Overall Survival Benefit

Taken from www.knowbreastcancer.org

August 23, 2011
In a review published in this month's Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Dr. Eitan Amir and colleagues examined whether the relative toxicity of Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs) versus tamoxifen might explain the lack of overall survival benefit associated with AIs in breast cancer patients.  Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs), a class of endocrine therapy drugs used to treat postmenopausal breast cancer patients, are associated with improvements in disease-free survival but not overall survival.  Amir and colleagues at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials that compared aromatase inhibitors and tamoxifen as primary adjuvant endocrine therapy in postmenopausal women.  Their meta-analysis consisted of seven trials enrolling 30,023 patients.
The researchers found that compared to tamoxifen, longer use of AIs was associated with an increased odds of cardiovascular disease and bone fractures, but lower rates of blood clots and endometrial cancer.  There was no difference in the risk of second cancers or stroke in patients receiving tamoxifen vs. AIs.  Furthermore, use of AIs for 2-3 years after initial treatment with tamoxifen was associated with a lower risk of death from other causes (without breast cancer recurrence) compared to the use of tamoxifen or AIs alone for 5 years.  The authors conclude that "The cumulative toxicity of aromatase inhibitors when used as up–front treatment may explain the lack of overall survival benefit despite improvements in disease–free survival. Switching from tamoxifen to aromatase inhibitors reduces this toxicity and is likely the best balance between efficacy and toxicity." 
In an accompanying editorial, Dr. Nancy Davidson and colleagues write that physicians should "choose initial endocrine therapy for the individual patient with careful attention to the risk of breast cancer recurrence, the risk of toxicity, and comorbidities."  Since this meta-analysis and another suggest that switching strategies may be effective, the authors conclude that "we should not ditch the switch.”

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Australians Acknowledge Steroid Use is Way Up.

STEROID abuse by everyday gym users is skyrocketing with thousands of people caught trying to import the drugs each year. 

The amount of steroids being smuggled into the country at airports and through the postal system has more than doubled in the past five years, according to Customs figures, reported The Daily Telegraph.

Customs made 2695 seizures of steroids and growth hormones in the year to July 2010, a 155 per cent increase on the 1054 seizures made in 2004-05.

An explosion of websites selling the drugs with claims of "discrete (sic) shipping" and "no customs" is behind the rise as amateur body builders seek to exploit countries with lax drug regulations.

"The majority of performance-enhancing drugs are detected at the international mail gateways and are generally from internet sites located in overseas jurisdictions which do not exercise the same controls as Australia," a Customs spokesperson said.

Most of the drugs seized are being imported from the US, Thailand, Hong Kong, Bulgaria, China and the UK, Customs said.

The revelation comes after the death of 22-year-old Australian bodybuilder and online celebrity Aziz "Zyzz" Sergeyevich Shavershian, who died of an undiagnosed heart defect in a Thai sauna last week.

His brother Said, 25, was found in possession of an anabolic steroid during a police raid last month. The Fitness First personal trainer pleaded guilty and was fined $479.

Zyzz denied using steroids despite talking about riding "bicycles" - gym slang for using a cycle of steroids - on Facebook.

St Vincent's Hospital hormone expert Katherine Samaras said a dangerous culture had formed in the past decade in which more and more young men felt the need to have the perfect body.

"Many men don't have that body and feel quite pressured to use anabolic steroids to achieve that look which is just not possible without them," Ms Samaras said.

Men are doing irreversible damage to their bodies by using steroids, with some even injecting veterinary steroids and fertility drugs to increase their testosterone levels, she said.

"A lot of men are also using saunas and diuretics to lose weight ," she said. "This can lead to blood mineral disorders which can lead to fatal heart arrhythmia."She said websites promoting steroid use were preying on the insecurities of young men.

Monday, August 8, 2011

MLB Bans Deer Antler Spray

Look out for those antlers -- they could be detrimental to your baseball career.
No, the Texas Rangers players -- who popularized antler t-shirts and foam replicas during their run to last year's World Series -- need not be any more concerned than their brethren on other teams despite a Major League Baseball warning that misuse of deer antlers could get them suspended.
It's actually deer antler spray, which it turns out is being marketed as a potential replacement and dodge for would-be users of steroids.
Sports Illustrated first reported that MLB issued a warning to players in the major and minor leagues that the practice of using the spray under the tongue could be a problem because one brand of the product was added to MLB's list of "potentially contaminated nutritional supplements."
The broader issue is IGF-1, or insulin-like growth factor, which is in the velvet from antlers of immature deer. IGF-1 is banned by MLB because it can be used to affect a person's level of human growth hormone. The antlers are ground up and manufactured into a spray.
Makers of the spray claim it enhances performance, strength and endurance and that it's not detectable in the drug testing currently used by MLB. It can be detected in blood tests, which are not part of the baseball program.
But MLB's "contamination" warning is based on reports the spray can produce positive tests for methyltestosterone, which is a banned steroid.

Police Claim Norway Killer Used Illegal drugs Prior to Killings

Anders Behring Breivik, was under the influence of illegal drugs when he carried out the killings of ruling Labour Party's youth, who were attending a summer camp. In the 1500 page manifesto he posted online just before the killings took place, Anders Behring Breivik admitted he had been using anabolic steroids.  On July 26, his lawyer, Geir Lippestad, said his client had used drugs to keep him "strong, efficient and awake" as he bombed government offices in Oslo then went on a shooting rampage on the nearby island of Utoya.

"I can confirm that he had used illegal drugs. I do not want to comment on what kind of products, but he had consumed some," said police prosecutor Paal-Fredrik Hjor Kraby, adding the conclusion was based on blood test results.

The police prosecutor also said that the two psychiatrists appointed to evaluate Breivik's mental state in order to determine if he is fit to stand trial and can be held accountable had begun their work.
The two psychiatrists are scheduled to hand over their report by November 1.


So once again the yellow journalism of the US press has just jumped to conclusions about steroids being the cause for these killings. To me it seems as though the Norway killer was abusing a lot of substances other than AAS. In my humble opinion drugs were not the cause of this terrible crime against humanity. The cause of these horrific crimes seem to be nothing more than another twisted man running around spewing twisted beliefs. Drugs or no drugs I think these killings would have still taken place.

Saturday, August 6, 2011

31 Americans, 7 Afghans killed in helicopter crash

I realize this article has nothing to do with our community, but it has everything to do with our great country. I post this up with a heavy heart and wish we would just leave these God-Forsaken countries we always feel the need to police. To all my Brothers in Arms, I salute you. To the families of the fallen, I salute you also.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A military helicopter was shot down in eastern Afghanistan, killing 31 U.S. special operation troops, most of them from the elite Navy SEALs unit that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, along with seven Afghan commandos. It was the deadliest single incident for American forces in the decade-long war.
The Taliban claimed they downed the helicopter with rocket fire while it was taking part in a raid on a house where insurgents were gathered in the province of Wardak late Friday. It said wreckage of the craft was strewn at the scene. A senior U.S. administration official in Washington said the craft was apparently shot down by insurgents. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the crash is still being investigated.
NATO confirmed the overnight crash took place and that there "was enemy activity in the area." But it said it was still investigating the cause and conducting a recovery operation at the site. It did not release details or casualty figures.
"We are in the process of accessing the facts," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Justin Brockhoff, a NATO spokesman.
One current and one former U.S. official said that the dead included more than 20 Navy SEALs from SEAL Team Six, the unit that carried out the raid in Pakistan in May that killed bin Laden. They were being flown by a crew of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because families are still being notified.
None of those killed in the crash is believed to have been part of the SEALs mission that killed bin Laden, but they were from the same unit as the bin Laden team.
President Barack Obama mourned the deaths of the American troops, saying in a statement that the crash serves as a reminder of the "extraordinary sacrifices" being made by the U.S. military and its families. He said he also mourned "the Afghans who died alongside our troops."
The death toll would surpass the worst single day loss of life for the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan since the war began in 2001 — the June 28, 2005 downing of a military helicopter in eastern Kunar province. In that incident, 16 Navy SEALs and Army special operations troops were killed when their craft was shot down while on a mission to rescue four SEALs under attack by the Taliban. Three of the SEALs being rescued were also killed and the fourth wounded. It was the highest one-day death toll for the Navy Special Warfare personnel since World War II.

Monday, August 1, 2011

US Code Title 21,812 Schedule of Controlled Substances

Here the scheduling of drugs in the US.  I find this very interesting and informative. Stay safe loyal readers, and friends. Know what your doing as far as the law is concerned.

(a) Establishment
There are established five schedules of controlled substances, to be known as schedules I, II, III, IV, and V. Such schedules shall initially consist of the substances listed in this section. The schedules established by this section shall be updated and republished on a semiannual basis during the two-year period beginning one year after October 27, 1970, and shall be updated and republished on an annual basis thereafter.
 
(b) Placement on schedules; findings required
Except where control is required by United States obligations under an international treaty, convention, or protocol, in effect on October 27, 1970, and except in the case of an immediate precursor, a drug or other substance may not be placed in any schedule unless the findings required for such schedule are made with respect to such drug or other substance. The findings required for each of the schedules are as follows:
 
(1) Schedule I.—
(A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.
(B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
(C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.
 
(2) Schedule II.—
(A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.
(B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions.
(C) Abuse of the drug or other substances may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
 
(3) Schedule III.—
(A) The drug or other substance has a potential for abuse less than the drugs or other substances in schedules I and II.
(B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
(C) Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
 
(4) Schedule IV.—
(A) The drug or other substance has a low potential for abuse relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule III.
(B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
(C) Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule III.
 
(5) Schedule V.—
(A) The drug or other substance has a low potential for abuse relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule IV.
(B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
(C) Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule IV.
(c) Initial schedules of controlled substances
Schedules I, II, III, IV, and V shall, unless and until amended [1] pursuant to section 811 of this title, consist of the following drugs or other substances, by whatever official name, common or usual name, chemical name, or brand name designated:
Schedule I
(a) Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any of the following opiates, including their isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers, esters, and ethers, whenever the existence of such isomers, esters, ethers, and salts is possible within the specific chemical designation:
(1) Acetylmethadol.
(2) Allylprodine.
(3) Alphacetylmathadol.[2]
(4) Alphameprodine.
(5) Alphamethadol.
(6) Benzethidine.
(7) Betacetylmethadol.
(8) Betameprodine.
(9) Betamethadol.
(10) Betaprodine.
(11) Clonitazene.
(12) Dextromoramide.
(13) Dextrorphan.
(14) Diampromide.
(15) Diethylthiambutene.
(16) Dimenoxadol.
(17) Dimepheptanol.
(18) Dimethylthiambutene.
(19) Dioxaphetyl butyrate.
(20) Dipipanone.
(21) Ethylmethylthiambutene.
(22) Etonitazene.
(23) Etoxeridine.
(24) Furethidine.
(25) Hydroxypethidine.
(26) Ketobemidone.
(27) Levomoramide.
(28) Levophenacylmorphan.
(29) Morpheridine.
(30) Noracymethadol.
(31) Norlevorphanol.
(32) Normethadone.
(33) Norpipanone.
(34) Phenadoxone.
(35) Phenampromide.
(36) Phenomorphan.
(37) Phenoperidine.
(38) Piritramide.
(39) Propheptazine.
(40) Properidine.
(41) Racemoramide.
(42) Trimeperidine.
(b) Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any of the following opium derivatives, their salts, isomers, and salts of isomers whenever the existence of such salts, isomers, and salts of isomers is possible within the specific chemical designation:
(1) Acetorphine.
(2) Acetyldihydrocodeine.
(3) Benzylmorphine.
(4) Codeine methylbromide.
(5) Codeine-N-Oxide.
(6) Cyprenorphine.
(7) Desomorphine.
(8) Dihydromorphine.
(9) Etorphine.
(10) Heroin.
(11) Hydromorphinol.
(12) Methyldesorphine.
(13) Methylhydromorphine.
(14) Morphine methylbromide.
(15) Morphine methylsulfonate.
(16) Morphine-N-Oxide.
(17) Myrophine.
(18) Nicocodeine.
(19) Nicomorphine.
(20) Normorphine.
(21) Pholcodine.
(22) Thebacon.
(c) Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any material, compound, mixture, or preparation, which contains any quantity of the following hallucinogenic substances, or which contains any of their salts, isomers, and salts of isomers whenever the existence of such salts, isomers, and salts of isomers is possible within the specific chemical designation:
(1) 3,4-methylenedioxy amphetamine.
(2) 5-methoxy-3,4-methylenedioxy amphetamine.
(3) 3,4,5-trimethoxy amphetamine.
(4) Bufotenine.
(5) Diethyltryptamine.
(6) Dimethyltryptamine.
(7) 4-methyl-2,5-diamethoxyamphetamine.
(8) Ibogaine.
(9) Lysergic acid diethylamide.
(10) Marihuana.
(11) Mescaline.
(12) Peyote.
(13) N-ethyl-3-piperidyl benzilate.
(14) N-methyl-3-piperidyl benzilate.
(15) Psilocybin.
(16) Psilocyn.
(17) Tetrahydrocannabinols. Schedule II
(a) Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any of the following substances whether produced directly or indirectly by extraction from substances of vegetable origin, or independently by means of chemical synthesis, or by a combination of extraction and chemical synthesis:
(1) Opium and opiate, and any salt, compound, derivative, or preparation of opium or opiate.
(2) Any salt, compound, derivative, or preparation thereof which is chemically equivalent or identical with any of the substances referred to in clause (1), except that these substances shall not include the isoquinoline alkaloids of opium.
(3) Opium poppy and poppy straw.
(4) coca [3] leaves, except coca leaves and extracts of coca leaves from which cocaine, ecgonine, and derivatives of ecgonine or their salts have been removed; cocaine, its salts, optical and geometric isomers, and salts of isomers; ecgonine, its derivatives, their salts, isomers, and salts of isomers; or any compound, mixture, or preparation which contains any quantity of any of the substances referred to in this paragraph.
(b) Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any of the following opiates, including their isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers, esters and ethers, whenever the existence of such isomers, esters, ethers, and salts is possible within the specific chemical designation:
(1) Alphaprodine.
(2) Anileridine.
(3) Bezitramide.
(4) Dihydrocodeine.
(5) Diphenoxylate.
(6) Fentanyl.
(7) Isomethadone.
(8) Levomethorphan.
(9) Levorphanol.
(10) Metazocine.
(11) Methadone.
(12) Methadone-Intermediate, 4-cyano-2-dimethylamino-4,4-diphenyl butane.
(13) Moramide-Intermediate, 2-methyl-3-morpholino-1, 1-diphenylpropane-carboxylic acid.
(14) Pethidine.
(15) Pethidine-Intermediate-A, 4-cyano-1-methyl-4-phenylpiperidine.
(16) Pethidine-Intermediate-B, ethyl-4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylate.
(17) Pethidine-Intermediate-C, 1-methyl-4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylic acid.
(18) Phenazocine.
(19) Piminodine.
(20) Racemethorphan.
(21) Racemorphan.
(c) Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any injectable liquid which contains any quantity of methamphetamine, including its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers. Schedule III
(a) Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any material, compound, mixture, or preparation which contains any quantity of the following substances having a stimulant effect on the central nervous system:
(1) Amphetamine, its salts, optical isomers, and salts of its optical isomers.
(2) Phenmetrazine and its salts.
(3) Any substance (except an injectable liquid) which contains any quantity of methamphetamine, including its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers.
(4) Methylphenidate.
(b) Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any material, compound, mixture, or preparation which contains any quantity of the following substances having a depressant effect on the central nervous system:
(1) Any substance which contains any quantity of a derivative of barbituric acid, or any salt of a derivative of barbituric acid.
(2) Chorhexadol.
(3) Glutethimide.
(4) Lysergic acid.
(5) Lysergic acid amide.
(6) Methyprylon.
(7) Phencyclidine.
(8) Sulfondiethylmethane.
(9) Sulfonethylmethane.
(10) Sulfonmethane.
(c) Nalorphine.
(d) Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any material, compound, mixture, or preparation containing limited quantities of any of the following narcotic drugs, or any salts thereof:
(1) Not more than 1.8 grams of codeine per 100 milliliters or not more than 90 milligrams per dosage unit, with an equal or greater quantity of an isoquinoline alkaloid of opium.
(2) Not more than 1.8 grams of codeine per 100 milliliters or not more than 90 milligrams per dosage unit, with one or more active, non-narcotic ingredients in recognized therapeutic amounts.
(3) Not more than 300 milligrams of dihydrocodeinone per 100 milliliters or not more than 15 milligrams per dosage unit, with a fourfold or greater quantity of an isoquinoline alkaloid of opium.
(4) Not more than 300 milligrams of dihydrocodeinone per 100 milliliters or not more than 15 milligrams per dosage unit, with one or more active, nonnarcotic ingredients in recognized therapeutic amounts.
(5) Not more than 1.8 grams of dihydrocodeine per 100 milliliters or not more than 90 milligrams per dosage unit, with one or more active, nonnarcotic ingredients in recognized therapeutic amounts.
(6) Not more than 300 milligrams of ethylmorphine per 100 milliliters or not more than 15 milligrams per dosage unit, with one or more active, nonnarcotic ingredients in recognized therapeutic amounts.
(7) Not more than 500 milligrams of opium per 100 milliliters or per 100 grams, or not more than 25 milligrams per dosage unit, with one or more active, nonnarcotic ingredients in recognized therapeutic amounts.
(8) Not more than 50 milligrams of morphine per 100 milliliters or per 100 grams with one or more active, nonnarcotic ingredients in recognized therapeutic amounts.
(e) Anabolic steroids. Schedule IV
(1) Barbital.
(2) Chloral betaine.
(3) Chloral hydrate.
(4) Ethchlorvynol.
(5) Ethinamate.
(6) Methohexital.
(7) Meprobamate.
(8) Methylphenobarbital.
(9) Paraldehyde.
(10) Petrichloral.
(11) Phenobarbital. Schedule V
Any compound, mixture, or preparation containing any of the following limited quantities of narcotic drugs, which shall include one or more nonnarcotic active medicinal ingredients in sufficient proportion to confer upon the compound, mixture, or preparation valuable medicinal qualities other than those possessed by the narcotic drug alone:
(1) Not more than 200 milligrams of codeine per 100 milliliters or per 100 grams.
(2) Not more than 100 milligrams of dihydrocodeine per 100 milliliters or per 100 grams.
(3) Not more than 100 milligrams of ethylmorphine per 100 milliliters or per 100 grams.
(4) Not more than 2.5 milligrams of diphenoxylate and not less than 25 micrograms of atropine sulfate per dosage unit.
(5) Not more than 100 milligrams of opium per 100 milliliters or per 100 grams.

Drug Tests, Anabolic Androgenic Steroids - The Methods Used

Hello Loyal Reader. I constantly see new members on the boards asking if  steroids, will make them fail drug tests. Well the answer would typically be no, but the question could be a bit more difficult to answer. There are certain mandates for certain circumstances. Typically a private employer can test for anything they want. Steroid testing tends to be more on the expensive side, and are not typically done for employment. Now keep in mind, if your company had reason to believe you were using illegal drugs, they could possibly have their employees tested for Anabolic, Androgenic Steroids (AAS).  Here is a cool little article I found that breaks down the testing panels, and what is typically looked for in these panels.


What drugs do tests detect?
Testing conducted according to SAMHSA’s guidelines checks for  five illicit drugs plus, in some cases, alcohol (ethanol, ethyl alcohol,  booze). These five illicit drugs are:
  • Amphetamines (meth, speed, crank, ecstasy)
  • THC (cannabinoids, marijuana, hash)
  • Cocaine (coke, crack)
  • Opiates (heroin, opium, codeine, morphine)
  • Phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust)
However, most private employers are not limited in the number  of substances they can test for and may include drugs that individuals  legitimately and/or therapeutically take based on a physician’s prescription.  Although most private employers can test for any combination of drugs, there  are commonly selected “panels.”
The typical 8-Panel Test includes the above-mentioned  substances plus:
  • Barbiturates (phenobarbital, butalbital, secobarbital,  downers)
  • Benzodiazepines (tranquilizers like Valium, Librium, Xanax)
  • Methaqualone (Quaaludes)
The typical 10-Panel Test includes the 8-Panel Test plus:
  • Methadone (often used to treat heroin addiction)
  • Propoxyphene (Darvon compounds)
Testing can also be done for:
  • Hallucinogens (LSD, mushrooms, mescaline, peyote)
  • Inhalants (paint, glue, hairspray)
  • Anabolic steroids (synthesized, muscle-building hormones)
  • Hydrocodone (prescription medication known as Lortab,  Vicodin, Oxycodone)
  • MDMA (commonly known as Ecstasy)
Methods of testing:
There are a number of different bodily specimens that can be  chemically tested to detect evidence of recent drug use. Although some state  laws dictate which types of tests can be used, a number of options are  technologically feasible. Urine is the most commonly used specimen for illicit  drugs, reflecting SAMHSA’s guidelines, and breath is the most common for  alcohol, reflecting DOT’s guidelines.
Urine: Results of a urine test show the presence or absence of  drug metabolites in a person’s urine. Metabolites are drug residues that remain  in the body for some time after the effects of a drug have worn off. It is  important to note that a positive urine test does not necessarily mean a person  was under the influence of drugs at the time of the test. Rather, it detects  and measures use of a particular drug within the previous few days and has  become the defacto evidence of current use. Because alcohol passes rapidly  through the system, urine tests must be conducted very quickly after alcohol consumption  in order to ensure any degree of accuracy. For this reason, urine tests are  generally not helpful in detecting alcohol use as opposed to illicit and  prescription drug use, which is more easily traced in urine.
Breath: A breath-alcohol test is the most common test for  finding out how much alcohol is currently in the blood. The person being tested  blows into a breath-alcohol device, and the results are given as a number,  known as the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC), which shows the level of  alcohol in the blood at the time the test was taken. BAC levels have been correlated  with impairment, and the legal limit of 0.08 for driving has been set in all  states. Under DOT regulations, a BAC of 0.02 is high enough to stop someone  from performing a safety-sensitive task for a specific amount of time (usually  between 8 and 24 hours) and a BAC reading of 0.04 or higher is considered to be  a positive drug test and requires immediate removal from safety-sensitive  functions. Under DOT regulations, a person who tests at the 0.04 BAC level may  not resume job duties until a specific return-to-duty process has been  successfully completed.
Other alternative specimens that can be used for detecting the  use of selected drugs of abuse include blood, hair, oral fluids and sweat.
Blood: A blood test measures the actual amount of alcohol or  other drugs in the blood at the time of the test. Blood samples provide an  accurate measure of the physiologically active drug present in a person at the  time the sample is drawn. Although blood samples are a better indicator of  recent consumption than urine samples, there is a lack of published data  correlating blood levels for drugs and impairment with the same degree of  certainty that has been established for alcohol. In cases of serious injury or  death as the result of an accident, the only way to determine legal  intoxication is through a blood specimen. There is also a very short detection  period, as most drugs are quickly cleared from the blood and deposited into the  urine.
Hair: Analysis of hair provides a much longer “testing  window,” giving a more complete drug-use history going back as far as 90 days.  Like urine testing, hair testing does not provide evidence of current  impairment, but rather only past use of a specific drug. Hair testing cannot be  used to detect for alcohol use. Hair testing is the least invasive form of drug  testing, therefore privacy issues are decreased.
Oral Fluids: Saliva, or oral fluids, collected from the mouth  also can be used to detect traces of drugs and alcohol. Oral fluids are easy to  collect (a swab of the inner cheek is the most common collection method),  harder to adulterate or substitute, and may be better at detecting specific  substances, including marijuana, cocaine and amphetamines/methamphetamines.  Because drugs do not remain in oral fluids as long as they do in urine, this  method shows promise in determining current use and impairment.
Sweat: Another type of drug test consists of a skin patch that  measures drugs in sweat. The patch, which looks like a large adhesive bandage,  is applied to the skin and worn for some length of time. A gas-permeable  membrane on the patch protects the tested area from dirt and other  contaminants. Although relatively easy to administer, this method has not been  widely used in workplaces and is more often used to maintain compliance with  probation and parole.
When drug testing is conducted?
There are a variety of circumstances under which an  organization may require a drug test. Following are the most common or  widespread:
Pre-Employment: Pre-employment testing is conducted to prevent  hiring individuals who illegally use drugs. It typically takes place after a  conditional offer of employment has been made. Applicants agree to be tested as  a condition of employment and are not hired if they fail to produce a negative  test. However, it is possible for employees to prepare for a pre-employment  test by stopping their drug use several days before they anticipate being  tested. Therefore, some employers test probationary employees on an unannounced  basis. Some states however, restrict this process. Furthermore, the Americans  with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 prohibits the use of pre-employment testing for alcohol use.
Reasonable Suspicion: Reasonable suspicion testing is similar  to, and sometimes referred to, as “probable-cause” or “for-cause” testing and  is conducted when supervisors document observable signs and symptoms that lead  them to suspect drug use or a drug-free workplace policy violation. It is  extremely important to have clear, consistent definitions of what behavior  justifies drug and alcohol testing and any suspicion should be corroborated by  another supervisor or manager. Since this type of testing is at the discretion  of management, it requires careful, comprehensive supervisor training. In  addition, it is advised that employees who are suspected of drug use or a  policy violation not return to work while awaiting the results of reasonable  suspicion testing.
Post-Accident: Since property damage or personal injury may  result from accidents, testing following an accident can help determine whether  drugs and/or alcohol were a factor. It is important to establish objective  criteria that will trigger a post-accident test and how and by whom they will  be determined and documented. Examples of criteria used by employers include:  fatalities; injuries that require anyone to be removed from the scene for  medical care; damage to vehicles or property above a specified monetary amount;  and citations issued by the police. Although the results of a post-accident  test determine drug use, a positive test result in and of itself cannot prove  that drug use caused an accident. When post-accident testing is conducted, it  is a good idea for employers not to allow employees involved in any accident to  return to work prior to or following the testing. Employers also need to have  guidelines to specify how soon following an accident testing must occur so  results are relevant. Substances remain in a person’s system for various  amounts of time, and it is usually recommended that post-accident testing be  done within 12 hours.
Random: Random testing is performed on an unannounced,  unpredictable basis on employees whose identifying information (e.g., social  security number or employee number) has been placed in a testing pool from  which a scientifically arbitrary selection is made. This selection is usually  computer generated to ensure that it is indeed random and that each person of  the workforce population has an equal chance of being selected for testing,  regardless of whether that person was recently tested or not. Because this type  of testing has no advance notice, it serves as a deterrent.
Periodic: Periodic testing is usually scheduled in advance and  uniformly administered. Some employers use it on an annual basis, especially if  physicals are required for the job. Such tests generally are more accepted by  employees than unannounced tests, but employees can prepare them by stopping  their drug use several days beforehand.
Return-to-Duty: Return-to-duty testing involves a one-time,  announced test when an employee who has tested positive has completed the  required treatment for substance abuse and is ready to return to the workplace.  Some employers also use this type of testing for any employee who has been  absent for an extended period of time.
Other: Other types of tests are also used by some employers.  For example, follow-up testing or post-rehabilitation testing is conducted  periodically after an employee returns to the workplace upon completing  rehabilitation for a drug or alcohol problem. It is administered on an  unannounced, unpredictable basis for a period of time specified in the  drug-free workplace policy. Another type of testing, blanket testing, is  similar to random testing in that it is unannounced and not based on individual  suspicion; however, everyone at a worksite is tested rather than a randomly  selected percentage. Other types of testing include voluntary, probationary, pre-promotion  and return-after-illness testing.
Department of Transportation
Anyone designated in DOT regulations as a safety-sensitive employee is subject to DOT drug and alcohol testing.
DOT Modes
  • FAA (Federal Aviation Administration)
  • FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier)
  • FRA (Federal Railroad Administration)
  • FTA (Federal Transit Administration)
  • PHMSA (Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety  Administration)
  • USCG (United States Coast Guard

DOT Mandated Testing
  • Pre-employment
  • Random
  • Reasonable Suspicion / Reasonable Cause
  • Post – Accident
  • Return-to-Duty
  • Follow-up


By: MyBackgroundCheck.com