Overview
Individuals may abuse almost any substance whose ingestion can result in a euphoric ("high") feeling. Drug abuse is the use of illegal drugs or the use of prescription or over-the-counter drugs for purposes other than those for which they are meant to be used, or in large amounts. Drug abuse may lead to social, physical, emotional, and job-related problems.A drug screen (also called a drug test) is the collection and analysis of blood, urine, hair, or saliva to detect the presence of the chemicals and contaminants left behind in the body due to drug use. A drug screen may also be used to detect performance-enhancing drugs sometimes used by professional athletes such as steroids and HGH. Many different types of drug screens exist for multiple purposes.As an employer, you have a responsibility in ensuring a safe workplace for your employees. Keeping your workplace drug-free through pre-employment screenings and random testing is one of the best ways to do so.While the specific effects of drugs on the brain can somewhat vary depending on the drug that is being used, virtually every substance that is abused has an effect on the executive-functioning areas of the brain. Drugs particularly affect the brain's ability to inhibit actions that the person would otherwise delay or prevent.
Effects of drugs
Longer-term effects can include heart or lung disease, cancer, mental illness, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and others. Long-term drug use can also lead to addiction. Drug addiction is a brain disorder. Not everyone who uses drugs will become addicted, but for some, drug use can change how certain brain circuits work.Intoxication with a drug can cause physical effects that range from marked sleepiness and slowed breathing as with intoxication with heroin or sedative hypnotic drugs, to the rapid heart rate of cocaine intoxication, or the tremors to seizures of alcohol withdrawal.
Tests involved
A standard 10-panel drug urine test typically looks for cocaine, marijuana, PCP, amphetamines, opiates, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, methadone, propoxyphene, & Quaaludes.The panel number corresponds to the number of drugs tested. For example, a 6-panel drug test looks for six different classes of drugs. Additionally, one client’s 6-panel drug test could be COMPLETELY different from another client’s 6-panel test.The same logic applies for 4-panel, a 7-panel, or 10-panel drug tests. Employers ensure their employee screening process and drug testing approach match their employee screening policies. These policies often dictate the group or panel of substances for testing.A number of factors influence the number of panels tested, including profession, state laws, or even corporate culture.While no regulations define drug groupings for specific numbered panel tests, certain best practices outline groupings of drugs for each panel.A number of factors influence the number of panels tested, including profession, state laws, or even corporate culture.While no regulations define drug groupings for specific numbered panel tests, certain best practices outline groupings of drugs for each panel.A 10-panel drug test is a common way to check for various drugs in a person’s body. The most common 10-panel drug tests use urine to check for many of the legal and illicit drugs people sometimes abuse.
Treatment
The primary goals of drug-use disorder treatment (also called recovery) are abstinence, relapse prevention, and rehabilitation. During the initial stage of abstinence, an individual who suffers from chemical dependency may need help avoiding or decreasing the effects of withdrawal. That process is detoxification or "detox." Medical professionals may perform treatment where medications used to lessen withdrawal symptoms and close medical monitoring can be performed. The medications used for detox depend on the drug the person is dependent upon. For example, people with alcohol use disorder might receive medications like sedatives (benzodiazepines) or blood pressure medications to decrease palpitations and blood pressure, or seizure medications to prevent seizures during the detoxification process.Those who suffer from a severe mental health condition might need the elevated level of structure, support, and monitoring provided in an inpatient drug addiction treatment center, often called "rehab."
