Archive for category Toxicology
K2 and Spice Shops Looking for “Workarounds”
Posted by Maureen in Toxicology on June 21, 2011
Recent laws banning synthetic cannabinoids have really put a cramp in the businesses of “incense” resellers. They aren’t wasting any time moving on to the next legal compound to get people high. Although Spice and K2 are marketed as incense with clear warning labels that the product is not meant for human consumption, no one is fooled and people are buying it and smoking it everywhere. The herb that the chemical compound is sprinkled on doesn’t matter and it doesn’t have the stink of marijuana so it is more difficult for police to detect. In addition each package may contain a different amount of a compound or even a different compound regardless of how it’s been labeled. 
Tests have been developed that can be used to determine if someone has been using Spice or K2, which is based on a formula called JWH-018 or other similar formulas, but it is not part of a standard drug test so medical personnel need to know what they are looking for and have access to the specific test.
Many states have banned a class of these synthetic cannabinoids that may include up to 7 different compounds. In the meantime people who sell the “incense” are busy looking for the next synthetic drug to market and sell. In their world, it’s just a matter of switching out and testing other chemicals so they can keep selling cheap drugs that aren’t yet illegal, but which may be incredibly dangerous. The number of emergency room visits through May of 2011 is over 2000 and on track to be double those of 2010. Hallucinations, rapid heart rate, agitation, vomiting and seizures caused by smoking incense in contrast to the calm, relaxation of a marijuana high show the dangers in smoking something unknown and untested. Some people will risk their lives for a quick high and this seems the perfect option for them. The next compound that is developed may be deadly until it is exposed and banned. Watch what you’re buying…you don’t know where it’s been!
Medical Marijuana Users Not Protected From Employer Drug Testing
Posted by Maureen in Toxicology on June 15, 2011
Even for the states that have legalized marijuana for medical use under the Medical Use of Marijuana Act (MUMA), people who are taking advantage of the law are still at risk from their employers. The act is intended to protect medical users from arrest but the protection does not extend to private businesses. In at least 2 separate instances employees who were using 
marijuana for medical purposes were required to submit to drug tests for their employment and were subsequently fired. Even though both of these people informed their employers about their medical use of marijuana and had supporting evidence from their doctors, the companies still followed through with their corporate policies.
For people suffering from chronic pain or undergoing cancer treatment, marijuana can make a huge difference. The talk show host, Montel Williams, has suffered with Multiple Sclerosis for years and found relief from constant neurological pain with marijuana. He says that it improved his health and well being. He supports this as a treatment so much that he is opening a medical marijuana dispensary in Sacramento, CA that he claims will be professional with a focus on patient care. It’s truly sad that these sufferers are punished when they have found a treatment that works for them and enables them to function well enough to go back to work. True medical use of marijuana does not provide an exemption for employers concerned with sticking stringently to the rules but it should. Their lack of compassion in our “Drug Free” world is cruel and unacceptable.
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients on the Rise
Posted by Maureen in Toxicology on May 13, 2011
Kansas is one of the most recent states to try to pass laws requiring welfare recipients to submit to drug testing. 
Although there are many opponents who claim that this will cost the state too much money to test all of these people, in the long run this will help to ensure that the money is going to the children and welfare dependents who need food and shelter. Too many drug users are on welfare and using the state’s money to purchase drugs. From any perspective this is not the intention of welfare and makes most taxpayers (including me!) angry. In fact, many of the welfare recipients who were asked about the drug testing bill now headed to the Governer of Kansas support the concept. They have seen friends and relatives using welfare funds inappropriately.
The unfortunate side effect of passing laws such as this, and so far 30 states have proposed bills like this, but none have successfully been enacted, is that this doesn’t provide a support system for drug addicts. The bills address different aspects of the problem, from receipt of welfare benefits, to applying for welfare, to receipt of food stamps. Those who test positive may be referred for treatment but the treatment isn’t necessarily covered and then there is the question about how they will support themselves while undergoing treatment, if they actually take that step. What about false positives? Is there any recourse for those who receive an incorrect result? Another worry is that some who really need financial aid, and may use it properl,y won’t even apply if they have to be tested. Some states are even proposing that welfare applicants pay $15-$25 for the test themselves. Perhaps lawmakers will address these issues later but are hoping that this will be a deterent allowing money to be spent on the things it was meant to provide as a stop gap measure for those temporarily out of work: food and housing. This is a good idea, but needs to be part of a bigger picture and an overhaul of the entire system to help people who need it and then get then back on their feet and back to work.
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
Stop! Don’t Eat Out of That Can!
Posted by Maureen in Toxicology, Wellness on March 31, 2011
Guess what? Another warning on what we should and shouldn’t be eating. This time though, it’s not the type of food, but what it’s wrapped in that matters. Eating locally grown, fresh produce is even better for you than you thought, so go ahead, stop by the farmer’s market on the way home. We have all heard warnings about BPA and its hazards. Recent research has demonstrated a link between exposure to bisphenol (BPA) and numerous diseases and disorders including breast cancer, heart disease, diabetes, infertility, and in children Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Most of the focus has been on plastic water bottles and baby bottles, but the net has widened.
The newest research showed that eating only freshly prepared, organic foods for 3 days reduced the amount of BPA in your system by 66%. The endocrine disrupting chemical is found not only in bottles, but in food storage containers and plastic sealing wrap. It is also used to line the inside of food cans. Yes, not eating any prepared or pre-packaged foods is a huge sacrifice, but if you are at risk for any of the diseases or disorders that BPA may cause, you might want to think about cutting back as a start. You can be tested to determine the level of BPA in your system with a urine test. It’s a good way to start making a decision about whether you need to get organic. The FDA hasn’t come down against BPA and the research isn’t clear on whether lowering BPA levels in your body really matters. Another one to watch and see, but less trash is good for the environment, too. Maybe I’ll walk past the canned vegetable aisle for a while.
Poison Prevention Week: A Good Reminder!
Posted by Maureen in Toxicology on March 23, 2011
Have you checked your home lately for poisonous substances? Oh, you don’t have children! Well, what about your pet or your niece, nephew, or neighbor’s child? Keeping poisons including medications, cleaning supplies and garden chemicals put away can prevent tragic accidents. Pets have been known to drink radiator fluid because it tastes good. 
Old medications that have dropped on the floor may look like candy to young children and to pets. This week is Poison Prevention Week sponsored by PoisonPrevention.org and it’s a good time to be sure that dangerous chemicals and medications are out of reach of children and pets, whether yours or visitors’.
Heavy metals, like lead and mercury, can be found in old paint that can be on metal objects in the house and around the yard and in the case of mercury on broken thermometers or thermostats. Environmental toxins such as those found in some fertilizers could be anywhere if you do a lot of yardwork. If you aren’t sure if you or a loved one has been exposed, blood can be tested for exposure to toxins and the environment can be tested to determine whether it is safe. When in doubt, contact the new National Poison Control phone number, 1-800-222-1222. This will connect you to one of 61 regional poison control centers where you can get the information you need to act quickly and, possibly, save a life. Take a look around. Is your home safe?
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
Decriminalizing Marijuana: Is This the Right Direction?
Posted by Maureen in Toxicology on March 15, 2011
Another state, Connecticut, is considering decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana, less than 1 ounce. The Governor’s intent is to reduce the prison population and save the state money. This would also map to similar laws in their neighboring states of New York and Massachusetts. 
Is this really a legitmate way to save money? Many legislators don’t agree and this could open the door to marijuana use becoming more prevalent. The proposed law doesn’t stipulate an age limit or how many times it is okay to be in possession.
Was the current prison population in the state that was convicted of marijuana possession also charged with another offense? Detractors say that rarely is possession of a small amount of pot the only offense and that there are usually aggravating factors. Of the 31 cases of possession as the primary offense up for trial now all of them are for 4 ounces or more and include other charges in addition to the possession charge or are part of a plea bargain that reduced the charges to only marijuana possession. Drug tests are frequently used to determine whether someone has been driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and these would still be prosecuted as they have been. Proponents of the bill say that in 2009 there were 8,118 arrests statewide for possession of marijuana. In 2,700 of those cases, possession of marijuana was the only charge and 75 percent of those involved less than one ounce of the substance. Based on these statistics, it looks like this might save the state money, but will this increase drug use and arrests in the long term? It might be the smartest way to save a buck!
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
Drug Testing Companies Are Getting More Effective
Posted by Maureen in Toxicology on March 10, 2011
If you were hoping that your heroin use was tough to catch, you could be in trouble. In October of last year the US Department of Transportation (DOT) changed their regulations for drug testing, lowering the cutoff levels for amphetamines and cocaine and adding the urine test for the heroin marker to its list of required tests. 
The addition of the test for heroin creates complications for employers who need to test their drivers to ensure safer highways. Heroin metabolizes quickly to 6-AM and then to morphine. Previously a test for heroin was only conducted after a positive result for morphine.
Testing laboratories, such as Quest Diagnostics, have updated their arsenal of tests to include an oral fluid test that can accurately reveal five times more heroin use in the general US workforce than previously believed. The oral fluid test is much easier to administer, making observation simpler, and oral fluid is more difficult to tamper with. According to the Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index™ oral fluid testing with more than 320,000 oral-fluid samples from the general U.S. workforce from January to June 2010, detected a marker for heroin use at a rate of 0.04% compared to the 0.008% positivity rate for urine testing. If you are a professional driver up for drug testing, it’s time to get clean!
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
Fake Pot Banned by DEA
Posted by Maureen in Toxicology on March 1, 2011
Up until today it has been legal in most states to purchase and possess “fake pot”, also known as Spice and K2, among other names. For those looking for a legal high, this seemed like a perfect solution. 
The war on drugs has been the mother of invention and encouraged people to seek other ways to get what they want. Unfortunately for them, the synthetic marijuana has sent hundreds of people to emergency rooms nationwide with seizures, rapid heart rate, and hallucinations. This newer, more dangerous drug prompted the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to step in and ban the chemicals JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-200, CP-47,497 and cannabicyclohexanol for at least a year while it looks into whether to ban them permanently. Although the drug was meant to mimic marijuana’s effects in laboratory animals for research purposes and never meant to be consumed by humans, humans got a hold of the recipe and it’s been sold as “incense” in head shops. Many states had already begun the process of making synthetic marijuana illegal and laws were passed in 15 states . The DEA used its emergency powers and after a waiting period of 30 days possession of the substance will be a federal crime. Tests are available to determine if someone has been using it but weren’t readily available. With the DEA’s action today, the test will become more widely available as the federal agency tries to crack down on the designer drug and prevent what it considers a health and safety crisis. Most studies don’t show that real marijuana is any more dangerous or addictive than alcohol. The fact that it’s illegal is what gets most pot smokers in trouble. Regardless of anyone’s view on whether marijuana should be made legal in the United States, the “incense” being sold in head shops is much more dangerous and the DEA has done the right thing to stop people from destroying themselves with it. It’s too bad they can’t stop people from doing a lot of other stupid things.
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
Smoking is Bad for Your Job, Too!
Posted by Maureen in Toxicology, Wellness on February 25, 2011
As I enjoy my daily glass of red wine, I’m wondering if one day I might lose my job because I drink. How many unhealthy habits do people have that cost the rest of us money: eating fast food and obesity, smoking, driving motorcycles, drinking alcohol? These habits and behaviors are legal, but some companies are starting down a slippery slope. A new trend in some organizations is to not only ban smoking, but to ban smokers. 
The argument laid out by one such company, St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo., is that it’s unfair for those who don’t smoke to pay for the medical care of those who do. Although this may be true, the flip side of the coin is that smoking is an addiction and smokers need help, not discrimination. Being penalized for a legal behavior by not being able to work may not be the best method for helping them to quit.
Some employees have already lost their jobs for smoking after they were hired and some of these companies are instituting nicotine testing to catch cheaters. Talk about Big Brother watching over your shoulder! Although there are already tests available to monitor abuse of alcohol, which could be dangerous on the job, using tests for something that doesn’t interfere with someone’s ability to do their job is extreme. Even some anti-smoking groups oppose this move as too intrusive. I don’t like paying for smokers’ illnesses or watching them take “smoke-breaks” while I’m working, but job discrimination isn’t the right way to go. Let’s help them quit, not punish them.
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
Early Psychosis Linked to Marijuana Usage: Do You Know Where Your Children Are?
Posted by Maureen in Toxicology on February 15, 2011
If you are the parent of a teenager, you are probably already worried about the possibility that they are using or trying drugs. If you’re not, you should be! Not only are there the inherent risks of drug use from driving under the influence to unprotected sex, but now marijuana use has been tied to early psychosis, especially schizophrenia. 
A causal relationship wasn’t established, therefore the researchers of the study, published in the Archives of General Psychiatry online last week, can’t say that marijuana use causes psychosis, but they certainly suspect that it’s possible.
Several theories about what the link between marijuana and early onset of psychosis means have been floated. It could be that people who already have some mental problems are using marijuana to self-medicate or are drawn to getting high. It could also be that those who will develop early psychosis (before the age of 25) tend to smoke marijuana for some reason while those who will develop it later aren’t drawn to it as strongly or at all.
While these alternative reasons to a theory that marijuana use causes early psychosis are valid and may be the right answers, it can’t be ruled out that pot smoking is the cause. Instilling the fear of drugs and their side effects in our youth is more important than ever. Why take a chance that your child will be the one to develop a psychosis that never would have surfaced without marijuana use? Confidential tests are available that can keep you informed about your teen’s extracurricular activities. I wouldn’t take the risk of letting my child ruin their life, and the earlier the onset of psychotic illness, the more long lasting and debilitating the disease tends to be. Stay involved and know what your children are up to.
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
-
You are currently browsing the archives for the Toxicology category.
CDC H1N1 Flu Updates:- Press Briefing Transcript: Dr. Thomas Frieden's Remarks at the 2010 Influenza Workshop for Journalists
- HHS News Release: WHO Declares End to 2009 H1N1 Influenza Pandemic
- WHO Statement on H1N1 in post-pandemic period
- UPDATE: 2009 H1N1 Flu International Situation Update
- UPDATE: 2009 H1N1 Flu International Situation Update
- MMWR: Regional Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccination Campaign -- Skokie, Illinois, October 16--December 31, 2009
- UPDATE: 2009 H1N1 Flu International Situation Update