Posts Tagged drugged
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
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
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
Do Our Prescription Drugs Make Us More Violent?
Posted by Maureen in Toxicology on January 18, 2011
Our society has become more medicated than ever before. Although we appreciate longer life and better treatments for disorders like depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and insomnia, the side effects create havoc for some people. The big question is, were we already becoming violent, which is supported by crime statistics, or is the medication pushing us that way? 
A list of the top ten legal drugs that are linked with violent behavior include 5 that are anti-depressants, 2 that are used to treat ADHD and one that treats insomnia. The concern that your child is taking your prescription medications presents further complications when some of these medications cause anywhere from 7.9 to 10.9 times increased likelihood of violent behavior. We can test for use of legal, prescription medications such as amphetamines, benzodiazepenes, and tricyclic anti-depressants but not for all the of the medications on the list.
Some of these drugs are addictive and may be sought after for a drug addiction, accompanied by crime to get the drug, but many of these are not. Some of the disorders that are treated with these medications involve violent behavior before taking the medication, such as some anti-psychotics. Many of the drugs described in the study are non-addictive and are not treating a pre-existing violent condition, such as Strattera. This medication, used to treat ADHD, has been linked to rage and hostility. I have seen this in practice with my son. He was diagnosed with ADHD a couple of years ago and after trying many amphetamines we tried Strattera. The rages and depression he experienced have been painful to watch. He isn’t old enough to cause much damage except to his own psyche through the guilt he feels after he has lost his temper. It is obvious to us now after a couple of months of gradually increasing hostility that we’re back to the drawing board on treating his ADHD. This leaves me feeling fortunate that the raging will hopefully go away when the medication wears off, but frustrated that my little boy had to go through such a painful period. What if he had been old enough to get a gun or get into a fistfight in a bar? The effects would have been much more powerful than just guilt and tears. Treating a painful disorder is great, but watch out for side effects. For some people, they may not be worth it.
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
Pesticides and ADHD
Posted by Maureen in Toxicology on May 22, 2010
We’ve been hearing for a long time about the dangers of pesticides and the importance of washing fruits and vegetables to try to eliminate residue from these foods. This has been a primary reason for the interest in organic, pesticide-free farming. 80% of reported toxic exposures has been attributed to organophosphates and carbamates. Organophosphates affect the central nervous system by disrupting acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, and exposure to a large amount can create symptoms such as CNS stimulation, seizures, confusion, ataxia, coma, and respiratory or cardiovascular depression. This syndrome has been seen more frequently in adults than in children and can be treated effectively if it is caught early.
A new study highlights a worrisome link between low levels of exposure to organophosphates and the rise of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children in the US. Researcher Marc Weisskopf of the Harvard School of Public Health, who worked on the study, stated “That’s a very strong association that, if true, is of very serious concern, (and) these are widely used pesticides.” The study measured the level of the most common breakdown product, dimethyl triophosphate, in the urine of children in the study. Those with above average levels were diagnosed with ADHD at a rate twice as high as the children with low or no discernable levels of the breakdown product. There are about 40 organophosphates pesticides that are registered in the US and these are used on fruits and vegetables and for pest control in the home. Washing your fruits and vegetables can help but if you suspect exposure to this or any other household poisons or toxins contact a testing facility now to request testing for unknown poisons or toxins.
Preventing Poisoning in the Home
Posted by Maureen in Toxicology on March 16, 2010
Poison Prevention Week kicked off last week to remind all of us about the dangers of poisonings and how to prevent them. According to Poison Prevention.org there are more than 2 million poisonings a year and more than 90 percent of these occur in the home. The majority of poisonings are among children under 6 but poisoning is also a leading cause of death among adults. The Environmental Protection Agency reminds us to keep toxic chemicals locked away from children. Unfortunately, sometimes unintentional poisoning can occur when young people, often as young as 12, try “huffing” as a way to get high. This can lead to cardiac arrest and brain damage for starters. Talking to your children to let them know that you are concerned and that this is an extremely dangerous thing to do can help prevent death. If you are worried that your child had gotten into something dangerous, whether intentionally or not, call your local poison control center for advice. If you suspect intentional substance abuse or poisoning, you can send a sample of the substance to a laboratory for testing to find out whether the substance is toxic. Help prevent poisoning and make your home safe for yourself and your children!
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
Holiday Parties and Date Rape Fears…Is It Real?
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests on December 11, 2009
In the midst of holiday parties and toasting, the last thing most women want to think about is being victimized. Unfortunately, this is real and we all have to be aware of the dangers, both for ourselves and for our friends. There are a few ways to protect yourself, specifically, don’t accept drinks from ANYONE you don’t trust, open all beverages yourself, and don’t leave your drink unattended, EVER! Discuss with your friends what to do if you suspect that you or a friend has been drugged so that you are prepared. There are several types of date rape drugs and there are drug tests available that can detect the drug in your system so that you know for sure. Protect yourself and your friends this holiday season!
Article written by www.labtestingnow.com
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