Home Testing Kits

Study: drug users understand risks

Meanwhile, in the “tell me something I don’t know” department:

Drug users are well informed about the harms associated with the drugs they use, and perceive alcohol and tobacco to be amongst the most dangerous substances, according to a survey by UCL (University College London) and Imperial College London researchers. The findings, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, suggest that the current system of classifying psychoactive drugs in the UK may need to be revisited….

Drug users were asked to rate twenty psychoactive substances on a ‘rational’ scale previously developed by Professor David Nutt, Imperial College London, who collaborated on this study. Heroin, crack and cocaine topped the list in terms of harm, but alcohol was rated fifth, solvents seventh and tobacco ninth. Ecstasy came 13th in the harm rating, LSD 16th and cannabis 18th. Thus, the survey found no relationship between the drug’s legal status, based on the current classification system, and users’ ratings of harm….

Dr Celia Morgan, UCL Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, says: “Given that the Misuse of Drugs Act aims to signal to young people the harmfulness of drugs, this suggests a flaw with the current classification of drugs. We found that drug users rated legal substances such as alcohol and tobacco as more harmful than Class A substances like LSD and ecstasy. We found a high correlation between harm ratings by users and those made previously by scientific experts across all substances, suggesting users are well informed about the harms of drugs.”

Those pesky well-informed drug users, blowing the curve for everybody else…

From www.physorg.com. Posted by Scotto.

1.  Academic performance is often a key indication of behavior changes including drug use.  A drop in grades is always a clue to something.  It may not be drugs but when combined with other signs, the evidence can mount.

2. Sudden changes in behavior such as increasing rudeness or sulleness.  This can be normal for many teenagers looking to express their independence but it can be one more indicator of drug use.

3.  Are they hanging out with the wrong sort of friends?  Studies have shown that the most important influence in a teenager’s life is not his parents or his teachers.  The most important factor is their peers.  If your teen’s friends are suddenly more moody or rebellious, or if new, inappropriate friends suddenly appear, take note.

4.  Your teenager’s extreme interest in their favorite activity suddenly disappears.  You need to be aware that a drug habit may be their newest hobby.

5.  Mood swings are part of adolescence but if they are particularily severe, more than just hormones may be involved.  The cycles of dependence and withdrawal can provoke drastic mood changes.

6.  Drugs cost money.  If they are always asking for more allowance or extra funds for special school events, it’s possible they are using the money to buy drugs.  However, you also need to be aware of the opposite situation.  Often, a drug user will support their habit by selling drugs.  If you notice that your teen has a lot a cash, or seems to be living in a style that can’t be supported by his part time job at Burger King, be suspicious.

7.  Drug use is often accompanied by physical symptoms that the user will try to hide from their parents.  Dilated pupils and blood shot eyes are indicators of drug use.  Your teen may take to wearing sunglasses inside to hide these effects.  Don’t let them get away with it.  If necessary, explain to them that wearing sunglasses indoors can

harm their vision.  Then look them straight in the eye.

8.  Smells like teen spirit?  Maybe.  But drugs like pot, tobacco and alcohol have distinctive odors that you need to be aware of.  Sometimes your teen will try to cover up these scents with mints, and perfumes.  Of course, sometimes they have simply fallen for the tv commercials for AXE cologne.  Tell them you’re allergic so you can see what they really smell like.

9.  Do you know where your kids are tonight?  Teens need to express their independence.  It’s natural for them to spend more time away from home.  But it’s your job as a parent to know where they are.  If they are relectant to say where they are going or where they have been, this is not a good sign.  Don’t accept their arguments that they need their privacy.  You are still responsible for them.  Arrange a trade-off: they can go out, if you can confirm where they are going.  It will never be perfect, but at least you’ve drawn a line in the sand.

10.  You know they are using drugs but just haven’t been able to admit it to yourself. Look at the previous nine indicators of teen drug use.  If your teen is showing more than five, you know you’ve got a problem.  It may not be

drugs, but you have some serious issues to discuss with your teenager.

Communication is the key but sometimes you will need confirmation that there is a drug abuse problem.  Home drug tests are available online for all the major illegal drugs (cocaine, marijuana, amphetamine, methamphetamine, PCP, heroin, methadone) as well as legal prescription drugs (benzodiazepines) and social drugs such as alcohol and tobacco.  As there are many different types of home drug tests on the market, you need to be aware of the pros and cons before you make the decision to purchase.  Feel free to check out our website for more information or click here now to visit our recommended supplier.

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mandyxclear/3533376645/

Heroin Becoming a Larger Problem in the Suburbs

Few parents understand what a widespread problem drugs are among adolescents or just how deadly and dangerous the drugs they can get are. Living in the suburbs doesn’t exclude these teens from trying and becoming addicted to heavier drugs like heroin. In the fact the high stress, highly competitive environment may encourage substance abuse which can escalate into serious addiction very quickly. Among teenagers in the region of Nassau County in the state of New York 25 overdosed on heroine in the first 6 months of 2009, in 2008 46 overdosed on the same drug and 2007 27 perished from overdose. Where once drug raids netted hundreds of bags of heroine now they retrieve thousands.

These kids aren’t from impoverished homes or seemingly at risk for developing addiction, many are in their teens and twenties (often hone roll students) and the rate of those who abuse the drug are rising over time. The age of use is dripping as the rate of young users rises and the cost of buying heroine lowers. Currently a bag of the drug that provides a 6-8 hour high can be bought for roughly $5-$25 which is a vast difference for the same amount of cocaine which costs $40-$60 for just a 30 minute high. Even prescription medications like OxyContin are much more expensive and cost roughly $40 per pill on the street. It’s actually cheaper and easier to get than alcohol. The worry of this kind of use only grows worse when you consider the much stronger dose of today’s heroin over that of the 1970s and the fact that these kids see the thrill of barely escaping death part of the high.

Overdose numbers have already prompted education programs about the dangers of heroin for 8^th graders but the level of abuse remains high. The only real way these numbers are going to drop is if parents stop looking away from their children’s problems and instead make steps to help resolve them.

• All the home drug tests that I recommend are FDA cleared for use in pre-employment testing, random drug testing in the workplace and in schools, and for confidential testing of your child or spouse.
• These diagnostic tests are highly accurate when used properly.
• Compared to the costs of losing a job, failing school or breaking up a marriage, home drug tests are very cost effective.
• You get results fast.  No sending samples to an outside lab.
• You get all the materials you need for testing multiple drugs in one test: various kits include ones with integrated test cups, dip cards, cassettes or dip strips.
• Our supplier also offers Lab Result Urine Testing if you don’t like to follow instructions. (Think about your last IKEA purchase) Results are usually available within 48 hours.

• These tests will catch drug use within a narrow time frame of three to four days max.  The test subject will have to be a regular user or the tester will have to have good timing.
• There is an invasive aspect to these tests that is hard to ignore.  A urine sample is needed, after all. Your teenager or spouse might simply tell you to “piss off” if you pardon the expression.*
• If you don’t get a sample directly from your subject, (that means actually watch them pee into the cup), tampering of the sample can occur.
• DO NOT TAKE A SAMPLE DIRECTLY FROM THE TOILET BOWL.  Contamination will screw up the results of the drug screen.  You won’t know who you are really testing.
• The tests will only show positive for certain levels of drug.

• Cocaine (COC)
• Marijuana (THC)
• Opiates (OPI)
• Methamphetamine (mAMP)
• Amphetamines (AMP)
• Phenicyclidine (PCP)
• Benzodiazepines (BZO)
• Barbituates (BAR)
• Methadone (MTD)
• Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA)