To Test or not to Test for Drugs and Alcohol in Schools

drugtest — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:37:06 +0000

Although the Supreme Court ruling is a set back for schools who are attempting to help students, reduce crime or improve a school’s image, the fight is far from over and concerned students, teachers, district heads and counselors are looking into alternatives. How could students encourage other students to participate in an all volunteer drug and alcohol high school testing program?

Perhaps the “how” students are tested will make the difference. Previously, urine alcohol testing and swab testing were used to quickly test whether or not a student was using alcohol or drugs. Now, with new technology, there are other less intrusive ways to test students. The procedure is called Hair Alcohol Testing. It is the least intrusive alcohol high school test on the market. Hair alcohol testing is becoming the new preferred method for testing a person for drugs and alcohol for several reasons including:

•    Accuracy

•    Long term results- revealing a student’s consumption record up to 12 months with just 1 inch of hair!

•    Least intrusive method on the market: 1 small inch of scalp hair cut underneath the head

•    A trusted and respected method for detecting drugs and alcohol

If schools were able to offer an almost fun way to test themselves then perhaps the curiosity alone would temp them to volunteer? With new drug and alcohol testing devices, perhaps states don’t need to get involved at all- just leave it up to good ol peer pressure to change things.

It’s not that most schools were having huge problems with teens coming to class intoxicated or under the influence; in fact even before the Supreme Court ruling; most students were volunteering to be tested for drugs and alcohol.

In order to avoid mandatory random drug testing, several student bodies took it upon themselves to test each other for alcohol and drug use. It wasn’t as challenging as you would think to get students to monitor themselves, to avoid the latter. Possibly it was because most school’s consequences for students with “positive results” were minor with no arrests, just counseling, parent involvement and sports and other privileges revoked.

A high school in Washington State attempted a two-year voluntary program but only received a 65 percent participation rate and those were only students in extra curricular activities. Although the turn out was low, a noticeable decline of alcohol and drug use could be detected.

Just because there is a couple bad apples in the group doesn’t mean the entire crop is bad. Students know this and they are eager to prove they are clean. What is more powerful than a “mandatory test” given by the state? A test backed by peer pressure.

Is Alcohol and Drug Testing Really Worth the Cost for Your Business?

drugtest — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:19:23 +0000

You can’t put a price on your company’s name as a reputable provider of safe services. Don’t jeopardize your company or school’s credibility- assure your clients and rest assure yourself that you have responsible employees with clean records.

Crucial Positions Where People May Need Mandatory Alcohol and Drug Testing

•    Childcare

•    Pilots

•    Teachers

•    Machinists

•    Bus or Train Drivers

•    Captains

How Much is Your Employees Safety Worth or The People They Affect?

When it comes to safety, are all jobs alike? Would you mind if your landscaper were slightly inebriated more than the pilot of the plane you just boarded? When it comes to certain jobs, there are some jobs you may feel deserve alcohol and drug screening everyday. As an employer or business owner, you may be thinking, can I afford this? Can you afford not to?

Drug and Alcohol Testing is More Affordable Than You Think

Previously, hair testing was only able to test employees for drug use and now, with recent findings by Trimega Laboratories, a team of British and German scientists, they have found a way to prove whether a person had consumed drugs or alcohol recently or weeks ago. Findings indicate hair testing to be more accurate in determining a person’s alcohol and drug history over other methods.

Now that new developments in drug follicle hair testing have been proven to reveal long-term drug and alcohol abuse, the question remains- what is the price of piece of mind? With new advancements in hair alcohol testing, only an inch worth of scalp hair can prove up to 30 days of drug and alcohol abuse. One test providing both drugs and alcohol abuse results save you from having to perform more than one test!

Hair Alcohol and Drug Testing Described

When compared to the bodily fluid demands of previous testing, hair alcohol testing is fairly non-intrusive. The samples are taken by a professional nurse, who comes to your home or business and discreetly collects the hair sample close to the scalp.

It is then taken to the lab to be tested. A series of assessments called FAEE, fatty acid ethyl esters and EtG alcohol testing are done to measure the amount of FAEE and EtG markers that are revealed in the tests. The more alcohol a person has consumed, the more markers will be present on a test.

The rate that alcohol leaves the body in only hours and minutes makes it extremely difficult to judge how much a person has consumed and how long ago it was that the person consumed it. Hair alcohol testing and hair drug testing are also close to impossible to tamper with. Bleach, hair dye or other external contaminants will not affect the outcome of the test. Only shaving one’s head will affect the results of the test as there would not be any evidence which to test.

When thinking whether or not you should roll the dice on prescreening employees or performing random drug tests, think of it this way, would you bet everything you invested in your job on one person’s mess up drinking on the job, perhaps costing you time and money, but what if that person were to affect a life? A piece of mind is priceless.

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To Test or not to Test for Drugs and Alcohol in Schools

Is Alcohol and Drug Testing Really Worth the Cost for Your Business?