In 1988, the U.S. Department of Labor created the Drug Free Workplace Act which called for many government agencies and contractors to provide mandatory drug tests for all employees. Since then, many companies have also put mandatory drug testing in place as a condition of employment. Drug testing most commonly involves a urine sample but labs may use blood, hair and, in cases of overdose, stomach contents to determine drug levels.
Stimulants
According to the National Institutes of Health, stimulants refer to both prescription medication and illegal substances. Prescription stimulants including methylphenidate, dextroamphetamine and methamphetamine hydrochloride are used in large part to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Patients taking these medications legally must note this on the drug test form and often must supply proof of prescription. Examples of illegal stimulant medications include cocaine, crystal meth and MPH.
Depressants
Depressants calm nerves and relax muscles. Prescription depressants treat conditions such as anxiety, seizures and muscle spasms. The National Institute on Drug Abuse says that depressant drugs such as lorazepam, alprazolam and diazepam have a high incidence of abuse. Flunitrazepam, an illegal depressant known as the date rape drug, will also show up on a drug screen if tested within eight hours of ingestion. Street names for illegal depressants include rophies, bennies, yellow jackets and trancs.
Opioid and Morphine Derivitives
Opioid- and morphine-based medications are used to legally treat many forms of pain. Drugs such as oxycodone with acetaminophen, oxycodone, fentanyl, and methylmorphine are all commonly prescribed medications with a high potential for abuse. Often patients who begin taking pain medication for a legitimate pain management issue may eventually become dependent upon the medication. Over time, the patient may require more and more medication to get the same effect. StopTheDrugWar.org reports that more physicians are requiring pain management contracts and drug testing before prescribing medication needed to control chronic pain.
Marijuana
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States. Drug tests also screen for the use of marijuana looking for levels of a chemical known as THC. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration reports that the smoking of marijuana is illegal but marijuana in a concentrated pill form does have legal uses. Marinol, or medical marijuana, is a purer form of synthetic THC prescribed for the treatment of nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy patients and for controlling loss of appetite in AIDS patients. Patients taking Marinol must report taking the drug and be prepared to show proof of prescription.
Positive Results
MedlinePlus, a website of the National Institutes of Health, reports that results yielding a positive result will undergo further testing known as gas-chromatography mass spectrometry which allows for a more thorough breakdown of the substances found in the toxicology screening. Foods containing poppy seeds may sometimes cause a positive result if eaten before a drug screening. Testing with the gas-chromatography mass spectrometer will help identify false positives.
References
- U.S. Departments of Labor: Drug Free Workplace Issues: Frequently Asked Questions
- National Institutes of Health/Medline Plus: Toxicology Screen
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: RX Drug Abuse Chart
- StopTheDrugWar.org: Feature-Pain Patients, Pain Contracts and the War on Drugs
- U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Urine Testing for Detection of Marijuana
