Drug testing has become part of the application process for some jobs and hair follicle testing has become more popular as a method of drug testing. Hair growth is nourished by the bloodstream, so some drugs can be detected in hair samples. According to Omega Laboratories, hair follicle testing may be preferred because the test covers a longer time period and hair cannot be tampered with prior to testing. Every half-inch of hair detects drug use for a period of 30 days. The typical hair screening test uses 1.5 inches of hair and approximately 90 to 120 strands of hair.
Cocaine
Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant. It can be processed into a hardened form, like a rock, called crack. According to National Institute on Drug Abuse, crack cocaine gets its name from the cracking sound it makes as it is heated. The effects of cocaine include mental alertness, reduced fatigue and increased energy. It produces its effects by increasing the amount of the neurotransmitter dopamine within the brain. Dopamine receptors are associated with pleasure and movement.
Opiates
Hair follicle testing can also reveal the presence of opiates, such as morphine, codeine, heroin and Oxycontin. Most opiates are available by prescription to control or alleviate pain, but they are abused for the feeling of well-being and euphoria they produce. According to MedlinePlus, this type of drug addiction is increasing, possibly due to availability. When opiates like heroin are injected, there is the danger of addicts sharing a contaminated needle and spreading disease, such as HIV.
Methamphetamines
Amphetamines used to be widely available by prescription, but are now controlled substances due to their highly addictive nature, according to MedlinePlus. Methamphetamine is a manufactured illegal drug that goes by names such as crank and crystal. Ecstasy, another drug in this class, can also be detected through hair follicle analysis. They are central nervous system stimulants whose effects include euphoria, restlessness and weight loss.
Marijuana
Marijuana, the most commonly abused illegal drug in the United States, can be detected through hair follicle testing. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, parts from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa are dried and smoked in a cigarette or a pipe, releasing the chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. When smoked, the THC moves from the lungs to the brain via the bloodstream. THC affects the cannaboid receptors in the brain responsible for pleasure, concentration, time perception and coordinated movement, causing effects including difficulty thinking and problem solving, lack of coordination and distorted perception.
Phencyclidine
Phencyclidine, or PCP, was originally developed for use as an anesthetic, according to the DEA., but its use was discontinued due to severe side effects. PCP, whose street name is angel dust or rocket fuel, is also detectable through hair follicle analysis. It is usually sold as a powder or liquid, mixed with marijuana and smoked wet. The effects of PCP include hallucinations, slurred speech, amnesia and at times, extreme hostility and psychosis. PCP is one of the most dangerous abused drugs.
