Origin Diagnostics Drug Testing

http://www.origindiagnostics.com

Drug abuse, also known as substance abuse, is repeated excessive use of a chemical substance to achieve a certain effect. There are many reasons for substance abuse. If a person is under a lot of stress, coping with depression, or is dealing with untreated physical or emotional pain, a person may turn to drugs. It is imperative that you know and understand the signs of drug abuse first before reporting her to the human resources department.

Behavior signs
If you observe one or more of these behaviors in a person at work, it is possible that they are abusing drugs:

• deterioration in personal appearance
• restlessness or falls asleep at work
• chronic irritability or unpredictability in personality
• avoidance of co-workers
• blaming of others for work difficulties
• increased absenteeism
• expressing problems at home
• denial that anything is wrong
• sudden weight loss or weight gain

Performance signs
Often, more noticeable for employers are changes in a person’s work performance. These signs may be an indication that the person is involved in substance abuse:

• quality of work decreases
• productivity wanes
• arrives late to work, takes long lunch breaks, and leaves work early
• misses work often
• poor concentration, confusion
• disregard for safety
• errors in judgment

When to report employee drug abuse to human resources
Most companies have EAP (Employee Assistance Programs) to help an employee deal with problem situations such as substance abuse. It is only mandatory to report substance abuse in the workplace if the abuse is taking place on company grounds, it affects the employee’s work or affects other co-workers.

Other possibilities
Keep in mind that these signs may also be a warning of another problem with the person that has nothing to do with drugs, such as mental illness, depression or problems at home.
Trust your instincts
Whether you have witnessed someone at work doing drugs or suspect that she is doing drugs, don’t ignore your instincts that something is wrong. When in doubt, it is best to seek guidance in determining if the employee or your co-worker needs help.

http://www.origindiagnostics.com

Buprenorphine is an opioid partial agonist. This means that, although buprenorphine is an opioid, and thus can produce typical opioid agonist effects and side effects such as euphoria and respiratory depression, its maximal effects are less than those of full agonists like heroin and methadone. At low doses buprenorphine produces sufficient agonist effect to enable opioid-addicted individuals to discontinue the misuse of opioids without experiencing withdrawal symptoms. The agonist effects of buprenorphine increase linearly with increasing doses of the drug until at moderate doses they reach a plateau and no longer continue to increase with further increases in dose—the “ceiling effect.” Thus, buprenorphine carries a lower risk of abuse, addiction, and side effects compared to full opioid agonists. In fact, in high doses and under certain circumstances, buprenorphine can actually block the effects of full opioid agonists and can precipitate withdrawal symptoms if administered to an opioid-addicted individual while a full agonist is in the bloodstream.

Buprenorphine has poor oral bioavailability and moderate sublingual bioavailability. Formulations for opioid addiction treatment are in the form of sublingual tablets.

Buprenorphine is highly bound to plasma proteins. It is metabolized by the liver via the cytochrome P4503A4 enzyme system into norbuprenorphine and other metabolites. The half-life of buprenorphine is 24–60 hours.

http://www.origindiagnostics.com

Methamphetamine is a stimulant drug chemically related to amphetamine but with stronger effects on the central nervous system. It is a white, odorless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder that easily dissolves in water or alcohol. “Meth” is made of highly volatile, toxic substances (based on such chemical “precursors” as methylamine and amyl amine) that are melded in differing combinations, forming what some have described as a “mix of laundry detergent and lighter fluid.”

Methamphetamine is a powerful central nervous system stimulant.
The drug works directly on the brain and spinal cord by interfering with normal neurotransmission. Neurotransmitters are chemical substances naturally produced within nerve cells used to communicate with each other and send messages to influence and regulate our thinking and all other systems throughout the body.

The main neurotransmitter affected by methamphetamine is dopamine. Dopamine is involved with our natural reward system. For example, feeling good about a job well done, getting pleasure from our family or social interactions, feeling content and that our lives are meaningful and count for something, all rely on dopamine transmission.

Ice is the translucent crystal, smokable form of methamphetamine. It is also commonly called glass or crystal and, like other stimulants, is highly addictive. (In terms of molecular structure, ice and methamphetamine are the same)The use of ice results in a longer, more intense high and an enhanced and more rapid onset of the negative effects of other forms of methamphetamine.

http://www.origindiagnostics.com

Heroin is an illegal, highly addictive, opiate drug. Its abuse is more widespread than any other opiate. Heroin is processed from morphine, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seed pod of certain varieties of poppy plants. It is typically sold as a white or brownish powder, or as the black sticky substance known on the streets as “black tar heroin.” Although purer heroin is becoming more common, most street heroin is “cut” with other drugs or with substances such as sugar, starch, powdered milk, or quinine.

Heroin is a semi-synthetic opiate derived from morphine or codeine and is the most potent of the opiates. It is typically found in white to brown powdered form and is injected, sniffed, or smoked. In the past, powders sold as illicit heroin typically contained only 1% to 10% of the drug.

Slang terms: “smack”, “junk”, “horse”, “skag”, “H”, “China white”

Indicated for:

Relief of extreme pain
Recreational uses:

Euphoria
Relaxation
Other uses:

Pain relief
Cough suppressant
Anti-diarrhea