Employee Drug Tests

Some call them illegal drugs and some call them recreational drugs. Many are for legalization of illegal drugs others decry such an idea. Meanwhile we make Transfat illegal and worry about labels on food jars? What a lot of hot air and hypocrisy indeed.

No one can deny that we give a half-ass effort to the drug issue and we’ll have a immense problem in the future with health automobile as these teens and early 20’s kids need new heart valves at 35 years old. This is no joke for our nation. It’s hard to find labor these days who can pass a drug test and the problem is pathetic, you make fun of it. Like it does not matter, well it does.

In fact as I volunteered for Red Ribbon week this last year, I noticed how disrespectful people were of the anti-drug campaigns. Also, Houston we have a serious problem here. One of the managers of one of our outlets calls these kids ‘drug scum’ because he’s having a very tough time finding quality labor.

With unemployment at under 5% and steady, there is a enormous issue with all of this and these problems are not going away. We need to take this bull by the horns and solve these illegal drug issues, it is not funny anymore and it is not okay.

I certainly hope this article is of interest and that is has propelled thought. The goal is simple; to help you in your quest to be the best in 2007. I thank you for reading my many articles on diverse subjects, which interest you.

Perhaps the most controversial of all drug screenings is the random drug test. Employers have the legal authority to request a random drug test, whether they have a reasonable suspicion or not. Many companies have implemented a policy of completely random drug testing. This practice can be likened to that of a lottery. If your name is selected then it is your turn for random drug testing; the employee may have little or no warning in these cases.

Employers often exercise their rights to administer random drug testing as a way to determine whether or not an employee is a drug user; drug use in the workplace is often blamed for absenteeism, health problems and on-the-job accidents. Although many companies already require pre-employment drug screenings, many claim that random drug testing is more effective at finding the drug users in their workforce. With a pre-employment drug screening, the employee often has at least a few hours of warning and therefore can attempt to take measures to “cheat” on the test. Many products are available to help users pass drug screenings; from synthetic urine to agents that mask the appearance of a particular drug, various methods exist for drug abusers to beat the tests.

Most of the random drug testing takes place in settings in which drug use can be perilous to the well being of others. Factories and warehouses are two prime examples of places that often have random drug testing policies. Forklift drivers under the influence have often been the cause of serious, and occasionally fatal, accidents in the workplace. Drug abusers who work with other heavy machinery or on an assembly line run the risk of injury as well. Random drug testing can often produce quick and accurate results. Some employers have drug-testing kits available on-site, and a simple swab sample from the mouth can give an immediate positive or negative result.

Despite arguments against random drug testing, employers often stand firm on their decision to implement this policy. Whether there is probable cause or not, employers have the right to request drug screening at any time. It is in the employee’s best interest to abstain from drug use, whether on the job or not. Though privacy advocates suggest that random drug testing is a breach of an employee’s right to privacy, the simple fact remains that employers may choose this method if they deem necessary. The debate will likely continue well into the future.

There is a maxim in police work that goes; behind every crime there is a motive. So it’s with bodybuilding and most other sports. Everyone can remember Lee Haney’s, Dorian Yates’, and Ronnie Coleman’s string of Mr. Olympia victories, but try naming who placed second to these three great bodybuilders each year.

At the professional and top amateur sports’ level, the prime motive for intense training is the desire to be number one. The second major reason is greed. Athletic success can be transformed into a financial bonanza via endorsements, guest appearances, and professional sport contracts. Given the potential rewards athletic success can bring, it should not come as a surprise that some athletes might choose to shift the odds more in their favor. The following are several of the more common (both successful and unsuccessful) methods used by athletes to beat anabolic steroid tests.

Blocking Agents

In a never-ending quest by athletes to find a method to pass a drug test, the use of blocking agents has become a well traveled route. Blocking agents are drugs that athletes “believe” will allow them to use anabolic steroids right up to the time of competition. The word “believe” is emphasized because the effectiveness of blocking agents is more myth than reality.

To use an example, let us look at the drug, Probenecid, which was initially developed to slow the body’s rate of excretion of the antibiotic penicillin. Probenecid has also been shown to slow the rate of excretion of the class of drugs called keto-steroids. Upon hearing this, many athletes assumed that Probenecid would also slow the rate of excretion of anabolic steroids. Probenecid, however, is not very effective at doing this, and even if it was, it’s on the banned substances list of most sports’ federations, and is easily detected in a drug test.

Diuretics

Diuretics are used to dilute the urine by increasing the excretion of water. Some bodybuilders have used diuretics to speed up the excretion of all drugs in their systems. To counteract this, drug testers employ a technique known as the specific gravity test. Testers compare the weight of a substance to the weight of an equal volume of water, which has a specific gravity of one. If an athlete dilutes his/her urine, the specific gravity will be much lower than normal. There is, however, some controversy as to what range is acceptable as a normal specific gravity value for urine. As with blocking agents, most sports’ federations have added diuretics to its list of banned substances. Diuretics are a poor way to beat anabolic steroid tests.

Substitution

Another method of cheating is the substitution of a non-drug user’s “clean” urine for the athlete’s own. A reported method used by some female bodybuilders and other athletes is to conceal a condom filled with “clean” urine in the vagina. When the athlete is called upon to produce a sample, a quick jab with a fingernail breaks the condom and releases the “clean” urine sample. To prevent this slight of hand by athletes, officials now implement close monitoring.

Catheterization

This is an extreme method of substitution and trying to beat anabolic steroid tests. By using a catheter (a long thin rubber tube) that passes through the urethra to the bladder, an athlete can empty his/her own bladder and refill it with “clean” urine. If this procedure is done improperly it can result in serious infection, hemorrhage, and/or rupture of the bladder. There is an ironic aspect to this procedure. Because of the sensitivity of drug tests, the athlete might still be caught. When the athlete empties his/her bladder, there is still enough fluid adhering to the walls of the bladder to contaminate the “clean” urine. Moreover, the athlete’s kidneys are constantly filtering the blood, and hence excreting urine into the bladder, adding another source of contamination.

Cycling Anabolic Steroids And Retirement

Anabolic steroids are a training drug. They are not stimulants and don’t offer any advantage during or just before a competition. Most bodybuilders are careful to confine their steroid use to the off-season. This ensures that the benefits of the anabolic steroids can be exploited without the risk of being caught. One way sports federations deal with this, is to have random drug testing throughout the year. But this is very expensive, and can be easily defeated.

Some athletes avoid random drug tests by training in other countries. Athletes who get homesick have another option, early retirement. While this means a loss of funding, the athlete can still train on drugs, and then make a comeback. An athlete can, for instance, retire after one Olympiad, use drugs and train for the next three years, and then come out of retirement in time to make the team for the next Olympiad, without ever being drug tested.

Another method sports organizations have to combat drug use in the off-season, is the testosterone to epitestosterone ratio. This drug test was considered to be very effective because it could detect the use of anabolic steroids, long after the drug was out of the athlete’s system. Athletes, however, have come up with an effective countermeasure to anabolic steroid tests of this type.

The testosterone to epitestosterone ratio has been one of the most effective drug tests available since 1982. Athletes, however, discovered a simple countermeasure that completely invalidates this test. Since anabolic steroid use raises the ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone, all an athlete has to do is inject pure epitestosterone, and the ratio can once again be brought back to 1:1. It is claimed that injections within an hour of a drug test can produce a negative result.

As mentioned earlier, there is no valid elimination time for any particular steroid. Many factors influence the rate of excretion of steroids from the user’s system. For example if an athlete is using vitamin and/or mineral preparations, sun-tanning pills, or even some forms of over-the-counter medications, the ability of the liver to process steroids may be inhibited. Therefore, a longer time for clearance may be needed. Such important factors as method of administration, location of injection site, the type of steroids used, duration of use, body-fat level, amount of water in the body, and dosage used, all play important roles in determining the clearance time. There is one guaranteed method for athletes to pass anabolic steroid tests; obey the rules of the competition, and stay drug free.

Your entrance to becoming a Border Patrol Agent will be passing the Border Patrol exam, unless you are a federal law enforcement officer, meaning an agency such as the DEA or the Federal Bureau of Evaluation. Once you pass the Border Patrol exam, you will only be eligible for tentative job offers before you reach the age of 40. The age waiver available to some members of federal law enforcement agency members isn’t extended to Military police.

Competition is high for Border Patrol agent positions and the exam is intense. One in 30 applicants who take the written exam makes it into the Border Patrol academy. Applicants who successfully pass the written exam constitute only 40 percent of those who take the exam.

Acting assistant chief of Border Patrol training and recruitment, Todd Bryant, underlines the difficulty applicants’ face in the entrance exams. He states that the test is very difficult and stresses the importance of using reliable study guides to prepare for the test. Bryant makes this clear with the warning, “If you come in cold, your chances aren’t good.”

Bryant explains the 4

Bodybuilders use these drugs for a number of reasons including building muscle size, increasing strength, lowering body fat, and even boosting aggression levels while training.

There was a time that cycling meant alternating periods of drug use with non-use. These days cycling often means just taking lower amounts. Many pro and amateur bodybuilders stay on the drugs year round and never come off the “juice.”

Cycling – are there advantages?

There are numerous reasons why bodybuilders cycle steroids. The first is to try and minimize the risk of developing side effects. Steroid users have known for decades that the risk of side effects is greatly increased with the length of time the person is using the drugs. A short cycle of say, six to eight weeks, will in all likelihood not produce any serious medical problems. The problem of course is that many bodybuilders don’t limit their use to such time periods. They stay on for months, if not years at a stretch. Is it any wonder that many of these same individuals start suffering side effects down the road?

A second reason bodybuilders following steroid cycling is to try and beat drug tests. For the first 15 to 20 years that steroids were in existence there was no drug test to detect them. But in the mid seventies sports’ federation started catching up with drug users by implementing the first steroid tests. Even though the first tests were easy to beat, it wasn’t long before science had improved the lab tests. Of course athletes answered by cycling between long acting and short acting steroids. Although not foolproof, it does allow many bodybuilders and other athletes to pass their drug test on contest day.

A final reason for cycling steroids is to boost their effectiveness. Most users report that they achieve their best results during their first couple of cycles. The reason is because their drug receptors weren’t used to the drugs. But as steroid usage continues their receptors become less responsive to the drugs. For this reason heavy users need to stay on the drugs for long periods of time – small amounts over short periods of time just don’t yield good results anymore. This reduced response to drugs over time is called “down regulation” and is one of the primary reasons why the first couple of cycles of steroids are usually the most effective.

The problem with Cycling

Even though most smart bodybuilders recognize that cycling is the way to go, it is not without risks. Some individuals are very sensitive to the effects of steroids. Even by alternating periods of drug usage with non-usage they might still develop side effects. The only way to know how a drug will react in a person’s body is to use it. Unfortunately by then it may be too late.

With about drug testing, Steroid cycling is no longer a sure way to pass a drug test. Tests are becoming more and more sensitive and many steroids can be detected as far back as 18 to 24 months from their last usage. Even some of the fast-clearing oral drugs are being picked up in drug tests.

Perhaps the bottom line is that even if an athlete cycled steroids to pass a drug test and reduce the risk of side effects, as of 1991, steroid laws have made anabolic steroids banned substances. That bottle of Winstrol could get you arrested.

Legal alternatives!

With all the risks associated with steroids, bodybuilders should take a look at the various steroid alternatives that are available. Users report that many of these products are just as powerful and as effective at increasing muscle size as their illegal and potentially dangerous cousins.

We all know that the New York Police Department is one of the most famous police departments in the world. It’s been one of the most featured police agencies in movies world wide, so it is not uncommon that a lot of people out there want to be a New York Police officer. However before you are able to be a police officer you will need to go through the different steps in the recruitment process of the New York Police Department.

According to the New York Police department website you will need to pass the written police test before you are able to be allowed to proceed with the other part of the recruitment process. Requirements to take the written examination:

o  Applicants must be at least 17

A lot of people are having a problem when it comes to drug testing. Some people are guilty, some people are not. Your career or your future is at stake. Through drug testing, many people might lose their jobs; several people will not be accepted in any company and a lot of negative effects. You have to be careful with the different tips that you will find on how to pass a drug test.

Are you familiar with THC? THC is a kind of fat soluble. These THCs are piled up in the fat cells of the body. It’s said that it’s very difficult to remove or clean these out. There are a lot of herbal products available in the market that says they can clean your body system but the truth is you can just clean your body system for a short time. According to some people or experts, the only way to remove the THC drug from your fat cell is through exercising and taking of some products that allows detoxification process to occur.

Here are some examples of false home remedies in removing the THC from your body system.

o  Water – it is recommended to drink lots of liquid especially water before undergoing a drug test. Many people are drinking lots of water many days before the test. This isn’t effective because the THC isn’t water soluble.

o  Diuretics – this is a kind of liquid that will let you urinate often. Some examples of diuretics are coffee, juices, beer, iced tea and soft drinks. Just like water, diuretics will just clean your body system from THC marijuana temporarily.

o  Vinegar – there is a saga that when you drink vinegar, it’ll eliminate THC in your body. It is definitely false. The truth is, vinegar will just level down the PH content of your urine.

o  Dexatrim – there is also a saga that an active ingredient of Dexarim that is called phenylpropanolamine will be helpful compared to others. But this is definitely not correct.

o  Fiber – A high fiber diet might help but only for a short period of time. The fiber diet that you will have will pass on the fat soluble metabolites to your colon rather than to your bladder.

There you go. Those are the different myths about home remedies for you to pass a drug test. It’s so sad that there are still some people who follow these false home remedies. The best way for you to pass a drug test is very simple: just simply do not take any of them.

The popularity of drug testing is rising all over the world. In a recent survey, the management of 81% organizations admitted to subjecting their employees to workplace drug testing in order to check their sobriety. This is undertaken with the aim of identifying drug users so that appropriate steps in the interest of the organization. Therefore, for a decision to be taken in favor of an employee, it is necessary that he passes the test. There are mainly four types of drug tests that are commonly performed.

Urine testing is the most commonly used method for checking any toxins at human body. Under this type of testing, a person is required to provide a urine specimen in a cup or bottle. This specimen is checked using a panel kit. Alternatively, it may be sent to a laboratory to be verified under a gas analyzer. Test Kits provide instant results while the process of getting the specimen tested through a laboratory requires more time.

Hair Follicle test is another type of checking any substances at the body. It usually provides correct and reliable results and reveals whether a person has consumed drugs in the last few months. In order to avoid this type of testing, some people shave off their heads because at least half inch of hair is required. However, it should be remembered that the employer may even use pubic, underarm, leg or arm hair for testing if the employee does not have adequate hair on his head.

Blood tests prove to be more costly as compared to other one, and used when an employee is interviewing for a high level position. Insurance companies also use blood tests for their prospective clients.

A saliva test is not very commonly used, due to its limitation. Saliva contains drugs consumed within the last few days. Normally, law enforcement agencies as well as insurance companies make use of this method.

How to pass a drug test? The answer to this is simple – make sure that you have no drugs in your body at the time the test is undertaken. You need not worry about this aspect if you do not use drugs at all. If you do use drugs and wish to pass a drug test, you should remember that toxins do stay in the system for a certain period of time. Therefore you need to ascertain that there are no toxins in your system during the test. This is quite a simple task. For this, you require knowledge about the time duration that different toxins take to get washed out from the body. Our drug use timetable would provide you with valuable insight into this matter. You can get to know when your body would be completely free of toxins, for which you would be required to answer only a few simple questions.

Employers entrust their workers with a vast array of responsibilities in their businesses. Many employers feel it is necessary for prospective employees to submit to a pre-employment drug screening. This is especially true in industries that require the use of heavy machinery such as forklift drivers, assembly workers and even drivers.

In the United States, we are fortunate to have strict guidelines for workplace safety. Employers are bound by law to provide a safe working environment for their employees, to minimize the risks of accidents or injuries. This is one of the most common reasons for drug testing in the workplace. Employers understand that drug abuse may alter reasoning and logical abilities, thereby causing unnecessary and preventable workplace accidents.

Drug Testing in the Workplace

Drug testing in the workplace became very popular in the 1980’s. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed an executive order to ban the use of drugs among Federal employees. The Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 made it mandatory that Federal employees abstain from drug use whether on or off duty. The signing of this order helped to create other similar legislation in nearly every state. Many of the nation’s largest corporations decided this was good practice for all employers and since that time, many employers have drug testing as a condition of employment.

Many opponents of workplace drug testing argue that this is not necessarily good practice. While most opponents recognize employer concerns regarding drug use among employees, they argue that it is a violation of their privacy to require drug testing. This is especially true among those who will not occupy positions that utilize dangerous equipment, such as office workers. Most likely, this is a debate that will not end in the near future. Employers take advantage of their rights to test employees for drugs, while opponents will continue to argue against possible privacy right violations.

Drug Testing Info provides detailed information about employee, random, high school, hair, and urine drug testing and drug testing kits. Drug Testing Info is the sister site of Prescription Drugs Addiction Web.

Drug testing involves many different methods and devices that detect whether or not a person has been using drugs or is currently under the influence. Drug testing products are available for home and office use that help concerned parents or employers find out the truth about their teen or employees. Likewise, drug testing procedures assist employers in creating a workplace drug testing program that ensures the safety and wellbeing of their employees while still protecting their rights.

On Site Drug Testing

Substance abuse testing works by means of testing a sample from an individual to find out if drug use has occurred. On site drug testing is typically best for the office and workplace environments as the results can be obtained quickly and action can be taken immediately. On site drug testing can occur in a number of ways. Urine drug testing is the most common drug testing products. It works great as an on site drug test because after a sample is taken, test results are typically available within a few minutes.

Saliva (oral) drug testing is also a convenient means of substance abuse testing. After a collector sponge is saturated in the donor’s saliva, it is placed in a testing device from which results can be read. Spray drug testing is also convenient, but not quite as effective as other drug testing products. Lastly, hair drug testing is probably one of the most accurate drug testing products on the market. While it requires a laboratory to obtain results, this form of on site drug testing requires only a few strands of hair follicles as sample.

Drug Testing Procedures

Creating a drug testing program can be a viable option for employers who wish to increase productivity, lessen the likelihood of jobsite accidents and insurance claims, and maintain a safe working environment for all. In order to organize drug testing procedures for the workplace, it is advisable to seek legal counsel to ensure your company’s program does not violate any federal or state laws or individual rights. Additionally, a clearly written workplace drug testing policy and procedure is required in order for the program to be carried out smoothly. An effective on site drug testing policy will detail when and where the drug testing procedures will be carried out, who will be conducting the tests and disciplinary action to be expected should an individual test positive for an illicit substance.

Another important aspect to take into consideration during the planning stages of drug testing procedures is when drug testing will take place. Deciding on whether or not you will enforce random drug testing, pre-employment screening or only suspicion-based testing gives you as an employer a better idea of how many testing kits required for a given year.

Drug Testing Products

Drug testing products are efficient and effective at screening for drug use. As an employer, it is vital to choose a drug testing product that is easy to use as well as accurate.

Parents also benefit from drug testing products that provide on site results. If you suspect your teen is using drugs, a simple urine drug test after they get home from a party will provide the answers you need. Substance abuse testing used to be reserved to laboratories, but now, anyone can conduct a drug test in order to create a safer and healthier environment for all.

More information about this article can be found at Drug Testing Blog. The article is prepared by Serhat Pala who runs the website TestCountry.com Some of the information used in this article is taken from : Pros and Cons of Different Drug Testing Methods