Richmond, Va. – Urine specimen dilution is the most common method used to avoid detection of new drug and alcohol use. Dilution occurs when someone consumes an excessive amount of fluid (2-4 quarts) over a short period of time (90 minutes). Dilution significantly lowers the concentration of detectable drugs and alcohol in urine and also […]
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Vapes and E-Cigarettes in Today’s Society
Richmond, Va. – Vapes and E-cigarettes in today’s society come in many shapes and sizes, and have gone by many different names. Some of the names include, “e-cigs,” “e-hookahs,” “mods,” “vape pens,” and “electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS)”.[1] E-cigarettes heat the fluid inside them into a vapor or aerosol. The fluid can contain nicotine, ultrafine […]
Read MoreDrug Test Cutoff Levels – Not What You Think
Richmond, Va. – With very few exceptions, drug test levels should only be compared to a cutoff to determine whether a sample (e.g., urine, oral fluid, or hair) is positive or negative. A sample that produces a drug test level below the cutoff is deemed negative, while a sample that produces a drug test level […]
Read MoreAlcohol Use and Effects In the United States
Richmond, Va. – Alcohol is the most common addiction in the United States, affecting millions of families across the country. Alcohol use causes nearly a third of all driving fatalities, is the third leading cause of preventable death in America, and alcohol misuse costs the United States more than $249 billion per year. There are […]
Read MoreWhat makes a Safe Injection Site?
Richmond, Va. – A Safe injection site, also called supervised consumption services, safe consumption sites, overdose prevention centers, or supervised injection facilities, are legally sanctioned, medically supervised facilities in which drug users can, using their own drugs, consume drugs in a safe space. Staff at the facilities do not provide drugs or assist users in […]
Read MoreOpioid Intervention Court: Removing Shame from Addiction
Richmond, Va. – More than 33,000 Americans died from an opioid overdose in 2015.[1] In 2017, with the help of a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Buffalo, NY started the first Opioid Intervention Court (OIC), overseen by Judge Craig Hannah. The purpose of the court is to link participants to Medication Assisted Treatment […]
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