K2 AND SPICE – IS THIS A NEW DRUG AND SHOULD EMPLOYERS BE WORRIED?
Recently, a number of employers have started asking questions about K2, sometimes known as Spice, and the medical review officer (MRO) community has had some discussions on this subject. The following addresses some of what is known about this product and what employers may need to do relative to its use.
K2 is also known by a myriad of street names, including K2 Blonde, Spice, Spice Diamond, Spice Gold, Yucatan Fire, and so on. It is a synthetic cannabinoid compound that was first created in the mid-1990s in a laboratory by John W. Huffman of Clemson University, and was named after him – JWH-018. The formula for this compound was published and soon after that it was being used in China and Korea as a plant growth stimulant. Within the next few years, primarily in Europe, users started to spray this product on plant and spice material and tobacco, and smoke it. Currently, a number of European countries have banned this product.
Use of K2 has been around in the U.S. for several years, but since it was not illegal, and its prevelance is hard to measure, there have been only sporadic efforts to ban or limit its use in this country. Currently, K2, Spice, and other similar products are now sold on the internet and in “head shops” as incense and labeled not for human consuption. However, when smoked, these products produce similar highs as with marijuana use. It is important to remember that these products are synthetic and do not actually contain THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the principal psychoactive ingredient found in marijuana) and are not derived from the hemp plant.
K2 works on the brain in the same way as THC. Both compounds bind to the CB1 receptors in the brain, which primarily affect the central nervous system. JWH-018 also binds to the peripheral brain (CB2) receptors, which are involved in the immune system. From a chemical perspective, K2 has an affinity for the cannabinoid brain receptor (CB1) that's about 10 times greater than THC – meaning that you can smoke a lot less K2 to get just as high.
Although the risks of using K2 are still unclear, there have been reports from emergency rooms of symptoms, such as fast heart beat, dangerously elevated blood pressure, pale skin and vomiting suggesting that K2 is affecting the cardiovascular system of users. It also is believed to affect the central nervous system, causing hallucinations and, in some cases, seizures. One major problem is that there are no quality controls in the production of this product or the amount that is actually applied to the plant material, leaving users playing “Russian roulette”.
The assumption is also made that impairment from use of this product is similar to that of marijuana. However, there is no data on the use of K2 in the transportation industry at this time. It is also important to know that current drug testing methodologies do not test for synthetic cannabinoids; some laboratories can test for this product at special request, but the tests are relatively expensive.
A number of states have either banned or criminalized possession and/or use of K2. States with bans include Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, and Tennessee. A number of other states have legislation pending. Only one of the cannabinoids, HU-210, has been categorized as a Schedule I drug under the Federal Controlled Substances Act, although the Drug Enforcement Administration has indicated that it will review the other unscheduled synthetic cannabinoids in the near future.
So, what does all of this mean to employers in the transportation industry? First of all, employers should be concerned if they think any of their safety-sensitive workers may be using K2 or its derivatives. Like marijuana, these products may have some impairing affect on performance and employers have the right to be concerned about the impact on safety.
However, an employer is not going to be able to conduct DOT testing for K2 or Spice. As already mentioned, laboratories do not generally test for these compounds. Second, employers may want to put in their company drug policy their concerns, expectations, and consequences related to the use of these products. This will at least place their safety-sensitive employees on notice that the employer does not condone the use of these products. Unfortunately, possession of these items is rift with problems. An employer could state possession of K2 may results in termination, but how will the employer prove possession? A bag of plant/incense products may look like marijuana – the employee states it is K2 – how will the employer prove either? Laboratories can test a product to see if it is marijuana. They can also test for K2, but the employer must be willing to absorb the cost of such testing. The flip side of this is what will be the cost to the employer if the employee has an accident and causes a death?
Prevention is still the most effective method to address this problem. The perception that K2 is harmless (and legal in some states) may lull employees into thinking that its use will not impact on their health or on safety of the public. Education with accurate information will go a long way in changing employees’ behavior.
It is not likely that employers will face any significant number of problems involving K2 in the near future, but being ready to address these will at least put employers ahead of the proverbial eight ball. Employers, who use Consortia/Third Party Administrators (C/TPA) to operate their drug/alcohol testing programs, may want to discuss what their options are when and if they face this type of problem. The C/TPA can certainly provide guidance on which laboratories conduct tests for these compounds. Just a reminder – testing for K2 would be under the employer’s policy and not under DOT authority.
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K2 AND SPICE – IS THIS A NEW DRUG AND SHOULD EMPLOYERS BE WORRIED?
Researches on Saliva Drug Testing
A vast amount of research has gone into the development of saliva drug testing methods. Methods for the use of all tests resulting in more accurate and reliable as a result of research continues to evolve. Saliva drug testing has its obvious advantages but unfortunately, the final solution and it has its drawbacks.
The main advantage of saliva drug testing is that unlike urine blood test, it is very easy to take samples for testing and it is more difficult to give a false sample. Urine sample drug test for a particular purpose or a toilet building is collected in the privacy of the booth. Subject to a sample of the test without knowledge of the person in charge of providing clear chance. This is the biggest issue with urine drug test yet.
But the collection of saliva for saliva drug testing simply out of question for this topic checker to pull a trick out a place to meet the public. Saliva drug testing is required for a clean sample looks like using a toothbrush that is collected is only going to be there at the end where the bristles difference, we find a mop that collect saliva. Saliva between lower cheek and gum for about two minutes by keeping the collection system is collected.
Apparently, saliva drug testing methods for collecting urine test course, or for that matter, that's easier than blood test. Another great advantage of saliva drug testing is that a few moments with the use of test kits, the results very quickly without the need for a laboratory has taken advantage of. In contrast, a blood test from a health care professional and testing in a laboratory sample collection requires much time driving up costs and need.
Saliva drug testing a long-term drug use patterns to find out a comprehensive drug testing can not be used as is. Most drugs in saliva beyond a 20-hour period do not leave a residue. Saliva drug testing can safely be used to judge whether the person has consumed drugs within the last 24 hours but if the person's drug abuse history is any at all will not find. In a hair drug test saliva drug testing beat back any day for 90 days is going up, but a hair drug test takes a month or so gives the result.
Saliva drug testing is also a great way by which a visit before long-haul truck drivers to test on the spot to decide that he has consumed a drug that recently would impair your ability to drive safely is. Saliva drug testing at work or to determine drug abuse is a factor that contributed to the accident on the road can be employed in case of accidents. Immediate results and easy sample collection, no other tests in these circumstances will a saliva drug test compare with.
Saliva drug testing in the body's ability to detect up to 8 different drugs. It's usually at the same time 5-6 is designed to detect drugs. Saliva drug test results are accurate and completely reliable. The question why saliva drug testing as popular or widely employed as urine tests or blood tests are not, as arises.
Saliva drug testing finally in all cases where an extensive history of drug abuse does not need to be assessed will replace all other drug testing methods. The quick and easy way to get ready for the market by storm. That is until this campaign to bury the management of laboratories.
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Police DUI Test Kits
In fact alcohol is a drug that the human body's central nervous system which influence the way we react when we drive on the dangerous impact.
When we drink alcohol in our bodies influence our minds after the drive and surprisingly can lead to dangerous side effects, sometimes drivers have passed out at the wheel even in a car in a drugged state such a move risks is on the road to other citizens.
Also commonly drunk driving or DUI or driving under the influence refereed to as driving while intoxicated / driving while impaired (DWI) in almost all major countries in the world of crime because of the fact many deaths caused by drinking and is the driving.
Our blood (BAC) level is the legal limit of alcohol in their own country or state laws depending on the sets.
In addition, we also each state to put specific information in the United States, open to both drivers and passengers, the possible suspension of his license and confiscation of your vehicle for information on the legal drunk driving limit alcoholic beverage container laws , show information.
You actually own saliva, urine or breath for the kit which can be used when you drink all night before you risk your car and you can get into other people's lives can get.
They usually use digital breath test kits which are perfectly suitable for anywhere, home and personal use and also used by parents to test if there children have been drinking before they are 21 they them smell of alcohol or if they can act weird and is like a drugged state.
A DUI individual test kits for measuring the alcohol in your body tells you that you legally allowed to drive will be using to secure the house after you had one too many run or elsewhere want to drive a very good way.
In fact these types of kits you with highway patrol and traffic, will test as police offices are the same so its always best to check yourself with a kit is not personally to the police waiting to pull you over and you test as you defiantly do not want to go to jail.
The Importance of a Drug Free Workplace
Drug abuse in the workplace a serious problem that affects the production of state and U.S. businesses. 100 billion dollars a year in lost revenue and production costs or insurance claims, sick leave, theft and accidents due to drug use to pay. However, drug testing in the workplace dramatically hire drug addicts to prevent employees who choose to indulge in illegal use of drugs to destroy the rehabilitation of those employees with an addiction can reduce this number by. Workplace drug testing not only helps businesses thrive, but it also helps people help themselves or fellow employees before they need to feel injury.
Choose not to implement drug testing at work
Ruling out the drug testing is not necessarily a great idea. Addicts call in sick from his job three times, likely due to the lack of production. What is really dangerous, however, that non-drug abusers at the jobsite almost four times as many accidents of all staff involved in drug use. It clearly use drugs and work performance as well as costs such behavior the employer or business owner would incur a direct correlation between the shows. The importance of drug prevention in the workplace is much the best drug testing can be achieved through the use.
How to perform drug testing in the workplace
In order to create a drug free workplace, many employers hire their employees drug testing laboratories operating agreement. However, many business owners no longer drug trials with retailers are willing to make corporate accounts. These companies provide easy to use drug test kits that can be administered by just about anyone and make results available within a few minutes time.
Drugs in the workplace performance is a well written policy on how drug testing takes place as well as staff and managerial staff to inform them of what will hopefully need.
To many different workplace drug testing are conducted. These methods random drug testing, reasonable suspicion drug testing, annual drug testing drug use after treatment for a bout with the past and is also included. Drug abuse in the workplace in mind they need to be business as usual to provide employers with the peace of these methods to find out about potential drug abuse and its costs and the company's success and reputation effect without having to worry each.
What types of drug tests are available
There are many different types of drug testing kits are available for use in the work place. Most commonly used urine drug test, saliva drug tests and hair drug tests are. Each of these workplace drug testing has its own pros and cons, but all successfully in a relatively short period of time can identify drug abusers. Results for the hair drug testing needs to be sent to the lab, they often provide the most accurate results as compared to other methods of drug testing. However, urine testing at the work place drug testing is considered the head to make it easier to administer and the results can be read and photocopied in a matter of minutes.
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