Drug Testing- Throwing Light On The Drugs That Can Ruin Lives

Posted by AmandaTom on September 10th, 2012

Drug testing has become such a common practice that no one is really concerned by it anymore. Those who use drugs do everything they can to avoid them and those who do not use them do not care about the tests. Drugs can ruin lives and destroy families. They can end careers, especially for someone who works for a company that has a DOT drug testing program.

Of all the branches of the government, the Department of Transportation actually has some of the strictest guidelines regarding the use of drugs and alcohol. Everyone knows how bad alcohol is, but it seems far too often people are not as certain about drugs. Due to an act signed in 1991, the DOT regulates and administrates drug testing for all individuals who legally operate safety vehicles. It is often a requirement for getting the various licenses. Entities such as the FAA and FMCSA are under the umbrella of the DOT and submit to their standards as well as their own.

The DOT drug testing program requires that anyone who operates the various forms of transportations to be tested for at least five drugs. These drugs are Opiates, PCP, Amphetamines, Marijuana, and Cocaine. Depending on the approved DOT drug testing program used, there will also be a check on urine samples for adulterants, which are substances that attempt to mask the presence of drugs. Low levels of creatinine, a chemical by-product that occurs naturally in the human body, indicate that someone has tried to “flush” their system.

Some drugs are actually present in various medical prescriptions. Amphetamines are in Adderall, which is used for treating ADHD. Opiates are commonly used for pain pills, such as Morphine and Codeine. PCP, or phencyclidine, was actually created as an anaesthetic but was never approved for human use.

Many drug testing services for companies and business include supervisor training, which is actually required for supervisors that work for the FMCSA, as they must attend training and make information available to employees. Since a company can have several employees, it is also sometimes possible to get employee training. The supervisor training allows them to be able to spot employees who show the signs of drug abuse. Employee training is usually a basic course about how drugs are bad and educates them on how to get help.

Whether someone is in need of an approved DOT drug testing programs or needs drug testing for any of the other reasons someone could possibly want one, it is important to understand that drugs and alcohol can both have very addictive qualities and that they can be very hard to get away from. It is always important to be sure that anyone suffering from drug abuse or addiction can get the support or help they need to be able to rise above the influence of the drug and return to their normal selves.

To learn more visit Drug testing and DOT drug testing program and get access to over 10,000 testing centers spread throughout America.