Drug Screens & Random Testing

Are your employees using drugs?  You may be surprised to learn that an estimated 9.4 million full-time workers age 18 to 64 report using illicit drugs and alcohol.  And a third of those users are dependent on drugs, while the other two thirds abuse alcohol. That is why you need a drug testing program at your company.

Improve Your Bottom Line

Drug use affects your bottom line.  Workers who do drugs are more likely to change jobs or skip work.  The good news is you can put programs in place to make sure your workplace is drug free.  A good drug free program includes pre-employment drug testing and doing random drug testing throughout their tenure with your company.

“Many employers ask us how useful the tests are because they think drugs don’t stay in people’s systems for long periods of time,” said Kim West, director of Substance Abuse Testing at HealthCARE Express.  “They are then surprised to learn just how long drugs stay in someone’s system.  They are also surprised to learn that some tests can detect drug use done over a year ago.”

HealthCARE Express also certified to do DOT Drug & Alcohol Testing.

About Drug Tests

The standard drug test for pre-employment and random drug screens is the 9 Panel test.  It uses a urine sample to test for drug use.  This simple test is able to indicate drug use up to 60 days depending on the drug used.  Other panel sizes are available.  The testing time for them is the same.

In addition to testing urine, employers can also test hair to find out if their employees are using drugs.  Hair tests using body hair can test for drug use over the last 365 days.  Hair test from a person’s head can indicate drug use over the last 90 days.

Below is a chart that indicates the types of drugs and the length of time each test can dedicate use in an employee’s system.

Substance	Urine Test (Panel Test)	Body Hair Test	Head Hair Test
Alcohol	10-12 hours	n/a	n/a
Amphetamine	1-5 days	Up to 1 Year	Up to 90 days
Barbiturates	2-12 days	n/a	n/a
Benzodiazepines	1-12 weeks	n/a	n/a
Cannabis (marijuana)	1-60 days	Up to 1 Year	Up to 90 days
Cocaine	1-3 days	Up to 1 Year	Up to 90 days
Methadone	1-10 days	n/a	n/a
Methamphetamine	1-5 days	Up to 1 Year	Up to 90 days
Opiates (codeine)	2-4 days	Up to 1 Year	Up to 90 days
PCP	2-10 days	n/a	n/a
TCAs	1-60 days

More Information

Download a Drug Testing Brochure.

Call Us:
Texarkana: 903-791-9355, ext. 103
Longview: 903-759-9355

E-mail Us: drugtesting@healthcareexpress.us

Common Street Names for Drugs

In order to know what you are testing form, employers should understand the different names used for certain drugs or drug catagories.

Amphetamines are also known as Speed. Abused prescription drugs that show up as Amphetamines include Dexedrine and Benzedrine.

Barbiturates are also known as Downers, Barbs, Goof Balls, Reds, and Yellow Jackets. Abused prescription drugs that show up as Barbiturates include Amytal, Florinal, Nembutal, Donnatal and Seconal.

Benzodiazepines are commonly called Bennies. Pharmaceutical names include Valim, Serax, Librium, Xanax, Tranxene and Restoril.

Cannabis is most commonly called Marijuana. Other street names include Dope, Weed, Hemp, Hash, Colombian, and Sinsemilla. In some states Cannabis is sold as a prescription under the name Marinol.

Cocaine is also known as Coke, Crack, and Rock Cocaine.

Methamphetamines are also known as Speed, Ice, Crystal, and Crank. Abused prescription drugs that show up as Methamphetamines include Desoxyn and Methedrine.

Another category of Methamphetamines is known as MDMA or Methlyenedioxymethamphetamine. This long name is often shortened to Ecstacy, XTC, ADAM or Lover’s Speed.

Opiates come in two natural forms, Morphine and Codeine. Other forms of opiates include Heroin, Hydrocodone, Hydromorphone, Meperidine, Oxycodone, Fentanyl, Methadone, Propoxyphene and Pentazocine. Methadone is commonly called Fizzies.

PCP is the common terminology for Phencyclidine. The street name for PCP is Angel Dust.