How to Take Methadone Test

by: Stephen Jhonson

Prescription drug abuse became a major problem today. According to DEA data, the number of Methadone drug items seized by law enforcement increased from 2,865 in 2001 to 10,361 in 2007, suggesting that Methadone contributed to rise in overdose deaths. In order to control this, methadone abusers must be detected using one step Methadone test. This test is very much preferred as it is simple and detects the methadone abuse within minutes.

Methadone test procedure: One step Methadone test is a ‘dip and read’ type test that is simple to administer to detect the methadone content in urine specimen. This test can be performed without using any other instruments. This test detects the elevated levels of Methadone by using the reaction of antibody to its antigen.

Prior to testing, allow the test card and urine specimen to reach room temperature (15-30° C). Remove the test card from the pouch and discard the moisture absorbent packet. Immerse the test strip in urine specimen for 10 to 15 seconds, with arrows pointing towards the specimen. While immersing the test strip, do not cross the maximum (MAX) line on strip into the urine specimen. Place the test card on a non absorbent flat surface, set the timer and wait for the lines to appear. Take the results at five minutes and do not take after ten minutes.

Interpretation: One step Methadone test results are 95% to 98% accurate. This test yields positive results when the content of Methadone in urine is more than 300 ng/ml. For a positive result, a red line appears in the control (C) region and no line appears in the test (T) region. For a negative result, one red line can be seen in the control region and another red or pink line appears in the test region. When the result is invalid, line in the control region fails to appear. The most common reasons for invalid results are insufficient specimen volume or incorrect procedural techniques.

The one step Methadone test provides initial analytical test results. In order to obtain a confirmed analytical result, a more specific alternate chemical method, Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) must be used to confirm the abuse, particularly after positive results in the initial tests. The cut-off levels for Methadone test recommended are 300 ng/ml for initial test and 250 ng/ml for confirmation test.

In order to overcome the rising prescription drug abuse, one should detect and control the Methadone abuse. And one step Methadone test is an important tool in detecting the abusers. This test is simple and provides accurate results which are set to SAMHSA cut off levels.

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How to Conduct One Step Benzodiazepines Test

Benzodiazepines are drugs generally prescribed in treatment for over anxiety and sleep disorders. They are also classified as minor tranquilizers, as they slow down the central nervous system's activity. According to National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2007, 1.8 million Americans aged above 12 years used tranquilizers non-medically, of them 6.5% started with tranquilizers for the first time. To check the spreading abuse of tranquilizers such as Benzodiazepines, One step Benzodiazepines test can be handy.

Procedure to conduct the test:
These tests can be done at the comforts of home, schools, workplace or in law enforcement situations. One step Benzodiazepines test gives qualitative result for the drug presence in urine. The drug can be traced for 3 to 7 days in urine.

One step Benzodiazepines test is easy, simple and can be administered without the other person’s help. Use the test strip as soon as possible after removing from the sealed pouch. Immerse the test strip in the urine specimen for 10 to 15 seconds vertically as indicated by the arrows, without passing the maximum line on the strip. Then place the strip on non-absorbent surface and wait for the red lines to appear after starting the timer. The result should be taken at five minutes and not after ten minutes. The test should be conducted at room temperature.

Inference of the test:
Preliminary analytical test results can be obtained by one step Benzodiazepines test strip. This test is a rapid urine-screening test that can be performed without using any instruments. This test gives qualitative result for presence or absence of the drug in the urine specimen. It detects elevated levels of Benzodiazepines in urine by selectively utilizing the antibody.

In order to obtain a confirmed analytical result, a more specific alternate chemical method should be used. Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) is preferred method to confirm the abuse after positive results in preliminary tests. The cut-off levels for Benzodiazepines approved by SAHMSA are 300 ng/ml for the initial test and 250 ng/ml for the confirmation test.

With the wide spread of Benzodiazepines abuse, it is very important to conduct drug tests to detect the abusers and deter it. This information should be helpful to you knowing the abuse of tranquilizers and One step Benzodiazepines test to check the abuse.

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Recovery High: Sober Schools for Teens

Perhaps one of the most important aspects for anyone’s recovery from an addiction is a supportive environment that avoids and reduces the presence of triggers (Read Reduce the Risk of Relapse). But many recovering teens return to their old high schools only to find the same peer pressures, poor influences, and challenges to feel accepted in the social environment. Because the adolescent stage of development is so different from adulthood, teen addiction often must be treated differently (Read Teen Addiction and Rehab). If your teen is having substance abuse problems or has relapsed on alcohol, meth, cocaine, heroin, or another substance after going through a detox program or rehab program, you might want to look into the possibility of a sober high school (Read Don’t Give Up: Relapse Isn’t Failure).

What substances are commonly abused by teens?

For many reasons – including minimal social stigma, easy accessibility, and cultural prevalence – alcohol has been commonly used and abused by American teens (Read Parent Liability for Underage Drinking and Underage Drinking: Who, What, and Where). Other substances that parents do not always realize are threats include prescription medicines, inhalants, and meth (Read Parents and Pills: Unintentional Drug Dealers; Huffing: Inhalant Abuse; and Beautiful Boy and Tweak Book Reviews). To combat the problem of teen substance abuse, some parents use test kits, which have advantages and disadvantages (Read Drug Testing in Your Home: Pros & Cons).

What are the advantages of a sober high school?

* Although they should not be considered treatment centers, these high schools offer a supportive environment for recovery and post-treatment care.
* Some schools test regularly for substance use.
· Many of these schools have consequences for relapse.
* The teen will make new friends who can truly empathize with their struggles.
* Students might be required to participate actively in a recovery program and/or to sign a sobriety “contract” of some type.
* These schools usually offer for-credit classes that are often applicable to accredited high school or college degrees.

Is there a sober high school near me?

According to the Association of Recovery Schools, there are schools in Texas, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Indiana, Oklahoma, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and California. However, there may also be other private sober high schools in your area. There are also a number of boarding schools that have a residential option if the family does not live within driving distance of the institution.

What can I do if my teen has a problem with alcohol or drugs?

By contacting eDrugRehab, you can get your son or daughter on a path to recovery. We can help you arrange an intervention and choose a rehab facility (Read Why You Shouldn’t Fight Addiction Alone). Because many families worry about paying for rehab, we can also discuss your financial options (Read Common Excuses for Not Seeking Treatment and How to Pay for Rehab). Get the process started today!

By: www.edrugrehab.com

Oxycontin withdrawal

Oxycontin is a time-released formulation of oxycodone, a drug derived from opium, that is prescribed for moderate to severe pain. Because Oxycontin is time-released and intended to be taken only twice a day, it comes in dosages that are much higher than immediate release formulations containing oxycodone like Percocet. As a result, individuals who abuse this drug often develop a very high tolerance and require a large amount of the drug everyday in order not to experience withdrawal.

The symptoms of oxycontin withdrawal are the same as those for other opiates including morphine, heroin, and vicodin and include nausea, cold sweats, diarrhea, muscle and joint pain, goose bumps, dilated pupils, a runny nose, and depression. The severity of these symptoms depends upon how much oxycodone the individual has been taking. While the symptoms of oxcontin withdrawal are extremely unpleasant, they are typically not dangerous. Nonetheless, oxycontin withdrawal can exacerbate other conditions and it is always best to undergo withdrawal under a doctor's supervision.

There are essentially three approaches to the treatment of oxycontin withdrawal. One is abrupt cessation of the drug with no treatment, colloquially referred to as quitting "cold turkey". Interestingly the term "cold turkey" which is now used to describe quitting any substance abruptly was originally used to describe opioid (such as oxycodone) withdrawal because the cold sweats and goose bumps of the withdrawing addict resembled a cold turkey.

Another method of treating oxycontin withdrawal is to treat the individual symptoms of the withdrawal with a non opiate medication. This is often how oxycontin withdrawal is treated in the inpatient context. One medication is given for anxiety, another for nausea, another for diarrhea, and another to decrease a derivative of adrenaline that becomes elevated during withdrawal. The benefit of this approach is that the withdrawal is less uncomfortable than quitting cold turkey and is not prolonged through the use of substitute opiate medications.

Finally, withdrawal can also be treated with a substitute opiate. There are two substitute opiate medications that can be used for this purpose: methadone and suboxone. Methadone is a full agonist opiate meaning that when it binds to the opiate receptors in the brain, it always activates them. Suboxone contains buprenorphine which is a partial opiate agonist meaning that when it binds to the opiate receptors in the brain, half the time it activates them and half the time it does nothing. For more information on how buprenorphine works, visit our suboxone page. Both suboxone and methadone treat oxycontine withdrawal symptoms by activating the same opiate receptors in the brain that oxycodone does. The benefit to using methadone or buprenorphine to activate these receptors rather than oxycodone is that methadone and buprenorphine stay in the body a long time and thus result in a much more stable state that allows an individual to function in their everyday life, something most oxycontin addicts cannot do. When the decision is made to come off of methadone or suboxone, the drug is slowly decreased thus avoiding severe withdrawal symptoms. However, withdrawal symptoms often do occur with these medications as well, particularly at the very end of the tapering process.

If you or a loved one is suffering from oxycontin withdrawal and need help, call our number above to speak with an addiction specialist right now who can help you decide which treatment option will be best for you.

By:edrugrehab.com