Drug tests for crack and cocaine include urine testing, hair sample, saliva and blood testing. Drug tests are used by police departments and for drug testing in the workplace to test for the presence of crack or cocaine, and their metabolites in the human body.
Testing in the Workpace
About 10% of employer groups in Canada, and around 18% of companies in British Columbia who have in excess of a hundred employees routinely use drug testing in the workplace. (Source Reference)
In the workplace the reason for drug testing is to enhance safety. Most workplace drug testing is conducted by urine sample. Drug testing includes crack and cocaine use because the stimulant and depressive withdrawal effects of using these drugs can create hazardous situations in the workplace, both for the user and co-workers.
Procedure for Drug Testing
The procedure for drug testing is to complete a basic screening that reveals in a general way whether or not toxic drugs, including crack and cocaine are present in the body. If the test is negative, that completes the testing, otherwise further drug testing takes place, depending on what information and results are required. A standard comprehensive drug test is the SAMHSA-5 or equivalent, that covers virtually all of the common recreational drugs. (Source Reference)
Generally employees will be tested for drugs upon making a job application, sometimes there are random tests, conducted by agreement in the workplace. In sites that need to be secure, drug testing, such as by breath analysis might be necessary before an employee can enter a site. Drug testing will often follow a workplace accident. Terms of employment usually involve dismissal where drug use is involved.
Drug Testing Limitation
The limitation of most drug testing is that it can reveal the presence of drugs and their metabolites in the system, but it cannot measure the actual level of impairment that relates to the presence of the drug. For example marijuana can be detected up to two or three weeks after last use. Crack use and cocaine can be detected for a few days after the substance was last abused, depending on the level of use.
Most cocaine users are risk taking young males – which is also the group most prone to cause hazards and accidents in the workplace. it is problematic as to whether their drug use actually contributes to the risk of workplace accidents, or whether this group poses an increased workplace risk, regardless of levels of drug use.
Different Ways to Detect Drugs
Laboratory Methods
Laboratory methods for drug testing for crack and cocaine, and the related metabolite benzoylecgonine, include immunoassays for primary screening and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to confirm a positive result on screening. The initial screening cut off point is 300ng/ml for cocaine and its metabolite. People who use cocaine to get high might show a positive reading for two or three days after last using. Results can be positive for longer for people heavily addicted to cocaine. The cut off point for GC/MS testing for cocaine is 150ng/ml. (Source Reference)
Urine Testing
Urine testing is cheap, reliable but can be manipulated by abstaining from drug use for a period of time before the testing.
Saliva Tests
Saliva tests are now becoming more popular, as they are less intrusive, and accurate. The main problem with saliva tests is that there are different products that are not standardized.
Hair Samples Testing
Hair samples are effective to detect long term use, and might not show drugs used in the past few days. A history of drug use can be obtained by using a hair sample, although this is not reliable for cocaine which although undeniably present, can migrate along the hair shaft.
Blood Test
The most reliable and expensive form of drug testing for crack and cocaine is a blood test, but blood testing is not routinely done, due to the cost factor.
Sweat Testing
Sweat patch tests are still uncommon and are controversial in terms of accuracy due to many potential sources of contamination.
Controversy about Drug Testing
Controversy surrounds drug testing in the workplace as to whether it is an infringement of civil liberties, or a necessary right of an employer to ensure that he has a drug-free workplace. Issues are raised about the efficacy of different types of drug testing.
There will always continue to be issues between authorities and drug users as to acceptable levels of drug use, balancing the right to a drug-free environment, against the entitlement of drug users to use drugs for medicinal and recreational purposes.
The Narconon Detox Program Cleans the Body out of Drugs and Toxins
The Narconon cocaine abuse treatment program enables people to completely recover from drug use and addiction.
The natural, drug-free detoxification protocol used by Narconon extracts from the body traces of toxic drugs, and their metabolites. Narconon uses for drug detox a specific supervised routine of low heat sauna, exercise and nutritional supplements.
Crack and cocaine addicts, who seriously want to give up their addiction, will find that the Narconon program brings complete release from drug dependency. Recovery begins with complete detox from crack and cocaine – making ex-users feel healthy – and clean.
For more information about the Narconon program, please call 1-877-782-7409.
Many online addiction and recovery resource are available; however, to ensure long-term recovery from addiction, be sure to choose a drug-free program.
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