Drug Testing

Joe Yoest, Toxicology Confirmations Supervisor, has been a familiar face in the laboratory since its construction. He reflects on the drive of our laboratory technicians and the growth that has sprung from that determination. In this month’s “I’m there” post, Joe explains what “we’re there when you need us” means to him. Read the full…

On January 4, 1987, in Chase, Maryland, a locomotive engineer and his brakeman were smoking a marijuana cigarette while on duty operating a trio of Conrail locomotives. They failed to react to stop signals and collided with an Amtrak train carrying more than 600 passengers. In total, 16 people died and 164 were injured. Some…

As you see with this sample of a parent writing an intervention letter to a son, the structure is similar. It’s about mediating the problem of addiction that someone you love is facing. Here is the breakdown of what to consider as you write your intervention letter. 1. Be Mindful of the Things that You…

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) mission is to create safer roads by helping to decrease crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses through education, research, enforcement, and technology.1 The FMCSA is taking steps to strengthen their role as overseers of roadway safety by implementing the new Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Drug…

Alcohol: America’s Favorite Addictive Substance Alcohol is without a doubt the most culturally acceptable addictive substance today. People drink it with lunch, dinner, and even breakfast in some circles. However, it’s also one of the deadliest drugs available as well. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Addiction (NIAAA), almost one-fourth of all…

“There is always soma, delicious soma, half a gramme for a half-holiday, a gramme for a week-end, two grammes for a trip to the gorgeous East, three for a dark eternity on the moon…” ~ Alduous Huxley, Brave New World This literary ‘soma’ definition may not be exactly the same as modern day prescription Soma…

DISCLAIMER: Comedian and ‘Saturday Night Live’ star Pete Davidson has always been open about his struggles with mental illness and substance abuse. He has also been vocal about his love for marijuana and his support of medical cannabis. Here, we will try to provide some perspective on Davidson’s story, in an attempt to help other…

Anxiety in America Today Anxiety disorders are some of the most common mental health disorders today. In fact, the National Institute of Mental Health reports that a whopping 35.1% of 30-44 year olds will have experienced an anxiety disorder at some point in their life. And when it comes to treating these disorders effectively, many…

What are Drinking Behaviors? Typical behaviors of alcoholics are often things that people will do when drinking has gotten out of control. While alcohol can cause many of us to be risky, it is when this becomes a daily occurrence for the problem drinker that it needs to be investigated and addressed. Drinking behaviors are…

SAMHSA has found that benzodiazepines in the U.S. are the most abused pharmaceutical drug. Two of the drugs in the “benzo” family are Ativan and Xanax. They are two types of benzodiazepine medications that are available for nearly the same conditions. They come with many of the same risks and users will often abuse them…