Common Drugs of AbuseWhat to look for, physical symptoms, and dangers

By choosing Quest Diagnostics Employer Solutions as your drug testing partner, you gain all the advantages of proven technology, coupled with personal service and support. You will be working with a team that is knowledgeable, accessible, and devoted to being there for you. You can count on the breadth of our experience and resources.

We will guide you in choosing the right test and timing to optimize the success of your drug testing program. We want to help you achieve your drug testing goals. We are more than just a lab; we’re a true partner in your success. Our comprehensive testing options include:

UrineScreen for a wide variety of illicit and prescribed substances with the most common testing method.

Oral FluidEasily collect under direct supervision using Oral-Eze®, significantly reducing the possibility of adulteration or substitution.

HairReveal a longer detection window of repetitive drug use as far back as 90 days with an observed collection.

Medical Professional Test for substances that are readily available in healthcare settings and hospitals.

Prescription DrugsDetect opioid prescription drugs, the fastest growing segment of workplace positives, which can impact safety.

AlcoholExpect rapid, reliable results from laboratory-based urine or blood tests.

SteroidsTest for the presence of a wide variety of anabolic agents that may be misused to increase strength or enhance performance.

InstantScreen using convenient options such as point-of-collection tests (POCT), which can be performed on-site or at a collection site.

We lead the industry in science and service.

Name Physical Symptoms Dangers Detection Time

AmphetaminesLook For: Tablets of varying colors, possible chain cigarette smoking

Long periods without rest or sleep, loss of appetite, anxiety, irritability, rapid speech, tremors, mood elevation

Disorientation, severe depression, paranoia, possible hallucinations, increase in blood pressure, fatigue

Methamphetamine, Amphetamine Urine: 1 to 3 daysHair: up to 90 days (depending on hair length) Oral Fluid: 24 to 48 hours

Anabolic SteroidsLook For: Oil-based injectable intramuscular solutions (ampoules, vials, syringes, bottles), tablets or lozenges for oral administration, sprays, skin lotions

Yellow tint skin color, acne, gynecomastia, gain in weight, accumulation of fluids, psychological disorders such as aggressiveness. In females: marked masculinization, deeper voice, male-pattern hair growth

Liver dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, infertility

Multiple metabolites, some parent steroids Testosterone to epitestosterone ratio (T/E) for detection of endogenous steroids abuse Urine: if drug taken orally: up to 4 weeks; if drug injected: 1.5 months up to 1+ year

BarbituratesLook For: Capsules of varying colors, longer periods of rest or sleep, dizziness, cold and clammy skin

Depression, decreased alertness and muscle control, intoxication and slurred speech, drowsiness

Rigidity and painful muscle contraction, emotional instability, possible overdose and death, especially when mixed with alcohol

Secobarbital, Butalbital, Pentobarbital, Amobarbital Phenobarbital• Urine (all except Phenobarbitol): 1 to 3

days (short acting)• Urine (Phenobarbital): 1 to 3 weeks

BenzodiazepinesLook For: Pills and injection paraphernalia

Slurred speech, disorientation, drunken behavior without odor of alcohol

Shallow respiration, cold and clammy skin, dilated pupils, weak and rapid pulse, coma, possible death

Common Benzodiazepines and/or specific metabolites: Oxazepam, Nordiazepam, Temazepam (Restoril®), Flurazepam (Dalmane®), Alprazolam (Xanax®), Lorazepam (Ativan®), Chlordiazepoxide (Librium®), Clorazepate (Tranxene®), Diazepam (Valium®), Halazepam (Paxipam®), Medazepam (Nobrium®), Prazepam (Centrax®), Flunitrazepam, Clonazepam (Klonopin®), Midazolam (Versed®)• Urine: varies from 1 to 14 days (depending

on specific Benzodiazepine)

CocaineLook For: Glassine envelopes, razors, small spoons, bitter white crystalline powder, granular rocks

Short-lived euphoria changing to depression, irritability, nervousness, tightness of muscles

Shallow breathing, fever, anxiety, tremors, possible death from convulsions or respiratory arrest

Benzoylecgonine• Urine: 1 to 3 days• Hair: up to 90 days (depending on hair

length)• Oral Fluid: 24 to 48 hours

KetamineLook For: Liquid or white powder

Disassociative effects similar to PCP, large doses put users into a dreamlike, hallucinogenic state

Tachycardia, hypertension, nystagmus, respiratory depression, visual hallucinations, cataleptic state

Ketamine metabolite (dehydronorketamine) • Urine: 1 to 2 days

LSDLook For: Colorless, odorless tablets or capsules (microdots), liquid solution on gelatin (window panes), liquid solution diluted and impregnated on blotting paper (blotter)

Mood-altering effects, flashbacks, severe depression

Tachycardia, hypertension, hyperthermia, mydriasis, lacrimation, visual hallucinations, synthesias ataxia, tremors

Lysergic acid diethylamide • Urine: 8 hours

Common Drugs of Abuse Chart

Name Physical Symptoms Dangers Detection Time

MarijuanaLook For: Plastic baggies, rolling paper, “roach” clips, odor of burnt rope

Altered perception, dilated pupils, lack of concentration and coordination, craving for sweets, increased appetite, laughter

Psychological dependence, increased heart rate, impaired short-term memory, anxiety, lung damage, possible psychosis with chronic use

11-Nor-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid• Urine: occasional use: 1 to 3 days

habitual use: up to 30 days• Hair: up to 90 days (depending on

hair length)Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol• Oral Fluid: up to 24-30 hours

MethadoneLook For: White crystalline powder, tablets, liquid (injectable)

Euphoria, drowsiness, respiratory depression, constricted pupils, nausea

Slow and/or shallow breathing, clammy skin, convulsions, coma, possible death

Methadone and metabolite • Urine: 1 to 3 days

Prescription OpiatesLook For: Capsules, tablets

Insensitivity to pain, euphoria, sedation, nausea, vomiting, itchiness, watery eyes, running nose

Lethargy, weight loss, hepatitis, slow and shallow breathing, possible death

Hydrocodone - (Vicodin®), (Lortab®)Hydromorphone - (Dilaudid®), (Exalgo®), (Palladone®) , Oxycodone - (Endocet®), (Oxycontin®), (Percocet®), (Percodan®), Oxymorphone - (Numorphan®), (Opana®)• Urine: 1 to 3 days• Oral Fluid: 24 to 48 hours

Opiates (Standard)Look For: Glassine envelopes, needles and syringes, caps or spoons, tourniquets, needle marks on arms, capsules, tablets

Insensitivity to pain, euphoria, sedation, nausea, vomiting, itchiness, watery eyes, running nose

Lethargy, weight loss, hepatitis, slow and shallow breathing, possible death

Codeine, Morphine (MS Contin® , OraMorph® , Roxanol® ), Heroin• Urine: 1 to 3 days• Hair: up to 90 days (depending on

hair length)• Oral Fluid: 24 to 36 hours

PhencyclidineLook For: Liquid capsules, white or brown powder on paper stamps, sugar cubes, cigarettes, joints, injection paraphernalia

Increased pulse and heart rate, blood pressure and temperature, possible mood and perception alteration, paranoia, panic, anxiety, nausea, tremors, suicidal urge

Unpredictable behavior, flashbacks, possible emotional instability and psychosis, hallucinations

Phencyclidine• Urine: occasional use: 1 to 5 days;

habitual use: up to 30 days• Hair: up to 90 days (depending on hair

length)• Oral Fluid: 24 to 48 hours

PropoxypheneLook For: Tablets, capsules

Dizziness, drowsiness, headache, euphoria, sysphoria, asthenia

Skin rash and other allergic reactions occur occasionally and may be accompanied by drug fever and mucosal lesions, stupor or coma, convulsions, respiratory depression

Norpropoxyphene • Urine: 1 to 3 days

RohypnolLook For: Odorless, tasteless, white tablet

Sedative effects, including amnesia, muscle relaxation, and the slowing of psychomotor performance

Respiratory depression, hypotension, disorientation, dizziness, visual disturbances, anterograde amnesia

Flunitrazepam metabolite (7-aminoflunitrazepam) • Urine: 1 to 3 days

Our services include:

• SAMHSA-certifiedlaboratories that offerbroad testing capacity

• A network of morethan 10,000 collectionsites, helping to enableconvenient access foryour donors

• More than 3,500 company-employed couriers and 25aircraft to manage thelogistics for specimentransportation, ensuringfast, consistent resultturnaround times

• A standardized laboratoryand billing platformacross our nationalfootprint to simplifyprocesses with clients

• Integrated Medical Review for professionalinterpretation of results

• More than 100 dedicatedcustomer serviceemployees ready to meetthe needs of our clients

Increased employee substance abuse can put your business at risk.

We understand the financial and legal impact that employee substance abuse can have on your organization, from accidents, to increased absences, to lower productivity.

As a result, we perform more than 10 million drug tests annually and offer our clients a comprehensive range of laboratory and on-site drug tests, services, and programs to help keep substance abuse out of the workplace.

• According to data from the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use andHealth (NSDUH), 10.6 percent of full-time employees and 13.2percent of part-time employees aged 18 or older reported using illicitdrugs within the past month (Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality; 2014. 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Detailed Tables. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration).

• Employees who abuse drugs are 2.5 times more likely than othernon-substance abusing coworkers to be absent for 8 or moredays according to Substance Abuse and Mental Health ServicesAdministration (SAMHSA, 2016).

• In addition, drug abusers are 3.6 times more likely to be involvedin an accident at work and 5 times more likely to file a workers’ compensation claim (SAMHSA, 2016).

Studies suggest that substance abuse, which includes drugs and alcohol, costs the United States an estimated $276 billion a year, with much of the cost resulting from lost work productivity and increased healthcare spending.

Drug testing programs have been shown to improve employee morale and productivity; decrease absenteeism, accidents, downtime, turnover, and theft; lead to better health among employees and family members; and contribute to the decreased use of medical benefits. Additionally, organizations with drug-free workplace programs sometimes qualify for state government incentives or workers’ compensation insurance premium discounts (“Drug Testing.” National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 2016).

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Count on Quest Diagnostics for all your drug testing needs.

• Reliable employee screening• Extensive collection site network• Personal service and support

Visit us at EmployerSolutions.com for more information about the drug testing solution that matches your needs.

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