A new report released by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) says the average potency of marijuana has doubled since 1983. Parents thinking that teenage pot experimentation is no big deal may want to reconsider. As the Drug Czar put it, "This isn't your father's marijuana."
Get the full story here.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
IDS Press Release
St. Louis Company Makes Drug Users Sweat
Recent shocking study on drug activity in the workplace has employers seeking alternative solutions to protect employees and clients.
In 2006, The National Household Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that 10.6 percent of full-time employees aged 18-64 were classified as having a substance abuse disorder. This implies that approximately 20 million employees in America demonstrate potentially high-risk behaviors that pose dangerous health, safety and security concerns.
Finding cost-effective, non-invasive and reliable surveillance methods is the mission of Integrity Detection Systems (IDS), a high-tech company based in St. Louis. IDS offers revolutionary drug detection services as well as training for companies interested in implementing stronger anti-drug programs.
IDS utilizes biosensor technology with PreScreen and DrugWipe. These testing devices detect invisible drug residue present in the sweat of drug users and traffickers who have been in contact with illegal substances. The self-contained labs are a mere five-inches long, provide results in less than 5 minutes and simultaneously detect the presence of cannabis, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines and derivatives such as Meth or Ecstasy.
PreScreen analyzes samples taken directly from a person’s skin, while DrugWipe tests surfaces of equipment people come into contact with. Results from both tests are legally defensible and have been found to be 100 percent reliable in research conducted by the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
“There are just too many ways for drug users and traffickers to evade detection using traditional screening methods,” says Bill Rau, CEO of IDS. “Companies need to protect their integrity without offending employees or making awkward accusations. We offer discreet, economical and reliable methods of internally monitoring illegal drug activity.”
IDS offers proactive solutions to organizations, specifically schools and businesses, that want to realistically confront drug activity. Blackwell Professional Support Services (BPSS), Inc., the award-winning security personnel provider, is an example of a company that has hired IDS to train three staff members to administer pre-employment, random, post-incident and for-cause testing on security personnel using PreScreen.
Wade Blackwell, president of BPSS, hopes to reinforce the company’s zero-tolerance policy for drugs in the workplace and raise awareness of the cutting-edge technology available to businesses. BPSS will also offer clients the ability to request on-site testing. In this situation, a technician from IDS will be deployed as an independent third party to screen BPSS personnel and provide results directly to clients.
“I predict only success from the services IDS will provide,” says Blackwell. “Identifying the presence of drug use or trafficking supports our commitment to providing 100 percent drug-free workplaces which, in turn, guarantees safer environments for clients.”
Integrity Detection Systems is a forensic narcotics company that offers innovative and discreet solutions for confronting illegal drug use and trafficking. For more information about Integrity Detection Systems visit www.integritydetection.com or call 314-882-6000.
Recent shocking study on drug activity in the workplace has employers seeking alternative solutions to protect employees and clients.
In 2006, The National Household Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that 10.6 percent of full-time employees aged 18-64 were classified as having a substance abuse disorder. This implies that approximately 20 million employees in America demonstrate potentially high-risk behaviors that pose dangerous health, safety and security concerns.
Finding cost-effective, non-invasive and reliable surveillance methods is the mission of Integrity Detection Systems (IDS), a high-tech company based in St. Louis. IDS offers revolutionary drug detection services as well as training for companies interested in implementing stronger anti-drug programs.
IDS utilizes biosensor technology with PreScreen and DrugWipe. These testing devices detect invisible drug residue present in the sweat of drug users and traffickers who have been in contact with illegal substances. The self-contained labs are a mere five-inches long, provide results in less than 5 minutes and simultaneously detect the presence of cannabis, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines and derivatives such as Meth or Ecstasy.
PreScreen analyzes samples taken directly from a person’s skin, while DrugWipe tests surfaces of equipment people come into contact with. Results from both tests are legally defensible and have been found to be 100 percent reliable in research conducted by the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
“There are just too many ways for drug users and traffickers to evade detection using traditional screening methods,” says Bill Rau, CEO of IDS. “Companies need to protect their integrity without offending employees or making awkward accusations. We offer discreet, economical and reliable methods of internally monitoring illegal drug activity.”
IDS offers proactive solutions to organizations, specifically schools and businesses, that want to realistically confront drug activity. Blackwell Professional Support Services (BPSS), Inc., the award-winning security personnel provider, is an example of a company that has hired IDS to train three staff members to administer pre-employment, random, post-incident and for-cause testing on security personnel using PreScreen.
Wade Blackwell, president of BPSS, hopes to reinforce the company’s zero-tolerance policy for drugs in the workplace and raise awareness of the cutting-edge technology available to businesses. BPSS will also offer clients the ability to request on-site testing. In this situation, a technician from IDS will be deployed as an independent third party to screen BPSS personnel and provide results directly to clients.
“I predict only success from the services IDS will provide,” says Blackwell. “Identifying the presence of drug use or trafficking supports our commitment to providing 100 percent drug-free workplaces which, in turn, guarantees safer environments for clients.”
Integrity Detection Systems is a forensic narcotics company that offers innovative and discreet solutions for confronting illegal drug use and trafficking. For more information about Integrity Detection Systems visit www.integritydetection.com or call 314-882-6000.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Is Drug Testing Teenagers a Bad Idea?
The American Academy of Pediatrics released a policy statement yesterday saying that drug testing teenagers at home or at school is generally a bad idea.
I agree.
However, if you look the AAP’s concerns closely, it wasn't so much the idea of drug testing teens that was the problem. It's the urine tests schools and parents use to conduct the testing that's the problem. The AAP pointed to problems with false positives and false negatives, teens using the web to get information on how to beat the urine tests, and a short window of detection (most drugs only stay in the system for just a few days after use).
I first read the report when a friend of mine e-mailed me a link to a story about it saying "this probably isn't good for your business." Actually, I think it's GREAT for our business.
That’s because most of the concerns the AAP raises about drug testing teenagers are eliminated by using DrugWipe.
False positives and false negatives? Not an issue a DrugWipe.
Teenagers beating the drug tests? Not with DrugWipe. Parents use DrugWipe to swipe down surfaces their kids have touched when the kids aren't even around. There’s no room for any adulteration or substitution.
Short detection window? DrugWipe can detect drug residue on surfaces up to three months after use.
Another main issue that the AAP brings up is that drug testing can create a climate of “resentment, distrust, and suspicion” between a parent (or school) and a teenager.
There may be some truth to that, but isn’t that about par for the course when it comes to teenagers? Eventually, they’ll get over it.
That type of argument reminds me of something I’ve heard from a number of drug treatment specialists. They say “if you ask parents whose teenagers have battled drug addictions, they all wished they had intervened sooner, rather than later or not at all.” When it comes to drug use, there's simply too much at stake to worry about offending your teen.
I agree.
However, if you look the AAP’s concerns closely, it wasn't so much the idea of drug testing teens that was the problem. It's the urine tests schools and parents use to conduct the testing that's the problem. The AAP pointed to problems with false positives and false negatives, teens using the web to get information on how to beat the urine tests, and a short window of detection (most drugs only stay in the system for just a few days after use).
I first read the report when a friend of mine e-mailed me a link to a story about it saying "this probably isn't good for your business." Actually, I think it's GREAT for our business.
That’s because most of the concerns the AAP raises about drug testing teenagers are eliminated by using DrugWipe.
False positives and false negatives? Not an issue a DrugWipe.
Teenagers beating the drug tests? Not with DrugWipe. Parents use DrugWipe to swipe down surfaces their kids have touched when the kids aren't even around. There’s no room for any adulteration or substitution.
Short detection window? DrugWipe can detect drug residue on surfaces up to three months after use.
Another main issue that the AAP brings up is that drug testing can create a climate of “resentment, distrust, and suspicion” between a parent (or school) and a teenager.
There may be some truth to that, but isn’t that about par for the course when it comes to teenagers? Eventually, they’ll get over it.
That type of argument reminds me of something I’ve heard from a number of drug treatment specialists. They say “if you ask parents whose teenagers have battled drug addictions, they all wished they had intervened sooner, rather than later or not at all.” When it comes to drug use, there's simply too much at stake to worry about offending your teen.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Video of 2 and 5 year old smoking pot
This sickening video is making the rounds on TV. It shows a 2 and 5 year old being taught how to smoke marijuana by their 17 year old uncle and his 18 year old friend. Both the uncle and his friend have, fortunately, been arrested.
After getting over the shock of this video, I started thinking of yet another potential use for DrugWipe. Parents can use to make sure that those taking care of their children are not using illegal drugs.
After getting over the shock of this video, I started thinking of yet another potential use for DrugWipe. Parents can use to make sure that those taking care of their children are not using illegal drugs.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
What a Load of Crop!
A few months ago a report came out calling marijuana the biggest cash crop in the United States. The report estimates that over $35 billion worth of marijuana is produced in this country each year. That's more than the value of corn and wheat combined.
The report, written by marijuana reform activist Jon Getteman, cites a 2005 State Department report which estimates U.S. cannabis cultivation at more than 22 million pounds.
I've noticed a number of news stories recently about house and apartment fires caused by marijuana grow operations. I've also noticed a lot of stories about law enforcement discovering grow operations in well-to-do neighborhoods. It seems growers are paying cash for homes in these nice neighborhoods and turning these large homes into marijuana farms. Based on Mr. Getteman's report, it seems like they're growing a lot of it!
So it's not just meth you have to worry about when it comes to drugs and real estate.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Leaky Drug Testing
Here's an investigative report about the problems of urine testing from a Minnesota TV station. The video can be viewed here. The story can be read here.
The technology that certified labs use to conduct urine tests good, accurate technology. But if lab personnel aren't following the proper guidelines to insure urine samples are not being adulterated, or substituted with clean urine, what good are these tests doing??? Garbage in, garbage out.
Many companies who do extensive urine testing of their employees are often shocked when a facility-wide audit with DrugWipe indicates widespread drug use. After seeing a story like this one about the "leaks" in the system, they shouldn't be.
The technology that certified labs use to conduct urine tests good, accurate technology. But if lab personnel aren't following the proper guidelines to insure urine samples are not being adulterated, or substituted with clean urine, what good are these tests doing??? Garbage in, garbage out.
Many companies who do extensive urine testing of their employees are often shocked when a facility-wide audit with DrugWipe indicates widespread drug use. After seeing a story like this one about the "leaks" in the system, they shouldn't be.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Beating a drug test with an Elmer's Glue bottle
Yes, our video is really based on a true story. Here it is . . .
The story came to us from someone who works at an oil refinery. There was a worker there, a frequent drug user, who had an interesting morning ritual. Every morning, when he got dressed he would strap an Elmer's Glue bottle to the inside of his thigh with an ace bandage. The Elmer's Glue bottle was filled with clean urine (usually drug users either buy clean urine over the internet or get it from a friend or family member). Whenever he got pulled for a drug test, he provided a sample that looked and sounded like an actual urine stream and was the appropriate temperature for fresh urine (labs will often test the temperature of urine samples to try to catch those providing fake samples).
This guy got away with it for a couple of years. The only reason he eventually got caught was that his wife got fed up with his drug addiction and called to tell her husband's supervisor what was going on. If she hadn't done that, he'd probably still be getting away with it today. That is providing he didn't kill himself and/or someone else in the interim.
The story came to us from someone who works at an oil refinery. There was a worker there, a frequent drug user, who had an interesting morning ritual. Every morning, when he got dressed he would strap an Elmer's Glue bottle to the inside of his thigh with an ace bandage. The Elmer's Glue bottle was filled with clean urine (usually drug users either buy clean urine over the internet or get it from a friend or family member). Whenever he got pulled for a drug test, he provided a sample that looked and sounded like an actual urine stream and was the appropriate temperature for fresh urine (labs will often test the temperature of urine samples to try to catch those providing fake samples).
This guy got away with it for a couple of years. The only reason he eventually got caught was that his wife got fed up with his drug addiction and called to tell her husband's supervisor what was going on. If she hadn't done that, he'd probably still be getting away with it today. That is providing he didn't kill himself and/or someone else in the interim.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
"A Drug Test With a Twist"
Check out the new IDS video, "A Drug Test With a Twist" (click the video screen above to view it). We didn't have $7.8 million to run it during the Super Bowl, so we decided to post it on the internet (for considerably less money) instead!
You can also view our video at any of the following sites by clicking on a link below:
YouTube
Google
Yahoo!
Friday, February 09, 2007
DROP IN DRUG USE????
According to this AP article, the Drug Czar John Walters is reporting that illegal drug use has dropped sharply since 2001. He cites numbers from a University of Michigan study conducted for the National Institute for Substance Abuse that show a 23% drop in drug use among teenagers. Walters credits drug testing for much of this decline. He also reports that drug use among "older people" dropping as well.
I blogged about studies like this not too long ago. As much as I'd like to believe drug use is dropping in this country, I just can't fathom there's much truth to those numbers.
Spending a good bit of my time swiping down businesses, homes, and schools with DrugWipe and talking to business owners, parents, and school officials about the drug problems they're grappling with, it would be a VERY scary thought that drug use is on the decline. And even if there is some truth to the numbers in this study, we still have a LONG way to go!
According to this AP article, the Drug Czar John Walters is reporting that illegal drug use has dropped sharply since 2001. He cites numbers from a University of Michigan study conducted for the National Institute for Substance Abuse that show a 23% drop in drug use among teenagers. Walters credits drug testing for much of this decline. He also reports that drug use among "older people" dropping as well.
I blogged about studies like this not too long ago. As much as I'd like to believe drug use is dropping in this country, I just can't fathom there's much truth to those numbers.
Spending a good bit of my time swiping down businesses, homes, and schools with DrugWipe and talking to business owners, parents, and school officials about the drug problems they're grappling with, it would be a VERY scary thought that drug use is on the decline. And even if there is some truth to the numbers in this study, we still have a LONG way to go!
Thursday, February 08, 2007
24 Things Drug Users Take To Beat a Drug Test
Drug use is a way of life. So is drug testing. Where the two meet, there's a never-ending Cat and Mouse game between the users and the testers. It's enlightening reading through message boards where drug users share information about how to beat these tests. Here's a list of 24 things I came across in just a few minutes of skimming the message board thread I posted about recently:
Drug use is a way of life. So is drug testing. Where the two meet, there's a never-ending Cat and Mouse game between the users and the testers. It's enlightening reading through message boards where drug users share information about how to beat these tests. Here's a list of 24 things I came across in just a few minutes of skimming the message board thread I posted about recently:
- water
- fishoil
- niacin
- Tums
- salt
- Cranberry pills
- Green tea pills
- multi-vitamin pills
- aspirin pills
- creatine pills
- exercise
- Mountain Dew
- Gatorade
- Powerade
- beer
- coffee
- Qcarbo juice drink
- McDonald's cheeseburgers
- Philly cheesesteaks
- lysine
- Vitamin B
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- apple cider vinegar
There were seemingly infinite combinations of which items listed above were used and how much of each item was used. These people have this down to a science. And I didn't even get into the things users do to smuggle "clean" urine in for a drug test. That's another post in itself.
Wouldn't you think it would just be easier not to use drugs in the first place?
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