DRUG TESTING: Positive Rates Nearly Double

The pandemic has challenged workplace safety. With widespread opioid addiction and amphetamine use already on the rise prior to the pandemic, employers are now seeing increased test positivity rates. The pandemic exacerbated conditions that lead people to self-medicate to help cope with the emotions that come along with unemployment, financial and health hardships, and lock-downs. Some individuals refrained from seeking treatment out of fear of contracting the virus or faced closed or limited hours at treatment facilities.

During other historic catastrophes with widespread stress, such as Hurricane Katrina and 9/11, studies showed that drug abuse increased and stayed significantly elevated for long periods after the incident. Similar trends occurred during the initial months of COVID-19 and the higher positivity rates continue to linger.

When analyzing drug testing positivity rates from DISA Global Solutions, a national third-party administrator, random drug testing positivity rates spiked as much as 145% year over year during the pandemic. Opioids and amphetamines saw increases of 600% and 400% respectively. Overall, all random drug testing positivity rates are up 83% from 2019 - 2020.

By the end of 2020, positivity rates stated to return toward historical averages but still remain higher than at an y time in 2019. While positivity rates for opoiiids and amphetamines have decreased from record-breaking peaks, they are still up 491% and 292% respectively from 18 months ago.

As a result of this pandemic, both amphetamines and opioids have surpassed cocaine in random drug testing positivity rates which is the first time DISA has see that occur. Cocaine use continues to drop as users turn to amphetamines instead, but the decrease in cocaine positivity rates is a fraction of of new amphetamine and opioid positive tests Additionally, marijuana was not the number one cause of failed fandom drug testing in 2020. Amphetamines are now seeing more positive tests than even marijuana during COVID-19.

CONTINUED SAFETY…

As vaccinations become more available, its essential that employers implement drug testing procedures prior to rebuilding their staff or returning employees to the workplace. Not only is pre-employment testing important in choosing a reliable hire, but drug testing before employees return to work following a furlough or layoff are also instrumental in maintaining a safe workplace. Across all industries, the average employees with an untreated substance abuse disorder costs their $7,000 per year in excess health-care expenses, absenteeism, and turnover. In safety sensitive industries, this amount is closer to $35,000 due to the higher risk of injury or facility downtime.

To enable companies to resume testing, collection sites have enforced new guidelines and safety measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure. Some of those measures include waiting in the car, enhanced cleaning, mask/glove protocols, and enhanced social distancing.

HOW CAN EMPLOYERS PREPARE?
As Substance abuse is expected to continue at elevated levels, employers can protect their workplace by enforcing a clear and concise written drug testing policy. Implementing a comprehenisive drug testing program witht the addition of hair testing will create a longer 90-day detection window. Urninalysis testing will detect recent drug usage.

In addition, supervisors and other appropriate employees should be trained to help detect and implement proper reasonable-suspicion drug testing practices. With amphetamine and opioid use on the rise, and marijuana laws varying state to state, employers should also consider including a medical disclosure policy as part of their standard drug testing program. A medical disclosure policy lets employers know when an employee is taking a prescription that could impair them in the workplace.

These policies should define clear consequences and outline which safety-sensitive positions they apply to, such as a forklift driver, if the employee tests positive. Suppose an employee fails to notify the employer of their prescription. In that case, the employer can take action on a drug test even if the employee has a prescription because they violated company policy. It’s standard practice to readdress company drug testing policy and procedures and make updates to include changes to state laws and regulations. It is even more important to do so as industries prepare for employees returning to work.

AUTHOR: Tarrah Martinez, Content Writer DISA Global Solutions, taken from Business Magazine MAY 2021

Suicide Awareness

Suicide is not easy to discuss. It Sometimes we avoid it, thinking, “that could never be me”, or, “I would never do that.” I often hear the stigmatizing opinions that suicide is “a sin” or “selfish.”

          Of course, everyone has the right to their opinion, however I do not believe that attempting to make someone feel bad for having suicidal thoughts is necessarily ethical. I propose that we instead attempt to understand why they are feeling this way, and instead of scolding them for feeling that way, we offer them an outlet - whether this is treatment or just someone to talk to.

          As both a psychology major and an intern in the field of substance use, I have learned throughout my college years that suicidal thoughts do not discriminate. I have met people of all ages, genders, races, religions, and socio- economic statuses who have disclosed that they experience suicidal thoughts. I have lost multiple good friends to suicide. I have learned that grieving is not easy, and that losing a friend is even harder.

          Attempting to understand suicide is not necessarily an easy task to do either. The severity and intensity of emotions that are involved can be overwhelming, and it is difficult to comprehend why loved ones would want to hurt themselves.

          Looking at it through their lens however, I can understand that they did not want to hurt anymore. I can understand feeling so low and not knowing what else to do about it. I can understand not wanting to talk about it in such a stigmatizing society. I can understand being sick and tired of feeling like that. I can understand being scared. I can understand that the pain that they were feeling at that moment exceeded the love that they had for living.

          Changing the way we think about suicide can change the way that people talk about suicide. Instead of presenting stigma and judgement when talking about it, we should instead present understanding and compassion.

          So yes, although you might not personally be experiencing suicidal thoughts, there is no way to guarantee that a friend, family member, or any other loved one is also not experiencing suicidal thoughts. Suicide is more preventable by advocating and by being resourceful, than it is calling it “a sin” or “a selfish act” in attempt to prevent it.

Substance Use In College

It is no secret college kids are exposed to various drugs and alcohol. Reflecting on my time in college, I can recall some of the numerous substances that I would see at parties/ social gatherings; uppers, downers, and all arounders.

Today, many kids in college expect to have a drink in hand nearly every night. I have found that college kids will look for any reason to engage in substance use, perhaps the most basic one being simply that the weather is nice. For many young adults, this is habitual behavior in college, with no intention to continue this behavior after. And yes, many cease their repetitive drug/alcohol use by the end of or after college, but for some young adults, stopping or reducing use is far more difficult. This college “norm” of constant drug/ alcohol use creates a lot of confusion and raises the question, “when is it too much?”

This is where it is important to recognize the difference between drug use, and drug abuse. Just because some people do drugs or drink alcohol does not mean that they have a substance use disorder. When someone cracks open a beer after class or work, has a cigarette after dinner or on a work break, or occasionally meets a couple friends at the bar for a few drinks; this is substance use. Substance abuse on the other hand, is a pattern of drinking or drug use that results in harm to one’s health, interpersonal relationships, or ability to work. In the end, it is substance abuse that leads to an individual having a substance use disorder. Something I have learned from personal experience is that it is especially important to keep an eye out to those who aren’t doing well mentally, but engage in substance use. This is because they could be using substances as an attempt to distract them from their negative feelings, when in reality, specific drugs (such as alcohol, which is a depressant) can make matters much worse by bringing negative feelings to the surface.

In the end, even if you are a college student and it is seemingly normal for everyone to be drinking and/ or smoking every day, make sure you keep an eye on that friend who seems to like partying a little bit too much, or the friend who is engaging in substance use as the line between substance use and substance abuse can be a bit blurry during the college years. If you or a friend is seeking substance use treatment, call 211 and ask to speak to the Doorway, or visit their website at https://thedoorway.nh.gov/home.

Substance Abuse and Mental Illness in Young Adults

In 2018, there were 8.9 million young adults that reported having a mental

illness, and a little over 42% went untreated. In the same year, there were 5.1

million young adults with a substance use disorder, and about 87% of them

went untreated.

Recognizing Signs of Young Adult Substance Use and Mental illness

Entering adulthood can be an emotional time, but sometimes the ups and

downs can mean something more.

Here are some common signs to pay attention to:

 Trouble sleeping or oversleeping

 Loss of interest in hobbies + friends

 Feelings of anxiousness

 Changes in overall energy levels

 Changes in appetite + weight

 Feelings of hopelessness

 Difficulty in daily functioning

 Extreme mood changes

 Thoughts of suicide

Party Culture – Project Know

“Party Culture” seems like it is common and normal amongst young adults

to most people, but today it is more dangerous and riskier than ever. Today,

prescription medications are combined with alcohol and other drugs. This is

especially damaging to young adults specifically because they still have

minds and bodies that are developing.

Young adults are fast approaching adulthood and have an intense amount of

emotions, peer pressures and quests for short-term reward as they are rising

from their adolescence. The environmental settings and temptation to use

intoxicating substances are combined with the parts of adolescent brains

involved in reward seeking that are bound to create dangerous situations.

Marijuana – SAMHSA

Marijuana use has been on the rise amongst all age groups in recent years,

though young adults show to have the highest rate of use. It is a highly

popular belief that marijuana is not an addictive substance, but research

actually shows that:

 1 in 6 people who begin drug use before 18 can become addicted

 1 in 10 adults who use the drug can become addicted

o The amount of THC in marijuana today is three times the

concentration it was 25 years ago. The stronger the THC, the

stronger the effects on the brain and therefore higher rates of

dependency and addiction.

Risks of marijuana use include:

 Permanent IQ loss if use begins at a young age

 Depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and psychotic episodes

 Harmed athletic performance

 Dangerous driving effects (slow reactions, swerving)

 Negative effect on baby’s health (fetal growth restriction, stillbirth…)

 Negative daily life outcomes (career achievement, life satisfaction)

Some Risks of Young Adult Substance Use

 Sexual Assault

o About 1 in 4 female college students reported experiences

unwanted sexual contact while they were incapacitated due to

alcohol or drugs

o 1 in 16 male college students

o Being an active part of party culture in schools will place you at

a greater risk for being sexually assaulted if you are

compromised by substances

o When men drink, it significantly increases the likelihood they

will perpetrate a sexual assault (not always)!

 Overdoses:

o You are at risk of an overdose whenever you consume illicit

drugs like heroin, meth, MDMA or “study drugs”

o There is an added danger when the dealer is unknown, because

this substance could be cut with other harmful substances. You

do not actually know what you are taking!

o When you are a part of this party culture, you put yourself at a

far greater risk of exposure to these harmful substances

 Pharma-parties

o Prescription drug use has risen so much in young adults that it

ranks only second to marijuana

o Teenagers and young people have a new trend of sharing

prescription medications to get high

o Pharming: refers to adolescents gaining access to and

distributing pharmaceutical medications for personal use or to

sell for profit

o Drugs of easy access for young adults:

 Cough medicine

 Prescription drugs

 Inhalants

 Marijuana

It is important to remember that asking for help is a normal part of life, and

you should never feel like you have to take on the world alone!

Reality Check offers Substance Use counseling and many workshops and

trainings that help family and other close members to recognize mental

illness and substance abuse/misuse in young adults.

Resources:

https://www.samhsa.gov/marijuana

https://www.projectknow.com

Accessed on 10/7/19