At Home Drug Tests

Where To Buy Drug Test Kits?

Drug test kits are now widely available from many stores and websites. The increasing incidence of random drug testing in workplaces has caused a surge in popularity of these kits. If you are facing such a test, it is better to rule out the possibility of proving positive by doing a home test. You can buy drug test kits from these places.

Pharmacies

Drug test kits are available at many pharmacies, especially the larger chain stores. You can visit a branch of a national pharmacy chain to buy drug test kits. It is important to find the right type of kit for the substance that you have used. There are four types of tests available for detection of drugs in your body. Urine tests remain the most popular option followed by saliva examination. Hair follicle diagnosis and blood tests are the least popular option given the complexities involved.

Drug Outreach Centers

There are many drug outreach centers in the United States, where guidance is provided to drug users along with treatments and detoxification programs. Some of these centers also offer drug test kits. You may purchase these kits at discounted prices from these places. Some of them offer drug test kits for marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin, and other substances for free. You can contact your local drug counseling centers and associated organizations if you don’t want to use a store or the internet.

Online Purchase

You can skip the visit to your local pharmacy or drug outreach center by purchasing test kits on the internet. There are two types of websites that offer these kits. Popular retail websites like Amazon, Target, and Costco have a selection of drug test kits for various substances.

Another option is to purchase these kits from the official sites of the manufacturers or from pharmaceutical retailers. You can find the best place to buy drug test kits by looking at the type of test panels on offer and their prices. Some websites offer considerable discounts and free shipping.

Avoiding False Positives

It is possible to test positive on a drug test even if your body has got rid of the metabolite. False positives can be triggered by faulty testing procedure where you unintentionally mix your urine, saliva, or blood with drug components. It is important to purchase kits that offer the greatest accuracy.

These kits have in-built protection against external contamination, and will only examine the blood, urine or saliva sample that you feed into them. You can also look for money back guarantees if you buy a faulty kit. This will enable you to return the kit and claim replacement or return of purchase price.

Selection of the right testing kit along with greater discounts in price will enable you to find the best avenue of purchase. It is always recommended that you conduct more than a single test to rule out the possibility of false positive or compromised results. It’s important to do the test properly and is well worth taking the time.

Employee Drug Testing, Saving Lives

Recent research by a mixed group of academics from government indicates that up to 20% of employees who die at work test positive for alcohol or drugs. The research first requested by the Bush administration in 2006 studied workplace accidents and deaths in order to support their request for further funding. This research continues today and these statistics are a reminder of why all administrations since Reagan have been so in favor of workplace drug testing.

While the results of these studies are going to be up for scrutiny, the picture they paint is a stark one. In 2009, of the 17.2 million known drug users over the age of 18, 12.9 million of them had jobs, that’s 74.8% of them. It’s reasonable to assume that at least a portion of those are either still going to have substances in their systems when they start work. While the research doesn’t try to say that all these employees are turning up to work incapable, it is saying that judgment and ability is going to be impaired in some of these for at least some of the time. Which is why employers are keen on drug tests, to reduce accidents and lower their insurance premiums.

While there is evidence that a robust set of policies can also reduce the incidents of drug use, there is no doubt that the threat of random testing, new employee, after accident or sickness screening works as a deterrent for some. That said, given the numbers of alleged active drug users in the workplace, there is still some way to go. To gain the most benefit, employers must have a competent, coherent policy for controlling workplace behavior, including substance abuse. This policy must be clear, and communicated to the workforce regularly.

Truly random testing by trained staff is the only way to prevent the drug tests being fooled. There are as many products offering to help employees fool a drugs test as there are tests, and they are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Trained staff should be able to negate most of these techniques by ensuring correct drug testing procedures are implemented at all times. This training should also take into account false positives and have a policy in place where further testing is carried out before any action is taking against the employee. There is a whole list of substances that will trigger a false positive in a drugs test, cold medication, anti-histamines and even some headache tablets.

There is no doubt that drug testing is a preventative measure and seemingly effective against substance abuse. Employees may see it as overkill or an invasion of their privacy, but when almost 75% of deaths in the workplace involves either alcohol or substance abuse, the reasons for it is clear. While it’s difficult to attribute a direct causal link between workplace drug tests and saving lives, it isn’t unreasonable to assume that without it, there would be far more fatalities in the workplace.