Nicotine testing is a growing trend for employers especially in the health care field. In 2007 the Cleveland Clinic stopped hiring tobacco-using employees as well as other medical facilities in the metro Phoenix area. Being in the health care field, Humana representatives feel that it their duty to lead by example. The unhealthy conditions smoking creates in the human body are life threatening. Humana aims to promote health and wellness starting from within their own company.

Other employers have begun financial incentives for being nicotine free such as lowering health care costs. Companies also have adapted “wellness plans” that measures if an employee’s body-mass index surpasses the healthy amount, or if cholesterol levels are alarming high- can indicate future health problems.

Recently in Arizona employees have complained about a new health plan that requires an employee to turn in a saliva sample to test for nicotine. The employees resisted stating it was an invasion of privacy. The employees who did agreed to take the nicotine test and passed have lowered their insurance premiums by $480 less than what smokers and employees who declined to take the test must pay.

There is nothing under Arizona state law that prohibits Humana from not hiring smokers, legal experts say.  What do you think about it?

Complete drug testing kits first require that a sample is taken from the waste processes of your body; meaning the hair, saliva, or most commonly the urine. From there researchers or test strips (depending upon your screening method) analyze the content of specific metabolites inside of it. Metabolites are the leftover chemical residue found in body after a drug is consumed and broken down. The majority of illicit substances are expelled in your waste but all drug leave behind certain particles which can be detected and used to determine past substance abuse. These particles can be examined to reveal exactly what drug was ingested and sometimes even when. Amphetamines take on a variety of forms including pills or powders, all of which are stimulants and highly dangerous. They have also been known to be added or combined with other drugs to enhance the experience such as Ecstasy.

So what happens if you test positive? Well unless it can be proven that the drug in question was obtained legally and for legitimate use the consequences can be dire. If prescribed Ritalin, Adderall or another form of ADD/ADHD remember that you will appear dirty for amphetamines so keep your prescription forms ready to show your testing administer.

Marijuana is usually consumed by smoking, eating, or ingesting. If any part of the resinous chemical that forms on the leaves of the female plant enters the body, it will test positive on a marijuana drug test. Worldwide it is the third most consumed drug next to Caffeine and Nicotine, and in America it is extremely popular among teens and young adults while still maintaining a significant popularity among the baby boomer population. However even with use of the drug high, negative perception and its illegal status make it a common substance for complete drug testing kits. Unlike Opiates and Amphetamines, Marijuana use can be detected long after it has been consumed; usually two weeks for the average person but a month or more for a heavy user. This is due to the fact that THC is a fat soluble, as opposed to water soluble, chemical. In order to break it down and rid itself of the chemical the body must also break down the fat cells that contain it.

THC drug testing comes in many different forms. There are expensive blood laboratory services but most home drug testing strips offer the same accurate results at a much cheaper price with a simple urine strip. Since marijuana is the most used illegal drug worldwide, there are also less invasive methods as well. Oral saliva drug tests are a cotton swab that the user places in their mouth for a few minutes which can be given on site in public. Hair follicle drug tests for marijuana are also available and can trace substance abuse back to the previous 90 days. Find the proper drug testing method that best suits your needs.

The main concept of school drug testing is to act as a deterrent—another valid reason for teens to resist peer pressure and not use drugs. It can also give teachers and parents some intel on a student who is using drugs and intervene appropriately.

Most schools who implement random drug testing use urine or saliva drug tests. These types of tests are the least intrusive and easy to use. Drug use can be identified in both tests for 3-5 days, depending on the type of drug.

Drug tests do not recognize alcohol use, which will only show up in a breath or blood test. This is a bit discouraging, since alcohol is by far the most-used drug among teens. But experts say most substance abusers use more than one drug, so it is entirely possible that a teen who tests positive for a narcotic may very well be drinking as well.

Some parents (or students) may question the constitutionality of drug testing in schools, but in many cases it is perfectly legal. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), schools can administer random drug tests to any students participating in competitive extracurricular activities. Before, only athletes could be tested. Now, even glee club members could be subjected to tests, providing they are competing. Despite recent court rulings, students and their lawyers continue to argue privacy issues, and the debate will no doubt linger on.

Saliva tests work like this: the person being tested submits a saliva sample which is then placed on a test strip. If the strip stays colorless, the person being tested is drug-free. If any colors show up, it is a different story entirely—different colors represent the presence of different drugs, making it easy for testers to spot drug use. Saliva drug tests are multipanel screening devices that will detect the presence of multiple substances in one single kit.

One of the main concerns about saliva tests is the length of time that drug use shows up in the results. Experts say saliva will only detect drugs for a few days after use. So if a drug-user can stay clean for just a couple days, he or she may be able to pass a saliva test. On the other hand, urine and hair drug tests can detect drugs for a much longer period of time, enabling potential employers to determine habitual drug use.

Despite its flaws, more companies are turning to saliva tests because they are extremely easy to use and do not require a nurse or 3^rd party vendor to manage. In fact, they can be administered on-site and provide instant test results. This can be a huge cost savings to employers who frequently conduct random drug testing. One simple test administered in any office (you don’t even need a bathroom) with results in ten minutes is why saliva drug tests are quickly becoming an industrial favorite. Less invasive then urine tests yet still able to provide the same accurate results.

For employers who want to ensure that their workplace or staff is drug free in the most convenient way possible, saliva drug testing is the perfect choice. Saliva drug test kits can be stored on-site and used quickly and simply, forgoing the need for expensive laboratory time. Employees have been highly receptive to the ease of saliva drug testing, so you can protect your business from employee drug abuse while also retaining the morale and respect of your workforce.

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