The issue of drug abuse is causing a global crisis. In our country, this problem is increasingly prevalent among the youth, raising concerns across society as it corrupts the younger generation today. This concern is amplified when drug use occurs via injection, significantly increasing the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission. Therefore, drug testing has become increasingly important.
1. What is drug testing?
Drug testing is a procedure that helps identify an individual’s drug use status. This test is often a preliminary step for checking individuals involved in military service or community activities. Additionally, many parents also utilize these tests to monitor their children’s substance abuse situations.
2. Groups of drugs that are tested
- Opioid group: Opium, heroin, morphine, codeine, pethidine…
- Synthetic drugs (ATS): Amphetamine, Methamphetamine (crystal meth), MDMA (ecstasy), Methylphenidate, Dexamphetamine
- Cannabis group
- Benzodiazepine group
- Other groups: Cocaine, ketamine, LSD,…
3. Common methods of drug testing
The most commonly applied urine test.
The most common drug testing methods for detecting substances in the body include: urine drug testing, blood drug testing, saliva testing, and hair drug testing. Among them, urine testing is the most widely used method due to its suitability for sample collection and simpler implementation compared to other types of specimens.
Urine testing can yield false results if the individual being tested has consumed certain medications, such as contraceptives, drugs containing riboflavin, creatinine, diuretics, or if the urine sample has been diluted or contaminated with additives such as soap, ammonia, or cleaning chemicals.
The choice of which drug test to use and when to conduct it depends on the duration of the drug’s presence in the body.
Drug tests should be conducted at medical facilities, where hair testing is notably difficult to falsify. For blood and saliva tests, if conducted long after drug use, there is a possibility of negative results due to the short half-life of drugs in the bloodstream.
4. Sample collection methods
For blood samples
- Clean the venipuncture site with alcohol before and after blood collection.
- Use a syringe to draw 5 ml of venous blood into an anticoagulant tube and gently mix.
- The sample should be kept cool and sent to the testing facility.
Blood sample collection.
For urine samples
- Clearly instruct on how to collect urine into a bottle or cup. Ensure the collector does not touch their hands, feet, or genital area to the inside of the container.
- The collected sample should be transferred to a testing cup and tightly sealed.
- A sample volume of approximately 20ml is required.
- The sample should be stored cool at temperatures between 20°C-80°C.
For hair samples
- Select hair from the back of the head.
- Secure the hair with your hand or a string.
- Use scissors to cut the hair close to the scalp.
- Depending on the hair length, samples may be taken from one or more locations.
- The amount of hair should be around 0.1 grams.
- Place the cut hair into a clean plastic bag or vial.
- The collected sample should be stored at room temperature.
- For evidence samples: the sample should be placed in a clean, wide-mouthed bag.
To ensure accurate, quick, and safe testing, choosing a reliable medical facility is extremely important.
