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Nonallergic rhinitis is a syndrome resulting from nasal inflammation that encompasses several distinct diagnoses. Nonallergic rhinitis may be diagnosed by means of clinical evaluation or by means of allergen skin testing or radioallergosorbent testing. This type of rhinitis is not as well understood. Although not triggered by allergy, the symptoms are often the same as seen with allergic rhinitis. The symptoms of nonallergic rhinitis are similar to those of hay fever (allergic rhinitis), but no allergy is involved. Nonallergic rhinitis affects approximately 17 million people in the U.S.- both children and adults. The distinction between allergic and nonallergic rhinitis can be difficult to distinguish clinically, but the distinction may be important for prognosis and treatment decisions. Many symptoms of nonallergic rhinitis are similar to allergic rhinitis, but are more chronic, occurring year-round, and are often worse in winter. Irritants such as fumes, fresh newsprint, strong odors, smoke and various types of dust may bring on symptoms. A diagnosis of nonallergic rhinitis is made after an allergy cause is ruled out. This often requires allergy skin or blood tests. A physical examination, allergy testing and a CT scan of the nose and sinuses are often used to assess and diagnose the condition of nonallergic rhinitis.

Causes of Nonallergic rhinitis

The common causes and risk factor’s of Nonallergic rhinitis include the following:

Blood vessels in your nose expanding (dilating), filling the nasal lining with blood and fluid.

Inflammation of the lining of the nose.

Smoke and other irritants.

Temperature or atmospheric changes.

Alcohol.

Psychological and Emotional factors.

Prolonged use of decongestant nasal drops or sprays.

Exposure to irritants.

Symptoms of Nonallergic rhinitis

Some sign and symptoms related to Nonallergic rhinitis are as follows:

Stuffy nose.

Congestion.

Mucus (phlegm) in the throat (postnasal drip).

Sneezing.

Postnasal drainage.

Itchy nose, throat, eyes, and ears.

Treatment of Nonallergic rhinitis

Here is list of the methods for treating Nonallergic rhinitis:

Use an over-the-counter nasal saline spray or homemade saltwater solution to flush the nose of irritants and help thin the mucus and soothe the membranes in your nose.

Antihistamines help to reduce the effects of histamine, which can decrease the symptoms of itching, sneezing, or runny nose.

Turbinate reduction is also used.

If your symptoms aren’t easily controlled by decongestants or antihistamines, your doctor may suggest a prescription corticosteroid nasal spray, such as budesonide (Rhinocort), fluticasone (Flonase), mometasone (Nasonex) or triamcinolone (Nasacort).

Pseudoephedrine-containing drugs (Sudafed, Actifed, others) and phenylephrine.

Surgery has a limited role.

Although many women dream about having the perfect hair, dreaming about a look is often times a lot easier than achieving it in reality.   If you feel you fit this profile, all hope is not lost.  Finding the right wig store and selecting the proper wig can make your worries disappear and help you regain your self-confidence.  At online stores such as Vogue Wigs, you can shop for synthetic as well as human hair wigs at greatly discount prices. Using sites such as these, you can make your wig search simpler and less time consuming.

Hairpiece shopping  was once a time consuming task that involved driving all around town to find not only the brand you wanted but also the right color of wig.  However, with the growth of the internet and the advent of online wig stores, you can now shop from the privacy and comfort of your own home.  Undoubtedly, when considering which site to buy from you must consider quality, selection, and professionalism in dealing with the customers needs. Furthermore, you should also seek customer service with the experience and expertise to answer your questions.

Once you have found the right products from a wig store, you can transform yourself into a blonde-haired person, a brown-haired, a brown-haired person, a redhead or even some more daring colors. You can confidently use the a wig  to cover a bald spot or try a more dramatic change with a new stunning style. With your new look, you can be the center of attention and even feel like a star.  With the affordability of wigs, you can collect them like Mariah Carey collects shoes.
 
Many wig wearers admit that for them, purchasing wigs c
an resemble buying shoes. Some more fanatical wearers even have more wigs than shoes. An online wig shop can offer a variety of high quality, comfortable hairpieces that you can use for yourself.

Each time a customer visits a store, she looks for a specific hairstyle and color. Undoubtedly, every individual is unique and therefore has unique tastes. Luckily, hair specialists have designed and carefully assembled each wig for a distinctive look. During the process, the latest trends and customer desires are always considered.  The end result are finely crafted products which are comfortable and natural to wear.

Halloween time can also be a particularly fund time to visit your favorite wig store. Nothing completes your costume better than having the right hair to match it.  The wig can be the final element to create the perfect look and really set you apart from the rest of the trick-or-treaters and party-go-ers.

With the perfect wig and costume, you may even be admired for your creativity and imagination. After all it’s you who chose the perfect pieces to to express yourself in costume. It truly is amazing how many different styles of wigs you can find online nowadays.  Fake hair doesn’t have to be limited to the top of your head either. Synthetic beards, eyebrows and moustaches are also available.
Just like fashion trends, the selections of wigs available can come in and out of style.  However, whether you are looking for a more classic style or searching for the latest fashionista piece, you can rest assured that a quality wig is out there for you, just waiting to be found online.
 

It is a well known fact that this condition is very well related with the kind of food we eat. This is not a life threatening condition, but it can cause much discomfort and it can be very unpleasant. So if you want to improve the way you feel, take my advice.

So what should you eat when suffering from acid reflux? First of all eat foods that cannot trigger acids that are found in your stomach. Such food must be without acids and definitely not spicy. Be very careful, cause the acid can cause damage to the throat and esophagus.

The type of food that can cause acid reflux can also depend from a person to another. This is very complicated because if you cannot figure out what type of food triggers the acidity in your stomach, than you can not know what to eat. You may also be allergic to different foods. The best thing to do in this case is to get yourself tested. Try eating as many different types of food that you can and see what upsets you and what not. Also try asking help from a doctor. When the problem is solved, the net important step that one must take is esting the right food. This may also be a little bit difficult, but with our help, you could succeed.

So figured out what food was causing the problem? Ok, then try to avoid it as much as you can. This is a very important step in your recovery. It may be difficult, because some of th
e food that you might have to avoid could be your favorite food, but try to make an effort. Another problem you might be faced with is that it is possible to descover foods that can cause you trouble along the way. Note that and try to avoid them as well. This way of making yourself feel better is quite difficult and you might have to eat a lot of things, before finding the right ones, but I can assure you, it is worth the trouble.

To make your task a little easier, I am going to recommend you some foods that are known for their anti acid proprieties. These foods are quite common and available. But note that there is never a well known list of foods that can help you. It all depends from a person to another. You are the first that should determine what can help you and what not.

This being said, here are some of the things you should eat. These foods are low in acidity or have no acid at all. Fruits and vegetables are most indicated when suffering from acid reflux. Apples, bananas, carrots, green beans, peas, cabbage or broccoli are some of the things that should be part of your diet. What they do is create an excellent balance of acidity in one’ s stomach, in conclusion preventing the acid coming back up. Also, if you can create a good balance between grains and meat, this may help a lot, because it can be very great for digestion.

        Teenage drug abuse is at an all-time high.  No pun intended.  Youth between the ages of 12-17 are being reported using illegal drugs If you are a parent, you know that teenage drug abuse is not an imaginary problem in our society, but instead is a very real, dangerous and quite far spread activity amongst teens.  Unfortunately, to their childs detriment, parents sometimes like to delude themselves with the fantasies that a good private school, active participation in the church or synagogue’s youth group program, strict curfews, and parental generosity will somehow deter their growing child from the dangers that lurk amongst peer groups, pushers, and the darkness of the dance clubs.  Teenage drug abuse is a commonplace occurrence, and parents as well as caregivers need to be alert to the signs thereof, even in the most innocent of settings.
    Frequently, you can hear teens making statements to their parents, its not like I am smoking crack or its just a little pot, it cant hurt me.  If youre suspicious about your teens drug abuse or illegal drug usage, the best way to find out is by administering a teenage drug test from home. 
    If youre hesitant to attempt testing your child and suspect that your teen is abusing marijuana (aka pot, maryjane, chron, weed, herb, bud, dope, grass) there are simple THC (Tetra Hydro Cannabinol) detection wipes that you can purchase. These wipes can be used on any surface which your teen son or daughter may be smoking near, such as the walls of their room.  If the test comes up THC positive, the next step would be to administer a drug test either through saliva, hair, or urine.  If youre not sure what drug your teenager is abusing, there are Drug Detectors & Drug Identification Kits for Drug Testing available. 
    Not only can you test for THC found in mariju
ana, you can also test for other common drugs such as; cocaine (aka coke, snow, crack), ecstasy (aka XTC, X, Adam), opiates (aka heroin, codeine, opium, brown sugar), amphetamines (aka speed, whizz, amph, billy, phets, sulph), methamphetamine (aka speed, meth, chalk or in its smoked form, it is often referred to as ice, crystal, crank, or glass), barbiturates (aka barbs, downers, barbies, barbita, seconal, red devils, blue devils and yellows),
        benzodiazepines (aka tranks, downers, benzos), oxycodone (aka  oxy, hillbilly) and phencyclidine (aka PCP, angel dust, supergrass, killer weed, KJ, embalming fluid, rocket fuel and sherms).
    Other drugs that teens may be addicted to and can be tested for are propoxyphene (PPX), tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) methadone (MET), morphine (MOP) and the popular LSD also known as acid.
    Not only can teenagers abuse illegal drugs but they can also abuse and become addicted to prescription drugs found in your medicine cabinet.  Commonly misused prescription drugs are Vicodin, Xanax, Valium, Adderall, Ativan and Fioricet.
    The more that teenage drug abuse will continue to claim many victims, the more teenage drug testing kits will become popular.  The most important step in helping a teen to avoid becoming another statistic is simply by not allowing rationalization of drug abuse to take root in the mindset of your growing child. Instead, children should be taught from the earliest years to take responsibility for their own actions, and thus many of the drug myths so prevalent in today’s teenage society will not find any more believers. This approach will not eradicate teenage drug abuse but it will close off one more avenue by which teens and their pushers have been able to delude themselves into using substances.

Although traditional hair salons have been the answer for many women’s style needs, sometimes you can only do much to your existing hairstyle and often times the recurring costs great costs.  If you are looking for a more dramatic change, then you may consider a Revlon wig.  Already one of the top names in beauty and makeup, Revlon now has a diverse line of fashionable synthetic wigs. Although you may find these products in many wig shops, it may not be as easy to find one right for you.  Regardless of your motivations for buying a wig, the important thing is taking full advantage of the options available for you.

Sometimes you may need to cover your real hair because of a bad hair day or a a bad haircut. Other times you may just be looking to improve your self image. In either case, the solution may be easier than you think: Revlon wigs. Shopping for wigs has never been easier, since the products are all available now online. In an online wig shop, you can see detailed pictures of wig styles and also the full color charts of all available options.

Usually wig pictures are shown with models wearing them in one or two colors. This does not mean that this is the only ones available for sale. The only disadvantage in this case is that you do not have the opportunity to actually try them on and feel the fibers that make up a wig. However, with name brand Revlon wigs, you can always be assured of the highest quality materials and most technologically advanced construction.

Women tend to be very careful when it comes to their appearance and that only makes them pay more attention to details. The designers of Revlon wigs h
ave considered these concerns when they thought about how they want their clients to look like and feel. It is not all about the image and the exterior appearances though. The comfort and fabric used are also important factors in wig selection.

A person who knows what he or she is looking for will not be satisfied unless he or she walks in an actual wig shop and touches the wig, tries it on and compares a human hair wig with a synthetic one. This is what shop assistants are paid for: to put some effort in showing the client how to improve his/her image and be as persuasive as possible when it comes to recommending brands. With Revlon wigs quality is implied in their brand.

Another important thing to remember is that synthetic wigs are often misunderstood. The fact that the hair is not real does not mean that it is a poor quality product. Synthetic materials allow for a wider variety of pre-set styles. Human hair used for wigs will generally undergo some form of chemical treatment in order to be the right color and more damage resistant. That is why, sometimes, in a wig shop, you cannot really tell the difference between a synthetic wig and a human hair wig, just by looking at them.

Revlon wigs are currently only available in synthetic, but their products are so finely fabricated that you will have a hard time telling the difference from real human hair The best thing you can do is browse through the wigs in a wig shop, order what you like and see for yourself the creative hair styles possible with Revlon Wigs. Who knows?  After trying their wigs, you may end up reinventing yourself into a brand new person.

 

In the year 1968, an interesting equipment for wheelchair-confined people was invented. Entrepreneur and inventor Allan R Thieme developed the first ever mobility scooter called the Amigo. Since then, people with evident walking limitations have found the hope they need to be able to get the mobility they want with utmost convenience.

 

Amigo was made to help one of the family members of Mr Thieme. Thus, it was inferred that the drive to develop and invent the device was spurred by the need to provide help and assistance to that family member. From then on, mobility scooters’ popularity spread like fire. From the United States, mobility scooters became a headline news and started soliciting interest from other countries globally.

 

Now, although not too many people are able to afford and own mobility scooters, crippled and walking disabled persons are now finding hope in the device. Mobility scooters are ranked as among the most important and sought-after devices by disabled and handicapped people. And there are more than enough reasons for that fact.

 

High-tech, sophisticated

 

During the 1970s, mobility scooters were considered as among the most sophisticated devices ever made. Not too many people were able to avail and purchase the device. Because of the advanced technology and sophisticated design of mobility scooters, the device was then considered the equipment of the future. Now, during the modern times, mobility scooters are more common than before, but there are still a few setbacks that prevent the full popularity of the equipment.

 

If you have been fond of reading the Marvel comics called ‘X-Men’, which was also adopted for television animated series and further later as a movie series, you would notice that there is a mobility scooter used by a character known as Professor Charles Xavier. It is perceived that the kind of mobility scooter used by Professor X would soon be the apple of the eye of future and modern inventions.

 

However, while the device industry is still waiting for that development, people are still focused at the modern times’ device wonder. Mobility scooters are still considered far expensive to be able to enjoy the mass popularity status that is accorded to products that are availed as cheaply as possible in the market.

 

Basic features of mobility scooters

 

Mobility scooters are like wheelchairs in the sense that they facilitate mobility for crippled people. The walking disabled people would now be able to walk and roam around even if they do not have the full capacity and ability to do that.

 

Like wheelchairs, mobility scooters are used as a device where the user would sit down. At the device, the user would be able to roam around just by sitting. While the ordinary wheelchair is powered and moved manually by the user, mobility scooters employ other forms of energy and movement sources.

 

To date, mobility scooters are either powered by electricity or by gasoline. Mobility scooters that are powered by electricity are ideal for in-door purposes. That is because the energy and capacity of the device is very much limited and would surely not last longer. Aside from that, electric mobility scooters are more expensive to develop and maintain because the charging makes use of a significant amount of electricity.

 

On the other hand, gasoline powered mobility scooters are less reliant on too much energy. They are more feasible and popular because they make use of gasoline like any other form of vehicles. Gasoline powered mobility scooters are very common and are highly affordable because they are just like ordinary vehicles that are rolled out in the market. However, with the increasing issues over emission, these mobility scooters are getting much criticism.

 

Where to buy mobility scooters

 

Mobility scooters can be bought at wheelchair and device retailers in urban communities. There are also several makers and developers that are accepting orders for the products. If you want to buy custom-made mobility scooters, you can place orders at mobility scooter manufacturers that abound across the market.

 

There are also online retailers and distributors. If you aim to order mobility scooters at such online sites, all you have to so is to log on to the Website of your favorite Internet shopping store and check out the brochures for mobility scooters. Such transactions entail the use of electronic payment via credit card purchases.

Osgood-Schlatter (OS) disease is one of the most common causes of knee pain in the adolescent. It occurs mostly in boys who are having a growth spurt during their pre-teen or teenage years. It is named after the two people who first described it. It is not serious and usually goes away in time. Having Osgood-Schlatter disease can be frustrating, because your child may need to limit his or her running and jumping activity level for a short time. Frequent use and physical stress cause inflammation (pain and swelling) at the point where the tendon from the kneecap (called the patella) attaches to the shinbone (tibia). The disorder is typified by a painful swelling just below the knee on the front (anterior) surface of the lower leg bone. OSD usually strikes active adolescents around the beginning of their growth spurts, the approximately 2-year period during which they grow most rapidly. Osgood-Schlatter disease is most often seen in preteen and teenage boys from 11 to 15 years old. The condition is characterized by localized pain and tenderness in this area.

Osgood-Schlatter disease usually occurs in just one knee, but sometimes it develops in both knees. It is felt that stress on the bone from the tendon tugging it during activities leads to Osgood-Schlatter disease. It is believed that Osgood-Schlatter disease results from the pull of the large powerful muscles in the front of the thigh (called the quadriceps). Osgood-Schlatter disease typically goes away over time (months to years after the normal bone growth stops). Because of a lack of a precise definition, it is difficult to differentiate OS disease from avulsion fractures of the tibial tubercle. The pain usually worsens with exercise, jumping, and sports such as basketball, volleyball, soccer, figure skating, and gymnastics. Treatment is conservative, with the use of pain-relieving medications, application of ice in the area of pain, and avoidance of stress on the knee caused by heavy quadriceps loading.

Causes of Osgood-Schlatter disease

The common causes and risk factor’s of Osgood-Schlatter disease include the following:

Activities that place repeated stress on the top of the tibia, the big bone in the lower leg, where the tendon of the kneecap inserts.

Tight quadriceps (front thigh) muscles.

Histologic studies support a traumatic etiology.

Teenagers who play a lot of sport involving kicking, running, or jumping.

Tight hamstrings (back thigh) muscles.

Risk factor: Age between 11-18 years.

Symptoms of Osgood-Schlatter disease

Some sign and symptoms related to Osgood-Schlatter disease are as follows:

Pain, swelling, or tenderness below the knee.

Swelling of the bump on the front of the leg just below the kneecap.

Limping (may worsen following activities).

Tightness of the surrounding muscles, especially the thigh muscles (quadriceps).

Numbness or tingling in the knee

Feel or hear a snap, pop, or grinding in the knee.

Relief from pain with rest.

Treatment of Osgood-Schlatter disease

Here is list of the methods for treating Osgood-Schlatter disease:

Apply ice or cold packs immediately to prevent or minimize swelling.

This injury needs rest if it is to heal properly.

Analgesics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) may be given for pain relief and reduction of local inflammation.

Gently massage or rub the area to relieve pain and encourage blood flow.

Run at a slower speed or for a shorter amount of time and jump less often.

Wear a strap across the patellar tendon during high-impact activities, to help diminish the stress on the area in which the patellar tendon inserts.

Paracetamol or similar painkillers may be useful when pain flares up.

Rarely, surgery may be needed if the initial treatment fails.

        There are many pros and cons in the school drug testing debate that is a hot topic of discussion in schools and amongst parents, teachers and students these days.
    Some say that the main purpose of random school drug testing is not to catch kids using drugs, but to prevent them from ever using drugs, illegal or not. Once teenagers are using drugs it is much harder for them to break their addiction. Maybe its the issue of peer pressure, which is the greatest cause of kids trying drugs. If by testing the athletes or other school leaders, we can get them to say no to drugs, it will be easier for other kids to say no.
    On the other hand, one of the fundamental features of our legal system is that we are presumed innocent of any wrongdoing unless and until the government proves otherwise. Random school drug testing of student athletes turns this presumption on its head, telling students that we assume they are using drugs until they prove to the contrary with a urine sample.
    If school officials have reason to believe that a particular student is using drugs, they already have the power to require that student to submit to a drug test, said ACLU-NJ Staff Attorney David Rocah.
    The constitutional prohibition against unreasonable searches also embodies the principle that merely belonging to a certain group is not a sufficient reason for a search, even if many members of that group are suspected of illegal activity. For example, even if it were true that most women with red sports cars were drug users, the police would not be free to stop all women who drive red sports cars and search them for illegal drugs.
    Students who participate in athletics, music programs, and after-school activities could increasingly be subject to random drug testing under a program promoted by the Bush administration.

        There are some parents, teachers and school officials who are calling it a heavy-handed, ineffective way to discourage drug use that undermine trust and invades students privacy.
        In many workplaces and in the military, theres been drug abuse testing going on, but courts have ruled that public schools cannot impose random tests on an entire student body.
    However, the Supreme Court ruled in 1995 that schools could randomly test student athletes who are not suspected of drug use.  In 2002 it was ruled that all students who participate in voluntary activities, like cheerleading, band, or debate, could be subjected to random tests as well.  Since then, the Bush administration has spent $8 million to help schools pay for drug testing programs. The White House hopes to spend $15 million on drug-testing grants in the next fiscal year.
        There are about 600 school districts in about 15,000 nationwide that use drug tests, according to officials from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.  White House officials liken drug testing to programs that screen for tuberculosis or other diseases, and said students who test positive dont face criminal charges.
    Others believe that if parents would just take the time to talk with their teenagers about drug abuse and if they suspect their teen is abusing drugs, the parents need to take actions beginning in the home.  There are many teen drug testing home kits on the market these days.  If parents upheld their roles as parents, then teachers, coaches and the government wouldnt need to step in and push the issue of school drug testing.

Osteochondritis dissecans is the most common cause of a loose body in the joint space in adolescent patients. In osteochondritis dissecans, a loose piece of bone and cartilage separates from the end of the bone because of a loss of blood supply. OCD is a form of osteochondrosis limited to the articular epiphysis. Articular epiphyses fail as a result of compression. Both trauma and ischemia probably are involved in the pathology. The knee is most commonly affected, although osteochondritis dissecans also can occur in other joints, including your elbow and ankle. OCD lesions involve both bone and cartilage. These lesions differ from acute traumatic osteochondral fractures; however, they may manifest in a similar fashion. A type of osteochondritis in which articular cartilage and associated bone becomes partially or totally detached to form joint loose bodies. Osteochondritis dissecans is the result of the isolated loss of blood flow to a portion of the talus bone. Usually this occurs in conjunction with a history of trauma. It is sometimes also known as an osteochondral fracture of the talus, chip fractureof the articular surface or a chondral fracture of the talus.

Some people with OCD eventually develop osteoarthritis. It has a complex etiology, and can be caused by genetic, hormonal, environmental and nutritional factors. Most people diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans are teenagers and young adults. Osteochondritis dissecans may not cause any symptoms, or symptoms may begin suddenly, develop gradually, or come and go. Osteochondritis dissecans is being diagnosed more often in girls as they become more active in sports. Symptoms usually improve with protected immobilization of the joint. Early diagnosis and treatment of osteochondritis dissecans are important to minimize your risk of long-term disability. Possible causative factors for OCD include repetitive microtrauma, ischemia, genetic and endocrine factors, and anomalies of ossification. Osteochondritis dissecans can involve the bone and cartilage of virtually any joint. Usually, only a small portion of the affected cartilage i
s involved. The classification of osteochondritis dessicans is important because the prognosis (expected outcome) and treatment options are often linked to the severity of the osteochondritis dessicans. In animals, OCD is considered a developmental and metabolic disorder related to cartilage growth and endochondral ossification.

Causes of Osteochondritis dissecans

The common causes and risk factor’s of Osteochondritis dissecans include the following:

A slight blockage of a small artery or to an unrecognized injury or tiny fracture that damages the overlying cartilage.

Metabolic factors.

Growth disturbances.

An injury or trauma to the ankle.

Poor blood supply to the bone.

Genetic conditions (eg, multiple epiphyseal dysplasia).

Symptoms of Osteochondritis dissecans

Some sign and symptoms related to Osteochondritis dissecans are as follows:

Knee weakness.

A clicking sound when you move your joint.

Locking of the joint.

Swelling and tenderness of the skin over your joint.

Sharp knee pain.

Decreased joint movement.

Stiffness after resting.

Bulges along the joint surface.

Treatment of Osteochondritis dissecans

Here is list of the methods for treating Osteochondritis dissecans:

Arthroscopic surgery is a frequently used procedure to remove the loose cartilage and bone tissue from the joint.

Resting your joint.

Anti-inflammatory medication and bracing of the ankle during activity may also be required.

Adopting low-intensity physical therapy.

If the patient has loose bone or cartilage in the ankle by clinical examination or as seen on a CT or MRI, surgical intervention is required.

Cortisone is a corticosteroid that reduces inflammation and swelling.

Visco-supplementation is the process of injecting a gel-like substance into the joint. This substance lubricates the cartilage, reducing pain and improving flexibility.

        Employer drug testing has become an important safety issue in the workplace not only for employees, but for human resources and safety professionals as well. It is estimated that over 98% of all the Fortune 500 companies conduct drug testing. The purpose of employer drug testing is to lessen the impact from drug abuse in the workplace. This includes tardiness, absenteeism, turnover, attitude problems, theft, deceased productivity, crime and violence. The US Department of Labor has estimated that drug use in the workplace costs employers anywhere from $75 to $100 billion dollars annually in lost time, accidents, health care and workers compensation costs. Sixty-five percent of all accidents on the job are related to drug or alcohol abuse, and substance abusers utilize sixteen times as many health care benefits and are six times more likely to file workers compensation claims then non-drug abusers.
    Drug experts are debating on whether drug abuse has fallen, or drug abusers simply avoid employers that test and instead apply at companies that do not test. Either way, most human resource and safety professionals have found drug testing to be a valuable and cost-effective risk management tool.
        When implementing a drug-testing program, policies and procedures should be established. Pre-employment drug testing is the most common type of testing program. Courts have consistently upheld the legality of requiring a pre-employment drug testing as a condition of employment.
    However, if a firm plans to conduct post-hiring drug testing for current employees, then the employer should include training and education for supervisors and employees, as well as guidelines for discipline in the event of a positive test.
    Post-employment drug testing includes random testing for safety sensitive positions, individualized suspicion testing, post accident testing, and testing that is legally required in certain industries, such as Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements concerning truck drivers. Each of these types of testing is legally sensitive, and an employer should have a program in place before starting.
        Most drug testing is done by sending an applicant to a collection site, where a urine sample is obtained and sent to a certified laboratory for analysis. Negative results are normally available within 24 hours. There are also instant drug testing and alcohol testing kits on the market that are available for employers to use. These are similar to home pregnancy tests and require the employer to collect a urine sample. These drug tests and alcohol tests are considered accurate for immediate screening at the convenience of the employer.

    Most employers utilize a standard five-panel test of street drugs, consisting of marijuana (THC), cocaine, PCP, opiates (such as codeine and morphine) and amphetamines (including methamphetamine). Some employers use a ten-panel test, which includes prescription drugs that are legal to possess and use. Employers can also test for blood alcohol levels through alcohol testing kits.
    Although each drug and person is different, most drugs will stay in the system for 2-4 days. For chronic users of certain drugs, such a marijuana or PCP, results can be detected for up to 14 days, and sometimes much longer. Sedatives, such as Valium, may stay in the system for up to 30 days. When the more expensive hair testing method is used, drugs can be detected for a 90-day period. To avoid the complications from second hand marijuana smoke, most labs will set a higher threshold before reporting THC in the system.
    Testing labs have extensive procedures to re-confirm a positive test before reporting it. Most drug testing programs also utilize the services of an independent physician called a Medical Review Officer (MRO) to review all test results. In the case of a positive result, the MRO will normally contact the subject to determine if there is a medical explanation for the positive results. For example, eating poppy seeds before a test can result in a false positive for opiates. However, an MRO also knows that poppy seeds cannot cause certain levels of opiates, and certain additional testing can eliminate that.
    There can also be tests that are negative but show an abnormal result, such as a low creatine level, which can indicate an applicant attempted to dilute the sample by the excessive drinking of water or some other form of alteration.  That is also a result that a MRO would examine. 
    Employers who conduct employer drug testing will find that a drug testing program will eliminate people with a drug abuse problem. Drug tests generally cost in the $50-$70.00 range, including collection of the sample, laboratory analysis, services of a Medial Review Officer, and communications of the results in the manner most convenient to the employer. Compared to the cost of even one employee with a substance abuse problem, most firms find eliminating the problem in the first place is well worth the time and money involved in an employer drug testing program.

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