Alcohol Tests
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There is increasing pressure being exerted on drunk driving legislators by organizations such as MADD. In addition,
there is more  confirmation that most, if not all, alcohol-related highway fatalities can be prevented. Not only this but increasing
amounts of proof have been documented that conditions such as fetal alcohol syndrome are preventable. In a similar manner, an
increasing number of college, junior high, and high school administrators are stepping up their efforts to eliminate or significantly reduce
student alcohol abuse.
And finally, there are increasing efforts to reduce preventable alcohol-related accidents and injuries in the
workplace. As a result of all of these factors, it is apparent that alcohol tests will clearly become even more widely used and implemented
in the near future by various organizations and institutions and that workplace alcohol testing will increase and become even more
sophisticated. The bottom line: employers test for alcohol to save money, to provide a more productive and safer work environment,
and to upgrade their workforce.
A Growing Demand for Alcohol Tests
Statistics reveal that for U.S. employers, alcohol abuse accounts for approximately 67% of
total number of substance abuse complaints.
 Not only this but in the United States, the use or abuse of alcohol is associated with half the automobile fatalities and almost
half of all industrial accidents.
As a result of these and many more reasons, there is a growing demand for more effective alcohol detection and alcohol tests in this
country.
To drive the point home more forcefully, an ever increasing number of companies, organizations, agencies, and institutions, educational and
otherwise, are employing alcoholism screening tests and random alcohol tests as part of their workplace alcohol testing program or alcohol
testing policy.
And because of increasing pressure on drunk driving legislators by organizations such as MADD to make the penalties more unforgiving for DUI
violations and increased alcohol-related traffic fatalities and accidents, alcohol testing will surely become more entrenched and utilized in the
foreseeable future.
Workplace Alcohol Testing: Why Employers Test for Alcohol
Alcohol and drug abuse costs companies a lot of money because of damaged equipment, theft,
reduced productivity, high employee turnover, workers' compensation claims due to alcohol or drug-related accidents and injuries, and employee
absenteeism.
 Drug and alcohol tests can be a screening aid during the pre-employment process and an effective way to check for alcohol and
drug abuse by the existing employees. Implementing a successful alcohol and drug abuse policy and testing procedure will hopefully
reduce all of the alcohol and drug-related issues and problems listed above and will also create a safer, more productive work
environment.
One way that employers can upgrade their workforce is by conducting pre-employment drug and alcohol tests and random drug and alcohol tests at
different times for all employees. It is no guarantee, but by screening prospective employees for drug and alcohol abuse and by testing all
of the current employees, workplace alcohol testing can go a long way in creating a drug and alcohol-free work environment.
| About 43% of U.S. adults -- 76 million people -- have been exposed to alcoholism in the family -- they grew up
with or married an alcoholic or a problem drinker or had a blood relative who was an alcoholic or problem drinker. |
 Another reason many employers test for alcohol and drug abuse is to take advantage of the discounts offered by workers'
compensation. More precisely, if workers' compensation discovers that alcohol or drugs were contributing factors in an on-the-premises
accident or injury, the employer's premiums will be reduced.
Are drug and alcohol programs affordable? According to drug and
alcohol testing experts, a company with 100 employees will probably be able to pay for a workplace alcohol testing and/or drug testing
program for less than $1,000.00 per year. The savings to employers comes from significantly reducing all of the drug and
alcohol-related costs outlined above and also in employing more dependable, more productive employees who exhibit less turnover.
A final reason why employers test for alcohol and drugs is to conform to state and federal laws that require drug and alcohol testing in jobs
where safety is critical (for instance in the transportation industry) and in occupations where public trust is a requirement (for example in the
banking and financial industry).
The Four Kinds of Alcohol Tests
There are basically four different types of alcohol tests that are available for workplace alcohol testing protocols: urine tests for
alcohol, blood alcohol tests, alcohol breathalyzer tests (also called alcohol breath tests), and saliva alcohol tests. Hair drug tests will
also be discussed, even though they cannot detect alcohol.
| One half of all traffic fatalities and one-third of all traffic injuries are related to to the abuse of alcohol.
Accidents and suicides that are associated with alcohol problems are especially prominent in teenagers. |
The Fundamental Characteristics of Urine Alcohol Tests
Urine Alcohol Tests have the following characteristics:
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They are considered an intrusive method of testing.
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They can be affected by abstaining from drinking for a period of time before the test.
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They detect alcohol ingestion mainly within the past week, or longer with regular drinking.
- They are often temperature tested to assure sample integrity.
- They are the least expensive of the alcohol testing methods.
- They indicate the presence of alcohol in a person's system, but it takes up to 2 hours for the alcohol to show up in urine.
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They can be used at home, for instance, by parents, though lab verification is required for accurate results.
| The overriding plan of action when experiencing a possible alcohol overdose situation is this: Do not take chances
when someone's life is at stake. If you suspect that a person has alcohol poisoning or is overdosing on alcohol, get immediate
medical assistance, even if the person is underage. |
Urine Alcohol Tests Pros
Urine Alcohol Tests Cons
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The specimen can be adulterated, substituted, or diluted.
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They indicate the presence of alcohol in a person's system, but it takes up to 2 hours for the alcohol to show up in urine.
A positive urine test does not necessarily mean the individual was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the test.
Rather, it detects and measures the use of alcohol within the previous day or so.
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They have a limited window of detection (typically 1 to 5 days).
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They are considered as invasive or embarrassing form of testing.
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They present a biological hazard when the specimens are handled and shipped to the lab.
| Today, substance abuse is the number one debilitating force among Alaska Natives. More specifically, the suicide
rate for Alaska Natives is four times more than the national average and almost 80% of all Alaska Native deaths are related to
alcoholism or to alcohol abuse. |
Blood Alcohol Tests
Blood Alcohol Tests have the following characteristics:
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They are the most accurate method for testing a person's blood alcohol content
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They are the most expensive method to testing a person's blood alcohol content.
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They are the most intrusive method for testing BAC.
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Due mainly to their high cost and to their intrusiveness, blood tests are the least common method for testing a person's BAC.
| One study of Midwestern States found that 46 percent of ninth graders who reported drinking alcohol in the
previous month said they obtained the alcohol from a person aged 21 or older. |
Saliva Alcohol Tests
Saliva alcohol tests detect the presence of alcohol in the saliva, and are a relatively good approximation of blood alcohol content (BAC). Due
to the fact that the concentration of alcohol in saliva is very likely to be similar to the BAC that is in the blood, saliva is the preferred
alcohol testing method when compared with blood alcohol testing.
| Alcohol detoxification is the process of letting the body rid itself of alcohol while managing the withdrawal
symptoms in a safe environment. This form of treatment is typically done under the supervision of a medical practitioner and is
frequently the first step in an alcoholic treatment program. |
Have a Look at These Top Quality Alcohol Abuse Videos!
Saliva Tests have the following characteristics:
- They are slightly more expensive than urine testing, but less than hair or blood testing.
- They are a relatively non-intrusive method of drug testing.
- They are becoming more common compared to the other methods of testing.
- They are easy to administer but require lab processing for accuracy.
- They detect use primarily within the past day or so.
During the third stage of alcohol dependency, the drinker starts to experience serious relationship, work-related,
and financial problems. Additionally, he or she starts to avoid friends and family and experiences a loss of interest in things
that used to
be important. |
- They can detect more recent drug use than other testing methods.
- They have no nationally accepted cutoff concentrations or standards for detection. This makes the results more dependent on the
specific product employed and could make results less-reliable and/or acceptable for legal considerations.
- They are more reliable for the detection of methamphetamine and opiates and less reliable for THC or cannabinoids.
| Heavy drinking can increase the risk for certain cancers, especially those of the throat, voice box (larynx),
liver, and esophagus. Excessive drinking can also cause immune system problems, brain damage, harm to the fetus during pregnancy,
and cirrhosis of the liver. |
Saliva Drug Tests Pros
- They provide samples that are acquired under direct observation.
 They present a minimal risk of tampering.- They spare patients the discomfort of repeated vein punctures.
- They are non-invasive.
- They present no risk of infection, thrombosis, or anemia.
- They present lower total testing costs since no special staff training is required for collection.
- They provide for samples that can be collected easily in almost any environment.
- They can detect alcohol use.
- They reflect recent drug use.
- They provide a relatively short window of detection, approximately 10 to 24 hours.
Saliva Drug Tests Cons
- They present some detection limitation since drugs and drug metabolites do not remain in the saliva as long as they do in the urine.
- They are less efficient than other testing methods in detecting marijuana use.
| Hangovers are another effect that occurs after large amounts of alcohol are consumed. Symptoms including headache,
nausea, thirst, dizziness, and fatigue. |
Breathalyzer Tests
Breathalyzer Tests have the following characteristics:
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They do not directly measure blood alcohol concentration or content.
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They estimate blood alcohol concentration or content indirectly by measuring the amount of alcohol in one's breath.
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They not only detect the ethyl alcohol found in alcohol beverages, but also in other substances that have a similar molecular
structure.
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They can result in false BAC readings caused from cell phones, police radios, electrical interference, moisture, dirt, and tobacco
smoke. They can result in false BAC readings from substances or compounds found in gasoline, paint removers, cleaning fluids,
celluloid, and lacquers.
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They can lead to false BAC results from blood, vomit, or alcohol present in the person's mouth.
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They can result in false BAC readings due to a person's breathing rate caused by vigorous exercise, hyperventilation, or a person
holding one's breath. They can result in false BAC readings if law enforcement personnel fail to use the breathalyzers properly or
fail to properly maintain and re-calibrate the units when necessary.
| “Eye-openers” are common during the third stage of alcoholism. That is, drinks that are taken whenever the person
awakens. Eye-openers are normally taken to lessen a hangover, calm the nerves, or to quiet their feelings of remorse the drinker
experiences after a period of time without a drink. |
Hair Testing and Drugs
An analysis of a person's hair can result in a significantly longer testing window for the detection of drugs and drug
metabolites. This provides a more complete drug-use history that can go back in time as far as 90 days.
Similar to urine testing, hair testing does not reveal evidence of current impairment, only past use of a specific drug.
And of special note, hair testing cannot be used to detect alcohol.
Hair Drug Tests have the following characteristics:
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They are currently many times more costly than urine tests.
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They are a relatively non-intrusive method of drug testing.
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They detect substance use over a longer period of time.
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They do not usually detect drug use within the past seven days.
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They require a sample of hair approximately the diameter of a pencil and about 1.5 inches long.
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They cannot be done with a single hair.
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They reveal positive test results more than twice as often as urine tests.
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They are not significantly affected by brief periods of abstinence from drugs.
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They can sometimes be used to determine when drug use started and if it has been discontinued.
| To make the argument for alcohol abstention and pregnancy even stronger, according to recent studies, women who
continue to drink even small amounts of alcohol while trying to become pregnant, may reduce their chances of conceiving. |
Can hair testing be defeated or beaten? No adulterants have been found that can beat hair tests for drugs. Plus, the risk is minimized
due to the fact that every collection is directly and easily observed.
Hair Tests Pros
- They have a longer window of detection.
- They offer greater stability (i.e, they do not deteriorate).
- They can detect chronic drug use.
- They provide convenient shipping and storage, since they do not require refrigeration.
- They off a collection procedure that is not invasive or embarrassing.
- They are more difficult to adulterate than urine.
- They detect the combined use of alcohol AND cocaine.
- They can provide a 3-month drug usage history.
| Currently, nearly 14 million Americans, 1 in every 13 adults-abuse alcohol or are alcoholic. Several million more
adults engage in risky drinking patterns that could lead to alcoholism. |
Hair Tests Cons
- They are relatively expensive.
- They are usually limited to basic 5-drug panel.
- They cannot detect alcohol use.
- They can not detect very recent drug use (i.e., usage from 1 to 7 days before the test).
| A study of fifth and sixth-grade students found that those who demonstrated an awareness of beer ads also held
more favorable beliefs about drinking and intended to drink more frequently when they grew up. |
Alcoholism Videos
 We have included some alcoholism videos so that you can see and hear directly from various
people about their struggles with this disease. If you, a family member, or one of your friends has a "drinking problem," seeing what
others have gone through and how they attained successful recovery is much more "real" than any information you can read about.
Furthermore, watching these videos may help you understand what others with a drinking problem are experiencing. And from a
different perspective, after watching these videos, you may better understand why alcohol tests are increasing and why workplace alcohol testing
has become a reality for many U.S. employers. So make sure you look at these excellent videos!
| An alcoholic will negatively impact the lives of 4 or 5 other Americans (such as associates, family, and friends)
while under the influence of alcohol. |
Alcohol Tests: Conclusion
 With increasing efforts to reduce preventable alcohol-related injuries and accidents in the workplace; with more evidence that
most, if not all, alcohol-related highway fatalities can be prevented; with an increasing number of junior high, high school, and college
administrators cracking down harder on student alcohol abuse; with increasing pressure being exerted on drunk driving legislators by
organizations such as MADD to make the penalties more harsh for DUI violations; and with more confirmation that medical conditions such as
fetal alcohol syndrome are preventable, alcohol tests will certainly increase in number and in scope in the near future.
Indeed, increasing numbers of companies and organizations are implementing random alcohol testing and alcoholism screening tests
as part of their workplace alcohol testing policies and procedures. It would not be surprising, moreover, to see alcohol testing
policies and protocols extended to academic, social, and political settings.
Why do organizations and companies test for alcohol? Why is workplace alcohol testing increasing? Why will alcohol
tests continue and even increase in the near future? There are three main reasons why workplace alcohol testing exists and why
employers test for alcohol: to upgrade their workforce, to provide a safer, more productive work environment, and to save money.
In short, alcohol tests affect the bottom line, and when employers can efficiently increase their economic viability in a cost-effective manner,
they will.
| If you would like to listen to an informative and professionally done "talking eBook"
entitled The Truth About Alcohol, please click on this link. |
Please Add Our Website To Your Favorite Bookmarks!
| It is truly sad that the "fun" and the "buzz" that many people experience when drinking frequently motivates them
to drink more each time they drink and to drink more often. At some point, the line between alcohol abuse and alcoholism gets
blurred as the person gradually becomes more reliant on alcohol until he or she simply needs to drink in order to function.
Similar to silent killers such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, however, realizing the damaging consequences of
alcoholism may come too little, too late. |
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They provide the most flexibility in testing different drugs, including alcohol and nicotine.