Drug Tests and Diagnosis

Testing For Drug Use

There are a variety of drug tests available at the pharmacy and in the online commercial market. Urine and saliva tests are the most common ones available for home use, which supply results within minutes. For more accurate testing, either hair or blood samples can be sent to a lab for clinical analysis.

There are expensive over-the-counter products (adulterants, herbs, vitamins, etc.) that are designed to hide or alter the outcome of a drug test. For the most part, these products are not successful.

Diagnosis

A number of key factors go into accurately assessing a patient’s drug addiction.

Within the treatment environment, comprehensive assessment tools can provide clinicians with an accurate, long-term history of a patient and possible diagnoses. Six different assessment tools offer accurate and reliable results. A necessary component of the assessment is an accurate psychological and psychosocial evaluation. These assessments will reveal in what area the patient is at greatest risk. For example, an individual with an acute addiction that is employed, still living at home, with a social network in place (though troubled) may be less at risk than the patient who has never held a job regularly and has no stable social supports beyond drug abusers and dealers.

A series of blood workups and physical examinations will help determine what type of drugs, and in what amounts, have been abused.

To stabilize, detox, and ultimately treat drug addiction, a complete understanding of the patient is necessary before a treatment plan can be developed. It is recommended to those seeking treatment that they find a program that provides personalized treatment plans.

Self Test

There are various forms of self-tests or screenings that can be used to guide anyone thinking he or she may have a problem with drugs. The test below was developed by addicts and compiled by the Kentucky Board of Nursing.

Answer these questions yes or no as honestly and truthfully as possible.

Do you ever use alone?
Do you use substances more than once a week?
Do you ever have cravings for drugs?
Do you take risks when you are taking drugs that you wouldn’t normally take?
Does your mood change when you do not take drugs?
To avoid feeling addicted have you substituted one drug for another?
Have you promised yourself or another that you would no longer use drugs, but have been unable to keep that promise?
Have you ever lied to a doctor to obtain prescription drugs?
Have you ever stolen to obtain drugs?
Do you regularly use a drug to wake up or go to sleep?
Have you ever taken one drug to overcome the effects of another?
Do you get angry when friends or family talk about your drug use?
Do you deny using drugs regularly?
Have you missed work because of drugs use?
Have you ever forgotten what you did the night before because of using drugs and alcohol?
Have you ever used a drug without knowing what it was?
Has your job or school performance suffered from your drug use?
Have you ever been arrested as a result of using drugs?
Have you ever lied about what or how much you use?
Have you bought drugs despite the financial consequences?
Have you ever been hospitalized because of your using?
Does using interfere with your sleeping or eating?
Does the thought of running out of drugs terrify you?
Do you ever question your own sanity?
Are your relationships changing because of your drug use?
Do you feel that you need drugs to socialize?
Have you ever felt defensive, guilty, or ashamed about your using?
Do you have unexplainable fears?
Has using affected your sexual relationships?
Have you taken more than the prescribe dosage of a drug?
Do you take drugs that have not been prescribed for a specific purpose?
Have you ever overdosed on any drug?
Do you continue to use despite negative repercussions?

If you answered yes to any one of the questions above, this is a warning that you may be addict.
If you answered yes to any two of the questions above, the chances are that you are an addict and should seek help.
If you answered yes to three or more of the questions above, you should speak to a medical professional knowledgeable in drug addiction.