Hair Drug Test
If you have applied for employment with the federal government or obtained life insurance, you have likely taken a drug test. A drug test is a process in which bodily samples are screened for drug use. For the most part, blood and urine samples are used to detect drugs in the body. However, these tests are not effective with detecting long-term use. On average, these tests can only detect drug use that occurred within 72 hours. Thus, it is possible for a job or insurance applicant to suddenly stop drug use in order to pass a drug test. Once they obtain employment or a life insurance policy, they resume drug use. Fortunately, there is a method for detecting long-term drug use. A hair drug test is able to measure drug use within the last 3 to 6 months.
A hair drug test is effective because if an employment or insurance applicant engaged in drug use, the drugs would be enclosed in the hair shaft. The only method for not detecting drugs in the hair shaft is shaving the head. As the hair grows, drug use is still detectable. Thus, drug screening agencies can detect drug use for up to six months. However, most employers and agencies only review the pass the 3 months. When giving a hair drug test, employers and insurance agencies will request a hair sample. Although an entire strand is given, screening is conducted on the initial five centimeters.
A hair drug test is able to detect the five major drugs. These drugs include marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, opiates, and PCP. Failing a drug test may have serious consequences. The employer or agencies that administer the tests have different procedures. While failing a hair drug test will likely result in a denial of coverage with an insurance agency, employees who fail a random hair drug test may be allotted a certain amount of time to discontinue drug use.
Disclaimer: Cliff Schaffer does not personally endorse or support any of the comments made within the writings of this article.
|
 |
Library Archives
Schaffer Library
|
