Workshop 12
Drugs of abuse screening moves on
Dr Steve George
Published data suggests that the number of individuals seeking treatment for drug addiction doubled from 1993 to 2000. In addition, 14% of school children aged between 11-15 years are taking drugs (including crack cocaine and heroin) compared to 11% in 1998. The social and economic costs of drug misuse are currently calculated to be around £4.0 billion, with the drug industry being valued at £6.6billion.
The provision of a laboratory service for drugs of abuse screening has an important and increasing role in the diagnosis and management of drug misuse. Major substances of abuse include: amphetamines (amphetamine, and 'ecstasy' type drugs), benzodiazepines, cannabis, cocaine, methadone, and opiates (codeine, dihydrocodeine, heroin, and morphine), with a wider range of other substances occurring less frequency
A drugs of abuse screening service needs to be able to provide rapid interpretive results following a comprehensive analytical investigation. This can only be achieved using a combination of different techniques for both the initial screening procedures and the subsequent confirmation of any positive findings. These typically include immunoassay screening followed by confirmation using 'classical' chromatographic techniques that are both specific and sensitive.
Some aspects to be discussed at the workshop include:
- Choice of sample matrix for drug screening
- Issues surrounding point of care testing
- Quality Control
- Occupational monitoring and chain of custody issues