Drug Abuse Solutions
February 22, 2012 | 
Author 
Drug abuse today is a major cause for concern and has a negative effect on society at large. Though students constitute a large segment of drug abusers, adults also succumb to drug abuse. There is a tendency amongst middle-aged people to abuse prescription drugs.
The first step towards combating drug addiction is to make the abuser aware of the damage it causes the body. Most addicts lack confidence and must be taught to become a master of the situation and not a slave to addiction.
There are many institutions and organizations that help drug abusers kick the habit. The support of friends and family is of prime importance. First and foremost, an abuser must be committed to giving up drugs. Doctors and counselors are a drug abusers greatest ally in the battle against addiction.
People who realize they have to quit this dangerous habit may be too embarrassed or afraid to confide in anyone. They might even be worried that they will land into trouble if they admit to having this problem. Abusers must talk to anyone they trust.
Drug abuse solutions can be viewed from many perspectives. On a national level, solutions are based and discussed in terms of the reduction in supply of drugs. From a social perspective, solutions are usually discussed in terms of prevention, early intervention and treatment.
Prevention is better than cure. This adage holds good in fighting drug abuse too. Public education campaigns and stricter laws regarding purchase and use of legal substances are measures that have been adopted by states in the USA.
Many States have created coalitions of community and business leaders to address the problem of substance abuse. These groups run community-based programs that provide mentoring, tutoring, alternative activities, and life skills development for youth in drug-impacted neighborhoods.
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4 Ways to Reverse Depression
What is Depression? Depression is defined as: a sadness exceeding a normal time of grief both in duration and intensity. In short more often than not you are unhappy, frustrated, pissed off, negative and any other emotion you can throw in the hat. There are 3 major types of depression:
Major depression – is characterized by a combination of symptoms that last for at least two weeks in a row, including sad and/or irritable mood that interfere with the ability to work, sleep, eat. These episodes can occur once, twice, or several times in a lifetime.
Bipolar disorder (manic depression) – is a group of mood disorders or cycles of moods that include at least one episode of mania which are often chronic and recurring. Sometimes, the mood switches are dramatic and can cause unwise business or financial decisions when an individual is in a manic phase.
Dysthymia – is a less severe but usually more long-lasting type of depression. It involves long-term (chronic) symptoms that do not disable but yet prevent the affected person from functioning at “full steam”. Episodes of major depression can occur and this combination of the two types of depression is referred to as double-depression.
In the context of Health we have to realize the body is responding to what is cultivated in our minds. So it is critical to focus on what we feed our mind as much as what we feed our body. Before we do this lets take a moment to look at signs that people exhibit in a depressive character:
Persistently sad, anxious, angry, irritable, or “empty” mood
Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism and worthlessness
Loss of interest
early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
Fatigue
Crying spells
Thoughts of death or suicide
Physical symptoms, chronic pain, headaches, loss of appetite
The causes are numerous and to lengthily for purposes of this article but it is worth the time to reflect in your individual case some of the reasons that could have affected you. Grief, sadness and mourning are all natural responses to certain circumstances, but as described above the extended effects of these emotions is what pushes us over the line into depression.
In discussion all this clinical talk is fine but living in the midst of depression requires more than talk, you need help.
I would like to share a few ways with you that may help to reverse depression:
Medication – There is a real connection between a bodies chemical imbalance and depression. If you cannot do it yourself get help to find out if you have conflicting medication. You may also have a nutritional imbalance it might take some time to research but you may solve a big chunk of your problem in this one area
Protect Your Mind - You know down inside what affects you negatively, stay away from these things. The last thing you need is to add extra negative stress on top of your depressive state.
Layoff – Take it easy on yourself, layoff you. Self-Condemnation is one of the most vicious cycles to break, it consumes you day and night. Since it is a thought it can be as cancerous as any tumor. To compound depression thoughts can manifest itself into physical problems and you don’t need that.
Release – Depression is a poison and like any other poison you need to get it out of you body. Write, talk, exercise, find what works for you and get that poison (depression) out of your body.
I know easier said than done but if you have the will to change then change you will. Take small steps so frustration won’t stop your progress. Lets accept the fact that some people like the “Rut” and that’s the way that is.
Very disruptive to your life and a complex matter this depression is, but you have to start somewhere and if you have the will to change that’s half the battle.
Don’t you give up, that’s what depression wants and it can’t survive if you have hope.Depression puts you in a very small box where there is no room for hope and the alternatives it offers are not very good.
Folks, in my worse days my hope was that I would not wake up the next day, death was my hope. Now my hope is in some small way as a chick breaks out of it’s shell that you can break out of the shell of depression and re-discover what good things life still has to offer.
Remember we have One Life – One Body
RB
Ten Tips to Change Your Drinking Habits
If you would like to change your drinking habits, AA and total abstinence are not your only options. Research from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism shows that the majority of people who change their drinking habits do so without AA or rehab. Many decide that quitting completely is their best option, but just as many, if not more, resolve their problems by cutting back or becoming safer drinkers.
1) Safety First
If you have engaged in any unsafe behaviors when drinking alcohol, such as drunk driving, unsafe sex, drunk dialing or any of a host of others, there a is a way to help you to avoid this in the future. Get a sheet of paper and make a list of the risky behaviors you have engaged in and rank them in a hierarchy–remember that it is most important to avoid the riskiest behaviors first. Then make a written plan to avoid your high risk behaviors before you ever take the first drink. For example, if you want to drink at a bar, take a taxi there so that you will have to take a taxi home. You can’t drive if your car isn’t there. Remember: think before you drink. It is always a good idea to put safety first. The life you save may be your own.
2) Decide What Kind of a Drinker You Want to Be
Many people find that quitting alcohol altogether is their best option. It does not matter how much or how little you drink, anyone can make the choice to abstain completely from alcohol. Others find that moderate drinking is their best goal and they will choose to have a goal of drinking moderately and never becoming intoxicated. Even those people who are unwilling or unable to refrain from drinking to intoxication at times can work at becoming safer drinkers by planning ahead. Safer drinking can be an important harm reduction goal for these individuals, since any plan to be safer is always an improvement over unsafe drinking. Safer drinking, reduced drinking, or abstinence from alcohol are all legitimate harm reduction goals and they are all better than making no change at all. Also remember that your goal is not set in stone–many people who choose goals of safer drinking or reduced drinking decide later that switching to abstinence is their best bet. Life changes and it is good to be flexible and change with it.
3) Add Some Non-Drinking Days
Many people find that having several alcohol-free days each week helps them to keep their habit under control. If you have been drinking every day for a long time you might find that adding in even one non-drinking day each week can help you to get started on your change plan. Feel free to go at your own pace in adding alcohol-free days into your week. Warning: If you have been drinking heavily every day for a long time you may have alcohol withdrawal if you stop all at once. If you begin to have withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking then it is safest to either taper off slowly, to check into a detox, or to get some medications from your doctor to help you with alcohol withdrawal.
4) Count and Chart How Much You Drink
One of the best ways to get a handle on your drinking is to count your drinks and keep a daily record on a calendar or some other type of drinking chart. To keep an accurate record of how much you drink you will need to learn what a standard drink is. In the US this is one twelve oz beer at five percent alcohol or one five oz glass of wine at twelve percent alcohol or one and a half oz of 80 proof booze. One drink in a bar can contain up to half a dozen standard drinks so beware of this when charting your drinks. Practice measuring at home to get a feel for how much a standard drink really is. Write down your drink numbers on your calendar every day; if you have an abstinence day then write down a zero. Many people find that the act of charting in itself helps them to cut back.
5) Make a Drinking Plan
You can use the same calendar where you chart your drink numbers to plan how many drinks you will have in a given day. For example, you might want to reserve every Sunday for making your drinking plan for the week to come and write down which days will be alcohol-free and how many drinks you intend to have on your drinking days. Some people might want to have the same plan every week and will choose to write it down just once. For example, a person may choose to drink safely at home every Saturday night and abstain the other six days of the week. There are as many different possible drinking plans as there are people so feel free to make the plan which is right for you.
6) Make a Pros and Cons List
Get out four sheets of paper. On the first write out the pros of your current drinking habits and on the second write out the cons. On the third write out the pros of your intended change and on the fourth write out the cons. Don’t be afraid of saying that there are positives about alcohol; if you try to repress the positives they will just stay in your subconscious and cause you trouble later on. If you get this out into the open now you can recognize it and you can find other positive things to substitute for the benefits you get from alcohol. Feel free to do the pros and cons list frequently–every time you write these out it will strengthen your resolve to change.
7) Take a Break from Drinking
Some people find that the best way to jump start a change in their drinking habits is to have a non-drinking period. Taking a week or two or even a month or two off from drinking can be a great help in changing your relationship with alcohol for the better. A stretch of alcohol-free time will give you a chance to encounter all your old drinking situations without alcohol–and you will learn new ways to cope with these situations without booze.
Make a List of Ways to Have Fun without Drinking
There are unlimited ways to have fun without alcohol ranging from swimming to knitting to the New York Times crossword. Get out a sheet of paper and make a list of fun things that you can do without alcohol and keep it handy to refer to when you get the urge to break your drinking plan.
9) Accentuate the Positive
Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t stick to your plan perfectly. Research shows that most people don’t get it perfect the first time. Making a change usually takes several tries and there are some slip ups on the way to achieving your change goal. If you beat yourself up over a small slip you can make yourself so miserable that you want to drown your sorrows in booze and you can wind up going on a major bender as a result. The people who achieve success in the long run are the ones who praise themselves for every positive change. If you decide to take a month off from booze and make it to ten days then make sure to praise yourself for those ten days of abstinence from alcohol–you will never lose them. Don’t waste a lot of time beating yourself up over the fact that you didn’t make the full thirty days, get right back on the plan, whether you decide to finish out the remaining twenty days, go for thirty consecutive days, or go for a whole new plan.
10) Have a “Plan B” in Place
Slip ups are the norm when people try to change their habits; only the minority make the change completely the first time. But having one piece of chocolate cake doesn’t mean that you have to eat the whole cake. One drink does not have to mean one drunk. If you are planning to abstain but slip up and decide to have a drink then make sure to do it safely; if you are out in your car then take your car home first and take a taxi to the bar. Have your plan B in place so that you continue to remain safe even if you do slip up. A backup plan is essential whether your goal is safer drinking, reduced drinking, or quitting altogether.
Always remember that better is better. Any improvement you make over your old drinking habits, no matter how small, is a success!
Home Made Detox Recipes For Cleansing
Detoxification refers to the process of removing toxic substances from the body. For most people, this means the residue of all of the undigested unhealthy foods that we spend so much time consuming. Benefits of using detox a recipe includes that you will both bring your body to a healthier level, and help you with weight loss.
A detox recipe may include a diversity of ingredients, depending on which area of your body you want to cleanse, as well as what your personal tastes and preferences are. The goal is to detoxify your body with healing foods that will revive your body from within, and increase your energy and overall well being.
Lemon Detox Diet Recipe
One of the easiest detox recipes to make is a lemon drink for replacement of all solid foods for a period of up to a week or even two. You could also simply substitute a meal or two each day with the lemon beverage if you prefer. This drink is created by adding two tablespoons of brown rice syrup along with two tablespoons of fresh lemon juice to a glass full of water. You may add a dash of fresh grated ginger for taste and to help your digestive system function. Use in place of solid food whenever hunger strikes.
Fresh Fruit Detox Recipes
Fresh fruit like bananas, apples and strawberries can be used to whip up satisfying detox salads. You can use strawberries, lemon zest, extra soft tofu, and honey to make a delightful dessert.
The apple detox diet advises three days of eating only apples and applesauce, and drinking apple juice and cider. Fruit is a great way of cleansing the body and bringing wellness and vitality to your life.
Prior to having a new detox recipe, you should spend, at the minimum, seven days eating a light nutritional fare for cleansing your colon and readying your body for the more dynamic detox recipes. This includes avoiding junk foods, and maintaining the healthy diet for a full week. Look for detox recipes which include only wholesome ingredients like fresh fruits and vegetables, extra-virgin olive oil, unsalted nuts and seeds, and herbal teas.
Can You Not Collect Or Can You Waive Patient’s Copay? All About Copays and Copayments
There are so many reasons why you should not waive copays or copayments. If you are contracted with the insurance company, you are bound to follow what is in your contract with them. A patient’s copay is due at the time of service! You must collect your patient’s copay!
Let me tell you why you should not waive copays!
Your contract says you collect copay at the time of service!;
Your patient knows they have to pay their copay based on what their policy says (it’s absolutely false that they do not know they have a copay!);
Your are actually losing money in your practice if you do so!
What is a copayment? It’s a part responsibility of the patient’s based on their policy and coverage. Mostly, their copays are applied towards their annual out of pocket amount for family, single or individual. And it is always due at the time of service (the time they came in to your office). Copay for Primary Care Physician and for Specialist Office may differ too!
So why do you think you should not waive a copay? — let’s take a look at this way:
Assuming the insurance payor allows $58.00 for an Evaluation and Management – E/M Code and you waive a copay of $20.00, you only get reimbursed at $38.00 because the $20.00 was applied towards the patient’s copay.
So why waive the copay when it is an actual additional revenue to your daily cash flow, is it not?
Here are some scenarios of problem collecting copays and what you should do to deal with these:
The Patient has a Secondary Insurance and would like you to submit his/her claim to the secondary insurance after the primary insurance pays for the claim — what you should do; explain to the patient that their copay is due at the time of service regardless if they have a secondary insurance! Most of my patients would even send claims to their secondary to pick up for their copays. The key here, educate them!
The Patient always “forgets his/her checkbook” — give the patient one chance! Again, explain to them their copay is always due at the time of service. Hand them a self-addressed envelope and let them mail a check as soon as they get home. Or know your area, I’m sure there is a bank or an ATM Machine nearby, you can let the patient go the nearest ATM and withdraw money. Or for their convenience too, if they have credit cards — your practice should be able to accept major credit cards.
Helpful ideas too, post in your waiting room and at the window that says “Your Copay is Due at the Time of Service”, “You Must Pay Your Copay Before You Can Be Seen”.
And here is your last course, it is alright too to refuse to see the patient if they do not pay their copay. Maybe on the 3rd visit, if obviously the patient have been deliberately “forgetting” his/her check – inform them when you make the confirmation before their appointment that they can not be seen if they do not pay their copay balance.
I don’t think you can purchase any material thing that you use them first before you pay for it. Realistically, why render the service before the patient pays their copay? A private physician practice is not running a charity program or else you will go out of business. Just my one cent idea.
Lower Back Pain – Neck Pain – Tingling – Numbness
Patients with neck or lower back pain may have tingling and/or or numbness due to irritation of the nerve roots in the neck or lower spine.
Tingling and/or numbness in the first three digits of the hand are related to C5 nerve root (thumb), C6 nerve root (index) and C7 nerve root (middle finger) involvement. Similar symptoms in the last two digits (inner aspect of the ring and little fingers) are related to C8 nerve root irritation.
It is essential to rule out presence of carpal tunnel syndrome with entrapment of the median nerve at the wrist that can give rise to tingling and numbness in the first three digits of the hand. With carpal tunnel syndrome, the symptoms are restricted to the fingers.
With C6 nerve root irritation, there will also be tingling and/or numbness at the back of the forearm. C5 nerve root irritation can cause tingling and/or numbness along the outer aspect of the arm.
Tingling and numbness in the last two digits can also be related to ulnar nerve irritation at the elbow level from chronic tendency to lean on the elbows or sleep on the arm. Although there may be numbness along the inner and lower third of the back of the forearm with ulnar nerve irritation, there will not be symptoms in the inner aspect of the front of the forearm. If this region is tingling is numb, consider also involvement of the T1 nerve root.
Tingling and numbness in the foot in the region of the first three toes can be related to L5 nerve root irritation. The numbness may also involve the top of the foot and the outer aspect of the front of the leg. However, irritation of the peroneal nerve can also give rise to the same symptoms.
The peroneal nerve can be compressed either at the knee from tendency to cross legs habitually during sitting. The other common level where the peroneal nerve can be irritated is at the front of the ankle from tendency to cross the ankles during sitting or in bed. In this situation, the numbness may be related only to the first web space between the big toe and the second toe.
If the symptoms of tingling numbness are in the last two toes, irritation of the S1 nerve root need to be considered. The symptoms may also be felt in the sole of the foot. These same symptoms may be noted with irritation of the tibial nerve at the inner aspect of the ankle due to presence of tarsal tunnel syndrome.
However with S1 nerve root irritation, there will also be symptoms in the heel whereas in tarsal tunnel syndrome, there will be no symptoms of tingling and numbness in the heel.
The cause of the tingling or numbness must be evaluated by a physician. If conservative treatment is to be taken, massage is helpful. In the early stages, symptoms of tingling and numbness may be relieved by immediately massaging the muscles frequently as many times as possible every day.
Selective activation of muscles using eToims Twitch Relief Method can aid the recovery of the nerves and completely eliminate the tingling and numbness if the treatment can be done as soon as possible after the symptoms arise, preferably within 24 hours.
Sciatica – The Cause and the Cure
What it is
Sciatica is the name people give to a pain in the buttock, leg or foot brought on as a direct result of some form of irritation to the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body. It runs all the way from the lower back splitting at the base of the spine and terminating in the foot.
The discs which cushion the vertebrae in the lower back become progressively thinner and harder as we get older. This stresses the lower back and often causes a variety of lower back pain disorders, including sciatica.
Sciatica is usually caused by a prolapsed or ‘slipped’ disc bulging and pressing on to a nerve. It doesn’t usually cause permanent nerve damage since the spinal cord is not present in the lower part of the spine and a prolapsed or herniated disc in this area does not pose a risk of paralysis.
The cause
The most common cause of sciatica is a prolapsed (slipped) disc, pinched nerves or some form of arthritis. It usually starts with back pain which sometimes improves only to be followed by hamstring or calf pain. It may also include numbness in the toes depending on which branch of the sciatic nerve is irritated.
Piriformis syndrome is a condition in which the piriformis muscle irritates the sciatic nerve. The piriformis muscle is a small muscle behind the gluteus maximus. Piriformis syndrome is most common among women, runners and walkers.
Spinal stenosis is the name given to the narrowing of the nerve channel (vertebral canal) of the spine. This narrowing causes compression of either the spinal cord within the vertebral canal, or the nerve roots that exit the spinal cord. People with spinal stenosis experience sciatic pain symptoms in the legs and feet. It usually results from degenerative arthritis causing a narrowing of the spaces in the vertebral canal. Manual workers are more prone to developing symptoms of spinal stenosis but it seldom affects people under 30 years of age – unless it is due to traumatic injury to the vertebrae.
The spine is made up of a series of connected bones called “vertebrae.” Spondylolisthesis or isthmic spondylolisthesis occurs when a cracked vertebra slips over the vertebra below it. Poor posture and curvature of the back or weak abdominal muscles can contribute to this slippage, which can press on the nerve. The presence of this spondylolysis usually does not represent a dangerous condition in the adult and most treatments concentrate on pain relief and increasing the patient’s ability to function.
The Cure
Some cases of sciatica which result from inflammation get better with time and heal themselves perhaps within six weeks to three months.
Recent studies have shown that bed rest is not necessarily the best way to treat sciatica. It is better to remain active, starting off with some gentle stretching and exercise. Swimming is particularly useful, as it is not a weight bearing exercise. The good news is that herniated spinal discs usually do heal on their own, given time.
There are many different treatments for sciatica and it is important to discuss these with your health practitioner. Accurate diagnosis to determine the exact cause of sciatic pain is also equally important. The most conclusive diagnosis is usually gained by a having an MRI scan. However having said that skilled medical practitioners, and I include Osteopaths and Chiropractors, are often able to determine the suspected cause by carrying out a physical examination
Stretching and exercising are a must if you really want to progress along the road to rehabilitation and if you are in extreme pain this is probably the last thing you will contemplate doing.
Since getting mobile and becoming flexible is extremely important you might require some pain management to help you get going. For mild cases of sciatica your doctor may start off by recommending non prescription medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen, known as non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs. A downside of these drugs is that they may cause stomach upsets or bleeding.
If your pain is not relieved by analgesics or NSAIDs, your doctor might prescribe narcotic analgesics (such as codeine) for a short time. Side effects of these include nausea, constipation, dizziness and drowsiness, and continued use may result in dependency.
Sciatic pain is usually nerve related and responds well to treatment with low doses of tricyclic anti-depressant drugs like amitriptyline, dothiepin, nortriptyline, lofepramine, desipramine, clomipramine or imipramine combined with acupuncture or the use of TENs machines. The low dosage of the tricyclic drug acts by closing “a pain gate” blocking the message to the brain.
Other medications like Corticosteroids taken orally or by injection are sometimes prescribed for more severe back and leg pain because of their very powerful anti-inflammatory effect. Corticosteroids also have side effects and the pros and cons of taking them should be fully discussed with your doctor.
In extreme cases spinal injections of corticosteroid into the epidural space (the area around the spinal nerves) or facet joint (between vertebrae) may be given. This is usually carried out by a specialist with follow up injections at a later date.
Other treatments to manage sciatica include traction; manipulation by a skilled osteopath, physio therapist or chiropractor; Chemonucleolysis (injection of a special enzyme into the disk).
There is a fairly new procedure called IDET which stands for Iintro Discal Electrothermy). When a disc is herniated the water content of the inflamed disc causes it to bulge and press against the nerve. IDET dries up the disc very quickly, in less than 20 minutes, a process which might take weeks or months if left to dry up naturally
As a last resort you may consider surgery to remove fragments of the prolapsed disc are then removed.
As I mentioned earlier it is important to stay active and continue with an exercise and stretching program. Especially do exercises to develop your back and stomach muscles. This will help stabilize your spine and support your body.
It is also important to maintain a reasonable body weight, ensure you have a good posture, sleep on a mattress that is neither too soft nor too hard, be careful when bending or lifting heavy weights.
This information in this article should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease. You should always consult with your health care professional especially relating to the suitability of supplements or drugs and on all health matters that may require diagnosis or medical attention. If you suffer from progressive weakness in the leg or bladder or bowel incontinence this constitutes a medical emergency and you should seek immediate medical attention – you may have cauda equina syndrome a serious condition due to compression of the nerve roots in the lower end of the spinal canal.
Neck Pain – Trapezius
Neck pain is very commonly shown by most people to be in the region of the back of the neck and between the base of the neck to the shoulder, primarily indicating the region of the trapezius muscle.
Trapezius is a big diamond shaped muscle with 3 parts: the upper, middle and lower portions. Trapezius forms the slope of the shoulder. It arises from the back of the skull and from the spines of the C7 to T2 vertebrae. It attaches to the outer one third of the collarbone and acromion and the spine of the shoulder blade. It receives nerve supply from the accessory nerve and the C1 to C4 cervical nerve roots.
The trapezius functions to bring the 2 shoulder blades together toward the midline, draws the acromion backward and rotates the shoulder blade upward. It functions to shrug the shoulder, pull the head and neck backward, bend the neck sideways and also to turn the neck to the opposite side. Therefore with pain and spasm of the right trapezius, the patient will have difficulty bending the neck sideways to the right side. The patient will also have difficulty turning the face (rotation) to the opposite side.
Most patients who complain of neck pain or shoulder pain will be invariably show the pain to be at slope between the base of the neck and the shoulder, in the region of upper trapezius.
With pain and tightness in the trapezius, patients may have symptoms of headaches, dizziness, neck pain and midback pain.
When the latissimus dorsi (C6-C8 roots) and the deltoid (C5, C6 roots) have pain or spasm and/or weakness, the trapezius will help in lifting by shoulder shrug. Similarly, the trapezius will shrug the shoulder for maintaining the arm out in space.
To properly release the tightness in the trapezius, the entire spine muscles from the skull to the lower back, the latissimus dorsi and the gluteus muscles have to be treated.
Trapezius muscle is usually so tight that it is very difficult to treat and to find motor points, especially in the lower trapezius.
© 2007 copyright www.stopmusclepain.com
All You Need to Know about Hair Follicle Drug Testing
Hair sample drug testing is a great way to detect whether or not a person has used drugs in the past 90 days. Whether in an office format or in the home, hair drug testing serves the purpose of answering questions about an individual’s drug use history.
How Does Hair Follicle Drug Testing Work?
Hair drug testing is actually quite simple and merely requires a sample of hair in order to be completed. Parents who are worried about their teen’s use of drugs can collect a strand of hair from their pillow. Employers can request a sample from their employees. Once a hair sample has been collected, it is sealed in an envelope and sent to a participating laboratory for completion. Hair testing is fast and more accurate than other drug test forms.
For instance, hair sample drug testing can detect drug use for up to 90 days after use. The detection window is much larger in hair drug testing (compare it to few days for urine and saliva based drug testing) because trace amounts of drug chemicals become trapped inside each hair. A simple lab test can detect these trace chemicals making for either a positive or negative test result. Once the results are recorded, you are sent notification of the results. Some companies even provide a phone service where you call in, enter an account number and retrieve the results in that way.
What Kinds of Drugs Can Hair Drug Testing Detect?
Hair sample drug testing can detect all of the major types of drugs, including marijuana, opiates, methamphetamines, PCP, ecstasy, and cocaine. Hair follicle drug testing can detect the trace amounts of illicit substances trapped in the cortex of the hair for up to 90 days after use.
Employee drug testing programs often incorporate hair follicle drug testing into their plans because of the sheer accuracy of these tests. Even though hair testing is more expensive that a urine drug test kit, for example, they can provide a level of accuracy that is nearly ten times that of other testing methods. Likewise, hair follicle drug testing does not involve the embarrassing collection of samples like that of urine or saliva drug tests. In most cases, a few strands of hair is all that is needed to obtain accurate results.
Parents can also benefit from hair sample drug testing. Hair testing is discrete and confidential. An individual can be tested without their knowledge, making it so parents can know the truth about their teen’s drug use first before making accusations. By using hair drug testing in the home, parents can safeguard their teens against drug abuse, and help them quit the abuse should test results come back positive.
Fruit Flush Three Day Detox
The fruit flush three day detox diet is for the after-festive season cleansing. Jay Robb’s methodology of ridding the body of all the indulgences during the holiday season is quite a rage.
Loosing all those kilos after the hearty meals and drinks during an extended party, a vacation or simply during festivities and regaining the figure and vitality is the mantra of this diet. Besides over indulgence in food and weight problems, the system gets clogged up and requires cleansing, hence the all fruit diet.
The fruit flush is strictly a 3-day diet of just fruits. Fruits help in dissolving stored toxins and the water and fiber in them help to flush out aiding in weight reduction. It also fortifies the body and helps in speeding up the liver’s metabolism of environmental toxins.
1st day: the pre-flush
Between 8 am to 4 pm drink ounces of protein mix (11/4 cup protein powder and 1 quart water) every two hours. Eat 3 to 6 cups of raw vegetable salad and 3 to 6 ounces of lean chicken, beef, fish or turkey at 6 pm. Top it up with 1 to 2 ounces of olive oil or flax seed oil, or half an avocado and the juice of half a lemon. One hour after each protein drink or meal drink an 8-12-ounce glass of water.
2nd and 3rd day: fruit flush three day detox diet
From 8 am to 4 pm eat servings of fresh fruit every 2 hours. At 6 pm, like day one eat 1 serving of raw vegetable salad. Also drink one protein drink comprising of 12 ounces of water and 5 tablespoons of protein powder.
Unlike the 30-day detox or fasts, the fruit flush three day detox diet can be followed for a period of up to 12 weeks with 3-day diet and 4 days off alternatively. The diet is based on natural fruits and vegetables and followed back-to-back aids in considerable weight loss. The program has had very good reviews; dieters say the diet is rich in fiber, vitamins and antioxidants and low in potassium and sodium. This not only aids in detoxifying, losing weight but also improves energy, regular bowel movements and improves skin tone.
The fruit flush diet program does not support any preservatives, laxatives, chemicals or pills; also Robb suggests no exercise regime during the diet; yet there are a few negatives.
It is a very low calorie diet, hence not a balanced one. It is not a long-term solution for weight loss and not ideal if you are on a fat loss program. Also, those who have tried it are not satisfied that you have to use Robb’s protein powder. The positive reviews definitely outweigh these and several dieters use their own handy protein mixtures and still report the desired results of the fruit flush diet program!