Drug Panels

Implementing a Drug Screening Policy is a benefit, not a burden. Drug abuse carries many concerns; product defects, turnover, absenteeism, tardiness, workers’ compensation costs, property damage, and employee theft just to name a few.

All our labs are certified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). We provide all chain of custody forms needed and sample of company memos notifying your employees of the implementation. With access to over 2000 labs nationwide. We will be more then happy to locate the nearest lab for you.

Amphetamines

They are stimulants or "uppers" usually made synthetically in illegal labs. The effects include stimulation of the central nervous system, a sense of well-being and higher energy, a release of social inhibitions, and feelings of cleverness, competence and power. These are similar to the effects of cocaine but last longer. The term “amphetamine” refers to a large class of stimulants: amphetamines (black beauties, white bennies), dextroamphetamines (dexies, beans), and methamphetamines (crank, meth, crystal, speed). They can be taken orally, injected, smoked or snorted. Chronic use can cause paranoia, picking at the skin, auditory and visual hallucinations, and extremely violent and erratic behavior. Amphetamines are addictive
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Barbiturates

They are sedating medications that were used as sleep aids years ago but are rarely prescribed for insomnia today, due to their overall safety risks
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Benzodiazepines

They are a class of psychotropic drugs that have a hypnotic and sedative action, used mainly as tranquilizers for the control of symptoms due to anxiety or stress and as a sleeping aid for insomnia; they have been associated with dependence and addiction in some patients
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Cocaine

Cocaine, from the leaves of the coca plant, is one of the most powerfully addictive drugs. Cocaine is distributed on the street in two main forms: cocaine hydrochloride, a white crystalline powder that can be snorted or dissolved in water and injected, and crack cocaine hydrochloride that has been processed with ammonia or baking soda and water into a freebase cocaine. These chips, chunks or rocks can be smoked. Heavy use of cocaine may produce hallucinations, paranoia, aggression, insomnia and depression. Cocaine in powder form is also called coke, snow, nose candy, flake, blow, big C, lady, white and snowbirds
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Marijuana

Also called weed, pot, reefer, grass, dope, ganja, mary jane and hash - is the drug most often used in this country. It is a mix of dried, shredded flowers and leaves of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa). Most users roll loose marijuana into a cigarette (called a "joint"). The drug can also be smoked in a water pipe, called a “bong” Some users mix marijuana into food or use it to brew a tea. Hash users either smoke the drug in a pipe or mix it with tobacco and smoke it as a cigarette. A new way of smoking marijuana is to slice open a cigar and replace the tobacco with marijuana, making a “blunt.” When smoked with a 40-ounce bottle of malt liquor, it is called a "B-40" All forms of cannabis are mind-altering (psychoactive) drugs
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Methaqualone

Nonbarbiturate sedative/hypnotic that produces sleep for about 6 to 8 hours. It also produces muscular relaxation, feelings of contentment, and total passivity
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Opiates

Substances that come from the opium poppy, as well as any substance that dulls the senses, relieves pain, and causes deep sleep. Some, such as morphine and codeine, are helpful in dulling the pain of cancer and other ailments. Others, such as heroin, can be deadly, and all are potentially addictive
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Phencyclidine

Also known as PCP, is a white crystalline power with a distinctively bitter chemical taste. PCP turns up on the illicit drug market in a variety of tablets, capsules and colored powders. It is snorted, smoked or eaten. When smoked, PCP is often applied to a leafy herb such as mint or parsley, or to tobacco or marijuana. It is called "crystal supergrass" and "killer joints" when mixed with marijuana. PCP was developed as an intravenous anesthetic. Medical use of PCP in humans was discontinued because patients often became agitated, delusional and irrational while recovering from its anesthetic effects. PCP is often sold on the street as "angel dust", "ozone", "wack", and "rocket fuel".
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Propoxyphene

Is a mildly narcotic analgesic drug (trade name Darvon) related to methadone but less addictive
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Case Studies

Via LawReporter.comTransportation Industry

Emami v. Saint Clare's Hasp., Inc., N.J., Morris County Super. Ct., MRS-L-2324-02,
Feb. 10, 2004

Emami, 30, was pushing her infant son in a baby jogger along the shoulder of a road. A hospital van transporting patients struck Emami and her son, then overturned. Emami's son suffered fatal injuries. He is survived by his parents. Emami suffered closed-head trauma and multiple fractures, requiring several surgeries. Her past medical expenses were $600,000 and future unspecified medical expenses are expected. Emami's husband, individually and on behalf of his wife and son, and Emami's father-who witnessed the incident-sued the hospital and the driver, alleging the driver was negligent in failing to keep a proper lookout.

Suit against the hospital alleged negligent hiring, training, monitoring, and retention of the driver, who allegedly had several prior moving violations and complaints on his record, and vicarious liability for the driver's actions. Suit against the hospital also alleged violation of federal and state law by not requiring its van drivers to have commercial driver's licenses. The parties settled during mediation before trial for $16 million.

The settlement amount included $10.1 million to Emami, $2.5 million to her husband, and $250,000 to her father.

Via LawReporter.comSports Activity Industy

Doe Vs. Roe School District, California, Los Angeles County Superior Court. Confidential docket number.
Jan 5th 2004

Doe, 16, was on the water polo team at her high school. Her coach had unlawful sex with her and was convicted of statutory rape. Doe suffered emotional distress, incurring psychotherapy bills of approximately $5,000. Doe's parents sued the school district on her behalf, alleging negligent hiring, retention, and supervision of the coach, who had allegedly had three previous unlawful sexual relationships with students. Defendant contended it was unaware of the coach's previous misconduct

The parties settled before a trial for $695,000

Via LawReporter.comHomes Services Industry

Femenick Vs. Nadey, California, Alameda Court Superior Court, Case Number 776205
June 5th 1998

Fermenick, 24, and her husband hired a local Chem-Dry franchise to clean their carpets. The franchise sent Nadey, who had been placed with it through a temporary employment agency. While in Fermenick's home, Nadey allegedly sexually assaulted and killed her. Fermenick is survived by her husband and her 2-year-old daughter. She had been a full-time homemaker. Nadey is currently awaiting trial for first-degree murder. Fermenick's husband, individually and on behalf of his daughter and his wife's estate, sued Chem-Dry, the local franchise and its owners, and the temporary employment agency, alleging negligent hiring and supervision. Plaintiffs claimed defendants had failed to conduct a background investigation on Nadey even though he had disclosed a criminal history on his employment application. If defendants had conducted an investigation, plaintiffs claimed, they would have learned Nade had been convicted of three prior felonies.

Plaintiffs settled with Chem-Dry for $35,000, with the employment agency for $375,000, and with the franchise and its owners for $750,000.

Via LawReporter.comInsurance Service Industy

Whittaker v. Southwestern Life Ins. Co., Ala., Macon County Cir. Ct., No. CV-02-41,
Feb 4th 2004

Whittaker purchased a life insurance policy issued by Southwestern Life Insurance Company (Southwestern) from its agent, Perry. Over the next six years, Whittaker paid policy premiums to Perry, who kept them instead of turning them over to Southwestern. When Perry suggested that Whittaker allow her policy to lapse, she contacted Southwestern and was informed that her policy had lapsed a year and a half after its issuance. Whittaker suffered loss of the premium payments and policy benefits. Whittaker sued Perry, alleging fraud. She also sued Southwestern, alleging fraud and negligent hiring. Plaintiff claimed the company failed to perform a background check on Perry, which would have revealed a jury verdict against him in a suit alleging he had kept premium payments.

A jury awarded $1.62 billion, finding each defendant liable for $10 million in compensatory damages and $800 million in punitive damages.

Alabama Code 6-11-21 limits punitive damages to three times the amount of compensatory damages.

Via LawReporter.comNursing Home Industry

Deerings West Nursing Center vs. Scott - 757 S.W. 2d 494-TX(1990)

Nursing home liable for $235,000 for negligent hiring of unlicensed nurse, with 56 prior criminal convictions, who assaulted 80-year-old visitor