In addition to resulting in physical harm, drinking excessively can damage the life of a person in a variety of ways. The effects of alcohol abuse can range from heart disease to digestive problems to cancer. Heavy drinking has also been linked to an increased risk of stomach and throat cancer. Several studies have shown that alcohol misuse has increased the risk of depression, and some people develop anxiety when their drinking habits become excessive. The short-term effects of alcohol misuse can include memory loss and blackouts. However, heavy alcohol use can lead to more serious brain problems.
The Long-Term Effects of Alcohol Misuse
Long-term effects of alcohol misuse can include liver damage, malnutrition, and cancer. Some people who abuse alcohol do so to escape the pain they experience from abuse or trauma. Others misuse alcohol to self-medicate. Self-medication may seem like an easy way out of a problem, but in reality, it can worsen depression. As such, it’s important to seek help for alcohol misuse. If you are a woman, you should avoid alcohol while pregnant or breastfeeding. Further, it’s important to find a treatment plan that is based on the severity and length of alcohol misuse.
Illegal usage of drugs and alcohol has taken the crime rate in society to a new level. As a result, drug addicts have become a headache for law enforcement agencies and courts. Misuse of alcohol and drugs can be controlled and be life-saving for thousands of people if they get tested on time! Alcohol abuse also affects the economy, with more than seventeen million working days lost each year due to loss of employment. There are different ways to perform a drug and alcohol test, and this post will discuss each testing option in more detail.
Performing a Drug and Alcohol Test
In many cases, the hiring process would also include a drug and alcohol test report, which is used to make a decision whether to hire a candidate or not. This is mainly done to ensure that the person they are hiring is not dependent on drugs like marijuana, hashish, opioid, cocaine or alcohol. Surely no one wants to hire a person who is not able to control himself and behaves irresponsibly.
Similarly, if you are facing a judicial case, the judge may order to check whether you are a drug addict or not. In addition, sports organisations have made the dope tests a mandatory document to ensure fair gameplay.
These are the most common types of drug and alcohol tests:
Blood Test
Blood is the universal sample for every test, whether it is used to detect a virus, bacteria, toxin, or drug. For example, if someone has consumed alcohol or drugs, these substances will be absorbed in his blood from the small intestine.
The process hurts as the needle pierces your skin to puncture the vein and collect blood.
The blood sample is then analysed in a lab setting to verify the exact concentration of prohibited substances in the body.
Urine Test
Urine is a perfect sample for those who are needle-phobic.
Only one thing needs to be ensured: the hygiene of genital parts when collecting samples.
The plus-point of the urine sample test is that it can detect any toxic or illegal drug consumption even after 3-5 days of its consumption.
Breath test
The highway police perform this test to check whether the driver has consumed alcohol more than the permissible level.
The person’s exhaled air is used as a sample, and the result comes without any delay. But there is a limitation; the test cannot be performed without a breathe-analyzer device.
Hair Test
The blood that carries the toxic fluid reaches your scalp; the hair absorbs alcohol from it and stores it. Therefore, hair can be very helpful in detecting the level of alcohol and drugs consumed till the 90th day of consumption.
Saliva Test
The saliva test is also painless, like the urine sample test and breath test. The saliva of the suspected person is collected in a container. The sample is later transported to the lab for processing. The sample can be used to detect the presence of alcohol after 8-10 hours of consumption.
Final Verdict
Every test has its limitations and certain levels of sensitivity which makes them good options for some situations and not so good for others. The type of drug and alcohol test is usually chosen based on the specific requirements and circumstances of the situation. If an illegal drug or alcohol is detected in your sample, the consequence can be very severe, so make sure you keep that in mind when engaging in such behaviours.