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Originally Posted On: https://rapiddetect.com/2020/03/11/your-comprehensive-guide-to-a-10-panel-drug-screen

 

Did you know that about 2.5 million Americans have used an illegal drug within the past 30 days?

Drug abuse can affect not only a person’s personal life but also their professional life. Poor work performance is already bad enough to deal with but if your employee is working with dangerous machinery or performing another job that requires a lot of attention and caution, then you could have a serious tragedy on your hands.

For the safety of your employees and your business in general, it’s important to perform a 10 panel drug test. That way, you can have peace of mind knowing that your employees are behaving in a safe and healthy way.

Are you wondering what a drug screen panel tests for?

Keep reading to learn about a 10 panel drug screen and why you need to use it at your business.

1. Why You Should Use a 10 Panel Drug Screen

The great thing about a ten panel drug test is that it tests for the top ten most frequently abused drugs. Not only does the test look for the 5 most commonly abused prescription drugs but it also tests for the 5 most commonly abused illegal drugs.

Instead of having to do an individual test for each drug or a test for different drugs at different times, you can test for all the popular ones in one fell swoop.

Most workplaces only use a 5 panel test rather than a 10 panel test but that would mean that the tests are only half as effective. In order to be sure and safe, a business shouldn’t cut corners when it comes to drug detection time. If the results are all negative drug tests, then you won’t have to worry if your employee might be abusing one of the drugs that aren’t tested by the 5 panel test.

The 10 panel drug test is often completed by using an employee’s urine but it’s possible to do the test using blood or other fluids from the body.

2. Cannabis

The first type of drug that a 10 panel drug screen can test for is cannabis. This can include marijuana, hashish, and even synthetic cannabinoids, such as K2 and spice.

The use of cannabis can include a range of symptoms, including a lack of motivation, paranoid behavior, a slow reaction time, memory impairment, dizziness, and more.

If your employee needs to drive a company car, for example, these kinds of symptoms can be a recipe for disaster.

3. Opioids

America is currently dealing with an opioid epidemic in which over 130 people are dying every day from an opioid-related overdose.

Opioids can come in the form of opium, morphine, heroin, and codeine.

You’ll be glad to know that the second type of drug that a 10 panel drug screen can look for is opioids.

Opioids can relieve pain but can easily lead to addiction and drug abuse. The symptoms of opioid use can include shallow breathing, slurred speech, sensitivity to pain, a euphoric mood, and more.

4. Amphetamines

Amphetamines can come in a range of different forms, including amphetamine sulfate and methamphetamine. There are also various amphetamines that are used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy, such as Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta, and Focalin.

People who abuse amphetamines will exhibit different symptoms that could make for a hostile work environment.

For example, an abuser of amphetamines can exhibit aggression, mood swings, paranoia, insomnia, and even hallucinations, among other symptoms.

5. Cocaine

Cocaine is often referred to as coke, powder, or snow. It can also come in the form of crack cocaine, otherwise known as nuggets, rocks, or candy.

If someone is abusing cocaine, then they could show signs of depression, irritability, paranoia, overconfidence, overexcitement, and loss of appetite.

Another dangerous symptom is that they often stay up for long periods of time, which means they won’t be rested enough to perform any job safely.

6. Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines can come in a variety of forms and drug brands. Popular drug brands for benzodiazepines include Ativan, Valium, Librium, and Xanax.

Instead of perking the user up like with cocaine, benzodiazepines can cause the opposite effect. For instance, an abuser of benzodiazepines can experience drowsiness, blurred vision, weakness, and poor judgment.

Someone who is high on benzodiazepines will be more likely to take dangerous risks, such as having no hesitance about driving while intoxicated.

7. Barbiturates

Barbiturates can come in the form of pentobarbital, secobarbital, tuinal, and more.

An abuser of barbiturates can become agitated easily, become overexcited, experience mood swings, among other symptoms.

Someone who is under the influence of barbiturates won’t have full control of their body’s movements. This means that they’ll lack proper coordination to do any job in a safe manner.

8. Additional Drugs

In addition to the drugs above, a 10 panel drug screen will also test for phencyclidine, methadone, propoxyphene, methaqualone.

It’ll always be a dangerous situation when an employee abuses prescription drugs or takes any illicit drug before or during work. If you know an employee is suffering from addiction and is performing their job while under the influence, then it’s your responsibility as a business owner to handle the situation.

However, even if you don’t know about a drug problem, if it results in an accident within the confines of your business, you could be legally responsible for it. It’s always best to test your employees for drugs as a preventative measure against any accidents or legal trouble.

Ready to Give Your Employees a 10 Panel Drug Screen?

Now that you know all about a 10 panel drug screen and why you need to use it at your business, you can rest easy knowing that your employees are safe and healthy.

Rapid Detect has the most affordable and reliable drug testing supplies on the market. From urinalysis and hair tests to cotton swabs and nicotine tests, we have everything you could ever need to ensure a drug-free workforce.

If you have any questions about our highly-rated products, feel free to contact us. We’re always happy to help.