The DTPM Blog
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anemptytextllineMay is National Treatment Court Month National Treatment Court Month is held each May in the United States. It is a national celebration inclusive of all treatment court types: Adult, Family, Juvenile, Impaired Driving, Tribal Healing to Wellness, and Veterans. AllRise recently issued its latest Adult Treatment Court Best Practice... -
anemptytextllineAlcohol’s Effects on The Body April is Alcohol Awareness Month sponsored by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). The organization recently published an article on common alcohol-related issues that will be summarized in this blog. Key Takeaways1 Alcohol is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. There is no perfectly...
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anemptytextllineSubstance Use Prevention Strategies in the United States Background The National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, celebrated March 17 – 23, 2025, is an annual event focused on drug use, addiction, and prevention to help educate and empower people to make informed decisions about substance use.1 Several associations in the United...
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anemptytextllineConvenience Store Drugs Background Convenience stores in the United States have become a welcomed haven for people with a substance abuse disorder. Why, you may ask? Walk into any convenience store and look at the products that can be easily purchased. Called “Gas Station Drugs”, these are products that have legal...
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anemptytextllineVaping Among Adolescents in the United States Background A recent study illustrated the frequency and reasons for vaping nicotine among adolescents in the United States. Nicotine vaping is prevalent among adolescents in the United States and is gaining popularity as a less harmful alternative to cigarette smoking. However, this is a...
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anemptytextllineIs Your Laboratory Following the Best Practices for Respiratory Virus Testing? Background The Academy of Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (ADLM) published a Guidance Document on Laboratory Diagnosis of Respiratory Virus testing in May 2024. The guidance document provides expert opinion related to laboratory diagnosis of respiratory viral infections as to who...
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anemptytextllineDrug Court Best Practices for Urine Sample Testing This is a 2-part series using the AllRise Adult Drug Court Best Practice Standards, Volume 2 as the source. Part 1 was published in September 2024 and provided guidance for the best practices for urine sample collection from Drug Court participants. Part 2...
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anemptytextllinePart 1: Best Practices for Urine Sample Collection in Drug Courts This is a 2-part series using the AllRise Adult Drug Court Best Practice Standards, Volume 2 as the source. Part 1 provides guidance for the best practices for urine sample collection from Drug Court participants. Part 2 of the...
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anemptytextllineDEA Releases 2024 National Drug Threat Assessment Part 2: The DEA’s Response to the Ongoing Drug Trafficking Crisis in the United States This is Part 2 of a 2-part series focusing on the DEA’s response to the drug trafficking crisis in the United States. Part 1 was published in June and...
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anemptytextllineDEA Releases 2024 National Drug Threat Assessment Part 1: Drug Cartels: Trafficking Drugs Into and Throughout the United States This is a 2-part series with Part 1 focusing on how illicit drugs enter and spread throughout the United States. Part 2 of the series was published in late July and focuses on...
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anemptytextllineHow Prevalent is Waterborne Disease in the United States? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) plays an active role in monitoring and surveillance of diseases spread through any water source in the United States. The following estimates were published for 17 waterborne pathogens in 20141: 15 million illnesses....
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anemptytextllineFoodborne Illness Caused by Salmonella Bacteria As the United States enters the warm spring months followed by the sizzling summer months, the causes, symptoms, and prevention of food poisoning due to Salmonella are warranted. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that Salmonella bacteria cause 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations,...
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anemptytextllineAdolescent Use of Delta-8 THC and Marijuana in the United States A 2023 Monitoring the Future survey, published in March 2024, revealed that 11% of 12th-grade students across the United States reported using Delta-8 Tetrahydrocannabinoid (Delta-8 THC)1. This survey is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Use...
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anemptytextllineThe 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health Data in the United States Each year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) conduct a survey on people living in the United States as to their experience with...
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anemptytextllineDTPM’s Industrial Laboratory Expands Test Menu for Judicial Clients The DTPM Industrial Laboratory announced a test menu expansion to meet the needs of our judicial clients. Some of the new drugs do not have commercial testing kits available. The DTPM Industrial Laboratory uses Liquid Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to...
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anemptytextllineOpioid Crisis in the United States: Overwhelming Statistics Estimated overdose deaths in 2021: 107,0001 50% of all emergency room visits were classified as substance use disorders2 Opioid overdose estimated annual cost to US Hospitals: $11 Billion3 Average cost for an overdose patient who was admitted and treated: $11,7313 Average...
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anemptytextllinePsychedelic Drugs – What are They? Are they Dangerous? Psychedelic drugs are known as dissociative drugs that can temporarily alter a person’s mood, thoughts, and perceptions. Strong emotions emerge ranging from bliss to fear along with vast changes in how users perceive reality1. An Alaska Airlines pilot, who tried...
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anemptytextllineWhy Should My Lab Offer Delta-8/Delta-9 THC Differentiation? Delta-8 Tetrahydrocannabinoid (Delta-8 THC) is legal at the federal level; but it’s not legal in every state. Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinoid (Delta-9 THC) is illegal at the federal level; but it’s legal in more than 50% of states1. THC screening tests may produce...
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anemptytextllineShelby County Community Corrections Expands Drug Testing Capacity Shelby County, located in the central portion of Alabama, is one of Alabama’s fastest-growing counties. Its brilliant patchwork of history, culture, attractions, arts, and community makes it one of the nation’s most dynamic counties. As of the 2020 census, the population was...
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anemptytextllineEnsure Your Laboratory is Prepared for CLIA Regulation Changes in 2024 In our continued efforts to assist you with ongoing strategies to maintain a comprehensive compliance program for your laboratory, it is DTPM’s goal to deliver relevant regulatory changes that may impact your laboratory. On July 11, 2022, CMS published its Final Rule...
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anemptytextllineIs It Time to Upgrade My Laboratory Instruments? Clinical laboratories are faced with trying to stay on the cutting edge of technology to maintain and grow their services to their clients. Laboratories attempting to grow their business may soon find out that their current instrumentation cannot accommodate increased test volume...
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anemptytextllineXylazine – the New Threat in the War Against Drug Abuse in the United States Several agencies such as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) have recently issued public health warnings about...
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anemptytextllineCovid-19 is surging yet again. Is your lab ready for the demand? According to the CDC, the current weekly average of new COVID-19 cases has increased by 49.6% with a reported total of 99,241,649 COVID-19 cases in the United States as of December 7, 2022. Covid-19-related hospitalizations have increased by...
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anemptytextllineThe Monkeypox Virus THE ORIGINS OF MONKEYPOX The current Monkeypox infection outbreak is known to most people in the United States, due to the media coverage and cautions you see onscreen every day. Currently, the US has reported nearly 16,000 confirmed cases and more than 44,000 cases, globally. Fortunately, there are...
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anemptytextllineThe Movember Movement November was men’s health month; Globally, men die on average 5 years earlier than women, and for reasons that are largely preventable. This means that it doesn’t have to be that way: we can all take action to live healthier, happier, and longer lives. DTPM Joined in the...
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anemptytextllineYou Can Breathe Easy Knowing DTPM Has Your Lungs When It Comes to Respiratory Care October 24-27, 2021 is Respiratory Care Week. #RCWEEK21 We cannot forget that It is also the start of cold and flu season and respiratory care is so important because of how common and equally dangerous...
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anemptytextllineSeptember is National Recovery Month Recovery is for every person, family, community - Everyone! DTPM is celebrating National Recovery Month! Recovery is revolved around everything we do. We celebrate recovery all year round with our clients, employees, and our community, but this month, have been joining in the Nationwide celebration of...
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anemptytextllineIn order to address the rapidly evolving landscape of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) testing, we wanted to take a moment to share important information and updates with DTPM clients. We appreciate the opportunity to serve and work alongside each of you who are committed to meeting the demand in our public...
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anemptytextllineThe Importance of Proper Wound Care We are in the depths of summertime and with sun and fun comes a prime time for accidents and injuries. With a record number of wound-related injuries reported during this time of year, it is important to understand the difference between types of wounds...
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anemptytextllineAbout DTPM’s New DOA cup test DTPM recently designed a new DTPM 16-Panel POC cup that is proven to perform superior and is more accurate than the leading alternate brand POC cup. The DOA 16-panel Test Cup incorporates a one-step approach into a total system for on-site urine drug testing....
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anemptytextllineThe month of May was a celebration of Drug Courts (also know as Recovery Courts) and how they've helped to positively impact the lives of individuals suffering from the disease of addiction. DTPM partnered with local Recovery Courts to provide free lunch to participants and bring awareness to all...
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anemptytextllineStart with the first hour of the segment Tide 100.9 · The Jay Barker Show - Hour One At DTPM - Wednesday May 26 Continue onto hour two Tide 100.9 · The Jay Barker Show- Hour Two At DTPM - Wednesday May 26 Pictures from the day
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anemptytextllineSneeze, Wheeze, and Blow It is spring and the pollen is out, we are still in the midst of a global pandemic, and spring colds and sinus infections are always hanging on long after flu season. Many of these can mimic respiratory symptoms or even cause a more serious condition...
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anemptytextllineApril 18 - 24th was Lab Week! We celebrated all of the lab staff we have at our own Tide Labs with treats and special events for each day of the week! Check out the galleries below: Get to Know the Tide Lab Ladies A Week Full of Fun Monday Lab Week was kicked off...
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anemptytextllineGastrointestinal (GI) Conditions and how DTPM can Help Imagine sitting in the ER or a Doctors office for the third time in a month hearing, “it could be anything, let’s run some more tests.” It can be uncomfortable and frustrating but when you are dealing with Gastrointestinal (GI)-related symptoms for...
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anemptytextllineWe attended the recent Tennessee Association of Recovery Court Professionals Conference which was held virtually, with our incredibly talented Mandy Payne assisting in setup and presentations by our very own Mark Boynton and Nicole Brewer sharing their successful recovery stories! Quotes from Attendees: I absolutely loved the format and was very...
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anemptytextllineDTPM Discusses Tianeptine on the Jay Barker Show The Jay Barker Show hosted a discussion around men's health and about the recent Tianeptine ban in Alabama with an all star cast including: Judge Philip Seay, Presiding Circuit Judge of St. Clair County Judge Charles Elliott, Morgan County Circuit Judge, 8th...
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anemptytextllineUpdate: DTPM discusses the recent Tianeptine ban with a panel of guests on the Jay Barker Radio Show. Tianeptine is Now a Schedule II Controlled Substance On March 15, 2021, the state of Alabama became the second state to officially ban the sale of Tianeptine, categorizing it as a Schedule II...
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anemptytextllineAlabama Association of Drug Court Professionals Conference 2021 Recap DTPM attended the 2021 AADCP Conference held in Muscle Shoals Alabama from February 8th-10th and had a wonderful time meeting old and new customers, autographing footballs, and chatting on the Jay Barker radio show! “The overall feel of the conference was “community”....
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anemptytextllineProtect Yourself and the One you Love - Get Tested What We Know In a COVID-19 world, many routine healthcare services, including Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) healthcare services as been affected. According to the CDC and other valid sources, COVID-19 has continued to reveal the underlying effects of “systemic health and...
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anemptytextllineThe Journey of a lifetime with Judicial Sales Manager, Mark Boyanton Mark Boyanton has had an amazing journey that has led him to his current position as the Judicial Sales Manager for DTPM. He truly loves what he does because he understands all aspects of the judicial system. His story...
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anemptytextllineUpdated December 14th, 2020 On December 11, 2020, the FDA approved the first emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The Vaccine can be distributed to individuals who are 16 years of age or older. The vaccine is to be administered to frontline healthcare providers, first responders and those...
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anemptytextllineA Global Pandemic and its Effect on the Opioid Epidemic In the midst of a global pandemic caused by COVID-19, the United States is still fighting the all familiar opioid crisis. Though we have made great strides as a nation to create awareness and gain control of the opioid crisis,...
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anemptytextllineA Timeline of COVID-19 In December 2019, an outbreak of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) ensued in Wuhan, China, which lead to a global pandemic that supervened upon the year 2020. Due to the rapid spread of the virus, experts began to work tirelessly on gathering information and data about COVID-19 to navigate...
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anemptytextllineIs it COVID-19 or Just a Cold? Symptoms that may not have caused much alarm this time last year are having a bigger impact now that the new strain of coronavirus, COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), is in the world. A cold is simple to get over and won't have much of a...
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anemptytextllineCOVID or the Cold? As we enter fall the sniffles are sure to start going around. But is it just a cold or flu, or could it actually be the new coronavirus strain, COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2)? Not being certain if you’re experiencing COVID-19 symptoms is extra stress that no one needs...
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anemptytextllineSwab Collection Methods for COVID-19 Testing As we learn more about the COVID-19 (SARS-Cov-2) virus, the FDA continues to update it’s standards on collection methods. Testing laboratories have also faced issues with finding the swabs needed for testing (though not our customers). So what are the current options? You may have...
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anemptytextllineDTPM is an expert leader in laboratory setup and management. We’ve been in the business for over 15 years and have partnered with laboratory owners across the country to provide them with superior laboratory management services. National in Scope. Local in Service. We’re your partner from beginning to end. We are...
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anemptytextllineLaboratories have had difficulties finding the equipment needed to run successfully, including Nasopharyngeal and Oropharyngeal swabs to collect samples. DTPM is proud to announce that we have the ability to fulfill your orders of MTM and VTM swabs in unlimited quantities! Our sales team will work with you to find...
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anemptytextllineFalse COVID-19 Test Results from Thermo Fisher Testing Kits The FDA has reported risk of false results with Thermo Fisher Scientific TaqPath COVID-19 Combo Kits. We wanted to assure you that while DTPM utilizes Thermo Fisher equipment and other consumables, we do not use their COVID-19 assay. If you are...
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anemptytextllineAt DTPM, we pride ourselves on our customer service. Our goal is to provide fast and reliable service to all our customers. To do that, we’ve developed a great system to help you ensure that your questions are answered. Here’s how support at DTPM works. Submit Your Questions to Our...
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anemptytextllineDiagnostic tests are an important part of the clinical landscape. Respiratory infections are common and can be caused by a virus, bacteria, or fungus. Viruses account for a significant percentage of respiratory diseases. To ensure that the right treatment is prescribed, most medical professionals rely on clinical diagnostics tests. What...
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anemptytextllineThe clinical laboratory is a major part of our healthcare system. A physician or other clinician orders a lab test for a multitude of reasons. This could be to diagnose, treat, manage, or monitor a patient’s condition. The life cycle of a lab test includes multiple facilities from start...
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anemptytextllineCase Study: Local PCR & LCMS Testing Lab See how DTPM’s full laboratory turn-key package helped this lab get set-up and stay profitable. Company Overview: Industry: PCR & LCMS Drug Testing Size: Small (less than 10 employees) Years in Business: 8+ Their...
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anemptytextllineCase Study: Non-Profit Drug Court See how DTPM's top-tier customer service and extensive experience with Laboratory setup and management helped this Non-Profit Drug Court take testing into their own hands. Company Overview: Industry: Non-Profit Drug Court Size: Small (less than...
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anemptytextllineKnow the Facts About Antibiotics Each year, almost 2 million people in the U.S. become infected with bacteria that antibiotics can't treat. Because these bacteria no longer respond to antibiotics 35,000 people die each year from these kinds of infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)....
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anemptytextllineCurrently, there are two types of tests for COVID-19: a molecular reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test and an antibody test. Both tests are used to detect COVID-19 but it’s important to know when to use each of them. Molecular Testing Through RT-PCR The RT-PCR technique targets a specific segment of...
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anemptytextllineWhat is Antibiotic Stewardship? Antibiotic stewardship, sometimes referred to as antimicrobial stewardship, refers to the efforts made in doctor's offices, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other healthcare facilities to embrace a mentality of only prescribing antibiotics when necessary. This is observed by prescribing the right amount of antibiotics at the...
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anemptytextllineWe Need More Laboratories That Can Test for Coronavirus Currently, it is still difficult for some people in the United States to get a test to see if they have contracted COVID-19. Our Country needs existing laboratories to add this test to their services so we can meet the demand...
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anemptytextllineDTPM Recognizes National Drug Court Month Saving money and lives through rehabilitation. Drug Courts operate with one goal: To take an individual with an addiction who has been cycling through the justice system and help them undergo successful treatment to gain their lives back. Drug courts have proven that a combination...
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anemptytextllineA Letter from our CEO on the Coronavirus Impact on DTPM & Tide Labs Gene Cleckler, the CEO and President of DTPM and Tide Laboratories provides this update about how the Coronavirus pandemic has impacted our work at DTPM and Tide Laboratories. Read his full letter below: I hope this message...
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anemptytextllineSenior Drug Addiction, a Sensitive Issue The Elderly and Substance Abuse As a culture, we often underestimate both the extent and effect of addiction on our senior population. Though great headway has been made on educating the public that addiction is a disease, there is often an underlying assumption - or...
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anemptytextllineThe Origins of Senior Addiction The Opioid Epidemic Has No Age Limit Efforts to prevent drug abuse often focus on teens and young adults. A part of the opioid crisis to which few people pay attention is the risk of drug and alcohol addiction for seniors. For everyone, changes in lifestyle and...
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anemptytextllineDrug Test Cheats to Watch For Drug Testing Tips are Easy to Find Online If you operate a drug testing laboratory, you should know that the Internet is flooded with articles and videos on how to cheat drug tests, including urine and hair sample tests. With pre-employment screening growing and an...
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anemptytextllineKratom, the False Alternative An All-Natural Danger to the Public Health What is Kratom? A plant native to Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea, Mitragyna Speciose has been marketed years in the form of a botanical substance known as Kratom. When consumed, Kratom provides stimulant and euphoric effects. For these reasons,...
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anemptytextllineSelf-Detox Complicates the Opioid Crisis Natural and Home Remedies Rise in Popularity A 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) showed that 21.5 million Americans (12 and older) battled a substance use disorder in 2014. With opioid abuse and heroin addiction...
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anemptytextllineDrug Withdrawal Home Remedies Natural Detox and Home Withdrawal Dangers Opioid and heroin withdrawal is a serious affair. Nevertheless, there is a growing popularity in home remedies and natural detox methods. The attraction is understandable. We would all rather deal with health issues in the security and privacy of our own homes,...
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anemptytextllineCLIA Certification Made Easy Maintaining Compliance with the Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendment Quality assurance is a critical concept for any laboratory. In 1988, the United States introduced a set of uniform regulatory standards called the Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendments, or CLIA. CLIA standards apply to all clinical laboratories performing tests on humans,...
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anemptytextllineTreatment Centers Overwhelmed Opioid Epidemic Declared by President On October 26th, 2017, President Trump declared the opioid epidemic a national public health emergency. Under the declaration, no additional federal funding was made available to combat the crisis; however, federal agencies are being directed to devote more of their already budgeted grant monies...
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anemptytextllineStarting a Successful Toxicology Lab Improving Drug Testing Profitability With headlines like “Successful Toxicology Lab” and “Improving Profitability,” you may think this article is a lead in for some dubious business venture or a less than ethical drug testing scheme. On the contrary, at Drug Testing Program Management, we believe in the...
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anemptytextllineFentanyl - The Latest Deadly Trend What Exactly is Fentanyl? With all of the buzz of our nation's opioid crisis in the news lately, you may have heard a new word thrown around quite a bit - fentanyl. Fentanyl is a cheap, synthetic opioid that is 50 times more powerful than heroin...
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anemptytextllineDTPM attends Pain Week Conference Drug Testing's Role in Pain Management PAINWeek is the largest US pain conference for frontline clinicians involved in pain management. The event, held in Las Vegas this year from September 5th to 9th, offered a diverse curriculum ranging from interventional pain management to pharmacotherapy and chemical...
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anemptytextlline$1 Billion to Fight Opioid Epidemic HHS Starts Things off with $485 Million in Grants Opioids were responsible for 33,000 deaths in 2015 according to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tom Price. In 2017, the toll continues to rise, with the New York Times reporting possible record overdoses and deaths...
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anemptytextllineHow to Save Money Running a Reference Lab Without Sacrificing Quality, Reliability, or Efficiency As an independent clinical laboratory, your “Reference Lab” is responsible for performing high volume tests for physician’s offices, treatment centers, clinics, and other health care facilities. Maintaining the confidence of your referral sources is critical. They rely...
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anemptytextllineTurnkey Solutions with No Upfront Costs Treatment centers strive to improve the physical health and emotional well-being of those addicted to drugs and alcohol. Many integrate the spiritual dimension and others provide counseling for the entire family. At Drug Testing Program Management, our mission is to support treatment centers with in-house...
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anemptytextllineDrug & Alcohol Testing Increases as Epidemics Mount Unfortunately, reports of opioid deaths and overdoses have become a common feature of the evening news. From heroin to fentanyl, more than 50,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2015, the most ever. Such numbers are on a par with or exceed armed...
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anemptytextllineStates Require Drug Testing for Benefit Recipients As only the latest indication of how drug testing is becoming more widespread when it comes to receiving state benefits, President Donald Trump signed legislation at the end of March allowing states to drug test applicants for unemployment benefits. (A previous Labor Department...
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anemptytextllineFrom 1 to 3,133 in 26 years The first drug court was established in Miami-Dade County, Florida in 1989. The idea was to provide an alternative to jail time for drug users and to save costs by keeping offenders in the community, under treatment, and engaged in recovery. By 2015, there...
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anemptytextllineCould Drug Testing be a $6.3 Billion Business by 2019? The report “Drug Screening Market by Products and Services,” by MarketsandMarkets.com projects continued growth in the drug testing market for the next several years. Along with a detailed overview of the major drivers, restraints, challenges, opportunities, the report predicts market...
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anemptytextllineUrine Drug Screening in a Physician’s Office Setting Drug screening in the setting of a community doctor’s office offers two primary benefits: More informed care of the PCP’s patient base. A service of value to local businesses, organizations, and government in hiring and maintaining a safety focused work force. Urine...
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What’s New
Xylazine – the New Threat in the War Against Drug Abuse in the United States
Xylazine – the New Threat in the War Against Drug Abuse in the United States Several agencies such as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the White House Office of…
Delta-8/Delta-9 THC Differentiation
Why Should My Lab Offer Delta-8/Delta-9 THC Differentiation? Delta-8 Tetrahydrocannabinoid (Delta-8 THC) is legal at the federal level; but it’s not legal in every state. Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinoid (Delta-9 THC) is…
Expanded Testing Menu for Judicial Clients
DTPM’s Industrial Laboratory Expands Test Menu for Judicial Clients The DTPM Industrial Laboratory announced a test menu expansion to meet the needs of our judicial clients. Some of the new…
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