Do you have a substance abuse evaluation scheduled soon? Preparing for this evaluation beforehand can save you from panic and significantly increase your chances of passing the test. Here is all you need to know about substance abuse evaluation tests.
During the pandemic, 13 percent of people reportedly started or increased substance abuse skyrocketing the rate to a new high. A study conducted in 2013 proved a direct relationship between drug abuse and crime, making it a serious concern for authorities worldwide. Therefore, there are evaluation tests that help regulate the use of legal and illegal substances to prevail in peace in society.
This article will give you a detailed insight into substance abuse and ways to prevent substance abuse, especially in young adults. It will also share tips on how to pass a substance evaluation test so that individuals can clear this test on their first attempt.
Table of Contents
What is substance abuse?
Substance abuse involves the excessive consumption of addictive drugs or other substances, causing harm to both individuals and society at large.
Commonly abused substances include amphetamines, cocaine, marijuana, and opioids. Party drugs such as Ecstasy (E), Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (liquid XTC or G), Rohypnol (roofies), Ketamine (special K), Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD or microdot), and Phencyclidine (angel dust) are also widely used for recreational purposes.
While initially offering a temporary escape from stress, prolonged substance use damages the brain and disrupts daily life activities, leading to severe consequences. Chronic drug abuse impairs cognitive functions such as learning, judgment, memory, and behavior. These substances are highly addictive, driving individuals to crave more, often resulting in fatal outcomes. Misuse of any substance, even in seemingly small amounts, can have lethal consequences.
These substances affect millions of lives every year. As per this report, in 2021, more than 106,000 Americans lost their lives due to drug overdose. Therefore, authorities strive to regulate drug usage and educate the masses to protect society from inevitable adversities.
What leads to substance abuse?
There are many reasons why an individual might prompt to experiment with various substances, ultimately leading to addiction and causing multiple accidents and crimes. Some of these reasons are discussed in detail below:
- Traumatic experiences
- Social pressure
- Early exposure to drugs
- Parental substance abuse
Traumatic experiences
When life hits like a rock, people tend to find ways to escape through their challenging phases. Many people take assistance from various substances to escape and relax through stressful periods of life.
People who experience abuse in their childhood are three times more likely to suffer from substance addiction.
Social pressure
Many teens and young adults use substances to fit in a company that considers substance abuse as being cool or hip. Steadily, the occasional substance use leads to addiction, making it impossible to function without regular intake.
Some people also consider substance abuse an expression to register protest and rebel against a decision they disapprove of.
Early exposure to drugs
One of the leading causes of increased substance use is early exposure to drugs to relieve boredom or experiment with something dangerous and lethal.
Many teens and young adults use substances to appear more mature and fit in with adults at social gatherings.
Parental substance abuse
Parents diagnosed with substance abuse disorder are most likely to have children with this problem. Many studies prove the link between substance use disorder (SUD) and heredity which leads to the conclusion that parental sundance abuse can cause SUD in their children.
According to an article published by American Addiction Centers, some people might have a genetic predisposition to addiction, accounting for about half of a person’s risk of addiction.
Substance abuse inhibits parents from making sound decisions, impairing their cognitive functioning. It may also lead to child abuse in severe cases.
Parental substance abuse is also a leading cause of early exposure to drugs that prompt children to try and experiment until it becomes a case of substance abuse and addiction.
Who is required to take a substance abuse evaluation?
A person could undergo a substance abuse evaluation due to multiple reasons. Some of these are discussed in detail below:
- As an employee screening process
- Medical diagnostic procedure
- For legal reasons
- Athletic testing
- To monitor prescription drug misuse
As an employee screening process
Substance abuse evaluation is a part of the hiring procedure for employees where public safety is at risk. These professions include federal transportation, airline industries that include pilots, and bus and truck drivers. Some workplaces that might require substance testing include railways, hospitals, construction, education, security, defense, or government jobs.
Medical diagnostic procedure
A doctor might ask a patient to undergo a substance abuse evaluation if they notice diseases that could have substance use as their underlying cause.
For legal obligations
Substance abuse evaluation is also conducted for legal reasons to convict the criminal. It is done on court orders or by officials post-accident or crime to source evidence, abuse, or endangerment.
Athletic recruitment
Substance abuse evaluation is also required for the athletic recruitment process to ensure the excellent performance of athletes.
To monitor prescription drug misuse
Many pharmaceutical companies monitor drug misuse with substance evaluation tests to recommend dosage to patients.
How to prepare for a substance abuse evaluation?
Taking the correct measures before the test day can significantly increase your chances of obtaining negative results.
Here are some ways in which you can prepare for a substance abuse evaluation test:
Before the test day
- Say no to all forms of drug intake
- Don’t consume alcoholic beverages
- Seek professional advice
- Avoid foods that can trigger false positive results
- Practice sample questions
- Take assistance from an attorney
- Speak to your references
On the test day
- Don’t beat around the bush
- Always stick to the truth
- Make a good impression
Before the test day
To ensure negative results on substance abuse evaluation tests, you need to take some measures that include the following points:
Say no to all forms of drug intake
Strictly avoid substance intake for at least two weeks before the substance evaluation test, as it can significantly reduce the chances of a positive result.
Don’t consume alcoholic beverages
Stop drinking alcohol as soon as possible, especially in public places. Avoid alcohol consumption twenty-four hours before the alcohol evaluation to avoid positive results.
Seek professional advice
Consult a professional to guide you to detox your body from harmful substances and monitor withdrawal effects before the test.
Avoid foods that can trigger false positive results
Some food items like poppy seeds, hemp seeds, coca tea, tonic water, and durian fruit can trigger a false positive for substance abuse. Therefore, it is essential to research and avoid all these food items before the test day.
Practice sample questions
It is always smart to research drug and alcohol evaluations online to get information about the test. Here, we have gathered some questions that you might encounter during a substance evaluation test to help you prepare for the test:
- When and why did you start using the substance?
- How do you feel after using the substance?
- What effects do you have on your mental health after intaking the substance?
- How often do you use a particular substance?
- Did you ever try to limit the use of the substance?
- Did substance use ever make you feel guilty?
Take assistance from an attorney
In the case of legal substance abuse testing, it is best to consult with an attorney as they can assist you with questions to expect. Attorneys are more experienced in this regard and can provide all the necessary details you need to know.
Speak to your references
If the evaluation committee has requested references, it is better to consult with them once beforehand to explain your situation and prepare them with sample questions. Choose your references wisely; people who know you well and can give more accurate responses about your personality.
On the test day
Here are a few measures you can take on take on the test day to ace your substance evaluation:
Make a good impression
Try to make a good impression on the committee on the test day. To achieve this, ensure you arrive on time and dress appropriately. Bring all the required documents and complete the paperwork beforehand.
In addition, be confident and act politely, demonstrating courtesy to the evaluation committee to show an excellent personal background.
Don’t beat around the bush
Avoid detailed responses to the question and always stick to the point. Don’t give unnecessary or unrequested information to save yourself from uninvited trouble.
Always stick to the truth
Give a correct response to every question, and refrain from fabricated stories. Dishonesty, if caught, can land you in hot waters.
What to expect from the results of the evaluation?
When traces of the substance are detected in the sample, the test result is deemed positive; conversely, if no traces are found, the outcome is considered negative. The waiting time to obtain the results varies according to the nature of the sample. Blood, urine, and breath testing produce faster results within a few hours or days, while hair and saliva results take several weeks.
At times, the substance evaluation might produce uncertain or inconclusive results. In this case, the test is repeated to ensure more prompt results.
Types of substance evaluation tests and their costs
Multiple substance evaluation tests use different samples to detect various substances in the body. These tests are also differentiated by their costs, the time required to produce results and the accuracy of results.
Here are some common substance evaluation tests you might encounter at drug testing centers:
- Urine drug testing
- Blood drug testing
- Breath drug testing
- Sweat drug testing
- Hair drug testing
Urine drug testing
While there are many types of substance tests, urine drug testing is the most common due to its larger detection window. It detects traces of legal and illegal substances in samples of urine even after a few weeks of substance intake. This test costs around 30$ to 60$.
Blood drug testing
It is also one of the most common types of drug tests that uses blood as a sample. This test has a very brief detection window from minutes to a few hours, as compared to a urine drug test. The cost of this test ranges from 200$ to 500$.
Breath drug testing
The breath test is also known as a rapid test as it provides the fastest results. This test has undergone many advancements and can now detect cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. Soon, this test might replace urine drug tests. This test costs about $40.
Saliva drug testing
This type of substance testing requires saliva as a sample. It is also an uncommon type of drug test that may be used for forensic analysis. This test costs around 75$ to 200$.
Hair drug testing
This test uses hair as a sample to carry out substance abuse evaluations. It is an uncommon type of drug testing and is usually a part of forensic screening. The cost of a hair test ranges from 100$ to 500$, depending on the types of substances needed to be detected.
If you can’t afford the cost of a substance abuse evaluation test, you can simply search for free drug and alcohol evaluations to fulfill the requirements.
How to prevent substance abuse?
Due to the adverse effects of substance abuse on society, it is necessary to take some remedial measures and protect the people you know and yourself from this adversity.
Here are some common ways to save your loved ones from substance abuse:
- Take prescription drugs in safe dosage
- Consult a professional in case of side effects
- Learn to say no and prioritize your health
- Be a good example for others
- Look for new ways to cope with stress
- Establish rules in the house
Take prescription drugs in safe dosage
It is very important to use prescribed medications in the dosage recommended by your physician to prevent substance abuse.
Consult a professional in case of side effects
Instantly seek medical advice in case you experience side effects of a drug like dizziness, nausea, or headache.
Learn to say no and prioritize health
Prioritize self-care above all else. Substance abuse has severe adverse effects on physical and mental health.
Be a good example for others
Be a role model to your loved ones by saving yourself from substance abuse first. Motivate and educate your friends and peers to help them overcome substance abuse.
Look for new ways to cope with stress
Everyone stumbles on life challenges at least once in their lives. It is important to be optimistic, happy, and healthy during these stressful life phases by practicing productive activities like journaling, meditation, exercise, and therapy.
Establish rules in the house
It is important to keep strict rules in the house to save your family from the shackles of substance abuse. Monitor your children’s activities and keep an eye on their friends to protect them from harm. Be open with your children so that they share their feelings with you without hesitation.
Conclusion
There is a ton of information about substance evaluation online that you can take guidance from to achieve negative results. In this article, we discussed the causes of substance abuse and ways to prevent it. In addition to that, we shared what you can expect on your test day so you can prepare accordingly.
To find the nearest drug testing center, search for substance evaluation near me and get tested today!
Also Read: How To Prepare For A Stress Test? Why Do Doctors Recommend It?
