Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Official: Air Force drug testing seems to deter use
A few years ago, Senior Airman Heather Brewster’s recreational use of painkillers would have gone undetected by the Air Force’s random drug testing program.
Brewster, who formerly worked at a regional drug testing site at RAF Upwood in England, was convicted last week of illegally using the prescription drug oxycodone, falsifying documents and dereliction of her duties in the Air Force’s drug testing program.
The Air Force only began testing for painkillers, such as oxycodone, in 2006, after abuse of those drugs began to rise in the general public, said Lt. Col. Jay Stone, Substance Abuse Program Manager for the Air Force Surgeon General.
At the same time, barbiturates — pills taken as sedatives or hypnotics — were dropped from the testing list at the Air Force’s dedicated drug testing laboratory in San Antonio. Those decisions were made by the Department of Defense and also affected the tests processed by the Army and Navy, Stone said.
But exclusive to the Air Force is its “smart” testing initiative that screens junior ranks — E-1 to E-4 and O-1 and O-2 — more frequently. The program was launched in 2004 after Air Force officials noted a higher rate of drug abuse among 18- to 24-year-old airmen.
“The idea was to increase the rate of testing for the population that data had been showing us was the highest risk group,” Stone said.
Testing in that demographic was hiked from 65 percent to 100 percent, he said, adding that because the tests are administered randomly some troops may be tested more than once while others not at all, although the number of tests for junior ranks equals its number of servicemembers.
The Air Force spends about $16 million annually to operate its drug testing and prevention programs.
So far, “smart” testing seems to curb drug abuse — not necessarily by catching more people using drugs, but by deterring them from doing it in the first place, Stone said.
“It gives them the ammunition to say ‘I’m going to pass up that doobie because I don’t want my name selected on Monday,” he said. “That way they don’t have to appear to be no fun. The excuse is ‘I don’t want to risk getting caught.’”
The Air Force has reported a steady annual decline in positive results since the initiative was implemented in 2004. However, because new drugs were added and others discarded to urinalysis, and medical reviews were added to the statistical process to remove those with prescriptions for the drugs found in their urine, the preliminary data may not be conclusive, Stone said.
Still, in 2004, .8 percent of the 432,409 specimens tested positive for drugs while only .5 percent of the 391,283 specimens tested positive in 2007. The latter data excludes samples collected from members of the Air Guard.
While painkillers may be more commonly abused these days and will now show up on a urinalysis, marijuana and cocaine remain at the top of the list, Stone said.
Drug-related cases consume a lion’s share of courts-martial in the Air Force, records show.
In 2007, 43 percent of the 86 courts-martial tried within U.S. Air Forces in Europe revolved around cases that included at least one drug charge. That statistic jumps to 50 percent for the 776 courts martial conducted that same year Air Force-wide.
http://www.stripes.com/news/official-air-force-drug-testing-seems-to-deter-use-1.77339
The effects of marijuana use on life insurance rates
With eighteen states accompanied by Washington DC now allowing marijuana for medicinal use, you and your clients may be wondering how life insurance companies are viewing this new outlook on marijuana usage.
Nearly 40% of the states have legalized the medical use of this substance. In addition, eleven more states have pending or failed legislation. Scientific research has unveiled medical benefits to marijuana that were once unknown. Life insurance underwriters are now faced with how to rate the usage of this medicinal substance.
Medical marijuana is used to treat a wide array of diseases and illnesses including, but not limited to, chronic pain, insomnia, unintentional weight loss, nausea, premenstrual syndrome, asthma, and glaucoma.
The eighteen states (along with Washington DC) that have now legalized marijuana are Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.
With so many states legalizing the medical benefits of this drug, will life insurance companies also acknowledge the good? The answer: It depends.
Must do
These tips will help your clients get approved for life insurance if they use marijuana. First the applicant needs to disclose the marijuana use information up front. If marijuana shows up on blood or urine tests, without the applicant telling the carrier, the applicant will be declined. All carriers will require a drug questionnaire when you disclose this information upfront, as they will want to know the reasons for use as well as how often. All carriers will also require a urine test.
Each life insurance company has its own guidelines and underwriting rules; therefore the use of marijuana is viewed differently by each. Some companies will rate applicants as a standard smoker, giving them double the rates of those as a nonsmoker while others are okay for occasional use. The rules and ratings vary widely. Let’s take a look.
Ratings for the marijuana user
Marijuana usage is not viewed as other drugs such as cocaine, for example. Testing positive for THC will not lead to a flat rejection of a life insurance policy. However, the use of this substance can result in receiving a cigarette smoker’s rates, which are substantially higher than those of a non-smoker.
Life insurance classifications for a marijuana user are guidelines and are not set in stone; they can change at any time per the company consideration. Also other health conditions could change consideration. The majority of the company information below comes from a blog researched and written by Jeff Root, owner of Root Financial.
● American General: Smoking marijuana more than twice monthly could result in the rates of a smoker with the possibility of a table rating. Smoking two times per month will set the rating as a standard non-smoker. Applicants who smoke two times a year or less could be rated as a preferred best non-smoker.
● Banner Life: Applicants could be considered a standard smoker with occasional use. They could be rated as a substandard table B smoker with daily use.
- Columbus Life: Applicants over 25 years old who smoke pot experimentally to intermittently might get standard smoker rates. Moderate use could be a table 2 rating. Heavy use will be declined. Other drug use will also be a factor
● Fidelity: A standard smoker classification will be given if there is any marijuana use in the past 12 months. However, an applicant be classified as a sub-standard smoker if medical marijuana is prescribed.
● Genworth Financial: Applicants who use marijuana eight times a month or less could be classified as a standard smoker. Users who smoke more than eight times may be considered a sub-standard smoker. Also, this company does not recognize prescription use of marijuana.
● ING Reliastar: If marijuana is prescribed, users could be classified as a Table 4 Smoker. With daily use, they could be classified as a preferred smoker.
● Lincoln Benefit: If a prescription is shown on one’s medical records and usage is stated on the application, applicants could be classified as a non-smoker. Occasional users without a prescription can be classified as a standard smoker.
● Lincoln National: Applicants can use marijuana up to two times per week and be classified as a
standard non-smoker. Usage of 3-4 times a week will result in a sub-standard Table B non-smoker rating. Applicants will be declined if they use marijuana more than four times per week.
● Met Life: Applicants who otherwise would merit a preferred plus rating and uses marijuana occasionally (once a month to once a week) could get a preferred plus non-smoker rating. (More than once a week is equivalent to a smoker’s rate.) Daily use could be a table 4 rating. Heavy users could be declined.
● Mutual of Omaha: Applicants will rate as a standard nons-moker with up to weekly use. If lab results indicate more frequent usage, then smoker rates will apply.
● Minnesota Life: Applicants who test positive for THC could be given a smoker table 3 rating. Occasional or recreational users will be given preferred non-smoker rates but will have to test negative for THC.
● North American: Applicants over 25 years old who use marijuana 3-8 times per month could be rated a standard smoker. If they use 8-16 times a month they could be rated as high as a table 2 smoker. More than 16 times a month will be declined.
● Protective Life: Marijuana use could result in a standard smoker rating.
● Prudential Financial: Using marijuana up to two times per month and testing negative for THC will qualify applicants as a standard plus non-smoker. A Table B non-smoker (even with THC positive lab tests) rating will be applied if usage is up to four times per week. Usage over four times weekly will be declined.
● Transamerica - Marijuana smokers could be considered a standard smoker rate class with no other health issues.
Researching the companies
As you can see, life insurers’ ratings for marijuana users vary widely. Even if medical marijuana is prescribed, applicants could be still be classified as a smoker or declined. For those of your clients who use marijuana medicinally or recreationally, it is essential that you, as their advisor, research life insurance companies before applying. When combined with other health problems, marijuana usage will not be well received by an insurance underwriter.
Applicants who already have a life insurance policy in force may be paying unnecessarily high rates. Each company’s insurance underwriters view the use of marijuana differently. Don’t let your clients pay high life insurance premiums if less expensive alternatives are available.
http://www.lifehealthpro.com/2013/06/19/exploring-the-effects-of-marijuana-use-on-life-ins?page=2
What Drugs Do Life Insurance Companies Test For?
Urinalysis is becoming an increasingly popular means for employers, insurers and government agencies to determine the risk profiles of the individuals with whom they interact. While pre-employment drug screenings have been routine for many years, these tests are becoming more prevalent in other areas of the economy as well. If you're applying for a life insurance policy, you might be surprised to learn that you'll be subject to a urine test for certain legal and illegal substances.
If your policy comes with a particularly large face value, you might be subject to an even more rigorous screening. This might come in the form of a blood test or hair-follicle exam. The former may accurately reveal your substance-use history over the preceding three to five months. The latter may accurately measure your substance-use history over the preceding six to nine months.
Although urine tests are far more time-sensitive, they can still reveal evidence of substance abuse within the past few days. For some substances, this look-back window may be a bit longer. For instance, marijuana may remain detectable in urine samples for up to one month after the subject's most recent indulgence.
When you apply for a life insurance policy, you'll probably need to submit to a urine test during the course of your pre-approval medical exam. Unlike certain pre-employment drug screenings that may only test for a few illicit substances, this test is likely to be comprehensive. You'll be tested for metabolic evidence of illegal drugs like marijuana, cocaine, opiates, barbiturates, amphetamines and others. If the screening reveals evidence of any of these substances, you'll be asked to submit to a more sensitive "confirmation" test.
If this test also comes back with a positive reading, your insurance application will probably be denied without comment. After all, your insurance provider will assume that your illegal drug use puts you at risk for a life-threatening overdose or other serious health complications.
If you test positive for non-illegal medications like certain painkillers, you may be asked to produce a prescription for the drugs. Without such a prescription, your coverage application could be denied outright. Meanwhile, you may also be tested for certain legal substances like caffeine and nicotine. If you test positive for caffeine, your insurer may conclude that you're at a slightly higher risk of life-shortening cardiovascular problems and raise your rates accordingly. If you test positive for nicotine metabolites, you'll be forced to pay significantly more for your coverage.
Law Dictionary: What Drugs Do Life Insurance Companies Test For?
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Testing for Alcohol:
Breath Alcohol Physiology
The fundamental principle of breath analysis is the evaporation of alcohol from the circulating blood into the air in the lungs during the breathing process.
On its way around the body the blood picks up alcohol from any drink the person may have consumed as it passes through the walls of the digestive organs, notably the stomach and the upper part of the small intestine. This blood then passes through the liver on its way back to the heart, where it is then pumped through the lungs before flowing back to the heart to be distributed around the rest of the body [the arterial supply].
In the lungs the exchange of oxygen from the air into the blood, and of the waste product carbon dioxide in the reverse direction, proceeds continuously during the process of breathing. Now, just as carbon dioxide evaporates from the blood into the breath, then so does a small, representative portion of any alcohol that is also present. This process is known as gaseous exchange.
The actual quantity of alcohol that evaporates into the breath depends on its concentration in the blood. This is known as Henry’s Law.
For a better understanding of Henry’s Law, consider what happens when you pour some whisky into a glass and then smell the air above it: there is a strong smell of alcohol. If you now add some water to the whisky then the concentration of alcohol in it decreases, and so therefore does the smell of alcohol in the air above it. So measuring the strength of alcohol in the air above a drink enables us to determine what concentration of alcohol is actually present in the drink. It is exactly this process that is occurring deep in the lungs, where the incoming air and the blood are in intimate contact. So the level of alcohol in the breath depends on its concentration in the blood.
The relationship between the blood and breath alcohol concentrations in equilibrium is well-defined, and the value of the actual concentration ratio is close to 2:300:1. This in effect means that breath is about 2,300 times weaker in alcohol concentration than the blood it was in close contact with.
The alcohol evaporation process in the lungs is practically instantaneous, just as in respect of a drink. We do not have to wait for the smell of alcohol above a drink to develop: nor does that smell get any stronger as time passes.
But we would never smell a drink by holding it at arm’s length. Although we would be able to detect the presence of alcohol in it that way, we could never quantify its concentration; as we would be sampling air that had not been in intimate contact with that drink. Likewise with breath, in order to obtain a reliably accurate alcohol measurement, we must sample and analyse breath that has been in close contact with the blood. This intimate contact occurs most efficiently in the small tubes deep in the lungs, the alveoli, which are separated from the circulating blood only by a thin, permeable membrane. In effect, therefore, the incoming air in the alveoli comes into intimate contact with the circulating blood, and is then exhaled.
One important thing though, this all means that when conducting a breath analysis we must sample deep lung air. The level of alcohol in the specimen we analyse will then properly reflect what is present in the circulating blood, and so causing impairment in the brain.
Apart from one instrument, all Lion breathalyser products are designed to measure the alcohol level only in deep lung air, and to alert the operator if the subject attempts to provide any other type of specimen for analysis.
The one exception here is the AlcoBlow®. This Lion instrument is specifically designed to sample air from the top of the subject’s breath stream – rather like smelling a drink at arm’s length – and so simply to give a fast but reliable and objective assessment of whether that subject has any alcohol in their breath – and hence their blood – at all. But because the AlcoBlow® does not analyse deep lung air, it is not possible to obtain a quantified measurement with this instrument.
This is a simple to use, rapid response instrument that is used simply to determine whether or not a person has any alcohol in their breath at all. It uses the Lion fuel cell sensor, so the reading is very unlikely to be affected by anything but alcohol in the subject's breath. There is no physical contact between the subject and instrument, so there is no mouthpiece to replace for each test.
In Active mode the subject blows into the sampling cone until a sample is taken by the instrument for alcohol analysis – fully automatically. Within seconds a coloured light appears, with a beep tone, to indicate whether that sample contained alcohol. The system then clears itself – again, fully automatically – so that within seconds again it is ready to test the next subject.
In Passive mode the operator presses the Passive button to draw in a sample of breath from around the subject, ideally while they are speaking. Again, the display system then very quickly shows whether or not that subject has alcohol in their body. This Passive mode is also ideally suited to checking the air above fluids, to see if these contain alcohol.
AlcoBlow® is ideally suited for use in situations where a large number of people have to be tested, and with the minimum of intrusion: for example, Police roadblocks, prisons, at the entrance to a mine, factory or safety-critical establishment
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