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Accountability…it works!

DATIA WEBINAR

January 2014

DRUG & ALCOHOL TESTING IN

SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

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DR. GEORGE B. ELDER

• 32 Year Career as Independent School

Headmaster/President

• Implemented Hair Testing Program at

Tuscaloosa Academy in 2005

• Vice President of Schools & Colleges at

Psychemedics Corporation

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AN INCREASING PROBLEM…

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SURVEY RESULTS: DRUG USE AT SCHOOL

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WHO IS DRUG TESTING?

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DRUG TESTING METHODSWINDOWS OF DETECTION

Days of Usage AnalyzedHair Testing Identifies Historical Patterns of Substance Abuse

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ALCOHOL TESTING

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WHY TEST FOR ALCOHOL IN ADOLESCENTS?

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http://chesterfieldsafe.org/ForParents/UnderageDrinking.aspx

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NEW TOOLS FOR OLD CHALLENGESNEW TOOLS FOR OLD CHALLENGES

�A test that measures average alcohol consumption over

a period of approximately three months

� Indicates the level of alcohol use during that time

period

� Can provide a behavioral indication of excessive use

Alcohol EtG Hair TestAlcohol EtG Hair Test

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WHAT IS BEING TESTED

� EtG (ethyl glucuronide) – a trace

metabolite of ethanol and a direct

alcohol biomarker.

�Alcohol is not deposited directly into the

hair – it first breaks down into ethanol

byproducts.

� EtG is water soluble and can be detected

in various body fluids and in hair.

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HOW IS IT MEASURED

� EtG is measured in pg/mg

� Follows the guidelines determined by the World Health

Organization in association with the Society of Hair Testing

� The test identifies those consuming as low as 8-16 drinks on

average per week (Mild to Moderate Consumption)

� Excessive consumption (30 pg/mg +) is an average of 4-6 drinks

per day – consumed over 3 months

LEVEL RESULT

0 - 4.9 pg/mg Negative

5 – 29.9 pg/mg Mild to Moderate Consumption

30 + pg/mg Excessive Alcohol Consumption

*A 12 ounce beer, a 4 ounce glass of wine, and one - ounce of 80 proof distilled spirits is the equivalent amount of one

alcoholic drink.

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NEWS HEADLINES IN 2013

School to Randomly Test Kids' Hair for Alcohol…

High School to Begin Testing All Students for Drugs,

Alcohol…

Chicago-Area Catholic High School Begins Alcohol

Testing…

Illinois High School to Snip Students' Hair to Test for

Alcohol Use…

All Students to Submit to Drug Testing…

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HIGH SCHOOL CASE STUDY

The 1st US School to Implement EtG Test

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RESULTS

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BOTTOM LINE

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CASE STUDY #2

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RESULTS

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IMPACTS OF SCHOOL TESTING PROGRAMS

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“Drug testing shows a

commitment to the health of

the student. Drug testing

allows the student to take

responsibility for their

choices.”

"I fully support it. I think it's a wise decision. Kids are faced

with lots of outside influences and it just reinforces the rules at home that there should be

no drugs or alcohol."

"We are insistent in our belief that drugs and alcohol use is

not a necessary component of youth and we are drawing a line in the sand about that,"

he said. "The use of drugs and alcohol is illegal and has a

documented negative impact on developmental and

academic progress."

“Universities can educate or

enable. As an educator, I

strongly believe in drug

testing. We need to educate

and support our students,

while giving them another

reason to say no. If drug

testing saves one life, it is

worth everything.”

Director of Public School System

Principal of Preparatory School

Parent of High School Student

Dean of Students at a University

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DR. GEORGE B. ELDER

VP, SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

PSYCHEMEDICS CORPORATION

GeorgeE@psychemedics.com

OFFICE: 931-924-3143

CELL: 931-636-8150

www.schooldrugtesting.com