Smoking tobacco has numerous health risks, but rarely do you hear about how smoking impacts the amount of alcohol a person drinks. Reuters recently reported on a study that appeared in the scientific journal, Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, which found casual smokers are most likely to have problems with alcohol.

Why is it that casual smokers are the most likely binge drinkers? According to the article, casual smokers don’t have a hard habit of smoking – in fact, they most often smoke while drinking in bars and other social hotspots. Nicotine is a potent and addictive drug, and it’s commonly thought to increase the “kick,” or the effects, of alcohol. It’s in this environment that binge drinking appears to thrive.

The researchers took a look at the states that have passed anti-smoking laws and they found a positive correlation between the smoking bands and a reduction in the amount of alcohol consumed in bars. The study’s reception has been positive, thus far. Dr. Saul Schiffman of the University of Pittsburg (who was independent of the research conducted) was quoted in the news piece:

“By removing the link between smoking and drinking, smoking bans ‘may also disrupt developmental trajectories toward problem drinking and heavy smoking, and thereby yield a long-term public health benefits as well.’"

First, it’s important to know that there are several different kinds of urine tests. A traditional urine test, or urinalysis, will check to see if you are healthy and will only reveal any health problems or complications you might have.

If urine is being tested specifically for drugs, then it will check for a specific substance or the processed remains of a substance. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) and World Health Organization (WHO) have standardized tests that check for specific levels of commonly abused drugs.

Here is a list of drugs that will often show up in a urine drug test:

- Alcohol
- Marijuana
- Opium
- Heroin
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
- Ecstasy
- LSD
- Anabolic steroids
- Oxycodone (OxyContin)
- Hydrocodone (Vicodin)
- Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium)
- Barbiturates
- Amphetamine
- Methamphetamine (aka Meth or Crystal Meth)
- Morphine, Codeine, and other narcotics/opiates

Some of these drugs are legally available with a doctor’s prescription. It’s important to ask your doctor if you can discontinue the medication for the test or get written confirmation from them to let your employer know you are legally taking the drug for medical reasons.

As always it’s better to stay off drugs, if you or a loved one needs addiction treatment give us a call.

It’s common to wonder if it is possible to test positive by coming in contact with a drug, but don’t actually use it – such as breathing in second-hand marijuana smoke. From the test results, there are urine test cut-off levels that define how much of the substance has to be found in the body to be declared positive. Unintentional contact should not produce a high enough level to cause concern. Also, if someone does test positive on the first test, a confirmatory test is usually done to verify the previous results.

Although many products and companies claim they can help people to “test clear” through devices or detox programs, the only way to be sure to pass a urine test is to stay clean and drug free.

Alcohol withdrawal refers to what the body goes through when the addict suddenly stops using alcohol. Not everyone that drinks will have withdrawal symptoms, but those that have been drinking for a long time, drink in great quantities when they do drink or drink frequently will have some form of withdrawal. While there is no way to predict what symptoms and to what degree a person will experience withdrawal, it is advised that the person be under medical care while undergoing this process.

Withdrawal symptoms include (but are not limited to) feelings of shakiness, jumpiness or nervousness, anxiety, irritability, rapidly changing moods, depression, fatigue, problems thinking clearly and bad dreams. Some people experience symptoms that are more severe ranging from headaches, sweating, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, and tremors. More severe withdrawal symptoms include a state of confusion, hallucinations, agitation, fever, convulsion and black outs.

Gatehouse Academy is an extended care treatment center for young men and women in need of long term drug rehab or alcohol rehab. We offer the opportunity for young adults from the ages of 17-25 to learn life skills, continue formalized education, enhance physical well-being, and recover from the detrimental effects of chemical dependency.

If you have any questions please contact us.