Drug testing for better health outcomes
Drugs of Abuse Testing
Drug abuse and addiction are top public health concerns with negative consequences for individuals and society. This worldwide epidemic is responsible for tremendous costs and health, social, and community impacts.
Accurate testing is a community’s first line of defense in fighting the drug epidemic, and timely, relevant, and customizable drug testing programs are critical to combating the crisis. Siemens Healthineers, a pioneer in drug testing for over 50 years, has helped nurture and expand the industry by delivering assays that facilitate quality-focused drug testing treatment, harm reduction, and recovery programs.
Drugs of Abuse Assays
Opioids
A full opioid menu
Drug testing is an effective component in monitoring opioid use disorder (OUD) and helping to reduce overdose risks. Siemens Healthineers offers a comprehensive opioid menu, including EMIT® II Plus Methadone, EMIT II Plus Buprenorphine, and ARK EDDP immunoassay tests to assist in the detection and monitoring patients with OUD. Siemens Healthineers also offers the EMIT II Plus Oxycodone, ARK Fentanyl, Tramadol, and Meperidine immunoassay tests for the detection of synthetic and semisynthetic opioids.
Compliance Monitoring in Medically Assisted Opioid Addiction Treatment: The Syva Emit II Plus Buprenorphine Assay from Siemens Healthineers
Fentanyl Crisis
The Vital Role of Labs
Laboratory testing indicates that 7 out of every 10 pills seized by DEA contain a lethal dose of fentanyl. And while fentanyl use and overdose deaths continues to rise, the percentage of labs testing for fentanyl is low, at only about 5%.
Timely, reliable, and convenient drug testing options are critical in combating the drug crisis. Use of FDA-approved fentanyl urine drug screens within dedicated and healthcare populations is important for identifying at-risk individuals and populations, and vital in identifying local trends and responding to changing needs to help alter the trajectory of the overdose epidemic.
Help your lab navigate the complexities of drug testing. Listen to an expert-led webinar to gain insight into the different analytical approaches for laboratory detection of fentanyl and the lab’s potential role in uncovering emerging trends in the ongoing fentanyl crisis.
Polysubstance Use
The use of more than one drug, also known as polysubstance use, is common. This includes when two or more are taken together or within a short time period, either intentionally or unintentionally.
- Intentional polysubstance use occurs when a person takes a drug to increase or decrease the effects of a different drug or wants to experience the effects of the combination.
- Unintentional polysubstance use occurs when a person takes drugs that have been mixed or cut with other substances, such as fentanyl, without their knowledge.
Compared to users of a single drug, polysubstance users are more likely to present with comorbid mental health conditions, misuse or abuse prescription drugs, and are at a greater risk for other health complications.
Treatment
Advancing evidence-based treatment with drug screens
Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) remains a widespread public health challenge, and continues to impact countless individuals, families, and communities across the globe.
A new guide outlines treatment with a ‘whole-patient’ approach to drug treatment, including:
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) versus medications for opioid-use disorder (MOUD)
- Utility of drug screening with MAT/MOUD
- Treatment drug assays: buprenorphine, methadone, and EDDP
Harm Reduction Strategies
Monitoring trends in fentanyl exposure in your community can help your facility support the implementation of appropriate harm reduction strategies to minimize the risk of overdose.
Learn how your lab can make a difference in the opioid epidemic
EMIT, RapidTest, Syva, Viva-ProE, and all associated marks are trademarks of Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc., or its affiliates. All other trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners.
The products/features mentioned here are not commercially available in all countries. Due to regulatory reasons, their future availability cannot be guaranteed. Please contact your local Siemens Healthineers organization for further details.
2
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2021/20211117.htm SAMHSA (2019). Treatment Episode Data Set
3
(TEDS): Admissions to and Discharges from Publicly-funded Substance Use Treatment
