Here’s a summary of some of the more interesting drug testing news stories and articles from around the UK this week. As always, if drugs are a concern for you, your family or your organisation, Zoom Testing is here to help. Contact us with all of your drug testing requirements.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines belong to a group of drugs known as depressants. Unfortunately, benzodiazepines have an extremely high rate of abuse. In the UK, the most common benzodiazepine is Valium. Slang names for the drug include benzos, temazies, jellies, eggs, moggies and vallies. A benzodiazepines drug test will detect BZD in urine within hours of using the drug and possibly up to 2 – 14 days after use.
What is Oxazepam?
This drug is one of a number of similar drugs that may be used by criminals to spike a person’s drink. Similar drugs include Flunitrazepam (“Roofies”), Alprazolam (Xanax), Diazepam (Valium), Midazolam (Versed), and Temazepam (Restoril). A drink spike test kit will detect if Oxazepam has been used to lace an alcoholic drink.
Cannabis
Cannabis is the most commonly used illegal drug in the UK. At Zoom Testing we offer a very wide range of drug testing kits for cannabis. This week, there were a number of cannabis related news stories that caught the eye:
Van driver on cannabis killed apprentice in Bedfordshire crash
A van driver who was more than twice the limit for cannabis when he crashed and killed his teenage apprentice has been jailed for nine years | BBC, UK
Forward Leeds launches campaign to raise awareness of cannabis use in the city
Forward Leeds is running a campaign to raise awareness of the increasing strength of cannabis and the issues around heavy use of the drug in the city | Yorkshire Evening Post, UK
Cannabis: how it affects our cognition and psychology – new research
Cannabis has been used by humans for thousands of years and is one of the most popular drugs today. With effects such as feelings of joy and relaxation, it is also legal to prescribe or take in several countries | Conversation, UK
Cocaine
Powder cocaine continues to be the second most commonly used drug of abuse in the UK, after Cannabis. Zoom Testing supply a wide range of drug testing kits for cocaine. In the news this week:
Cambridgeshire family jailed over drug empire selling cannabis and cocaine from Peterborough
A family-run drug empire was uncovered by chance after police stopped a dangerous driver – and found bags of cannabis and cocaine | ITV, UK
Isle of Man drug dealer with £51k in shoebox under bed jailed
Searches of Mark Glassey’s home and carpet business also found more than £32,000 of amphetamine paste and cocaine worth almost £900 | BBC, UK
Man jailed after police seize crime gang’s 250kg drug haul
A car wash owner has been jailed for seven-and-a half years after importing a large quantity of an anaesthetic used to bulk out cocaine | BBC, UK
Entire Canadian flight crew jailed after reporting stash of cocaine on plane
About 200kg of cocaine worth $25m was located in aircraft’s control compartments | Independent, UK
Heroin
Heroin is a pain-killing drug, which is derived from the dried milk of the opium poppy. Heroin belongs to a group of drugs known as opiates, other opiates include morphine and methadone. Heroin is also known as smack, H, junk, brown, skag and gear. Zoom Testing is a leading supplier of drug testing kits for Heroin.
For How Long Are Opiates Detectable Using a Saliva Drug Test?
Opiates can be detected by a saliva drug test over a period of 24 to 48 hours after the last use. This time may vary according to each person’s metabolism, as well as the quantity and quality of the drug that was consumed | Zoom Testing, UK
MDMA
The common name for the drug MDMA is Ecstasy which is a controlled substance. Ecstasy Drug Test Kits are available from Zoom Testing. We can also supply party drugs test kits.
How Long Does Ecstasy Stay in Your System?
There are several factors that will determine how long Ecstasy is detectable in the body. One major consideration is the type of drug test being used to do the testing (urine, saliva or hair) as each type of tests works within a specific timetable of detection | Zoom Testing, UK
Other Drug News in the UK
Also in the news this week:
Ex-drug user who nearly died of overdose in a cemetery to give police life-saving advice
A former drug user who nearly died after an overdose in a cemetery is now offering insight to front-line police officers on a lifesaving treatment | Yorkshire Post, UK
Nottingham: Super-strength vaping products seized in crackdown
Illegal super-strength vaping products with a street value of more than £8,000 have been confiscated during a series of raids in Nottingham | BBC, UK
Drug dealer jailed for Birmingham to Herefordshire network
A man who ran a drug network using the home of a vulnerable man as part of his supply route has been jailed | BBC, UK
Users of ‘date rape’ drug GHB face longer jail terms in crackdown on drink spiking
Anyone found with “date rape” drug GHB may face up to five years in jail under a government crackdown on drink spiking. | Independent, UK
Photo by Volodymyr Hryshchenko on Unsplash
