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 Clonazepam?
This antiepileptic or anticonvulsant drug helps to control or prevents seizures. In addition to this, it also treats panic attacks. It is also generically known as Klonopin. It belongs to a drug class called benzodiazepines, which calms the nerves and the brain | Zoom Testing, UK
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:
- Batley flat explosion caused by cannabis production, court hears
An explosion at a flat in West Yorkshire which left five men hurt was caused by butane gas which was being used to produce super-strength cannabis being ignited, a court has heard | BBC, UK - Warrington dealer who ran Instagram cannabis shop is jailed
A man who ran an Instagram store selling cannabis-laced sweets from his one-bedroom flat has been jailed | BBC, 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:
- EncroChat: Manchester man jailed for £1.6m cocaine smuggling plot
A man who used the secret phone network EncroChat to smuggle cocaine worth £1.6m has been jailed for 12 years | BBC, 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.
- What Are Opiate / Opioid Painkillers?
Opiates are narcotic analgesics that act as central nervous system depressants. They are generally divided into two types – natural and synthetic | Zoom Testing, UK - North Wales £700,000 heroin and cocaine gang jailed
Eighteen people have been sentenced for their part in one of north Wales’ largest drug conspiracies | BBC, 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.
- What is Ecstasy?
Developed in 1912 by a pharmaceutical company known as Merck, ecstasy was first known as MDMA (an acronym based on its chemical structure). Ecstasy is considered a Class A drug making it illegal to produce the drug, supply it to others, or simply possess it | Zoom Testing, UK
Other Drug News in the UK
Also in the news this week:
- Ampleforth College brings in sniffer dogs to stop repeat of alcohol-fuelled graduation party
‘Catholic Eton’ introduces strict measures after incident, one of a series that led to ‘inadequate’ rating for safeguarding | Telegraph, UK
Photo by pariwat pannium on Unsplash
