Drug Testing Locations - Crown Point, AK

Drug Testing in Crown Point, AK

Crown Point, Alaska Statistics

In 2021, Kenai Peninsula recorded 65 arrests related to drug offenses.

Methamphetamine use in Crown Point, Kenai Peninsula doubled from 2019 to 2021.

In Kenai Peninsula County, opioid abuse accounted for 23% of drug-related hospitalizations in 2020.

In 2022, there were 15 reported cases of heroin abuse in Crown Point, Kenai Peninsula.

Alcohol combined with drug abuse was responsible for 18% of accidents in Kenai Peninsula in 2021.

Kenai Peninsula's drug abuse treatment centers saw a 30% increase in admissions in 2020.

How does the body eliminate Drugs

Drug elimination is the sum of the processes of removing an administered drug from the body. In the pharmacokinetic ADME scheme (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion), it is frequently considered to encompass both metabolism and excretion. Hydrophobic drugs, to be excreted, must undergo metabolic modification making them more polar. Hydrophilic drugs, on the other hand, can undergo excretion directly, without the need for metabolic changes to their molecular structures.

Although many sites of metabolism and excretion exist, the chief organ of metabolism is the liver, while the organ primarily tasked with excretion is the kidney. Any significant dysfunction in either organ can result in the accumulation of the drug or its metabolites in toxic concentrations.

A variety of other factors impact elimination — intrinsic drug properties, such as polarity, size, or pKa. Also other factors include genetic variation among individuals, disease states affecting other organs, and pathways involved in the way the drug distributes through the body, such as first-pass metabolism.

Issues of Concern

Drug elimination is the removal of an administered drug from the body. It is accomplished in two ways, either by excretion of an unmetabolized drug in its intact form or by metabolic biotransformation followed by excretion. While excretion is primarily carried out by the kidneys, other organ systems are involved as well. Similarly, the liver is the primary site of biotransformation, yet extrahepatic metabolism takes place in a variety of organ systems affecting multiple drugs.

Given the multiple organ systems and the variety of metabolic transformations present, drug elimination can entail a significant degree of complexity. Hydrophilic drugs are typically directly excreted by the kidneys, while hydrophobic drugs undergo biotransformation before excretion. The purpose here is twofold – biotransformation serves both detoxify the exogenous substances as well as to increase their hydrophilicity, ensuring their elimination via the kidneys.

Two broad metabolic pathways of hepatic drug transformation exist. Phase I is the direct modification of the target molecule, whereas phase II entails conjugation of the target to a polar molecule of low molecular weight. Phase I prepare the drug to enter phase II, but single-phase metabolism also exists.

Phase I involves oxidation, reduction, and hydrolysis of the exogenous molecule. These reactions are accomplished by hepatic microsomal enzymes, which reside in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum of the hepatocytes. Best known among them is the cytochrome P450 system, whose enzymes are predominantly involved in oxidative metabolism. Within the cytochrome P450 family (CYP), the enzyme responsible for the metabolism of more than 50% of existing drugs is the CYP3A4. Its activity encompasses various classes of medications, including opioids, immunosuppressants, antihistamines, and benzodiazepines. The enzymes can also be induced or inhibited by a variety of substances they interact with, including pharmaceuticals. The increase in metabolic activity with CYP induction results in a diminished activity of drugs targeted by that particular isoform. Conversely, CYP inhibition will result in increased drug plasma concentration, potentially leading toxicity. The CYP3A4 is induced by phenytoin, phenobarbital, and St. John's wort, while diltiazem, erythromycin, and grapefruit inhibit it. Caution is, therefore, necessary when administering CYP3A4-metabolized drugs in the presence of any of the inhibitors or inducers.

Phase II consists of covalent bonding of polar groups to nonpolar molecules to render them water-soluble and allow renal or biliary excretion. Target molecules enter phase II directly or via initial processing through phase I. A variety of polar adjuncts is transferred, including amino acids, glucuronic acid, glutathione, acetate, and sulfate. Glucuronidation is one of the major pathways of phase II biotransformation. The UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzyme family performs this activity. Typically, glucuronide derivatives possess less or no activity of the original drug, but in some cases, pharmacologically active compounds result. Morphine-6-glucuronide is a phase II metabolite of morphine with significant analgesic activity. As with the CYP enzymes, inducers, and inhibitors of phase II, enzymes exist and may influence the efficacy of drugs that rely on conjugation before excretion.

The first-pass effect is a feature of hepatic metabolism that also plays a role in the elimination of multiple drugs. Here, the enteric consumed drugs are exposed directly to the liver via the portal vein, where they undergo biotransformation before entering the systemic circulation. This activity reduces the bioavailability and needs to be factored into the dose administered to the patient. Intravenously administered drugs are not subject to the first-pass effect.

Extrahepatic drug metabolism takes place in the GI tract, kidneys, lungs, plasma, and skin.

Renal excretion completes the process of elimination that begins in the liver. Polar drugs or their metabolites get filtered in the kidneys and typically do not undergo reabsorption. They subsequently get excreted in the urine. Urinary pH has a significant impact on excretion, as drug ionization changes depending on the alkaline or acidic environment. Increased excretion occurs with weakly acidic drugs in basic urine and weakly basic drugs in acidic urine.

Excretion in the bile is another significant form of drug elimination. The liver can actively secrete ionized drugs with a molecular weight greater than 300 g/mol into bile, from where they reach the digestive tract and are either eliminated in feces or reabsorbed as part of the enterohepatic cycle.

Other pathways of excretion include the lungs, breast milk, sweat, saliva, and tears

Employers in Crown Point, AK & Drug Testing Policies

Employers in Crown Point, AK are increasingly adopting drug testing policies to ensure a safe and productive workplace. Many companies follow guidelines set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which suggest drug testing as part of a comprehensive workplace safety program.

Local employers, including businesses in the fishing and tourism industries, often implement Random Drug Testing policies. In compliance with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), these tests are intended to discourage drug use and safeguard employee health.

Government Efforts with Drug Problems in Crown Point, AK

The government has been tackling drug issues in Crown Point, AK through numerous initiatives and collaborations. The Alaska Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) aims to curb prescription drug misuse by providing a centralized database for tracking prescriptions.

Moreover, local law enforcement agencies in Kenai Peninsula are working closely with the Department of Homeland Security to combat drug trafficking networks. Community programs are also being implemented to create awareness and educate the youth on the dangers of drug abuse.

Local Drug Busts & News in Crown Point, AK

Recent drug busts in Crown Point, AK, highlight ongoing efforts to curb illegal drug activities. In early 2023, local police conducted a successful operation, seizing large quantities of methamphetamine intended for distribution across Kenai Peninsula County.

Additionally, collaborative efforts between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and local law enforcement resulted in arrests of multiple individuals involved in an opioid trafficking ring. These actions demonstrate the commitment to reducing drug-related crime and protecting community welfare.

Occupational Health Services

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Resources & Citations

State of Alaska Division of Behavioral Health

Anchorage Community Mental Health Services

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Moore Regional Alaska

Department of Health and Social Services - Suicide Prevention

Rural Alaska Community Action Program

Alaska Addictions Directory

Alaska Area Indian Health Service

o-drug and Substance Use Action in Alaska

Mental Health Directory

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