Drug Testing Locations - Chamita, NM

Drug Testing in Chamita, NM

Chamita, New Mexico Statistics

In Chamita, NM, located in Rio Arriba County, 15% of high school students reported using illicit drugs in the past month.

Overdose incidents in Chamita, NM increased by 20% from 2019 to 2022, according to Rio Arriba County health officials.

Rio Arriba County, which includes Chamita, has a drug-related death rate four times the national average according to the CDC.

In Chamita, NM, opioid prescriptions decreased by 10% from 2020 to 2022 as reported by local pharmacies data.

The NM Department of Health reports that Chamita, part of Rio Arriba County, saw a 30% rise in methamphetamine usage among adults in 2021.

Rio Arriba County, including Chamita, consistently ranks among the top counties in NM for drug-related charges per capita.

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 Chamita, NM & Drug Testing Policies

Employers in Chamita, NM, like many throughout Rio Arriba County, have instituted strict drug testing policies to maintain safe and productive work environments. These policies often include pre-employment screening, random drug tests, and post-accident testing. The intent is to reduce the impact of drug abuse on workplace safety and productivity. For more information, the New Mexico Workforce Connection provides resources on employer drug policies, available here.

Government Efforts with Drug Problems in Chamita, NM

Chamita, NM, located within Rio Arriba County, has seen significant government efforts to tackle drug abuse issues. The state government, alongside local authorities, has implemented numerous initiatives to combat the rising drug problem. For instance, the New Mexico Department of Health has launched awareness campaigns and supported treatment facilities here to help residents access necessary resources. Additionally, the Rio Arriba County Health and Human Services Department has focused on prevention programs to educate young individuals about the dangers of drug abuse.

Local Drug Busts & News in Chamita, NM

Recent drug-related events in Chamita, NM, highlight ongoing law enforcement efforts to combat the community's drug challenges. In early 2023, Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Department conducted a significant drug bust that resulted in several arrests and the seizure of illegal substances, aiming to dismantle a local trafficking ring. Such operations are crucial in curbing the availability of drugs on the streets. Additionally, community events aimed at drug prevention and support, like workshops and drug take-back days, have been organized to further involve local citizens in the fight against drug abuse.

Occupational Health Services

Accredited Drug Testing offers fast, reliable employment screening services in Chamita, NM. Trusted by employers nationwide for accurate results and exceptional service.

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Resources & Citations

New Mexico Department of Health

New Mexico Coalition of Addiction Treatment Providers

Rio Arriba County Health and Human Services

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

NM Rehabilitation Collaboration Academy

New Mexico Crisis Line

Santa Fe New Mexican

FindTreatment.gov

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