Drug News You Can Use

Psychemedics Awarded Patent Fundamental To Hair Analysis Drug Testing

The world’s largest drug testing company using hair analysis received its seventh United States Patent dedicated to liquefying hair to release drug analytes.

Acton, Massachusetts, January 24, 2012 – Psychemedics Corporation (NASDAQ:PMD) , hair testing pioneer and global leader for 25 years, announced today that the United States Patent Office issued a seventh patent, US No. 8,084,215, to the company. This patent focuses on liquefying hair and releasing drugs trapped in the hair without destroying the drugs. The new patented method can be used with a broad range of immunoassay screen techniques, mass spectrometry methods, and chromatographic procedures.

Raymond C. Kubacki, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are pleased to have received this patent which is fundamental to all hair analysis drug testing. This patent covers the efficient digestion of hair and release of the drugs without destroying the drugs—getting virtually 100% of the drug out of the hair. This is fundamental to hair analysis drug testing because if you cannot get the drugs out of the hair, the drugs cannot be measured.” Kubacki continued, “Our ability to successfully release drug analytes from hair enables us to accurately identify more drug users, setting Psychemedics apart from all other hair testing technologies.”

Kubacki added, “Psychemedics Corporation has, for 25 years, offered the most effective hair testing technology based upon scientifically validated drug testing methods. Receiving this patent demonstrates our on-going commitment to achieving the best possible test to accurately identify the greatest number of drug users.”

About Psychemedics – Psychemedics (NASDAQ: PMD) is the world’s leading drug testing company using hair for the detection of drugs of abuse. Psychemedics has been successfully operating for 25 years and thousands of corporations worldwide currently rely on Psychemedics’ proprietary hair analysis technology for their pre-employment and employee drug screening. Psychemedics’ clients include over 10% of the Fortune 500, some of the largest police departments in America, six Federal Reserve Banks, and schools. For more information, visit the Psychemedics website at www.psychemedics.com.

Prescription Drug Overdoses — a U.S. Epidemic

In 2007, approximately 27,000 unintentional drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States, one death every 19 minutes. Prescription drug abuse is the fastest growing drug problem in the United States. The increase in unintentional drug overdose death rates in recent years (Figure 1) has been driven by increased use of a class of prescription drugs called opioid analgesics (1). Since 2003, more overdose deaths have involved opioid analgesics than heroin and cocaine combined (Figure 2) (1). In addition, for every unintentional overdose death related to an opioid analgesic, nine persons are admitted for substance abuse treatment (2), 35 visit emergency departments (3), 161 report drug abuse or dependence, and 461 report nonmedical uses of opioid analgesics (4). Implementing strategies that target those persons at greatest risk will require strong coordination and collaboration at the federal, state, local, and tribal levels, as well as engagement of parents, youth influencers, health-care professionals, and policy-makers.

Trucker gets 21 years for targeting police cars during drug-fueled chase

A Mississippi truck driver has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for a drug-fueled chase on Interstate 81 through Maryland in which he targeted police and caused four collisions.

McNeel testified at his trial he had used methamphetamine and a synthetic drug known as “bath salts” the morning before the chase on Dec. 20, 2010. He claimed he couldn’t remember the chase.

Columbia Student Wymbs Is Sentenced to Five Years’ Probation in Drug Case

Michael Wymbs, one of five Columbia University students arrested in December 2010 and charged with selling drugs on the New York school’s campus, was sentenced to five years’ probation.

Prosecutors said undercover officers, in a five-month investigation nicknamed “Operation Ivy League,” spent $11,000 buying drugs including cocaine, marijuana, Ecstasy and LSD-laced candy, with most sales taking place in common areas and bedrooms of three fraternities at the university.

Worldwide illegal drug use estimated at 200 million people a year

Between 149 million and 271 million people worldwide used an illicit drug at least once in 2009, according to a new review of studies attempting to estimate the extent of the problem. That translates to 1 in 20 people aged 15 to 64 taking an illegal drug.

But this global figure is likely to underestimate the number of users, the researchers warn, since people might not want to admit to illegal use in surveys, and data from the poorest countries is limited.