Drug & Alcohol Screening: SAMHSA-5 Panel & Urinalysis

Standardized drug screens test for a federally mandated panel of five types of drugs known as the SAMHSA-5; the drugs are amphetamines, cocaine, marijuana, opiates and PCP. Alcohol testing can be conducted by the same common methods of drug screening.

Urinalysis

• Urinalysis is an inexpensive, common drug screen in which a urine sample is examined to detect drug and alcohol consumption. Urinalysis does not detect current drug use but a recent history of use.

Blood

• Blood tests are highly accurate, and very expensive. They effectively reveal a current state of intoxication and can be part of DUI cases.

Hair

• The cortex, or inner part, of strands of hair will accurately reveal a history of drug use up to approximately three months.

Saliva

• Oral fluid can be examined for a recent history of drug and alcohol use. Saliva more accurately reveals the use of opiates, cocaine and amphetamines and is less effective for detecting marijuana use.

Breath

• There are many breath detection devices commercially available to detect alcohol consumption and intoxication. Alcohol testing is common in DUI cases and parole testing.