Phencyclidine

Phencyclidine

Phencyclidine

PCP

What is PCP?

Phencyclidine (PCP) is a mind-altering drug that may lead to hallucinations (a profound distortion in a person’s perception of reality). It is considered a dissociative drug, leading to a distortion of sights, colors, sounds, self, and one’s environment. PCP was developed in the 1950s as an intravenous anesthetic, but due to the serious neurotoxic side effects, its development for human medical use was discontinued.

Cut-Off Levels (ng/mL)

300, 500, 1000 ng/mL (Urine)

Window of Detection

2 Hrs. – 4 Days (Urine)

 

How is it Used?

PCP is available in a variety of tablets, capsules, and colored powders, which are either smoked, taken orally or by the intranasal route (“snorted”).

Smoking is the most common route when used recreationally. The liquid form of PCP is actually PCP base often dissolved in ether, a highly flammable solvent. For smoking, PCP is typically sprayed onto leafy material such as mint, parsley, oregano, or marijuana. PCP may also be injected. The effects of PCP can last for 4 to 6 hours.

What are the Effects?

Pharmacologically, PCP is a noncompetitive NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor antagonist and glutamate receptor antagonist, but also interacts with other receptor sites, and may have effects with dopamine, opioid and nicotinic receptors.

Many believe PCP to be one of the most dangerous drugs of abuse. A moderate amount of PCP often causes users to feel detached, distant, and estranged from their surroundings.

  • Numbness of the extremities, slurred speech, and loss of coordination may be accompanied by a sense of strength and invulnerability.
  • A blank stare, rapid and involuntary eye movements, and an exaggerated gait are among the more observable effects.
  • Auditory hallucinations, image distortion, severe mood disorders, and amnesia may also occur.
  • Acute anxiety and a feeling of impending doom, paranoia, violent hostility, a psychoses indistinguishable from schizophrenia.

 

High doses of PCP can also cause seizures, coma, and death (often due to accidental injury or suicide during PCP intoxication). Psychological effects at high doses include delusions and hallucinations. Users often refer to the experiences from hallucinogens as a “trip”, or calling an unpleasant experience a “bad trip.”

PCP has sedative effects, and interactions with other central nervous system depressants, such as alcohol and benzodiazepines, can lead to coma or accidental overdose. Many PCP users are brought to emergency rooms because of PCP’s unpleasant psychological effects or because of overdoses. In a hospital or detention setting, they often become violent or suicidal, and are very dangerous to themselves and to others. They should be kept in a calm setting and should not be left alone.

Common Symptoms

  • slight increase in breathing rate
  • rise in blood pressure and pulse rate
  • shallow respiration
  • flushing and profuse sweating occurs.
  • a drop in blood pressure, pulse rate, and respiration.
  • nausea, vomiting
  • blurred vision
  • flicking up and down of the eyes
  • drooling
  • loss of balance and dizziness
  • violence, suicide
  • memory loss
  • difficulties with speech and learning
  • depression
  • weight loss that can persist up to a year after stopping PCP use.

Common Street Names

  • Angel dust
  • Boat
  • Hog
  • Love Boat
  • Wack
  • Ozone
  • Peace Pill
  • Dust
  • Embalming Fluid
  • Rocket Fuel
  • Supergrass, Superweed, whacko tobacco, and killer joints refer to PCP combined with marijuana.

What does it Look Like?

In its purest form, PCP is a white crystalline powder that readily dissolves in water or alcohol and has a distinctive bitter chemical taste. On the illicit drug market, PCP contains a number of contaminants causing the color to range from a light to darker brown with a powdery to a gummy mass consistency.

Legal Status

PCP is a Schedule II stimulant under the Controlled Substances Act.

Testing Options

  • Integrated Urine Test Cup
  • Urine Test Dip Card
  • Oral Fluid Test

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Boca Raton, FL 33487

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Phencyclidine

Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine

mAMP/MET

What is Methamphetamine?

Methamphetamine is a powerful, highly addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system. Crystal methamphetamine is a form of the drug that looks like glass fragments or shiny, bluish-white rocks. It is chemically similar to amphetamine, a drug used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy, a sleep disorder.

Cut-Off Levels (ng/mL)

300, 500, 1000 ng/mL (Urine)

Window of Detection

2 Hrs. – 4 Days (Urine)

 

How is it Used?

Methamphetamine is most commonly used by inhalation, or smoking, snorting, intravenously by injection, or swallowing in pill form.

Because the “high” from the drug both starts and fades quickly, people often take repeated doses in a “binge and crash” pattern. In some cases, people take methamphetamine in a form of binging known as a “run,” giving up food and sleep while continuing to take the drug every few hours for up to several days.

What are the Effects?

Methamphetamine increases the amount of the natural chemical dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is involved in body movement, motivation, and reinforcement of rewarding behaviors. The drug’s ability to rapidly release high levels of dopamine in reward areas of the brain strongly reinforces drug-taking behavior, making the user want to repeat the experience.

Short-Term Effects:

Taking even small amounts of methamphetamine can result in many of the same health effects as those of other stimulants, such as cocaine or amphetamines.

Long-Term Effects:

People who inject methamphetamine are at increased risk of contracting infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis B and C. These diseases are transmitted through contact with blood or other bodily fluids that can remain on drug equipment. Methamphetamine use can also alter judgment and decision-making leading to risky behaviors, such as unprotected sex, which also increases risk for infection.

Methamphetamine use may worsen the progression of HIV/AIDS and its consequences. Studies indicate that HIV causes more injury to nerve cells and more cognitive problems in people who use methamphetamine than it does in people who have HIV and don’t use the drug. Cognitive problems are those involved with thinking, understanding, learning, and remembering.

Common Symptoms

  • increased wakefulness and physical activity
  • decreased appetite
  • faster breathing
  • rapid and/or irregular heartbeat
  • increased blood pressure and body temperature 
  • extreme weight loss
  • addiction
  • severe dental problems
  • intense itching, leading to skin sores from scratching
  • anxiety
  • changes in brain structure and function
  • confusion
  • memory loss
  • sleeping problems
  • violent behavior
  • paranoia—extreme and unreasonable distrust of others
  • hallucinations—sensations and images that seem real though they aren’t
 

Common Street Names

  • Speed
  • Crank
  • Ice
  • Scante
  • Skank
  • Rock
  • Rocket Fuel

What does it Look Like?

Methamphetamine comes in many different forms, most commonly, a blueish-white, crystal like powder, or glass like shards. It can also be used in liquid form.

Legal Status

Methamphetamine is a Schedule II stimulant under the Controlled Substances Act.

Testing Options

  • Integrated Urine Test Cup
  • Urine Test Dip Card
  • Oral Fluid Test

Contact us

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1-866-989-9300

Email Us

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Our Location

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Boca Raton, FL 33487

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Phencyclidine

Benzodiazepine

Benzodiazepine

BZO

What is Benzodiazepine?

Benzodiazepines are  prescription only central nervous system depressants used to treat anxiety, insomnia, muscle spasms, and seizures. They can cause sedation and hypnosis.

Cut-Off Levels (ng/mL)

200, 300 ng/mL (Urine)

50, 300 ng/mL (Saliva)

Window of Detection

2 Hr. – 3 Days (Urine)

1 – 2 Days (Saliva)

How is it Used?

 

Benzodiazepine can only be obtained, legally, with a prescription from a licensed medical practitioner and is most often given in tablet form to be taken orally. The drug has gained popularity in recreational use and where users will sometimes crush the tablet to be insufflated nasally, injected, or inhaled when burned.

What are the Effects?

Benzodiazepines suppress the central nervous system causing sever drowsiness and sleepiness. Amnesia and spouts of memory lapse are common among users and these effects are increased with larger doses. 

Common Street Names

  • Benzos
  • Zannies
  • Zanny Bars
  • Bars, Dozers
  • Mind Erasers

Common Symptoms

  • Drowsiness
  • Sleepiness 
  • Amnesia 
  • Irritability
  • Vidid Dreams
  • Shallow Respiration
  • Dilated Pupils
  • Week and Rapid Pulse
  • Coma
  • Death
 

What does it Look Like?

Benzodiazepine comes in tablet form in a variety of shapes and colors. Some popular brand names include Xanax, Ativan and Kolonpin.

Legal Status

Schedule  III under the Controlled Substances Act.

Testing Options

  • Integrated Urine Cup Test
  • Urine Dip Card Test
  • Oral Fluid Test

Contact us

Call Us

1-866-989-9300

Email Us

info@ntsbiz.com

Our Location

550 NW 77th Street

Boca Raton, FL 33487

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Phencyclidine

Cocaine

Cocaine

COC

What is Cocaine?

Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that derives from coca leaves native to South America. The common form of cocaine is produced through a series of chemical processes involving very harmful substances with the end result being illegally distributed through out the world. Cocaine has been used in it’s earliest days as medical remedy and has now become one of the most popular among recreational drug users due to the intense euphoric effects. It has short lasting rapid on set effects that can appear within 10 minutes after use and last any where from 30 minutes to an hour.

Cut-Off Levels (ng/mL)

100, 150, 200, 300 ng/mL (Urine)

20, 50 ng/mL (Saliva)

Window of Detection

1 Hr. – 4 Days (Urine)

Up to 24 hrs (Saliva)

How is it Used?

Cocaine can be crushed into powder and insufflated nasally, mixed with water and injected, or smoked and is often mixed with other drugs like opioids, known as speedballing. Due to it’s highly additive properties the potential for abuse and repetitive use is common among users.

What are the Effects?

Depending on it is taken the effects of cocaine can vary. When injected users  describe a “rush” of euphoria with  short lasting rapid on set effects where as when cocaine is insufflated or inhaled the “rush” is much lesser and on set effects can take within 10-15 minutes to occur. The short lasting stimulant effects of cocaine lead to frequent and habitual use. Other effects such as erratic behavior, anxiety and paranoia have been associated with the use of cocaine. 

Common Symptoms

  • constricted blood vessels
  • dilated pupils
  • nausea
  • raised body temperature and blood pressure
  • faster heartbeat
  • tremors and muscle twitches
  • restlessness
  • extreme happiness and energy
  • mental alertness
  • hypersensitivity to sight, sound, and touch
  • irritability
  • paranoia—extreme and unreasonable distrust of others
     

    Common Street Names

    • Blow

    • Snow

    • Ski

    • White

    • Crack

    • Rock

    What does it Look Like?

    In its’ processed form, cocaine is most recognized as a white powdery substance or hard, solid, crystalized rocks.

     

    Legal Status

    Scheduled II substance under U.S. Controlled Substance Act. Cocaine solutions can be used in a medical to reduce bleeding in the mouth, throat and mucus membranes although is rarely uses as there are much better options for such purposes. 

    Testing Options

    • Integrated Urine Test Cup
    • Urine Test Dip Card
    • Oral Fluid Test
    • Field Test

    Contact us

    Call Us

    1-866-989-9300

    Email Us

    info@ntsbiz.com

    Our Location

    550 NW 77th Street

    Boca Raton, FL 33487

    Get in touch

    Phencyclidine

    Nicotine

    Nicotine

    NIC / COT

    What is Nicotine?

    Nicotine is a stimulant commonly found in tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, and electronic cigarettes. Nicotine is highly addictive causing depended in users. It is one the most used drugs around the world and has been socially acceptable, though in recent years recent years smoking, one the most common ways to consume nicotine, has decreased due to negative health effects that come with smoking tobacco.

    Cut-Off Levels (ng/mL)

    200, 300 ng/mL (Urine)

    10 ng/mL (Saliva)

    Window of Detection

    1 – 3 Days (Urine)

    1 – 2 Days (Saliva)

    How is it Used?

    Nicotine is a liquid alkaloid of the tobacco plant and can be absorbed through the skin or mucus membranes in the body but is most commonly consumed by  smoking  tobacco products such as cigarettes and cigars. In more recent years smoking has decreased, however, electronic cigarettes, which are tobacco less electronic devises that will vaporize an oil extract containing nicotine, has become increasingly  popular. People can also chew or absorb nicotine through chewing tobacco know as snuff or dip. There are also transdermal patches the can be placed on the skin and nicotine gum that can be chewed typically when someone is trying to quit smoking. Brands like Chantix offer tablets that can be taken orally for smoking cessation as well.

    What are the Effects?

    When nicotine is consumed a brief a sudden surge of endorphins released increasing  the dopamine neurotransmitters  that are associated with the reward circuits in the brain. Compareable to the high of other stimulants such as coffee and cocaine but at a much lesser degree. This plays a part in the dependency that is caused from consuming nicotine and will actually make a user feel as is they are being rewarded for the behavior. Users will feel a calming euphoric sensation that is short in duration leading to habitual use. Cessation of nicotine can cause physical withdrawal symptoms that can last from 2-4 weeks but psychological  dependence can last much longer. Smoking tobacco can cause serious health effects and has been linked to heart disease, strokes, heart attacks, gum disease, and cancer.

    Common Symptoms

    • Rapid heart rate
    • High blood pressure
    • Irritability 
    • Nausea
    • Head aches
    • Halitosis 
     
     

    Common Street Names

    • Smokes
    • Butts
    • Cigs
    • Dip 
    • Snuff
    • Chew

    What does it Look Like?

    Tobacco leaves contain nicotine and when dried look dark to light brown. Nicotine in it’s pure state is an orderless, colorless liquid, oily in consistency, and turns brownish when exposed to light

    Legal Status

    Currently available commercially for anyone 19 years of age or older.

    Testing Options

    • Integrated Urine Test Cup
    • Urine Test Dip Card
    • Oral Fluid Test
    • Field Test

    Contact us

    Call Us

    1-866-989-9300

    Email Us

    info@ntsbiz.com

    Our Location

    550 NW 77th Street

    Boca Raton, FL 33487

    Get in touch