Drug Testing of Hair - Advice please

Mr Magic · Post: # 678053Post **Mr Magic** » Wed 26 Nov 2008 4:07pm

I was told today that the reason the drug testers apponited by the AFL needed to find hair 3cms long was as follows:-

Hair normally grows approx 1 cm per month
Therefore hairlength of 3 cms would enable them to test for any drugs taken during the previous 3 month period.

Apparently whilst lots of drugs leave your system relatively quickly, Cannabis can be detected in your hair for approx 3 months.

It would therefore seem that the Drug Tests were designed to check if BC had used cannabis.

Can anybody shed any light on whether what I've been told sounds reasonable?

stinger · Post: # 678056Post **stinger** » Wed 26 Nov 2008 4:12pm

partly correct.....shows other drug use as well.....

Mr Magic · Post: # 678061Post **Mr Magic** » Wed 26 Nov 2008 4:18pm

stinger wrote:partly correct.....shows other drug use as well.....

But will use of ecstasy, cocaine, amphetamines show up for 3 months in a hair sample?
I was told that they won't and that basically it is the cannabis that will?

It would seem that it only take 'days' for them to disappear from a urine sample (maybe 2-3 if the AFL want 3times a week urine testing) but does anybody know how long they'll stay in your hair?

markp · Post: # 678062Post **markp** » Wed 26 Nov 2008 4:18pm

What about fingernails?

markp · Post: # 678063Post **markp** » Wed 26 Nov 2008 4:21pm

I think you're barking up the wrong tree anyway MM, and it was probably the sponsors who tipped the balance.

Mr Magic · Post: # 678065Post **Mr Magic** » Wed 26 Nov 2008 4:24pm

markp wrote:I think you're barking up the wrong tree anyway MM, and it was probably the sponsors who tipped the balance.

I axtually wan't barking up any tree, just trying to verify if what I was told had any basis in fact?

I'm not trying to suggest BC has done anything wrong, although teh haircut and body waxing certainly seems to have raised some eyebrows.

GrumpyOne · Post: # 678067Post **GrumpyOne** » Wed 26 Nov 2008 4:26pm

Mr Magic wrote:
markp wrote:I think you're barking up the wrong tree anyway MM, and it was probably the sponsors who tipped the balance.
I axtually wan't barking up any tree, just trying to verify if what I was told had any basis in fact?

I'm not trying to suggest BC has done anything wrong, although teh haircut and body waxing certainly seems to have raised some eyebrows.

Or eliminated them.

markp · Post: # 678069Post **markp** » Wed 26 Nov 2008 4:30pm

Mr Magic wrote: haircut and body waxing certainly seems to have raised some eyebrows.

Nice...

I'd guess they wouldn't bother if it was only for weed?

Saintschampions08 · Wed 26 Nov 2008 4:56pm

Mr Magic wrote:
stinger wrote:partly correct.....shows other drug use as well.....
But will use of ecstasy, cocaine, amphetamines show up for 3 months in a hair sample?
I was told that they won't and that basically it is the cannabis that will?

It would seem that it only take 'days' for them to disappear from a urine sample (maybe 2-3 if the AFL want 3times a week urine testing) but does anybody know how long they'll stay in your hair?

Yes, use of cocaine and amphetamines and MDMA will show up for up to about 3 months in a hair sample.

Mr Magic · Post: # 678099Post **Mr Magic** » Wed 26 Nov 2008 5:09pm

Saintschampions08 wrote:
Mr Magic wrote:
stinger wrote:partly correct.....shows other drug use as well.....
But will use of ecstasy, cocaine, amphetamines show up for 3 months in a hair sample?
I was told that they won't and that basically it is the cannabis that will?

It would seem that it only take 'days' for them to disappear from a urine sample (maybe 2-3 if the AFL want 3times a week urine testing) but does anybody know how long they'll stay in your hair?
Yes, use of cocaine and amphetamines and MDMA will show up for up to about 3 months in a hair sample.

Thanks.

saintbrat · Post: # 678102Post **saintbrat** » Wed 26 Nov 2008 5:12pm

also on a side issue to this- there are current AFL players who have already undertaken hair sampling in this off season as part of the introduction -- It would be known amongst the players surely that they require the length......

many do grow their hair and then cut as they return to training.

The Fireman · Wed 26 Nov 2008 5:17pm

My hair has been a bit wavy and sometimes unruly but have never felt the need to drug test it, mind you, if it starts to do a walk about I may reconsider.

docsaint · Post: # 678111Post **docsaint** » Wed 26 Nov 2008 5:21pm

marijuana can show up in urine for months after use. Amphetamines / opiates etc gone in days.
I don't know about hair testing

kosifantutti23 · Wed 26 Nov 2008 5:30pm

The Sri Lankans on this forum got very excited by the topic heading.

chook23 · Post: # 678118Post **chook23** » Wed 26 Nov 2008 5:31pm

like it

jk23 · Post: # 678246Post **jk23** » Wed 26 Nov 2008 9:07pm

What is the difference between different types of drug tests?
Blood & urine tests
Blood testing is often used to test for very recent drug use, i.e. within a couple hours of use. Urine testing detects drug use for a longer period of time Urine testing is one of the most common methods of testing because it is easier to administer and provides more accurate results.

Hair tests
Traces of drugs may accumulate in your hair after use. Hair testing can provide a history of your drug use because these traces may be present in your hair follicles. The length of your hair will determine how far back drugs might be traced (hair grows at approximately 1 centimetre per month). Hair testing is the only reliable method used at the moment that can detect drug use beyond a couple of days or weeks. Not many countries use this method, however, because of the cost and technology involved

Eastern · Post: # 678302Post **Eastern** » Wed 26 Nov 2008 10:39pm

Go to Google

type in hair testing

receive the scientific facts !!

St Michele · Wed 26 Nov 2008 11:23pm

I did hear a guy who is an expert talking aobut this the other day on the radio? and he also said the there was a chance if the person who had their hair tested had been around someone who had been smoking marijuana it could give a positive reading. So I wonder if this means it is not as accurate as they have been saying because they can;t prove if it was then or someone else who was smoking.

Michele

jk23 · Post: # 678351Post **jk23** » Thu 27 Nov 2008 6:42am

Eastern wrote:Go to Google

type in hair testing

receive the scientific facts !!

That's where I got the info from -- Google

Mr Magic · Post: # 678807Post **Mr Magic** » Thu 27 Nov 2008 6:08pm

Next question on 'Hair Drug Testing'

Can you determine when during the 3 month period that actual usage took place?

In light of the AFL announcement some weeks ago of their intention to impose penalties on any CLub who has a player test positive during a game, including 'stripping' the Premiership, could they not argue that a positive 'hair test' taken in October/November/December could be used to penalize a Club for games played in September.

How do you 'prove' the player wasn't using in September when his '3 month hair test' comes back 'positive'?

saintspremiers · Thu 27 Nov 2008 8:16pm

Why not just have CC cameras at all Souvalki and Hot Dog late-night shops in Melbourne?

Anyone that visits more than once in a night need not worry about hair or no hair for testing purposes!

markinUSA · Post: # 678929Post **markinUSA** » Thu 27 Nov 2008 9:09pm

I went on this site

http://www.onsitedrugtesting.com/drugte ... DAodRgmssA
It suggests that hair testing can show up five different drugs.

Cocaine/Metabolite
Marijuana Metabolite
Amphetamines
Methamphetamines
Opiates (Cod, Mor, Her)
Phencyclidine
Ecstacy (MDMA)

Regarding the second half of your question - how long ago - it doesn't seem to be possible to find out exactly, from what I read.

I guess their approach is - you're either clean or you're not.

Teflon · Post: # 678940Post **Teflon** » Thu 27 Nov 2008 9:27pm

I am unsure of the answer but believe my head hairs are far better behaved than the late night party boys dowsntairs,,,

Mr Magic · Post: # 678980Post **Mr Magic** » Thu 27 Nov 2008 10:47pm

markinUSA wrote:I went on this site

http://www.onsitedrugtesting.com/drugte ... DAodRgmssA
It suggests that hair testing can show up five different drugs.

Cocaine/Metabolite
Marijuana Metabolite
Amphetamines
Methamphetamines
Opiates (Cod, Mor, Her)
Phencyclidine
Ecstacy (MDMA)

Regarding the second half of your question - how long ago - it doesn't seem to be possible to find out exactly, from what I read.

I guess their approach is - you're either clean or you're not.

And if the AFL have a similar approach, what ramifications are there for Clubs who have a player test positive on a 'hair test' vis-a-vis premiership points etc?

Iceman234 · Post: # 678984Post **Iceman234** » Thu 27 Nov 2008 10:52pm

Mr Magic wrote:
markinUSA wrote:I went on this site

http://www.onsitedrugtesting.com/drugte ... DAodRgmssA
It suggests that hair testing can show up five different drugs.

Cocaine/Metabolite
Marijuana Metabolite
Amphetamines
Methamphetamines
Opiates (Cod, Mor, Her)
Phencyclidine
Ecstacy (MDMA)

Regarding the second half of your question - how long ago - it doesn't seem to be possible to find out exactly, from what I read.

I guess their approach is - you're either clean or you're not.
And if the AFL have a similar approach, what ramifications are there for Clubs who have a player test positive on a 'hair test' vis-a-vis premiership points etc?

Let's hope none of our boys use any of the above all year round anyway. They all look illegal to me.

Well unless they visit Amsterdam in the off season...