Blog
Court-Ordered Alcohol Testing in Child Custody Cases
TL;DR - Court-ordered alcohol testing in child custody cases is required when there's evidence of alcohol misuse through documented incidents, witness testimony, or professional reports. In the UK, 478,000 children live with parents who have alcohol problems. A positive test doesn't... Read More
A Guide to Magic Mushrooms (Psilocybin) Drug Testing
TL;DR - Magic mushrooms (psilocybin) are classified as Class A drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, with possession carrying up to 7 years imprisonment and supply resulting in potential life imprisonment. Standard 5 or 10-panel drug tests don't detect psilocybin, requiring specialised... Read More
A Guide to LSD Drug Testing
TL;DR - LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) is a Class A drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, with possession carrying up to 7 years imprisonment and unlimited fines, whilst production or supply can result in life imprisonment. Standard 5 or 10-panel drug tests don't detect LSD, requiring... Read More
A Guide to GHB Drug Testing
TL;DR - GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) is a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (reclassified from Class C in 2022), with possession carrying up to 5 years imprisonment and unlimited fines, whilst supply or production can result in life imprisonment. GHB has legitimate medical uses (... Read More
A Guide to Spice Drug Testing
TL;DR - Spice is a synthetic cannabinoid classified as a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, with possession carrying up to 5 years imprisonment and unlimited fines, whilst production and supply can result in up to 14 years imprisonment. Unlike THC, spice binds more fully to... Read More
A Guide to Opioid Drug Testing
TL;DR - Opioids are synthetic or semi-synthetic drugs mimicking opiate effects, classified as Class A substances (except low-strength codeine, which is Class B) under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Unprescribed possession carries up to 7 years imprisonment for Class A and 5 years for Class B.... Read More
A Guide to Methadone Drug Testing
TL;DR - Methadone is a Class A synthetic opioid under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, prescribed for managing heroin addiction but illegal without prescription. Unprescribed possession carries up to 7 years imprisonment and unlimited fines, whilst supply or production can result in life... Read More
A Guide to MDMA Drug Testing
TL;DR - MDMA (ecstasy/molly) is a Class A substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, with possession carrying up to 7 years imprisonment and unlimited fines, whilst supply and production can result in life imprisonment. MDMA is detectable through various testing methods with differing... Read More
A Guide to Anabolic Steroids Drug Testing
TL;DR - Anabolic steroids are Class C substances under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, with illegal possession carrying up to 2 years imprisonment and production/distribution resulting in up to 14 years plus unlimited fines. Standard at-home drug tests typically don't detect steroids, requiring... Read More
The Impact of Abusing Prescription Painkillers
A report by NHS England in March 2023 revealed opioid prescriptions have reduced by 450,000 in under four years. The article credits GPs and pharmacists who have cracked down on prescribing prescription pain relief when there are alternatives. Within the same report, NHS England introduced a new... Read More
A Guide to Benzodiazepines Drug Testing
TL;DR - Benzodiazepines (benzos) are Class C controlled substances under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, with illegal possession carrying up to 2 years imprisonment and unlimited fines. Prescribed for anxiety, panic disorders, and insomnia, they include medications like midazolam, clobazam, and... Read More
Is someone a High, Medium or Low Drug User?
A common question the team receives is if a donor is a high, medium or low user of a particular drug. This article aims to explain what these levels mean and what they don’t mean. What are low, medium and high levels? At DNA Legal, in line with industry-determined practice, we perform a... Read More