Blog
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
A Guide to Tramadol Drug Testing
TL;DR - Tramadol is a Class C opioid painkiller under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, with unprescribed possession carrying up to 2 years imprisonment and unlimited fines, whilst supply and production result in up to 14 years imprisonment. Tramadol doesn't appear on standard 5 or 10-panel drug... Read More
Cocaine - cutting and lacing
The UK is “fast becoming the biggest consumer of cocaine in Europe” according to previous UK Security Minister, Ben Wallace. With this rise in demand, are suppliers cutting cocaine more than ever before, and if so, with what? In this article, the DNA Legal toxicology team, who write ... Read More
A Guide to Amphetamine Drug Testing
TL;DR - Most amphetamines are Class B substances under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, with possession carrying up to 5 years imprisonment and supply/production up to 14 years, whilst methamphetamine (crystal meth) is Class A with harsher penalties of up to 7 years for possession and life... Read More
A Guide to Cannabis Drug Testing
TL;DR - Cannabis is a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (unless prescribed by a specialist), with possession carrying up to 5 years imprisonment and fines up to £2,500, whilst supply or production can result in up to 14 years imprisonment. Cannabis is the UK's most popular... Read More
A Guide to Cocaine Drug Testing
In our ongoing series on drug testing, we've explored the intricacies of Ketamine drug testing and its relevance in legal scenarios. Today, we shift our focus to another widely abused substance - cocaine. Cocaine, a notorious Class A drug, carries severe legal consequences for its possession,... Read More
Alcohol Testing: What you need to know
TL;DR - Alcohol testing provides scientifically proven methods to monitor alcohol consumption over time for pre-employment screening, workplace programmes, probation, custody cases, and driving offences. Testing can determine excessive abuse (40+ grams of pure ethanol daily), occasional... Read More
Peth Testing: An Expert Guide
Peth Testing is the most accurate blood test to determine Alcohol Abuse for family courts, fitness to practice, clinical studies and treatment centers. Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) Testing provides a detection of alcohol abuse with 99% sensitivity (far higher than traditional blood... Read More
Hair Drug Testing FAQs
Hair drug testing is a reliable, accurate and robust method for covering large historical chronological insight into drug or alcohol consumption. At DNA Legal, our hair strand testing offerings are a popular and well-established option for legal practitioners and professionals specialising in the... Read More