Cocaine is the second most commonly trafficked illegal drug in the world, and more employees are using cocaine in the workplace than ever thought possible. While it is encouraging that the scourge of cocaine use in the workplace is beginning to get more recognition, there remains another lingering problem: cocaine use can be very difficult to detect. Fortunately, scientists are working on developing a new test that they hope will be able to identify cocaine use through a simple fingerprint.
Researchers from Britain examined 239 sets of fingerprints from patients seeking drug addiction treatment and a control group of non-drug users and found that people who use cocaine excrete trace amounts of two chemicals—benzoylecgonine and methylecgonine, both of which can be detected in fingerprint residue, even if an individual’s hands were recently washed.
The scientists are extremely encouraged by this breakthrough which they believe can not only help reduce cocaine use in the workplace, potentially leading to an overall decrease in workplace accidents, but may also lay the groundwork for the development of fingerprint testing for other illegal drugs like heroin and ecstasy.
If you are growing concerned that you or someone you love may be developing an addiction to illegal drugs, you should speak with a certified addiction specialist and seek treatment as soon as possible. Substance addiction is a progressive disease that will only grow worse if left untreated.
Asana Recovery offers a supervised detoxification and residential treatment program designed to help those at any stage of addiction. Call us at (949) 438-4504 to learn more about our inspiring facilities and find out if our drug and addiction treatment program is right for you.
