| |
Published:
Journal of Analytical Toxicology,
ISSN 0146-4760,
Volume 32, Number 6, July/August,
pp.408-416
Concentration
Distribution of the Marijuana Metabolite Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol-9-Carboxylic
Acid and the Cocaine Metabolite Benzoylecgonine in the Department
of Defense Urine Drug-Testing Program
John F. Jemionek1, Curtis L. Copley2,
Michael L. Smith1,
and Marilyn R. Past1
1Division of Forensic Toxicology, The Armed Forces Medical Examiner
System, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rockville, Maryland
20850 and
2dNovus RDI, U.S. Army Medical Information Technology
Center, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas 78234
Urine drug testing has been employed for punitive
purposes by the Department of Defense since December 1981 (Memorandum
62884, Deputy Secretary of Defense Frank C. Carlucci). Federal
Workplace Drug Testing Programs were initiated in response to
Executive Order 12564 issued on September 15, 1986, that required
Drug-Free Federal Workplaces be established. In their respective
programs, a positive urine drug test may be referred to a military
court martial or to an administrative board. To address safety
and insurance requirements, the testing of civilians has expanded
beyond Federal Programs to include pre-employment and post-accident
urine drug testing. During adjudication, an Expert Toxicologist
may be asked to opine what can be discerned from the concentration
of drug or drug metabolite found in the urine. Little can be
opined with certainty from a positive urine drug test as to the
amount of drug ingested, when the drug was ingested, and in most
instances, whether the individual felt the effects of the drug,
or was under the influence of the drug found in the urine. What
may be useful to both the Expert and to the Trier-of-Facts is
the frequency that a particular urine drug concentration is encountered
in positive drug tests. The finding that 50% of all positive
marijuana and cocaine urine metabolite concentrations in the
military testing program over the three-year period of October
1, 2004 through September 30, 2007, are below a median value
of 65 and 968 ng/mL, respectively, provide reference points.
A median drug concentration combined with the percentile or frequency
that a particular urine drug concentration occurs may provide
evaluative information for a determination of the facts and the
outcome of judicial or administrative proceedings. This may be
especially useful to jurors when the concentration of marijuana
or cocaine metabolite is perceptibly low. The information would
also be applicable to medical review officers, medical examiners,
drug treatment professionals, probation officers, and program
analysts coordinating drug policy decisions.
Reproduction
of editorial content of this journal is prohibited without publisher’s
permission.
This
article is available in its entirety by fax for $40.00 each.
Visa, MasterCard and AMEX accepted.
To
order electronically click here
or call: 847-647-2900 ext. 1323
or fax request to: 847-647-1155.
To order multiple copies click here.
Please indicate JAT
volume and issue along with page numbers. |
|
Home | Subscribe
| Current Issue | Back Issues
| Search | Advertise | Other Publications
| |
