Drug Testing Locations in Alaska

Accredited Drug Testing has 97 drug testing centers in 461 AK cities.

Please select a city from the list below to find drug test centers in Alaska.

Why Alaska Employers Should Use Our Testing Services

Alaska employers face unique challenges due to the state's diverse industries and expansive geography. Our 97 test centers in 461 cities make it easy for businesses of all sizes to ensure a safe and drug-free workplace.

Utilizing our services helps mitigate risks associated with drug use, including workplace accidents, reduced productivity, and increased liability. Our testing processes are designed to be quick and reliable, minimizing downtime and ensuring operational continuity.

By investing in comprehensive drug testing, Alaska employers can foster a healthier workplace environment that encourages accountability and safety. Our expert team is here to assist every step of the way, providing support and advice tailored to your specific needs.

Additionally, our facilities are equipped with advanced technology to provide accurate results, giving employers the confidence they need to make informed decisions. Join numerous businesses across Alaska in prioritizing safety and productivity.

Alaska Drug Free Workplace Programs

Alaska's commitment to maintaining safe and productive work environments is reflected in several initiatives aimed at minimizing substance abuse issues. Although there isn't a formal statewide Drug Free Workplace Program, many businesses and organizations in Alaska voluntarily adopt drug-free policies. These policies often include employee education, regular drug testing, and access to support services for those seeking recovery. Such measures help promote workplace safety and enhance employee well-being.

Moreover, the state encourages collaboration between employers, healthcare providers, and local communities to address substance abuse challenges. Various educational campaigns and support networks are available to assist employers in setting up effective policies tailored to their specific needs. By fostering a culture of awareness and prevention, Alaska effectively supports the creation of healthy and drug-free working environments across the state.

How does the body eliminate Drugs

Drug elimination is the sum of the processes of removing an administered drug from the body. In the pharmacokinetic ADME scheme (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion), it is frequently considered to encompass both metabolism and excretion. Hydrophobic drugs, to be excreted, must undergo metabolic modification making them more polar. Hydrophilic drugs, on the other hand, can undergo excretion directly, without the need for metabolic changes to their molecular structures.

Although many sites of metabolism and excretion exist, the chief organ of metabolism is the liver, while the organ primarily tasked with excretion is the kidney. Any significant dysfunction in either organ can result in the accumulation of the drug or its metabolites in toxic concentrations.

A variety of other factors impact elimination — intrinsic drug properties, such as polarity, size, or pKa. Also other factors include genetic variation among individuals, disease states affecting other organs, and pathways involved in the way the drug distributes through the body, such as first-pass metabolism.

Issues of Concern

Drug elimination is the removal of an administered drug from the body. It is accomplished in two ways, either by excretion of an unmetabolized drug in its intact form or by metabolic biotransformation followed by excretion. While excretion is primarily carried out by the kidneys, other organ systems are involved as well. Similarly, the liver is the primary site of biotransformation, yet extrahepatic metabolism takes place in a variety of organ systems affecting multiple drugs.

Given the multiple organ systems and the variety of metabolic transformations present, drug elimination can entail a significant degree of complexity. Hydrophilic drugs are typically directly excreted by the kidneys, while hydrophobic drugs undergo biotransformation before excretion. The purpose here is twofold – biotransformation serves both detoxify the exogenous substances as well as to increase their hydrophilicity, ensuring their elimination via the kidneys.

Two broad metabolic pathways of hepatic drug transformation exist. Phase I is the direct modification of the target molecule, whereas phase II entails conjugation of the target to a polar molecule of low molecular weight. Phase I prepare the drug to enter phase II, but single-phase metabolism also exists.

Phase I involves oxidation, reduction, and hydrolysis of the exogenous molecule. These reactions are accomplished by hepatic microsomal enzymes, which reside in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum of the hepatocytes. Best known among them is the cytochrome P450 system, whose enzymes are predominantly involved in oxidative metabolism. Within the cytochrome P450 family (CYP), the enzyme responsible for the metabolism of more than 50% of existing drugs is the CYP3A4. Its activity encompasses various classes of medications, including opioids, immunosuppressants, antihistamines, and benzodiazepines. The enzymes can also be induced or inhibited by a variety of substances they interact with, including pharmaceuticals. The increase in metabolic activity with CYP induction results in a diminished activity of drugs targeted by that particular isoform. Conversely, CYP inhibition will result in increased drug plasma concentration, potentially leading toxicity. The CYP3A4 is induced by phenytoin, phenobarbital, and St. John's wort, while diltiazem, erythromycin, and grapefruit inhibit it. Caution is, therefore, necessary when administering CYP3A4-metabolized drugs in the presence of any of the inhibitors or inducers.

Phase II consists of covalent bonding of polar groups to nonpolar molecules to render them water-soluble and allow renal or biliary excretion. Target molecules enter phase II directly or via initial processing through phase I. A variety of polar adjuncts is transferred, including amino acids, glucuronic acid, glutathione, acetate, and sulfate. Glucuronidation is one of the major pathways of phase II biotransformation. The UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzyme family performs this activity. Typically, glucuronide derivatives possess less or no activity of the original drug, but in some cases, pharmacologically active compounds result. Morphine-6-glucuronide is a phase II metabolite of morphine with significant analgesic activity. As with the CYP enzymes, inducers, and inhibitors of phase II, enzymes exist and may influence the efficacy of drugs that rely on conjugation before excretion.

The first-pass effect is a feature of hepatic metabolism that also plays a role in the elimination of multiple drugs. Here, the enteric consumed drugs are exposed directly to the liver via the portal vein, where they undergo biotransformation before entering the systemic circulation. This activity reduces the bioavailability and needs to be factored into the dose administered to the patient. Intravenously administered drugs are not subject to the first-pass effect.

Extrahepatic drug metabolism takes place in the GI tract, kidneys, lungs, plasma, and skin.

Renal excretion completes the process of elimination that begins in the liver. Polar drugs or their metabolites get filtered in the kidneys and typically do not undergo reabsorption. They subsequently get excreted in the urine. Urinary pH has a significant impact on excretion, as drug ionization changes depending on the alkaline or acidic environment. Increased excretion occurs with weakly acidic drugs in basic urine and weakly basic drugs in acidic urine.

Excretion in the bile is another significant form of drug elimination. The liver can actively secrete ionized drugs with a molecular weight greater than 300 g/mol into bile, from where they reach the digestive tract and are either eliminated in feces or reabsorbed as part of the enterohepatic cycle.

Other pathways of excretion include the lungs, breast milk, sweat, saliva, and tears

Mobile/On-Site Drug Testing

If you're an employer needing to test 25 or more employees and looking to save time and money, we offer mobile on-site drug testing where we come to you. Call us today for more information.

Alaska Laws on Drugs

Alaska's drug laws encompass a range of controlled substances, focusing on regulating illicit drugs and ensuring public safety. Possession, sale, and distribution of narcotics such as opioids, cocaine, and synthetic drugs are strictly penalized. The state aims to deter drug-related activities through stringent laws and enforcement.

Authorities in Alaska are committed to combating drug issues through both punitive measures and community initiatives aimed at prevention and rehabilitation. Illicit drug offenses carry severe penalties, including substantial fines and imprisonment, to discourage trafficking and misuse.

Alaska Laws on Marijuana

In Alaska, adult residents over 21 can legally possess, use, and grow marijuana for recreational purposes. Regulations limit possession to one ounce in public, and home cultivation is capped at six plants, with only three mature at a time. Marijuana consumption is prohibited in public spaces.

Commercial sale of marijuana is regulated by the state's Marijuana Control Board, which oversees licensing and ensures compliance with statewide standards. Edibles, concentrates, and other cannabis products are available for purchase in licensed dispensaries, subject to state-imposed restrictions.

Alaska Drug Resources

DHSS Prevention
State initiatives for addiction prevention and education.

Alaska Occupational Safety and Health
Guidance on maintaining a safe workplace environment.

Anchorage Alcoholics Anonymous
Support for individuals seeking recovery from alcohol addiction.

Narcotics Anonymous
Locate NA meetings throughout Alaska for support in addiction recovery.

Recover Alaska
Committed to reducing excessive alcohol use and harm.

RurAL CAP
Empowers Alaskan communities for health and wellness.

Alaska Community Justice Coalition
Advocacy for justice reforms related to substance use.

Anchorage Community Mental Health Services
Offers integrated mental health and substance abuse services.

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