Drug Testing Locations in Georgia

Accredited Drug Testing has 606 drug testing centers in 1,052 GA cities.

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

Why Georgia Employers Rely on Us for Drug Testing

Employers in Georgia count on our extensive drug testing services to maintain a safe and productive workplace. With 606 centers spread across 1,052 cities, access to reliable testing is always within reach, enabling employers to implement comprehensive drug-free policies with ease.

Utilizing our services helps Georgia employers mitigate risks associated with workplace drug use, promoting safety and efficiency. Our network offers various testing options, ensuring that each employer's needs are met with precision and confidentiality.

Beyond ensuring workplace safety, our drug testing services support compliance with both state and federal regulations. Georgia businesses can confidently align with legal standards, knowing their drug testing procedures are accurate and uphold the law.

Our expansive reach across Georgia demonstrates our commitment to local business communities. By choosing our services, employers connect to a partner keen on fostering a healthy, responsible workforce for the benefit of all.

Georgia Drug Free Workplace Programs

Georgia's Drug-Free Workplace Program is a voluntary initiative aimed at promoting safer and more productive work environments. Companies that choose to participate in this program benefit from reduced insurance premiums, fostering a culture of accountability and health. By maintaining a drug-free workplace, businesses contribute to the well-being of their employees while also potentially lowering the costs associated with workplace accidents and decreased productivity.

Participants in the program are required to implement certain procedures, such as conducting regular drug tests and providing employee education on the dangers of substance abuse. These measures not only help deter drug use but also enhance the overall morale and safety of the workplace. By encouraging responsibility and awareness, the initiative supports businesses in Georgia striving for a healthier community and economic prosperity.

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.

Georgia Laws on Drugs

Georgia's drug laws are stringent, designed to deter the use, possession, and distribution of illegal substances. The state classifies drugs into schedules based on potential for abuse and medical use. Schedule I drugs, for example, are considered to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use.

Possession of controlled substances in Georgia can lead to serious legal repercussions. The severity of penalties depends on the substance type, amount, and intent for use or distribution. These laws aim to discourage illegal drug activities and protect public health and safety in Georgia.

Georgia Laws on Marijuana

Marijuana laws in Georgia remain strict, with limited provisions for legal use under specific medical conditions. The state allows the use of low-THC oil for registered patients with qualifying medical conditions, while recreational use remains illegal.

Despite national trends towards legalization, Georgia enforces significant penalties for unauthorized possession of marijuana. Legislative efforts continue to explore expansion of medical usage, but current laws reflect a cautious approach to cannabinoid regulation.

Georgia Drug Resources

Georgia Drug Network
State-wide substance abuse resource network.

The Step Up Program
Supports rehabilitation and treatment for drug abuse.

Atlanta CARE Center
Provides counseling and support for drug-related issues.

Georgia Addiction Treatment Center
Comprehensive addiction treatment services.

Workplace Rescue Georgia
Assists employers in managing drug policies effectively.

SAMHSA
National helpline for substance abuse and mental health.

GPB Drug Help
Resources and information for drug prevention.

Greater Metro Coalition for Recovery
Supports recovery diverse community services.

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