Drug Testing Locations in North Carolina

Accredited Drug Testing has 594 drug testing centers in 875 NC cities.

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

Why North Carolina Employers Should Utilize Our Drug Testing Services

Employers in North Carolina benefit immensely from our expansive network of 595 drug testing centers across 876 cities. Our services support maintaining a safe and productive work environment by identifying potential substance use issues before they escalate.

Utilizing our drug testing services helps mitigate the risks of decreased productivity, increased accidents, and disputes that can arise from drug use among employees. Our advanced testing ensures precise detection and supports maintaining compliance with regulatory standards.

Our testing solutions are designed to be quick and straightforward, minimizing downtime for businesses. By investing in regular drug testing, employers can foster a healthy, responsible workforce and enhance their company's reputation as a safe and trustworthy organization.

Partnering with us not only provides reliable testing results but also access to advisory services for handling positive cases sensitively and legally. We help employers devise workplace policies that reflect their commitment to safety and well-being, fostering a culture of accountability.

Our comprehensive approach to drug testing services in North Carolina ensures businesses can operate smoothly and effectively, free from the detrimental impacts of employee substance abuse.

North Carolina Drug Free Workplace Programs

North Carolina has made significant strides in promoting a safe and healthy work environment through initiatives aimed at reducing substance abuse in the workplace. While the state does not have an official "Drug Free Workplace Program," it encourages businesses to develop policies that discourage drug use among employees. These initiatives are crucial in increasing productivity and maintaining a safe working atmosphere.

Employers across North Carolina are advised to leverage resources such as employee assistance programs and substance abuse education to foster a culture of wellness. By proactively addressing these issues, companies not only comply with safety standards but also demonstrate a commitment to their employees' overall well-being. This focus on prevention and education underscores North Carolina's proactive approach to workplace safety and health.

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.

North Carolina Laws on Drugs

In North Carolina, drug laws are structured to prohibit the manufacture, distribution, and possession of controlled substances without appropriate licensing or prescriptions. The state classifies drugs into schedules, with penalties varying based on the drug's schedule and the offense's nature and circumstances.

Possession, distribution, and trafficking of controlled substances in North Carolina carry severe penalties, including fines and incarceration. Repeat offenders or those involved in larger drug operations face harsher consequences. The state also actively engages in initiatives to educate about the dangers of drug misuse and the importance of adherence to laws.

North Carolina Laws on Marijuana

North Carolina's marijuana laws remain stringent, with possession, sale, and trafficking considered illegal activities. Possession of small amounts can lead to fines and potential jail time, while larger quantities can result in felony charges and more severe penalties. The state does not recognize medical marijuana use.

Despite nationwide shifts towards legalization, North Carolina maintains strict control over marijuana, leaving minimal room for legal use or experimentation. Legislative discussions have occurred, but changes are slow, with public opinion still divided on the path forward for marijuana regulation in the state.

North Carolina Drug Resources

North Carolina Health and Human Services
Provides statewide health resources and drug prevention programs.

NC Department of Public Safety
Information on drug enforcement and educational programs.

NC Alcohol and Drug Defense
Legal support and resources for substance-related offenses.

Partnership for a Drug-Free NC
Community-driven drug prevention initiatives.

NC Department of Cultural Resources
Offers educational resources about drug laws and history.

NC Justice Center
Advocacy and support for justice-related issues, including drug laws.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Provides mental health and substance use disorder resources.

North Carolina Alliance for Recovery
Support network for substance recovery and community resources.

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