Drug Testing Technologies: Sweat Patch
A recent innovation in the science of drug testing, the PharmChek Drugs of Abuse Patch - or "sweat patch" - is used to test for various illegal drugs. The sweat patch is affixed to the skin in much the same way as a band-aid, and is worn for up to 14 days. The patch is used to detect the presence of drugs as excreted through perspiration. Individuals required to wear the sweat patch are those on probation or involved in child custody cases. The federal government is currently considering use of the sweat patch in federal workplace drug testing.
Initial Drug Patch: $160.00 (Includes Set-Up Fee)
New Patch Every Two Weeks: $115.00
Drug Patches Can Help People Stay Out of Jail
The war on drugs puts lots of non-violent offenders in jail. These offenders have families, jobs, and are often productive members of society that have fallen victim of addiction to the wrong type of substance. It doesn't keep society safe to jail someone who is only hurting themselves. But it does hurt the families who are without their loved ones during the person's incarceration. It hurts the economy when someone is taken out of the workforce and put into a system that costs taxpayers money. With overcrowding becoming a serious problem in jails all around the country, courts and lawmakers are beginning to look at better alternatives to locking people up for drug offenses.
Allowing non-violent offenders to stay out of jail prevents having families needlessly ripped apart. It stops business from having to replace an employee, who will find productive employment hard to find when the sentence is over. For offenders that are deemed not to otherwise be a danger to society, there is now an option to avoid jail time. That option is drug testing patches.
What are drug patches?
Drug patches are waterproof patches that stick to an offender's arm like a band-aid. Over the course of 7-10 days, they will collect sweat. At the end of the cycle, they are tested for the presence of drug metabolites. The patches have a clear film that will become cloudy if they are removed, so tampering is not possible. Because they are waterproof, there is no need to worry about them coming off in a shower or during a swim. Since they are, by design, constantly monitoring the sweat of the wearer, they cannot be defeated with methods that may foil a urine test. The patches can test for the 5 most commonly abused drugs: marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, and PCP.
Who are they for?
As mentioned in the opening, they are a great alternative to jail time that some courts are now allowing for those who have been arrested on drug charges that would otherwise result in incarceration. There are other instances where one may be required to wear one. For example, if drug use is alleged or suspected in a child custody case, the parent under suspicion may be required to wear a patch. Use of the patch in federal workplace drug testing is also currently being investigated by the federal government.
How Effective are Drug Patches?
Although someone forced to wear one may see it differently, the purpose of the patch isn't necessarily to catch an offender using drugs when they aren't supposed to. The patch is primarily designed to keep people off drugs and help them get clean. So the effectiveness of the patch doesn't come from the number of people who are caught doing drugs while wearing it. Its real effectiveness comes from the fact that most people who wear them do not do drugs while they are monitored.
The impossibility of beating the patch combined with legal ramifications for using drugs while wearing it keeps most people who are forced to wear one clean. This can be a vitally important step that not only keeps the offender out of jail but helps them get on a path to a life free of addiction.
If you or someone you know has been ordered to wear a drug patch by the court, we provide the patch and monitoring service. We have three offices to serve you and our friendly staff will answer any questions you have about the process. For more information, please contact us today. We look forward to playing a role in helping you or your loved one get back on track.