Alcohol, Drugs, Genes and the Clinical Laboratory: An Overview for Healthcare and Safety Professionals

Alcohol, Drugs, Genes and the Clinical Laboratory provides an overview and quick reference to genetic relationships and clinical laboratory information related to the serious public health issue of alcohol and drug abuse. Written in a clear and concise manner, this book discusses the necessary information for health and safety professionals working in public health to learn about complex issues quickly to better help their patients, employees, and others affected by alcohol and drug abuse. Alcohol, Drugs, Genes and the Clinical Laboratory covers the important aspects of drugs and alcohol abuse including genetic aspects along with laboratory methods for analysis of alcohol and abused drugs with emphasis on false positive test results. The book is helpful to healthcare professionals, such as pathologists who oversee alcohol and drug testing, emergency room physicians, family practice physicians who are first healthcare professionals who identify patients susceptible to drug and alcohol abuse, and psychiatrists involved with drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs. It will also be useful to safety professionals who have to assess individuals for workplace responsibilities, ranging from police and recruitment to occupational safety and occupational medicine and public health officials.

Features accessible language for healthcare and safety professionals who are not experts in laboratory proceduresProvides examples from clinical and everyday situationsExplains how to interpret laboratory results and the latest genetic factors regarding drug and alcohol abuse

1. Alcohol a double-edged sword: Health benefits with moderate consumption but a health hazard with excess alcohol intake

2. Drugs of abuse: An overview

3. Designer drugs including bath salts and spices

4. Combined alcohol and drug abuse: A potentially deadly mix

5. Link between environmental factors, personality factors, and addiction

6. Genetic polymorphisms of alcohol metabolizing enzymes associated with protection from or increased risk of alcohol abuse

7. Pharmacogenomics of abused drugs

8. Association between polymorphisms in genes encoding various receptors, transporters, and enzymes and alcohol/drug addiction

9. Methods of alcohol measurement

10. Laboratory methods for measuring drugs of abuse in urine

11. Analysis of drugs of abuse in serum, hair, oral fluid, sweat, and meconium