A Must-Read for All Parents

“I had no idea that ‘I love you’ were the last words my beautiful daughter would say to me, but I thank God those were the words.” Through sobs and tears, Cathy Hoskins shares the tragic story of her only child, Lindsey Nicole Rose, a talented, smart, and loving young woman who died too soon — after a five-year battle with drug addiction.

“If I don’t tell her story, how can I help save someone else’s child? I need people to listen. This isn’t a story about a drug addict,” Cathy says emphatically. “It’s a story about my sweet baby girl. Everyone says, ‘It can never happen to me.’ But it did happen to me. If another mom or dad takes away anything from my story, let it be that you need to communicate with your kids.”

Words of wisdom from a mom who knows firsthand the dangers of substance abuse, a problem plaguing many American homes. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that among people aged 12 or older in 2021, 61.2 million people used illicit drugs in the past year.

But there are people behind these statistics, and Cathy’s daughter Lindsey was one of them.

Lindsey was an outgoing, smart, happy teenager. She was a state champion gymnast in Virginia. She sang, played piano and flute, and was the light of her mom’s life.

But the happy times came to a screeching halt, and everything changed following a life-altering incident that caused Lindsey to question her self-worth. “We experienced firsthand the start of her downward spiral,” explains Cathy. “We noticed that her behavior changed, her appearance changed, and she began surrounding herself with people who were a bad influence on her.”

Cathy says things started looking up when Lindsey met Dave, a Marine who was back home after being honorably discharged from serving in Iraq. The two fell in love and got married. However, less than two weeks after their wedding, Lindsey found Dave dead from a drug overdose.  Dave became addicted to pain medications following an injury during his overseas tour.  

Lindsey’s grief was profound. Drugs quieted her heartbreak. After several years of trying to get Lindsey help, Cathy and her husband Stewart were relieved when Lindsey was approved to participate in Drug Court, a place to divert substance abusers from being jailed and to be part of a supervised, accountable treatment program instead.

“For one year, while Lindsey was in Drug Court, we had her back,” says Cathy.

But then, two days after Christmas, everything changed.

Lindsey said bye to her mom for what would be the last time. She went to a friend’s house, and Cathy recounts the details. “My niece heard over the police scanner that there were two drug overdose victims at a home close to ours. One victim was being transported to the hospital. The other was DOA — dead on arrival.” Cathy collects herself as she bravely cries through the rest of the story. “My Lindsey was the one in the body bag,” Cathy softly weeps.

The Hoskins family story is one heard all too often. The CDC reports that the number of drug overdose deaths increased by nearly 30% from 2019 to 2020 and has quintupled since 1999. Nearly 75% of the 91,799 drug overdose deaths in 2020 involved an opioid.

“I never thought I’d be advocating for other parents who are concerned about the possibility that their child could be doing drugs. But here I am,” Cathy explains with pain in her voice.

“Please know, I was so proud of Lindsey, I was never ashamed of her. Her story could be anyone’s. She was just like any of us, then something happened in her life that changed her. She wasn’t a bad person, she made poor choices, and she paid with her life.”

If you are concerned about your child or another loved one, Any Lab Test Now® is a judgment-free zone that provides you with answers. We are a lab testing center offering tangible results. Find a location near you.

If you know someone who needs help with an addiction, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

All About Alcoholism

Every day, 385 Americans die because of excessive alcohol use, according to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics. “Excessive” means, for women, four or more drinks in a single occasion, and for men, five drinks, as defined by the CDC. The challenge is that alcohol is an obtainable, legal substance for those 21 years or over.

Alcohol Trends

The numbers of people overusing alcohol skyrocketed during the stay-at-home orders at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among women, according to the National Institutes of Health. However, new trends among millennials and Gen Z show a slight decrease in alcohol use with the advent of campaigns like “Dry January,” a challenge to stay sober at the kickoff of the new year. In addition, more “dry bars” are popping up around the country, giving patrons the fun atmosphere of a club without serving alcohol.

Underage Drinking

But concern continues to grow regarding underage drinking in the United States. Sobering statistics released by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in 2021 indicate:

• 5.9 million youth ages 12 to 20 reported drinking alcohol beyond “just a few sips” in a one-month timeframe.
• 3.2 million youth ages 12 to 20 reported binge drinking at least once in a given month.
• Approximately 613,000 youth ages 12 to 20 reported binge drinking on five or more days in a given month.

These practices are not only against the law for those under the age of 21 and subject to legal consequences, but they are harmful to overall health.

Alcohol is a depressant, and when used in excess, it can be especially detrimental to young people because their brains are still developing and can interfere with cognitive, emotional, and behavioral health. It affects an adolescent’s ability to make good decisions, putting them at risk for impulsive behavior and impaired judgment. Alcohol can exacerbate mental health issues like anxiety and depression and lead to alcohol dependency and overuse. Alcohol use by minors can also hinder academic performance and strain relationships.

Health Effects of Alcohol Use

No matter what age, the CDC warns that there is a great potential for severe adverse reactions to long-term alcohol abuse, including:

• High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems.
• Cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, voice box, liver, colon, and rectum.
• Weakening of the immune system, increasing the chances of getting sick.
• Learning and memory problems, including dementia and poor school or job performance.
• Mental health problems, including depression and anxiety.
• Social problems, including family problems, job-related problems, and unemployment.
• Alcohol use disorders or alcohol dependence.

Finding Answers

If you are a parent or have a loved one you are concerned about and need to know about alcohol use, Any Lab Test Now®can help. We are a lab testing center providing screenings and diagnostic testing to give you the answers you need. We offer a number of tests that can detect if a person has consumed alcohol within the last three days.

• 5 Panel Drug Test Plus ETG (Alcohol Metabolite)   – This urine test identifies the presence or absence of EtG — a metabolite that shows up if someone has had an alcoholic drink. This panel also includes testing for five (5) different classes of commonly abused or misused drugs or their metabolites.

• 9 Panel Drug Test Plus ETOH (ETHYL)  – This panel will identify the presence or absence of ethyl alcohol and nine (9) different classes of commonly abused or misused drugs or their metabolites. This urine test  includes a routine screen for each drug class, as well as any necessary confirmation testing. Ethyl alcohol may be detected in urine for up to 12 hours after consumption of alcohol-containing beverages. A confirmed positive result for ethyl alcohol is suggestive of recent alcohol use.

• 10 Panel Drug Test Plus ETG (Alcohol Metabolite)  – This urine test identifies the presence or absence of EtG plus ten (10) different classes of commonly abused or misused drugs or their metabolites. As a laboratory-based test, this panel includes a routine screen for each drug class, as well as any necessary confirmation testing. 

Any Lab Test Now® is Your Partner in Health

If you or someone you love may be dealing with an alcohol issue, Any Lab Test Now® is a testing center that can help provide answers you are seeking through a number of crucial lab tests. This is a judgment-free zone. We provide the lab testing; you own the results and can use them as you choose.

We understand that being tested yourself or testing your child for alcohol use is a sensitive issue. We provide the utmost care and discretion with these matters and adhere to strict HIPAA regulations.

We want you to be informed about the effects of alcohol on the body so that you can take the best care of yourself or a loved one. The first step is to obtain answers by coming to Any Lab Test Now®for tangible results. We are a lab testing center providing the lab tests you need for answers to your health concerns and optimum wellness. Call now to schedule an appointment at a location near you.

If you are seeking help for yourself or a loved one concerning alcohol use, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.

School is Back – Take Back Your Health

It’s that time of year–kids from preschool through college are heading back to school. This means it’s the perfect opportunity to do a re-set and focus on the family’s health, coinciding with National Health Center Week (August 9-15). What you may not realize is that Any Lab Test Now® is a “health center” giving you direct access to thousands of beneficial lab tests to ensure wellness.  

Useful Lab Tests For Concerned Parents

As your children head back to school, there are any number of lab tests you can utilize. Any Lab Test Now® is a family health center, we provide many lab tests to check a number of health concerns. Perhaps you’re unsettled, wondering if your son or daughter picked up bad habits over the summer—research shows more than 3,000 teens try marijuana for the first time every day.  

Parents who are worried their child could use or abuse drugs either in high school or while away at college can easily have their son or daughter tested.  Any Lab Test Now® does drug testing, no appointment necessary.  

For example, we may utilize a screening called a Blood 5-Panel Drug Test to determine the presence or absence of 5 types of drugs or their metabolites in the bloodstream. This blood drug test checks for the presence of 5 drug metabolites including:

1. Amphetamine/Methamphetamines
2. Marijuana
3. Cocaine
4. Opiates
5. Phencyclidine

Any Lab Test Now® can also conduct tests to see if someone has been vaping, a habit that the Surgeon General has declared an epidemic among youth. The choices parents have for Nicotine tests available at Any Lab Test Now® include:

• Urine Test:
  A  Good choice if a parent suspects the child has used nicotine over the last few days. An instant test is available, and parents can get results within five to ten minutes.
• Hair Follicle Test:
  A good option for parents who think their child has been either vaping or smoking nicotine for a long time, and the child might stop using just to get through the test. It takes 3 days for nicotine to start showing in hair strands.
   
• Blood Test:
  A simple blood draw can detect traces of nicotine about 2 hours after use.

Testing at Any Lab Test Now® is confidential. No one has access to results but parents. You own the results and you can even use an anonymous name to protect your child. Most importantly, the results give parents and other loved ones’ answers so they can take next steps if needed. 

You can’t put a price tag on peace of mind. Since thousands of kids are going off to college for the first time, it might not hurt to get basic testing done to make you as a parent know that you’ve done all you can to protect your child. 

Vaccine Immunity Check

Whether you have a young child going to daycare, preschool, grade school, high school, or college, there is one constant—making sure your child is current on vaccinations protecting them with everything from measles to chickenpox. Most states have laws requiring certain immunizations for school-aged children. 

Problem is, immunization records can get lost and often be difficult to track down, especially if you’ve moved over the years. Any Lab Test Now® can help. We can do a simple blood test called the MMR Titer that checks if you are immune to measles, mumps, and rubella by measuring your antibody levels, thus determining if your immunization is up-to-date. The results demonstrate whether or not your immune system has the capability to respond to an infection from one of the viruses.

Take Back Mom’s Health

Knowing the kids are taken care of is a sense of relief for parents. Especially for moms, it’s been a busy summer, running non-stop, taking the kids to swim practice, soccer camp, or a friend’s house, and now getting ready for school can be exhausting and stressful.  Any Lab Test Now® can run a Cortisol Test to see how much daily life stressors have been affecting mom’s overall health.  

Taking Charge of Your Health

Taking these proactive measures helps you advocate for your family’s health. It puts you in the driver’s seat. Blood work, after all, can provide many much-needed answers about our health. This trend is called healthcare consumerism. It’s all about giving people the tools and control to live their best, healthiest lives.  Take the control to say; I need this test done whether or not my insurance company will pay for it. 

If you are ready to check your family’s health as you head back to school, Any Lab Test Now® is the health center you’ve been looking for. Call now to schedule an appointment at a location near you to take back your health.

 

Acknowledging Alcohol Addiction in America

Every April, we recognize Alcohol Awareness Month. We toast our successes. We drown our sorrows. It’s 5 o’clock somewhere! The world is filled with reasons to pour a drink, yet even a single drink can affect your body. And too much can have a long-lasting impact that isn’t always reversible. It can be a touchy subject. In a positive light, alcohol can be fun, flirty, and a reliable resource to have a good time. It’s often a must-have for major social events like bachelorette parties, weddings, and birthdays. Of course, every coin has two sides, and alcohol is no different. For some, alcohol is addictive. It can be damaging, messy, and used as an excuse for abhorrent behavior.

Did You Know? Alcohol remains the number one drug of choice for teens in America today. It’s more likely to kill young people than all illegal drugs combined. Alcohol Awareness Month is sponsored by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, this month encourages community organizations to host events to increase the public’s awareness and education that too much alcohol can do to you. 

SHORT-TERM HEALTH RISKS

Your liver is the largest organ in your body. It breaks down and filters out harmful substances in the blood and manufactures the proteins, enzymes, and hormones the body uses to ward off infections. 

When you indulge in excessive alcohol use, certain risks internally and externally are higher. 

• Injuries: car crashes, falls, drownings, and burns
• Violence: homicide, suicide, sexual assault, and partner/familial violence
• Alcohol poisoning 
• Miscarriage/stillbirth in pregnant women

All of the health risks stated above are devastating, life-altering consequences. At times, these ailments can be preventable. Alcohol fuels emotions, causing a person to perhaps do something more extreme than they would with a clear mind. In addition to short-term health risks, alcohol also comes with long-term health concerns. 

LONG-TERM HEALTH RISKS

• High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive issues 
• Cancer: breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, colon, and rectum
• Weak immune system
• Dementia
• Depression and anxiety
• Social problems, family problems, and job-related problems
• Alcohol dependence

Any of the conditions laid out above can be severely damaging. Furthermore, alcohol-related disorders can impact every facet of the human life experience.  At Any Lab Test Now®, we offer a comprehensive test called the Hepatic Function Panel. It measures the blood levels with seven tests that you may want to see how well your liver is working. It’s encouraged if you’re suffering from symptoms related to liver disease, on medication that affects the liver, or if you’ve been exposed to hepatitis A, B, or C. 

The Liver Function Panel includes the following tests:

• Total protein
• Albumin
• Total bilirubin
• Direct bilirubin
• Alkaline phosphatase
• AST
• ALT

Labeled as the leading preventable cause of death in the United States by the CDC, excessive alcohol use is said to shorten the lives of those who die by a staggering 29 years. Alcohol abuse can also impact one’s mental health leading to symptoms of depression, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Now is the best time to get ahead of your health. Liver function testing provides both you and your doctor the information needed to monitor the impact of alcohol on your body.

An Ounce of Prevention is a Worth a Pound of Cure

As we continue into 2022, it’s important to keep the momentum of self-care going. Any Lab Test Now® offers you extensive and inexpensive lab testing options, so you can keep living your best life. It’s our priority to make these tests as convenient as possible for working people. This is why we provide business-friendly hours, for those with busy schedules. Each of our 200+ locations nationwide provides a clean, safe facility for your lab testing needs. Book an appointment online or walk into your neighborhood Any Lab Test Now^®  to test your liver health. 

Returning to Work, Even from Home?

Employers May Still Require Drug & Alcohol Testing

As more and more offices open post-pandemic, there is a good chance that employers might implement new return-to-work policies, procedures, and protocols — and that includes drug testing.

While many employers conduct drug and alcohol testing as part of standard pre-employment screening processes, it is a good possibility testing could be a requirement to return to the office or to monitor those working from home.

Employers’ drug testing slowed down during the pandemic for several reasons, including COVID-19 safety concerns and unemployment. A recent survey found a 61 percent drop or more in drug testing among employers. Conversely, drug and alcohol use increased during the pandemic as people turned to vices to self-medicate or cope with the stress created by the national health crisis.

• Sales of alcoholic beverages shot up as much as 55 percent in March 2020. Sales remain 20–30 percent higher this year than in March
• Americans purchased $18.3 billion in cannabis products over the past calendar year, $7.6 billion more than the $10.7 billion in sales the previous year.
• Data shows a 29 percent increase in overdose deaths from October 2019 through September 2020, compared with the previous 12-month period after falling slightly in 2018 for the first time in decades.

Drug and alcohol screenings are important. These tests help employers provide the safest possible work environment for employees, visitors, and customers. Here are some of the effects drug use can have on returning workers:

• Greater risk of a workplace accident
• Lower productivity
• Increased absenteeism
• Higher medical costs

Employers need a policy against the use of drugs while working from home or at the workplace — especially now that the pandemic is winding down. Employers should also clearly restate the company drug and alcohol policy to employees to clear up any misconceptions.

Any Lab Test Now® is a direct access lab testing company that can manage pre-employment drug testing, random testing programs, reasonable suspicion tests, post-incident and return-to-duty drug and alcohol testing for employers nationwide.

The most common employment-related drug test is the Urine Drug Test (5-Panel), which checks for the presence of five drug metabolites including:

• Amphetamine/Methamphetamines
• Marijuana
• Cocaine
• Opiates
• Phencyclidine (PCP)

The company’s 10-drug panel tests may also include screenings for phencyclidine (PCP), methadone, propoxyphene, and methaqualone.

Any Lab Test Now is also qualified to provide testing for the Department of Transportation as part of its Federally Mandated Urine Drug Test (5-Panel). This test is a laboratory-based test and includes a screen, confirmation, and the review of a medical officer.

The company can also administer the Healthcare Professional Drug Panel, specifically designed to test healthcare professionals for highly addictive prescription medications that are readily available at their workplace. The panel will determine the presence or absence of the most easily abused prescription drugs or their metabolites in the urine.

Be at Ease

Any Lab Test Now wants everyone to be at ease when it comes to seeking out any type of lab work, including drug and alcohol screenings.

We provide a safe and clean alternative location for lab work. Each of our 190+ stores is sanitized several times a day, in accordance with the CDC’s protocols. Any Lab Test Now is a committed partner in helping you manage your family’s healthcare so you can make educated decisions that will directly affect your quality of life. We want to put you at ease during the coronavirus pandemic. We are here to help.

For more information about Any Lab Test Now, and the tests we offer, visit us at www.anylabtestnow.com.