DRUG TESTING AS A TOOL (TIP 43, CHAPTER 9)

Course overview

Drug Testing as a Tool (TIP 43, Chapter 9): Medicated-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Addiction in Opioid Treatment Programs describes the benefits and limitations of drug tests. Most often opioid treatment programs (OTPs) use urine testing by immunoassay or thin-layer chromatography; because these methods are the least costly and best validated by all options, but the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment has indicated that oral-fluid testing may be an alternate approach in OTPs. The chapter explains criteria that an OTP should use to collect specimens and how treatment providers should respond to test results that indicate possible treatment problems.