Cocaine: Are Your Children Exposed?

Q&A With Ethan Webster, Toxicologist at AttoLife

 

Why Is Hair Testing Such a Valuable Tool for Drug Detection?

Hair strand drug testing is a powerful method for identifying drug use because it provides a long-term view of substance exposure. Unlike other tests, it can detect patterns of use over months, making it particularly useful for legal cases and monitoring compliance. At AttoLife, we specialise in hair strand drug tests, offering detailed, reliable results for a variety of substances.

Could You Explain the Difference Between Active and Passive Exposure to Drugs in the Context of Hair Testing?

Absolutely. When analysing hair samples, it’s crucial to differentiate between two types of exposure:

Active exposure: This refers to when an individual directly consumes a drug.

Passive exposure: Also known as external contamination, this occurs when substances from the environment are absorbed into the hair.

For instance, drugs can be present in the environment and may transfer to hair through incidental contact. A common example is handling banknotes, which often carry trace amounts of cocaine. This can result in contamination that appears in hair samples.

How Can Passive Exposure Occur?

Passive exposure can happen in several ways:

Environmental contamination: If drugs are used in a shared environment, particles can settle on surfaces and objects. Contact with these surfaces may lead to traces being absorbed by the hair.

Close physical contact: Interactions such as hugging, sharing a bed, or tussling someone’s hair can result in tiny amounts of drugs transferring to hair.

Passive inhalation: If drugs are smoked in the vicinity, the particles may settle on hair or be absorbed through exposure to the smoke.

How Does Attolife Ensure Passive Exposure Doesn’t Affect Test Results?

At AttoLife, we take several measures to ensure the integrity of our hair drug testing:

Washing the hair: Before testing, we wash samples with specialised solvents to remove external contamination.

Strict interpretation guidelines: We follow rigorous protocols to differentiate between low levels of external contamination and what constitutes active drug use.

These steps ensure our results are reliable, clear, and legally sound.

Why Is Passive Exposure a Bigger Concern for Children’s Hair Samples?

Children’s hair is more porous, making it more susceptible to absorbing substances from the environment. To address this, we test both the child’s hair sample and the wash solutions to identify any external contamination. This provides a comprehensive picture of the child’s environment and helps differentiate between passive exposure and active drug use… In short, if the wash tests positive, and the hair sample does not, the drug was likely not actively consumed.

Another way to understand active cocaine use is to look for “hydroxycocaine” which is a metabolite of cocaine, meaning that it is only present once cocaine has been consumed.

Learn more about hydroxycocaine in our special feature webinar. 

Why Choose Attolife for Hair Testing?

At AttoLife, we combine scientific precision with real-world expertise to deliver reliable results for drug tests using hair. Whether you're a solicitor, local authority, or private individual, our tests are tailored to your needs, ensuring every sample is analysed with care and accuracy. We also offer comprehensive support, interpreting results to provide clarity in even the most complex cases.

If you have concerns about passive exposure or want to learn more about our services, contact us today or request a quote for our services.

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