Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008
The owners of the company that makes the Whizzinator, a prosthetic penis used to mask illegal drug use, were charged yesterday in federal court with conspiracy to defraud the government and are expected to plead guilty.
Gerald Will, the president of Puck Technology, based in Signal Hill, Calif., and Robert D. Catalano, the vice president, are charged in a 19-page criminal information of conspiracy for selling two different products that mask illegal substances in a user’s urine.
The products, the Whizzinator and Number 1, are sold through the company’s Web sites. As part of the case, the government is moving for forfeiture of all of the company’s assets, as well as its Internet domain names. The charges were brought, at least in part, after undercover law enforcement officers ordered one of each product and had them shipped to the Western District of Pennsylvania.
According to the criminal informations, the company and its owners defrauded the government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which is tasked with overseeing federal workplace drug testing programs. The company conducted its business very much in public, including testimonials on its Web sites, including one from a truck driver who said he was able to beat quarterly drug tests by the Department of Transportation using its products.
Stanton D. Levenson, who represents the company, previously said that he didn’t think the government could make a drug paraphernalia case against his client. But yesterday, Mr. Levenson said he did research that showed his earlier opinion was wrong.
“We’re convinced that the government’s theory is correct, and the government has a case,” he said. “Obviously, it’s serious if somebody is faking drug tests who is then driving a tractor-trailer or a bus or flying an airplane.”
There is a plea agreement, but Mr. Levenson said he could not discuss it.
By Paula Reed Ward, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Friday, November 21st, 2008
Here we are again folks! The holiday season is here. The heaviest drug testing times are upon us. But seriously, this is the time of year when the number of car crashes involving alcohol increase and the number of admissions to mental institutions rise. The stress of the holidays can prove to be too much for some to handle. A good way to deal with these trying times is to properly prepare: not just your supplies, but your mind. We at UriTox can help with one of those aspects. Whether it be a digital breathalyzer or instant drug test we can help you to get your loved ones on even ground. This is the perfect time to do your part and make others aware that there is a way to help protect loved ones and friends during the holiday season. Also, there is help for those that need it to aid in their depression or stress. Many hospitals, clinics, physician offices and even the yellow pages offer programs and assitance. Lend a helping hand to those that need it this holiday season as it can be difficult for all of us at times. We wish you the best as you try to make joyful experiences that you will be able to recall for years to come.
Wednesday, November 5th, 2008
How will they affect you? In the drug testing world, a new leaf is being overturned as another state has legalized the use of medicinal marijuana. The state of Michigan, yesterday voted to allow the use of medicinal marijuana becoming the 13th state to do so. This news sometimes brings forth discussion on the nationwide legalization of Marijuana. A controversial issue to say the least, what are your feelings on the topic? Many believe that THC is less harmful than alcohol or nicotine; however, THC has remained outlawed without a prescription, assuming you reside in one of the 13 states that allow prescribed use. How will you approach the issue if in the near future the ban on Marijuana is lifted? How will you discuss the issue with your kids? After years of hearing the ill affects of THC use and becoming accustomed to it being illegal, will you condone it? How will employers make the adjustment to their in-house drug test policies to allow for use? Maybe we are getting ahead of ourselves, but often enough the conversation turns to this when states approve such measures.
Tuesday, October 21st, 2008
Hello all! As the title suggests, I recall a time when a medicine cabinet was located in a bathroom in a master bedroom that was not shared with the rest of the family. If it was more of a shared bathroom amongst the family, I also recall not ever thinking of accessing pills from my parents’ prescription drug bottles. Gone are those days! A rise in the rate of teens abusing drugs in general has been observed recently and regarding the title of this blog entry: a 46% increase in the last year in the number of teens who say that prescription drugs are easiest to get or buy. Furthermore, teens admit for the first time that prescription drugs are actually easier to get than beer. Home drug tests are one of the easiest ways to curb this increase in prescription drug abuse by children. Why not just secure your medicine cabinet? I would definitely suggest this; however, I like to take the approach that while I can safeguard my home to ensure it is not occurring here, I cannot guarantee that other parents are doing the same. Many are not aware, too busy working to make ends meet in this economy, or simply in denial that there is or could potentially be a problem. Drug testing, while not always the easiest thing to introduce to your teens, is becoming more and more essential to monitoring of the ever pressured teen of today. It can actually aid a young adult who is not up to the challenge of saying no and risk becoming the outcast. My parents drug test me, I Can’t. One day, they will be able to replace that statement with a confident, NO! Until then, I’m fine with the latter. Remember, ongoing discussions with your child can help to uncover the best ways for your child to say no, parents are able to teach the dangers of drug abuse, and children can relay some of the peer pressures that they face each day at school.
Wednesday, September 24th, 2008
Where do I begin? A question often asked by concerned parents to our representatives. Answer: The Complete Home Testing Kit. This is by no means the only answer, but a great one for parents of teens who are exhibiting some new peculiar behavior and do not understand why. Sometimes its a new group of friends, dishonesty or even just a feeling. They are not sure of what is going on or even if something is wrong, for that matter, but they are not about to let things get out of control. The Complete Home Testing Kit includes a 12-Panel drug test that detects for the presence of 12 different drug classes such as Amphetamines, Barbiturates, Benzodiazepines, Cocaine, Methadone, Opiates, Methamphetamines, Marijuana, PCP, Propoxyphene, Oxycodone and Extacy. It also includes a saliva test for Alcohol and a urine test for Nicotine. In the package parents will find a helpful booklet that outlines drug testing, some of the dangers of drugs and ways to confront their teenagers about them. It truly is one of the best starts to finding out the real reason for this unexplained new behavior. Hopefully, it is only the typical teen stress of what shoes to wear and what events to attend. However, the Complete Home Testing Kit allows you to put your mind at ease that it is not the peer pressure of drugs that has your teen stressed.
Thursday, September 18th, 2008
The newest additon to the AlcoHawk Breathalyzer lineup offered by UriTox Medical is the AlcoHAWK® PT500. It is the newest and most accurate AlcoHAWK model available. It incorporates new PT Core™ fuel-cell sensor technology to virtually eliminate false positives and offer enhanced linear accuracy over traditional semi-conductor sensors. The simple menu-driven operation allows you to quickly and accurately screen for the presence of alcohol up to 0.400% BAC. The AlcoHAWK PT500 also features a large, easy-to-read back-lit LCD display.
The AlcoHAWK PT500 is an ideal unit for law enforcement roadside screening, corrections, probation officers, substance abuse clinics, boating, military, and many other areas of professional testing in which fuel-cell accuracy and reliability is required. In a time when alcohol consumption will be at its peak around upcoming holidays, a breathalyzer as efficient as the PT500 will certainly come in handy.
Friday, September 12th, 2008
UriTox is now offering two new forms of saliva test kits called the iScreen 6-Panel Saliva OFD Kit and the 6-Panel Oralert Twist Device. Both are functioning great for our customers and provide distinctly different methods to please everyone. The iScreen OFD is a 1-step saliva test that is a collection swab incorporated within the actual test device. The Oralert Twist provides a 2-step process where the collection swab is separate from the actual test device for those collectors who prefer to keep the test card on a counter or table to keep order while conducting testing. It is simply personal preference when it comes to choosing the right saliva test. UriTox is proud to be offering the best of both worlds to you. Give customer service a call today or feel free to order online as always!
Wednesday, September 10th, 2008
Well foks, its been a little while since we’ve posted a new blog entry, but I am happy to report the reason: We’ve been busy! UriTox has been busy adding new products and becoming very familiar with them so that we can offer you the support you’ve become accustomed to. We are now offering the newest Breathalyzer to our lineup called the PT500. We also have updated our Saliva testing lineup with the OFD and Oralert devices. Stay tuned for seperate blogs detailing each of these new products and some feedback we’ve received on them!
Thursday, June 26th, 2008
I wanted to take a moment to share with everyone the fantastic feedback we’ve received from customers on the new Narcotics Identification Test Kits. We have fielded numerous phone calls and emails from individuals with nothing but Positive reviews. Bill Worden from Virginia states, “These tests made a difficult decision somewhat easier for me especially after my neighbor and close friend, who happens to be a police officer, told me that these are the same tests he uses at work.” Jim Grey from Lansing, MI writes, “I thought it would cost an arm and a leg- it didn’t, I thought it would be very hard to perform- it wasn’t. Thanks UriTox.” Sue from California writes, “You can’t believe how these tests have changed our lives and done what we thought was the impossible by getting my husband to seek the help he desperately wanted after seeing his addiction change a shade of blue on a test before his eyes. Thank you so much, UriTox Medical!” These are just a few of the many kind words that we have received since launching the kits. We hope to continue this trend such that those in need will be able to arm themselves with the latest in technology.
Friday, June 13th, 2008
Summertime is a great time for families to come together whether it be extended family vacations or just short family outings. UriTox Medical would like to remind you that during this family time, you have an excellent opportunity to discuss the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse with your children. Some of you may have kids who will be moving on to Junior High or High School where the risks of them coming into contact with drugs and alcohol will greatly increase. An opportunity can arise while waiting in line at an amusement park, eating out at a new restaurant, driving to your destination or even while floating around the pool. Summer is also a good time to start drug testing in the home as older children will begin to venture out to graduation parties and other gatherings. It is a cheap price to pay for peace of mind during a dangerous season for drunk drivers. Incidents typically increase during the warmer months and offering an out to peer pressure can literally be a “life saver.” Be safe and have fun!