Description of the Module
The ability to detect drugs in hair is becoming a highly accepted method for drug testing in sports, in the workplace and in hospitals. In this module, the distribution of drugs throughout the bloodstream and their accumulation in a specific target (i.e., hair) is described. Several concepts are covered, including 1) the basic anatomy of the circulatory system, 2) the properties of biological membranes that allow drugs to be delivered to hair follicles, 3) the chemical properties of drugs and of hair pigment that allow them to bind to each other, 4) the biological process in follicles to produce pigment (i.e., hair color) and 5) the conversion of drugs to metabolites by enzymes in the liver.
