I reviewed David Schutter’s show, What is Not Clear is Not French, up now at Rhona Hoffman Gallery.

David Schutter. AIC G, 2014; oil on linen; 16 x 14.5 in. Image courtesy of Rhona Hoffman Gallery.

Hair Drug Test: Understanding the Process and Implications

Hair drug tests have become increasingly common in various settings, from workplace screenings to legal proceedings. They provide a comprehensive overview of an individual’s drug use history, offering insights that other testing methods may not capture. In this article, we’ll delve into the intricacies of hair drug tests, including how they work, their advantages and limitations, and what you need to know to prepare for one.

I. Introduction to Hair Drug Tests
A. What are hair drug tests?
Hair drug tests, also known as hair follicle tests, are screenings used to detect the presence of illicit substances or prescription drugs in a person’s system. Unlike urine or blood tests, which detect recent drug use, hair tests can provide a longer window of detection, spanning several months.

B. Why are hair drug tests conducted?
Hair drug tests are conducted for various reasons, including pre-employment screenings, legal proceedings, probation monitoring, and substance abuse treatment programs. Employers may use them to ensure a drug-free workplace, while courts may require them as part of legal proceedings.

II. How Do Hair Drug Tests Work?
A. Collection process
During a hair drug test, a small sample of hair is collected from the individual’s scalp, typically near the crown. The sample is then sent to a laboratory for analysis.

B. Detection window
One of the key advantages of hair drug tests is their long detection window. While urine tests typically detect drug use within a few days to a week, hair tests can detect substances consumed several months prior to the test.

C. Testing procedure
In the laboratory, the hair sample undergoes a series of processes to extract and analyze any drug metabolites present. This may involve washing the hair to remove external contaminants and then subjecting it to various testing methods to identify specific drugs.

III. Advantages of Hair Drug Tests
A. Long detection window
Hair drug tests offer a longer detection window compared to other testing methods, making them ideal for identifying chronic drug use patterns.

The strongest tension in David Schutter’s paintings is between their historical referents and their contemporary interpretation. While the abstract drawings wear their history plainly in academic marks and moves, it is impossible to see Schutter’s paintings without the deep-set history and theory of monochrome abstraction—our own academy, perhaps, in which the flattened, negotiated space of Agnes Martin or the emotional deadness of Mark Rothko’s later works both feel nearer than anything in the salons of 18th-century Paris. Yet Schutter’s paintings insist on their history. Each is painted in memory of a specific art-historical work, and even made to the same scale, though the specifics are only suggested. We are asked to trust that the warm blacks of AIC G (2014) come from some work—a Corbet? a Corot?—as it was seen by the artist at the Art Institute of Chicago faithfully interpreted through his desaturating memory; likewise, we can assume that NGS C 3 (2009) originated at a different point of contemplation, perhaps in the National Gallery of Scotland. Unlike many other artists’ abstractions, our interpretations here are not entirely free.

You can read the full review here.