If you use drugs or have in the past, being asked to take a drug test can be a rather nerve-wracking situation. However, today, drug testing has become very common in the workplace and is used either for pre-employment screening or after an accident has taken place.
While workplace drug testing is the most common, you might also be asked to take a drug test if you’ve been put on probation or even potentially as part of a child custody court case.
Regardless of the reason you’ve been asked to take a drug test, learning how to pass a drug test can be an effective way to keep your job or hide what you’ve been up to on the weekend.
It’s also important to understand the different types of tests that may be used. Each type of test has its own strengths and weaknesses and by understanding what these are, you’ll be much better suited to pass one.
Urine Testing
Urine tests, also known as urinalysis, are one of the most common types of drug test used in the workplace. They are performed by collecting a sample of a person’s urine and then screening it for a variety of drug metabolites.
Saliva Testing
Saliva tests are another very common type of drug test. They are performed by swabbing the inside of a person’s mouth and testing their saliva for traces of drugs. This type of drug test is often used after a workplace accident has taken place because it is capable of providing almost instant results.
While saliva testing can be useful in such situations, it’s good to know that they have one of the smallest detection windows and you likely won’t test positive unless you’ve used drugs on the day you’re being tested.
Blood Testing
Blood tests are not very common because they are expensive to perform and require the samples to be analyzed in a lab. That being said, blood tests are one of the most accurate types of drug test and are the hardest to pass if you’ve used drugs recently.As an example, check out blood test Albany, NY.
Hair Testing
Hair drug tests are also not very common; however, they are extremely accurate and provide a very reliable record of a person’s past drug use. When a person consumes a drug, it is broken down into metabolites, which will enter into the bloodstream. Eventually, these metabolites will make their way to the scalp and will be stored permanently in the person’s hair.
What Do Drug Tests Look For?
It’s important to understand that drug tests are not looking for any one drug in particular. Instead, most generic drug tests will screen for traces of all drugs, which includes:
- Alcohol
- Marijuana (THC and CBD)
- Cocaine
- Opiates (heroin, Percocet, oxycodone, morphine, codeine, etc.)
- Amphetamine
- Methamphetamine
- MDMA and ecstasy
- Barbiturates
- Benzodiazepines
- Methadone
Read more about what drugs are commonly screened here.
How Long Do Drugs Stay in My System?
Detection times will vary depending on the type of drugs that have been used, as well as a variety of other factors such as frequency of use, fitness level, and a person’s individual metabolism rate.
That being said, it’s practically impossible to determine exactly how long drugs will remain detectable in your system. Keep in mind that certain drugs will remain in your system much longer than others. For example, THC, the active ingredient found in marijuana, is stored in a person’s fat cells and therefore, can remain detectable for up to a month or more if the person is a regular or frequent user.
On the other hand, drugs such as cocaine and amphetamine are usually no longer detectable after 72 to 96 hours after using. However, these are just general guidelines and are in no way a guarantee that your system will be clean after just a few days.
Passing a Drug Test Quickly
The best and only guaranteed way to pass a drug test is to detoxify your system by abstaining from drugs, eating properly and exercising. However, these methods take time to work and you might not have much time to prepare before having to take a drug test.
Fortunately, no matter what type of drug test you’ve been asked to take, there are a few important tricks that you can use to improve your chances of passing the test.
Hydrate
For starters, it’s important to drink plenty of water, which works to flush your system and rid your bloodstream of any drug metabolites that remain.
If you’ve been asked to take a urine test, it’s recommended to drink two to three liters of water the day before your test. Then, on the day of the test, drink one to two liters and try to urinate as much as possible prior to taking the test.
It’s also a good idea to consume diuretic beverages such as coffee, tea, or cranberry juice, which will stimulate your body’s need to urinate and can help flush out any toxins.
Sweat It Out
Sweating is also another excellent way to help cleanse your system. This can be done either by exercising and increasing your heart rate or by using a sauna bath. Just remember to avoid exercising the day before your drug test because vigorous exercise has been known to actually increase drug concentrations in your bloodstream as part of your body’s natural detoxification process.
Detoxification Products and Supplements
There are plenty of detoxification products available online, which claim to be able to help you pass a drug test on short notice. These work by providing your body with the necessary vitamins and minerals to help rid your body of toxins and mask any remaining traces of drug metabolites.
Also, supplements such as beta-carotene and vitamin C are natural antioxidants and can help your body clean itself up quickly.
Synthetic Urine
If you’ve been asked to take a urine test, you can try purchasing synthetic urine to use instead of your own.
However, it’s important to note that modern drug tests have become more accurate than ever and are sometimes able to detect if you’ve used synthetic urine. Therefore, using synthetic urine is only recommended as a last resort and is not guaranteed to work.
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