Beat a Drug Test
Many employers today use drug testing as part of their standard procedures. Drug tests can be administered as part of the hiring process or as part of random employee testing. Over the years, people have devised numerous ways to pass these tests, even if they have taken drugs. In order to pass a drug test, it is important to understand the tests themselves as well as the common methods used to trick the tests.
Commonly Used Drug Tests
Today urine tests are probably the most commonly administered test. However, there are also other tests that can be administered. In some cases, blood tests, hair tests, saliva tests, or sweat patch tests are also used.
Drug Detection Timeframe
When taking a drug test, it’s important to understand the timeframe during which drug usage can be detected. Urine tests can generally only detect drug usage that occurred within a week prior to the administration of the test. However, this timeframe can vary depending on the drug, the amount of usage, and the person’s body fat content. For example, if the person being tested is a heavy marijuana user, it could be detectable for 30 days or more. The same is true in the case of people who have a high body fat content.
Hair sample testing usually shows drug usage that took place within 90 days. Testing results for blood or oral fluid testing varies, according to the drug and usage. For example, while amphetamine usage is usually only detectable for approximately 12 hours, marijuana usage often shows up for 2 to 3 days in blood samples. If the person being tested is a heavy marijuana user, it could even be detectable for 2 weeks.
The timeframe for blood and saliva tests is similar in the case of most drugs. However, while a blood test can detect marijuana usage for up to 2 weeks in the case of a heavy user, saliva tests are usually only able to detect usage for 2 to 24 hours.
Regardless of the kind of test that is used, the chances of detecting marijuana usage is greater than the chance of catching other kinds of drug use. This is because the THC metabolites that the tests are looking for are fat soluble, which means they stay in the body longer than most other drugs. This is an important factor to take into account if you are a marijuana user and are trying to beat a drug test.
Common Techniques Used to Beat the Tests
Over the years, there have been a lot of different methods that people have developed to help them pass drug tests. There has also been an entire industry built around the need to pass these tests, with a number of different commercial urine cleansers and other products now available. However, in many cases these products do not actually work, or at best they contain common herbal ingredients that can be purchased separately for a much lower price.
Urban Legends
There are plenty of urban legends concerning tricks that can be used to pass a drug test. Many people resort to drinking vinegar. Although vinegar does help clear out some water-soluble drugs a little faster than normal, it’s not a sure bet for passing a drug test. Taking high doses of niacin, often referred to as vitamin B3, has not been scientifically proven to help rid the body of detectable substances. However, when taken in very high doses, it can actually cause a person to experience negative side effects. Some people also resort to taking substances such as aspirin in an effort to trick the tests. Although this technique might work under ideal circumstances for certain kinds of testing, it’s far from fool proof.
Some people also recommend adding substances to the actual urine sample to help pass the test, such as bleach, liquid soap or commercial “urine cleansers.” However, these methods are not recommended, since these substances can be detected by the tests. Plus, if a person is caught trying to “spike” his or her urine sample, a failed test will be the end result.
In the case of hair testing, some people recommend bleaching or dying the hair in order to fool the tests. However, the detectible substances in the hair are not actually affected by normal hair care products, including dyes and bleaches.
Common Techniques Used to Beat the Tests
Drinking large quantities of water is one technique that people often use when trying to pass urine drug tests. Although you can’t really wash a fat-soluble substance like THC out of your body with water, it does tend to dilute the urine so that the concentration of detectable substances is lower. Taking a mild diuretic such as Midol can also help to increase urine flow. However, drinking a lot of water usually dilutes the urine so much that it becomes clear, which can be a telltale sign that the person is trying to fool the test. To remedy this problem, some people recommend taking a B-complex vitamin approximately two hours before the test, since this vitamin tends to add a yellow hue to the urine.
Proper timing can also help you pass a test. Always try to make sure you do not have your first urine of the day tested, as it will contain the highest concentration of detectable substances. If possible, make sure you have urinated at least a couple of times earlier in the day before the test is performed. When collecting the urine that will be tested, catch it “mid-stream.” This technique can also help to avoid collecting high-concentration urine.
