Drug Testing Myths and Facts

It seems that every day people are claiming to have found the new “sure fire way” to pass a drug test, but is what they are saying actually true? There are a lot of rumors surrounding drug tests, so we took a minute to dispel the most popular ones.

Myth: All drug tests are urine

Fact: There are multiple ways to test for drug and alcohol use

When most people hear the words “drug test,” they think of awkwardly attempting to pee into a cup. However there are actually several different ways to test for drugs. Hair, blood and saliva samples can also be tested to learn a person’s drug and alcohol history. Fact: The standard 5-panel drug screening urine test is the most common and is routinely utilized by private employers, as well as government agencies, since it tests for the 5 most habitually abused substances: THC, Cocaine, Opiates, PCP and Amphetamines/Methamphetamines.

Myth: Drinking lots of water will help you pass a urine test

Fact: Water will not erase the presence of a drug in your urine

While it is possible that drinking a lot of water days before a drug test can slightly dilute your sample, it will still be detectable by testers. Drug testers have seen every trick in the book, so it is also likely they will run additional tests to make sure they are getting an accurate reading.

Myth: All marijuana stays in your system the same amount of time

Fact: Some strains of marijuana will stay in your system longer than others

Drug tests for marijuana measure THC levels in your body, and every strain of marijuana has varying amounts of THC. Marijuana from a dispensary will have some of the highest levels of THC, and therefore take the longest to leave your system. Likewise, the frequency of use also affects how long the drug remains present: for infrequent users, marijuana can be detected in the urine from 2 to 5 days after consumption. For heavy users, marijuana can be detected in the urine 1 to 15 days after consumption, and for users with high body fat and/or chronic users, marijuana can be detected in the urine from 1 to 30 days after consumption.

Myth: Working out cleanses your body of the drug

Fact: You can’t completely cleanse your body by just working out

While a strict diet of water and exercise a month before your test could slightly alter your results, a quick trip to the gym the morning of a surprise test will do nothing to help your chances of passing.

National Drug Screening provides drug testing solutions for individuals and businesses in every city in the United States. If you are an employer looking to institute a reliable drug testing program, a 5 panel drug test is an excellent option. Five panel drug screen tests are commonly used by the DOT, most non-regulated companies, and is also available for same day results at all LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics locations throughout the US.

Drug Testing Myths and Facts
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