Who can be tested for drugs?
If you’re reading this, you’re probably already under imminent threat of a drug test. If not, you’re worried about a loved one or just curious. We try to shed some light on this topic that is of increasing concern with the legalization of recreational cannabis. Just because it’s legal doesn’t mean everyone can use it. Drug testing is therefore about checking whether people are using or have used drugs. These tests can be done routinely or randomly in the following cases:
- People who are applying for or already working in certain types of jobs (such as pilots or truck drivers)
- People in a substance abuse treatment program, to detect ongoing substance abuse and thus the best treatment plan
- People who are required to be tested as part of custody hearings
- For life insurance applications with medical examination
- Certain groups such as students, athletes and prisoners
- People who have been involved in motor vehicle or boating accidents, or work-related accidents
- Persons who attempted suicide by uncertain means
- Persons subject to a court-ordered substance abuse treatment program or with conditions of probation or parole requiring abstinence, to monitor compliance
- The military
Drug testing demystified
Drug testing cannot determine how often a substance is used, and therefore also cannot distinguish between occasional and regular users. In addition, drug testing only targets certain substances and therefore leaves others out. These screenings most often target the following substances:
- Marijuana, (cannabis, pot)
- Cocaine
- Alcohol
- Amphetamines
- Barbiturates
- Benzodiazepines
- Natural and semi-synthetic opiates
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
A sample of urine, blood, exhaled air, saliva, sweat, or hair may be analyzed. Urine tests are the most common because they are noninvasive, quick, and can detect many drugs.
They can detect drugs that have been used in the previous one to four days, sometimes for longer, depending on the drug used. Blood tests are rarely performed because they are invasive and only detect drugs up to a few hours after ingestion.
Hair analysis is not widely available, but can detect drugs if they have been used less than 100 days. There are extremely effective shampoos to give your hair a deep clean if you don’t want to shave it.
Health professionals can directly observe the sample collection and seal it to ensure that it is not tampered with.
The limitations of drug testing
Drug tests are not always accurate. The most commonly performed urine tests give partial and sometimes incorrect results. Sometimes the tests do not detect a drug the person is using (a false negative result). This can happen, for example, when a test is not designed to detect a specific drug or has limited sensitivity to that drug, when the urine is very dilute and the amount of drug in the urine is below the detection limit of the test, or when the person mixes a substance with the urine to alter the sample or presents a sample produced by someone else.
Inversely, tests sometimes appear positive when the person is not using drugs (false positive result). For example, consumption of poppy seeds can cause a false positive result for opiates (heroin is derived from poppies).
The real question is: do you want to take the chance to test positive? Surely not, so our advice and cures can help you put all the odds on your side. No one can guarantee your success considering all the factors, but we guarantee that you will have all the tips to make an optimal detoxification cure.