Illicit drug use can be detected via drug testing for different reasons and at unexpected times. This is the reason why everyone should understand how to pass a drug test, as it will significantly help to give you a preparation suitable for the delivery you require for the test. Different organizations request drug tests during different screening processes, such as pre-employment screening, athletic screening for a competition, legal screening for child custody, and many more.
The effects of failing a drug test can be quite detrimental to an individual. Irrespective of your drug use in terms of type and duration, all you need to do is prepare effectively for a drug test. This can be the deciding factor between a positive and a negative drug test. This article will carefully guide you on how you can carry out a drug test with the confidence of a successful result.
Understanding Drug Tests
To adequately prepare and ensure success, you must understand how drug tests are conducted.
Types of Drug Tests
Different types of drug tests can be performed by collecting and assessing samples through various mediums. You can carry out the following types of drug tests:
- Urine tests: This is the most common method for drug screening. A urine sample is collected and assessed in a laboratory.
- Hair tests: This is an effective method used in detecting long-term drug use. Drugs stay within the hair follicle for as long as 90 days after the last use.
- Saliva tests: This is a convenient and non-invasive method that requires just the use of a mouth swab to detect trace drug metabolites.
- Blood tests: The blood sample is collected and used to analyze the presence of metabolites in the body through an immunoassay. It is the least common, as it requires an invasive collection of the blood sample.
The Importance of Preparation
If a drug test is failed, the consequences can have severe effects, depending on the test’s purpose. Some reasons why a drug test may be required include:
- Pre-employment screening
- Athletic competition screening
- Legal testing, such as for criminal charges, ascertains custody of a child.
- Professional screening for jobs like health care practitioners, military personnel, pilots, and truck drivers
- Screening for public service holders
A failed drug test could result in losing a job, custody of a child, an opportunity for a job, or a public office. The effect could be great with several connected impacts. Preparation for a drug test is therefore essential, as it will determine the likely outcome of such a test.
Methodologies for Different Drug Tests
Passing a Urine Drug Test
Urine sample collection is quite easy to assess for a drug test. It is painless and quick, unlike when taking a blood sample for the purpose of a drug test. This has made urine drug tests the most common type of drug test often requested. Urine drug tests can detect the following drugs:
- Marijuana
- Cocaine
- Opiates
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
- Amphetamines
How Long Does Weed Stay in Your System?
| DRUG | URINE DETECTION PERIOD |
| Marijuana | |
| Casual use | 1 – 3 days |
| Daily use | 5 – 10 days |
| Chronic use | Up to 30 days |
| Cocaine | 1 – 3 days |
| Opiates | 1 – 3 days |
| Phencyclidine (PCP) | |
| Acute use | 2 – 7 days |
| Chronic use | Up to 30 days |
| Amphetamines | 2 – 4 days |
How to Prepare for a Urine Drug Test?
Detox Products for Urine Drug Tests
You can successfully complete urine drug tests by following an efficient process. A major way to pass a urine test is to use a detox product that will clean up the presence of drug metabolites. Here are some THC detox methods you might want to consider for a urine drug test:
- Home remedies: You can pass a drug test with home remedies by using substances like lemon, vinegar, and baking soda for the homemade detox method. Other substances are more reliable than these for drug detox.
- THC detox drinks: Some drinks can act as detoxifying agents to remove drug traces from urine and the body completely during the manufacturing process. A good example is Detoxify Mega Clean, which is one of the most reliable detox drinks for a urine drug test. All you need to do is to take the entire contents of the bottle and wait for 15 minutes to take the bottle’s quantity of water.
- Detox pills: You use detox pills like medications, unlike detox drinks. An example is the Toxin Rid pills, which have different programs for light and heavy users. This drug pill reliably caters to the drug load.
Synthetic Urine for Drug Tests
Synthetic urine is another means by which you can utilize to get a positive urine drug test. It involves the use of artificially made urine as your urine sample. When you have limited time for detoxing, this is the most commonly used method. You can use the TestClear Powdered Urine Kit or the Quick Fix Synthetic Urine for a common drug test. The composition of these synthetic urine generally makes them unique and similar to natural urine. Just like natural urine, it contains similar levels of creatinine, uric acid, and electrolytes like sodium and potassium. At the ideal level for natural urine, color, smell, and purity are maintained.
Here is a comparison between the powdered urine kit and the Quick Fix synthetic urine:
| Feature | TestClear Powdered urine kit | Quick fix synthetic urine |
| Composition | Does not contain biocide | Contains biocide, which acts as a preservative to increase the shelf life of the urine. It can, however, be detected in a urine test. |
| Temperature control | Has a temperature strip and a heater for heat activation after mixing | Has a temperature strip but requires heating with a microwave while preparing for the test at home. |
| Efficiency | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Transportation | It comes as a small tube that can be easily concealed | Has a special rubber band for attachment to the plastic bottle |
General Tips for Passing Urine Drug Test
Apart from the use of these detox products, it is important to note some precautionary measures while preparing for a urine drug test. Here are some precautions to follow:
- Abstain from the use of these drugs entirely while preparing for the drug test. The detoxification process is useless if you take drugs while preparing for the test. This is the best way to pass a drug test.
- Stay hydrated while using detox products. This will help facilitate the detox process.
- Use the detox products at the appropriate time. Somebody must complete the specific programs for certain products as stated, or the detox process may be poor as a result.
- Also, some medications can provide a false positive result while carrying out a urine drug test. Some are over-the-counter medications, while others are prescription medications. Examples include ibuprofen, sertraline, and dextromethorphan. Some herbal substances can also create false positive results. It is important to be careful while preparing for this drug test.
How Long Do You Need to Be Clean to Pass a Urine Drug Test?
This depends largely on different factors, such as your frequency of use and the type of drug you take. However, if you are a chronic user, you will need to be clean for up to 30 days. Mild users should be clean for at least 10 days. It is safe to get through a detox process if you are unsure of the certainty of this clean phase.
How to Pass a Hair Follicle Drug Test
The hair follicle is unique as it harbors different substances for a longer period of time. Drugs that can be detected in hair follicles can last for up to 3 months after their last use. This makes it a reliable way of detecting drug use even after a long period of time from the last time of use. Some common drugs detectable in hair include marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines (including ecstasy, meth, and molly), opiates, and phencyclidine (PCP). To get the best results required for your drug test, it is important to stay away from drugs 90 days before your drug test, even when using detox methods.
How to Prepare for a Hair Follicle Test?
Unlike the urine test, where you can utilize synthetic urine, it will be difficult to make use of synthetic hair because of the complexities associated with it. You can use special shampoos and rinses, designed to help with hair tests, actively.
Here are some good examples you can use:
Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid Shampoo
This product removes impurities from hair in general. This enables it to effectively get rid of THC metabolites and other drug metabolites in the scalp. All you need to do is apply the shampoo to moistened hair and gently massage it into your hair and scalp. Leave for 10–15 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water.
Pros
- It permeates the internal layers of the hair and avoids detection.
- An effective detox shampoo that contains high levels of propylene glycol to remove drug contaminants.
- It is extremely safe as it is plant-based.
Cons
- Failed results could occur if not used correctly.
- It is quite expensive.
Zydot Ultra Clean Shampoo
It has a special internal hair treatment property that makes it able to clean the hair shafts of toxins and drugs. It has four steps for its use, which include the use of the shampoo, the use of the purifier, the re-use of the shampoo, and the use of the conditioner.
Pros
- It is easy to use.
- It is safe for use.
- It comes in a combination pack including shampoo, conditioner, and purifier, which adds individually to its effectiveness.
Cons
- To get an excellent result, it cannot be used alone.
- You must follow its steps strictly.
The Macujo Method
This is an effective way to take out drug metabolites from your scalp, as it utilizes the advantages of different products to ensure clean hair. Some ingredients required for this method include rubber gloves, vinegar, tide liquid detergent, salicylic acid, bathing caps, and old-style aloe toxin-removal shampoo. To get the best results, follow the instructions in an orderly manner.
- Wet your hair thoroughly with slightly warm water.
- Apply a generous amount of vinegar to your wet hair, ensuring it reaches your scalp. Use gloves to protect your hands during the application.
- While the vinegar is still in your hair, apply Clean & Clear Deep Cleansing, massaging it thoroughly to cover every part of your hair.
- Wrap your hair tightly with cling film to allow the products to soak in, and wait for about 45 minutes.
- Rinse off the solution from your hair using enough warm water, continuing until your hair is clean.
- Apply a decent quantity of Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid Shampoo to your hair, working it into every strand with your fingers.
- Leave the shampoo on your hair for about 5 minutes, then wash your hair with Tide Liquid Detergent, scrubbing well for a clean scalp.
How to Pass the Saliva Drug Test
Saliva drug tests are becoming relatively common as they offer convenience with just a mouth swab taken easily. Its major limitation is its effectiveness, as it tests for recent drug use within 6–24 hours of last use. This simply means that to easily get a successful result from a saliva drug test, you have to abstain from drug use 24 hours before the test.
Mouth Swab Drug Test Weed Timeline
| S/N | DRUG | URINE DETECTION PERIOD |
| 1. | Marijuana | |
| Daily use | 4-6 hours | |
| Chronic use | 8-12 hours | |
| 2. | Cocaine | 1 – 2 days |
| 3. | Opiates | 7 – 21 hours |
| 4. | Phencyclidine (PCP) | 12 – 24 hours |
| 5. | Amphetamines | 2 – 3 days |
| 6. | Ecstasy | 2 – 3 days |
How to Pass a Mouth Swab Drug Test
Apart from abstinence from drugs prior to the detection period, there are home remedies you can utilize to achieve a successful mouth swab drug test. Here are some of them:
- Exercise and ensure you sweat.
- Chew gum constantly, as this will increase saliva production and release.
- Stay hydrated always.
- Use mouthwash as frequently as you can.
Detox Products for the Saliva Drug Test
A good example of mouthwash you can use frequently is Toxin-Rad Rescue Mouthwash. People working in places where drug tests are frequently and unexpectedly conducted should find it ideal. This mouthwash specifically gets rid of toxins and drug traces before a saliva drug test, unlike the regular mouthwash used for bad breath. It works within 15 minutes of use.
Here is how to use it:
- Take a third of the one-ounce bottle a few minutes before your test.
- Hold on to it in your mouth for three minutes.
- Repeat this process twice.
Passing a Blood Test
A blood test is relatively more accurate as it analyzes the constituents of your bloodstream over a period of time. The inconvenience makes it less commonly used as a means for drug tests, instead.
Drug Detection Times in Blood
| DRUG | URINE DETECTION PERIOD |
| Marijuana | 2 weeks |
| Cocaine | 1 – 2 days |
| Opiates | 12 hours |
| Ecstasy | 1 – 2 days |
| Amphetamines | 12 hours |
How to Prepare for a Blood Test
To pass a blood test naturally, all you need to do is abstain from drug use 48–72 hours prior to the test unless you are a chronic drug user. Here are some important tips that will help you with your test:
- Use an additional detox method as described for the urine test to help boost the clearance of drugs in the bloodstream
- Stay constantly hydrated.
- You can try a home remedy for your detox process. A common one is the use of lemon juice. It is acidic in nature and tends to alter the pH level. This helps to eliminate toxins and drug metabolites in your bloodstream. All you have to do is squeeze this lemon juice into lukewarm water and take it in the morning before breakfast for the days prior to your drug test.
Debunking Common Myths
- Exposure to secondhand smoke can be fatal. You don’t have to worry about this. Secondhand smoke is mostly in trace amounts and will not reflect on your drug test.
- A drug test can reveal the presence of poppy seeds in one’s system. This is largely dependent on the type of drug test and the quantity used. Opiates will mostly be detected as traces in urine from poppy seed usage. However, with mild exposure, you have nothing to worry about.
- Bleach adulteration: Adulteration of urine samples for a drug test can give a false negative result for THC and amphetamines. This occurs only when used in high quantities.
- Aspirin: Aspirin could cause a false positive result in a drug test. This is largely untrue, as your drug test will not show a false positive result with aspirin usage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Fake Pee Work at Quest Diagnostics and Labcorp?
At Quest and Labcorp, avoid using synthetic urine due to their ability to detect the synthetic nature of urine samples through validity tests. However, this also depends on the type of synthetic urine used.
How to Pass a Urine Drug Test Naturally?
The best way to pass a urine drug test is to abstain from drug use prior to the test day. Stay hydrated and exercise more to help you expel toxins rapidly.
How to Pass a Drug Test with Weed in Your System?
If you are taking a urine test, you can easily use synthetic urine in states where you can legally purchase it for use. However, you can also utilize the detox methods available to get rid of weed from your system prior to your drug test.
How Long Does It Take to Pass a Drug Test?
This is largely dependent on the type of drug test. You need to ensure that you are adequately prepared for your drug test by using detox products or cleansing shampoos as required. All these will boost your drug test performance especially if you are a chronic drug user.
How Accurate are Home Drug Tests?
If all necessary instructions and precautions are followed, home drug tests are quite accurate. User errors can cause the instructions not to be properly followed, resulting in the system being subject to such errors.
How Long Do Drugs Stay in Hair?
Other areas of the body cannot match the hair follicle in terms of drug retention duration. Drugs remain in the hair follicle for a longer period. Drugs can stay as long as 90 days in hair from the last use.
Conclusion
If you use drugs for a long period of time, you’ll always find news about drug tests scary. The detection of drugs in a test depends on the type of test and the type of drug you have used prior to the drug test. This is why it is important to fully understand how your drug test works and how best you can prepare for it before the actual test date. The best way to get a guaranteed result from a drug test is to abstain from drug use. A short timeframe request for a drug test with no preparation time can be really detrimental when drugs are detected. In cases of addiction, you can get help by going through a rehab program suitable for your recovery process. Best wishes on your drug test as you prepare for it.