11 Popular Myths About Drug Testing

Each year, government entities and companies force millions of Americans to undergo drug testing. As drug tests have become more common, a lot of misconceptions about how drug tests work and individuals’ legal rights regarding drug tests have spread. Knowing more about the science and the law concerning drug tests can help people avoid relying on false information that could cost them their jobs or their freedom.

Drug testing is prevalent in the U.S., and its use is growing. According to Slate, an estimated 45 million to 50 million workplace drug tests are g iven each year in the U.S. A recent survey of 70,000 U.S. working adults found that 48.2 percent reported that their employers conducted some sort of workplace drug screening program. Many states are tying welfare and unemployment benefits to drug testing, and people who are on probation or in jail often must submit to drug tests.

11 Myths

Don’t let a drug test cause you to lose your job, your children, or your freedom. Know the truth about drug testing and ignore myths that can lead you to make wrong decisions about drug testing. Here are a few of the most popular myths concerning drug testing:

All drug tests are urine tests – While urine tests are popular among companies because they’re inexpensive and easy to perform, they’re not the only option available for drug testing. Hair follicle tests are also common and are becoming more popular because they’re tougher to beat than urine tests. Saliva tests are another option, but these tests can only reveal drug use within the past few days. Blood tests are more expensive and invasive but can give an extensive look into a subject’s substance use over a fairly long window.
Drinking lots of water will allow me to beat a drug test – Consuming large quantities of water prior to a drug test can help flush THC from your system (it’s also good for your overall health) but, in many cases, it can’t do it fast enough to beat a pending drug test. Also, if the drug test is sophisticated, it may determine that you drank lots of water beforehand by detecting high levels of creatinine, a byproduct of the digestion process that shows up in high levels when lots of water is consumed. Should a high level of creatinine show up in your urine, the entity that mandated your drug test may grow suspicious and order another test Cleansing products can help flush your system faster and won’t be detected.
Strenuous exercise prior to a drug test can help me pass – Strenuous exercise can help occasional users of marijuana and drugs sufficiently detox their bodies to pass a drug test that’s a few weeks away but, if your use is regular, it will not work. Also, if you’re up for a surprise drug test, it doesn’t matter how many push-ups or laps around the track you do beforehand.
A positive marijuana test won’t affect my job because pot is legal in my state – California, Massachusetts, Maine, Nevada, Washington, Colorado, Oregon, and Alaska have. However, in many of those states, employers can still test for marijuana use and fire employees based on positive test results. For individuals who enjoy recreational marijuana in states where it is legal, a discreet inquiry into their companies’ drug policies may be worthwhile. It also helps to have a supply of ClearTest products such as synthetic urine, detox and cleaning products, and hair follicle shampoo on hand to help defeat possible drug tests.
You can fail a drug test from secondhand smoke – This one is somewhat true but, in order to fail a drug test from secondhand smoke, you would have to spend hours in a tightly confined environment with marijuana smokers. For most people exposed to occasional secondhand marijuana smoke, this exposure will not adversely affect a drug test.
Saliva drug tests cannot detect the presence of marijuana – Do not let this myth trip you up. Marijuana can definitely be detected by a mouth swab or spit drug test. Saliva tests are becoming increasingly popular among employers because they are cheap, easy to administer, and provide immediate results. On the upside, they also have a limited window for detecting the presence of marijuana—typically just 12 to 24 hours. If you know you’re likely to be subjected to a saliva drug test, prepare by curbing your marijuana use. You can also purchase special mouthwash to help defeat the test.

All varieties of marijuana stay in your system for an equal amount of time – Actually, some strains of marijuana stay in your system longer than others. Each strain has varying amounts of THC, and some of the more high-quality marijuana products can stay in your system for quite some time. Some of the “best” marijuana products have THC content of around 30 percent—much higher than the 1 percent content that was common in the 1960s. How often you use marijuana also comes into play, concerning how long it’s detectable. In general, drug tests can detect marijuana in a casual smoker’s system two to five days after use. For a heavy smoker, drug tests can detect marijuana in their systems one to fifteen days after use. For users with high body fat, a test may detect THC even 30 days after consumption.

Homemade remedies can help you pass a drug test – We’ve all seen online articles about how homemade concoctions that include cranberry juice, Jell-O, vitamins, etc. can help you defeat a drug test. These claims are bogus. Drug tests are developed by scientists with expert knowledge of the human body. To successfully beat a drug test, you need a detox that has also been designed by experts.
I can beat a hair test if I shave my head – Your head isn’t the only place where hair grows. Even if you shave your head, drug testers can take body hair to perform a test. If you shave head to toe, testers won’t be able to perform a hair test, but it will likely throw up a red flag to your employer or the entity requiring you to take a drug test, and they may require you to take a blood, urine, or saliva test.

Over-the-counter cold medicine can result in false positives for methamphetamine – On drug tests, meth will show up as D-methamphetamines, while cold medication will show up as L-methamphetamines. Professional testing company technicians know the difference.
You can hide the presence of a drug in a urinalysis test by drinking vinegar – This one ought to be obvious as a myth, but many people try (and fail) to mask drug use by drinking vinegar before a drug test. It doesn’t work, and it will make you sick.

Drug testing is a hassle that isn’t going away anytime soon. Fortunately, a variety of detox and other products can help individuals defeat unfair and invasive drug tests. Consumers should carefully research drug test circumvention products and their sellers before purchasing a product, as many fly-by-night operators with bogus products take advantage of naïve buyers.

ClearTest helps men and women circumvent oppressive and intrusive drug testing by providing products that will help defeat any drug test. Founded in 1998, ClearTest has helped thousands of clients beat urine, hair, and saliva drug tests, saving jobs and preserving personal liberty. ClearTest is committed to customer service and will answer any questions clients may have concerning drug testing. You don’t have to stand by and see your rights trampled by corporations or the government. Fight back with ClearTest.