One of the most widely used drug tests is the urine drug test. The results are fairly accurate, it’s non-intrusive, and these tests are cheap. So employers and law enforcement often rely on urine drug tests to detect narcotics and other substances.
Can you pass a urine drug test? How about cheating on a test? What are your options, and is it risky? Read on to find out everything you need to know if you’re scheduled to take a urine drug test.
What Do Urine Drug Tests Detect?
Your urine is your body’s way of flushing toxins from your system. And, as you might expect, barbiturates, opioids and other substances are toxins.
As your body and your kidneys metabolize the waste in your body, those waste products are released through your urine. That said, there are still traces of marijuana, methadone and most other drugs in your urine.
The urine test will pick up on these drugs, and will even tell the tester how much of the drug is present in your urine. Drugs tested for with a. urine test include:
• Marijuana
• Cocaine
• Heroin
• Amphetamines
• Methamphetamines
• PCP
• Ecstasy
• Oxycodone
• Most other drugs
How Long are Drugs Detectable in Urine?
Different drugs have a different detection period. Of course, it depends on how much of the drug is in your system. If you took one “hit” of something, it’s less likely to show up in your urine drug test than if you’re a regular user.
Here’s a quick rundown of how long certain drugs are detectable with a urine test.
- Amphetamines – 2-5 days
- Cocaine – 1-4 days
- LSD – 7-10 days
- Barbiturates – 3-4 weeks
- Ecstasy – 5-7 days
- Codeine – 5-7 days
Marijuana in a urine test depends quite a bit on how much you use it. Many people who smoke pot do it every day. So, for example, if you’ve smoked every day for five or six days, it’s possible that THC will be detected in your urine for up to 48 days.
However, if you only smoked once, it’ll be detectable in your urine drug test for 5-8 days.
How to Pass a Urine Drug Test
Obviously, the best way to pass a urine drug test is to stop doing drugs. It’s really that simple.
There are many times in which you’ll be scheduled to have a urine drug test. They’re infrequently a surprise. You may have to take urine drug tests for parole, or your employer may require them from time to time. In these cases, you know when your test will be – just stop using.
Sometimes, though, urine drug tests can be sprung on you. If you’re arrested, for example, or if you’re suddenly offered a job and need pre-employment screening you may need to take a test.
In that case, you should still stop using. But there are a few other things you can do to help increase your chances of passing a urine drug test.
Drink Plenty of Water
The first thing you should do is start drinking water. The more water you drink, the better equipped your body will be to flush drugs out of your system… kind of.
When you go in for your test, please realize that the staff at the testing facility has seen a lot of pee. They know what color it should be, and if yours is too light, they’ll know that you were drinking a lot of water. That doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll accuse you of taking drugs. But they may say the test is invalid and make you test again.
Pee First Thing in the Morning
When you sleep, your body is busy. You’re metabolizing the waste in your body, and along with that waste is the THC or other drug traces. Whatever you do, don’t let your “first morning urine” be the urine you send to the lab. It’s likely to have higher concentrates of drugs in it, and it’s pretty much a sure-fire way to fail a urine drug test.
Try an At-Home Test First
If nothing else, be prepared for what your drug screen might find. Get an at-home drug test from your local pharmacy and try it the night before. Drug store kits are actually pretty accurate, and will show traces of all the same drugs that your “professional” urine drug tests will show.
Take Two Aspirin
It’s not proven, but some studies have shown that aspirin can help to mask signs of drugs in your urine. However, there are a few things you should remember.
• If you’re under 20 years old, check with your doctor before you take aspirin. Reye Syndrome affects young people and is caused by aspirin – worst case scenario is that it can cause permanent brain damage.
• Don’t ever take more than two 325 mg tablets. Taking more than that can damage your stomach and esophageal lining as well as cause heart problems.
• If you have a heart, liver or kidney condition you shouldn’t take aspirin unless you check with your doctor first.
Don’t Rely on Detox Drinks
We will keep this short and to the point – most detox “teas” don’t work. Don’t rely on a detox drink to pass your urine drug test. You’ll be sorely disappointed. A lot of these teas are just filled with natural laxatives that can cause harm in large doses.
Don’t Drink Bleach
You may have read that drinking bleach will help you pass a urine drug test. Don’t do it. Bleach will literally eat away at your body from the inside out, and you will die if you drink bleach.
Pass a Urine Drug Test in 24 Hours
There’s no guaranteed way to pass urine drug tests in 24 hours. But there are a few things you can do to help flush the drugs from your system.
1. Stop taking drugs. This is a no-brainer.
2. Drink at least 8 glasses of water. Not too much, though. Water poisoning is a thing.
3. Take 2 aspirin.
4. Pee frequently – this shouldn’t be a problem with all the water you’re drinking.
5. Pee first thing in the morning.
Again, nothing is guaranteed. But if you assist your body in flushing the drugs out, you have got a much better chance of passing a urine drug test.