Buzz
The most reliable method to pass a drug test is to refrain from using drugs and allow your body to naturally eliminate the substances. However, if you are required to submit a urine sample in the coming days, you can try some home remedies. There are specific remedies for different types of tests, such as blood, hair, or saliva tests. You may also use a few strategies to increase your chances of passing the test. Remember, attempting to cheat may lead to job loss or legal consequences, so it's best to avoid doing so.
Steps
Wait for the drugs to clear from your system
Delay the test as long as possible. Depending on the type of drug and how flexible the testing time frame is, you can try to delay the test until the drugs have left your system. Find out how long the detection window for the drug you used is and try to postpone as much as possible. Here are the detection windows for some substances:
- Alcohol: 2 to 96 hours
- Amphetamine: 3 to 7 days
- Cocaine: 24 to 96 hours
- Marijuana: 2 to 84 days
- Heroin: 48 to 96 hours
- Opiates: 3 to 7 days
- PCP (Angel Dust): 3 to 14 days
Do you want to know in advance if you'll pass the test? There are home drug testing kits available on the market that you can use. Keep in mind that your results may vary depending on when the test is conducted during the day.
Drink plenty of water for several days or even weeks leading up to the test. Water helps flush out toxins from your system, but it takes time. Aim to drink at least 8 cups (240 ml per cup) of water daily for several weeks before the test to support your body's natural detox process.
- Keep a water bottle with you throughout the day and refill it as needed.
- Drink extra water on hot days or when engaging in physical activity.
Stop using drugs as soon as you know about the upcoming test. If you're informed about the test at least a few days in advance, immediately stop using drugs to give your body time to eliminate them. Avoid using drugs in the days or weeks leading up to the test.
- If you're concerned about withdrawal symptoms, visit a hospital or call your doctor. You may request medically supervised detox if you’re unable to stop using drugs on your own.
Passing a Urine Test
Urinate at home in the morning on the day of the test. Your first morning urine will have the highest concentration of substances since it has accumulated overnight. Don’t go to the testing facility without urinating first! Be sure to use the bathroom before leaving home.
- For example, if the test is scheduled for 9 AM, wake up at 7 AM and go to the bathroom right away.
Drink at least 700 ml of water within 2 hours before the test. Drinking plenty of fluids before a urine test is also known as a method to 'flush' out substances and is one of the most common strategies for passing a urine test when you're short on time for preparation. Begin drinking water in the morning on the test day or at least 2 hours before the sample collection to increase fluid excretion and dilute any substances in your urine.
- For example, if your test is scheduled for 11 AM, start drinking water at 9 AM.
Take vitamin B-complex to darken your urine color. When you drink a lot of water, your urine will become lighter, which might raise suspicion from the examiner that you are trying to dilute your urine. To mask this, you can take vitamin B-complex when you start drinking water. This will make your urine appear darker and lower the chance of being suspected of 'flushing'.
- For example, if you begin drinking water at 9 AM, take vitamin B-complex at the same time.
- You can purchase vitamin B-complex at most pharmacies.
Tip: If you don't have time to go out and buy vitamin B-complex, you can take a multivitamin instead. This also contains B vitamins and will have a similar effect.
Try taking over-the-counter diuretics to increase fluid excretion. Taking an over-the-counter diuretic a few hours before the sample collection can help dilute your urine by increasing the fluid output. Diuretics are available at most pharmacies.
- Do not exceed the recommended dosage! Always follow the manufacturer's instructions.
- Coffee, tea, and sour fruit juices also have a mild diuretic effect if you don't want to go out and buy a diuretic.
Use Visine eye drops in your urine for a cannabis test. While not guaranteed, a study has shown that adding a few drops of Visine eye drops to your urine can reduce the concentration of THC. If you can collect the sample in private, you may consider adding a few drops of Visine after collection.
- Make sure you're not being watched while doing this! If caught, you will be disqualified, and depending on the location, you could face legal trouble.
Passing Other Drug Tests
Avoid using drugs for at least 4 hours before a blood or saliva test. These tests are more sensitive than urine tests and are used to check for current drug use. Blood and saliva tests are typically conducted when there is suspicion of drug use during work hours or in connection with a traffic accident.
- Keep in mind that there's not much you can do if you're required to provide a blood sample on the spot.
Eat, drink water, and use mouthwash before giving a saliva sample. The more saliva you produce before the test, the better! Have a meal or a snack, drink several glasses of water, and rinse your mouth with mouthwash or water if mouthwash isn't available. This helps eliminate THC from your saliva, ensuring it doesn't appear in the sample.
Tip: In a pinch, chewing a piece of gum can also help remove THC from your saliva.
Wash your hair with dandruff shampoo or deep cleansing shampoo before a hair follicle test. These shampoos can help reduce the detectable amount of drugs in your hair follicles. If you know in advance about the test, purchase a dandruff shampoo or deep cleansing shampoo and wash your hair 2-3 times on the day of the test.
- Be aware that this method may not guarantee success. Hair follicle tests are used to detect drug use that may have occurred months prior. Even if you use this method, you may still fail the hair test if drug use occurred within that timeframe.
Increase Your Chances of Success
Find out if the drug you're using can be detected through drug tests. The two main types of drug tests are the 5-panel and 10-panel tests. The 5-panel test detects marijuana, cocaine, PCP (angel dust), opiates, and amphetamines. The 10-panel test screens for all drugs included in the 5-panel test, plus benzodiazepines, oxycodone, methadone, barbiturates, and MDMA (also known as ecstasy). If the drug you're using is not on this list, you might be in the clear.
- Note that some employers may also test for alcohol if you're suspected of drinking on the job.
- There are also tests that screen for synthetic drugs, but these are not commonly used.
Inform the drug testing personnel about any prescription medications you're taking. If you're on any prescription medications, be sure to notify the testing facility, especially if the medication is one of the substances they're testing for. You'll likely need to provide proof, such as a doctor's prescription.
- For instance, if you're required to take a 5-panel drug test and you're taking amphetamines to treat attention deficit disorder (ADD), you must inform the testing center.
Avoid consuming foods with poppy seeds. Poppy seeds can cause a false positive result on drug tests, as they come from the same plant used to produce opiates. It’s best to refrain from eating poppy seed-containing foods in the days and weeks leading up to the test. If the test is random and you've recently eaten poppy seed foods, inform the testing center. You may be asked to retake the test in case of a false positive.
- Foods that may contain poppy seeds include certain bagels, muffins, bread rolls, and cakes.
Steer clear of unverified or unsafe methods. There are many home remedies that claim to help pass drug tests, but few actually work. Some methods are unproven, and others can even be dangerous, so avoid trying them! Things you should definitely steer clear of include:
- Drinking goldenseal root
- Adding bleach, ammonia, or vinegar to urine
- Using synthetic urine
- Drinking bleach or other household cleaners.
Warning: Never drink bleach or any other household cleaning products! This is extremely dangerous and can even be life-threatening!
Advice
- The best way to pass a drug screening test is, of course, to quit using drugs well before the hiring process begins.
Warning
- Attempting to cheat a drug screening test could be illegal and carry criminal or civil penalties depending on your location. Be sure to check local laws if you're unsure.
- Never try any remedies that require ingesting harmful substances. Household cleaners are extremely dangerous when swallowed and can even be fatal.
- Keep in mind that blood drug tests are typically only used when an employer suspects drug use during work hours, and refusing the test or testing positive could result in job loss.
