Drug tests are usually carried out by employers before recruiting an employee and by sports authorities before a match. Drug tests are done to test for the presence of illicit drugs in the body of an individual. Quite understandably, a positive drug test report can prevent you from getting a job, or it can pave your way out of your sports team. Failed drug test can impact your personal life severely, and so you need to have a good defense for a positive drug test.
The Best Defense For A Positive Drug Test
The best defense against a positive drug test is To stay safe and refrain from using any illicit or prohibited substances. Getting a positive drug test report after an unannounced drug test can be troublesome as you might have to give up on your job and work life once and for all, which also has a bad impact on your reputation. Thus, the best defense that you can put forward for a positive drug test can be the mixing up of specimens by the lab professionals. Recognizing the significance of false positive drug tests is crucial due to the potential for unwarranted concerns and consequences.
If you find yourself facing a drug test, understanding the reasons behind the testing and who conducts it is crucial. It’s essential to ensure that all paperwork is accurately filed and tests are conducted in a sterile environment. If you’re using medication like prednisone, it’s vital to communicate this information transparently and consider seeking guidance. Be cautious with seemingly harmless choices like poppy seed muffins for breakfast, as they can cause false positives. If you’re receiving medical treatment, especially from Catalina Behavioral, inform your employer. The consistent use of over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or naproxen may affect drug test outcomes and can cause false positive results.
In case of a positive test result, consider requesting a re-test to ensure accuracy and fairness in the process. Remember, being proactive and honest about your situation is critical to navigating a positive drug test successfully.
Which Medications Can Give A False Positive Drug Test Report?
At times, people are on pills and medications that can lead to false positive drug test results. Common causes include antidepressants, decongestants, and dextromethorphan in cough medicines like Robitussin and Delsym. For instance, if you consume cough suppressants that contain dextromethorphan before your drug test or regularly, it is going to give you a positive urine drug test report for PCP. Similarly, if you intake Diphenhydramine, a medicine to cure allergies, it will produce positive test reports for PCP and opiates.
A doctor could prescribe certain medicines like prednisone, while others are over-the-counter pain relievers such as Advil, Aleve, and Motrin. However, both can end up giving you a false positive drug test report and put you into unsaid trouble. Exposure to secondhand marijuana smoke can also lead to misleading results. It’s essential to be aware that 5% to 10% of all drug tests may produce false positives, highlighting the prevalence of this issue. Stay vigilant about substances in your environment, including certain washes, foods, and supplements, as they can play a role in inaccurate results during immunoassays. This awareness can empower individuals to navigate drug testing scenarios confidently.
Immunoassay kits used in drug testing can also produce inaccurate results. Consider advanced testing methods like Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry or the High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Test for more accurate results during drug screening.
People often claim that they have been taking the prescribed medicines for a few weeks or months, and that has ended up giving a fake positive drug test report. Not only this, one defensive answer is that you have kissed someone after they had smoked or you have inhaled secondhand marijuana smoke. Eating poppy seeds and natural supplements can come up as another reason.
Moreover, you can put a reason that the drug test report came positive due to the shampoos and lotions that you use. However, if you feel that you have got a fake positive drug test report, you can always claim for another chance at the drug test, but the next time, the test will be conducted on even higher levels. But, if you have not been consuming illicit drugs, you will quickly be getting a negative drug test report the next time.
What To Do If You Receive A Legitimate Positive Drug Test Report
If you get a positive drug test report and you know that it is legit, you need to accept the fact that you are an avid drug consumer and the traces of prohibited drugs still exist in your system. In such a scenario, certain organizations might terminate your relationship with them. However, other employers can be a little less strict and ask you to join a rehabilitation center to follow the addiction treatments, like an intensive outpatient or partial hospitalization program.
The best thing to do once you receive a legitimate positive drug test report is to accept your fault and work towards your betterment before continuing your job as an employee. It is always advised that you trust professionals to stabilize your drug addiction. You can join drug and alcohol treatment programs like intensive outpatient or partial hospitalization programs that can assist in removing absurd substances from your body and controlling your addiction.
How To Prepare For A Drug Test?
When you are asked to appear for a random drug test, there is hardly anything you can do to get through it. However, when you are pre-informed of the drug test, you must carefully analyze the time you have in hand and then prepare yourself accordingly for the drug test.
First and foremost, you should know the kind of sample (urine, sweat, blood, saliva, or hair) that you will be asked to submit to trace the presence of drugs in your system. And then, the drugs that you will be tested for as some of the drugs stay in your body for a comparatively more number of days than others.
Most of the drug tests screen for PCP, Cocaine, TCH (Marijuana), Opioids, and amphetamines. Once you are aware of this fact, the next thing that you should be doing is detoxifying your body as early as possible. Either you can rely on detoxifying drinks and shampoos or you can undergo a natural detox by drinking excessive water and doing regular exercise.
FAQs
1) What can I do to overcome a positive drug test report at work?
If you have got a positive drug test report, you must seek immediate help from a professional and commit to attending a rehabilitation program for drugs and alcohol and ask your employer if he or she can support you meanwhile.
2) Is it possible to get a false positive drug test report?
Yes, it is a possibility that you might get a false positive drug test report. It can happen because of the medicines that you might be intaking as a prescription from your doctor.
CONCLUSION
No one wants to get a positive drug test report. At times, it can be because of a mistake in the sample collection or other products such as shampoos, lotions, or the medications prescribed by your doctor. However, if you know that the positive drug test report you have got is legitimate and you are addicted to drugs, you must consider getting help from professionals.
Michael S. Bardwell, an expert in workplace drug testing, specializes in synthetic urine and its impact on drug tests. As a seasoned specimen collector, he navigates the intricate realm of drug testing laboratories certified by the Department of Health and Human Services. His insights extend to drug-free workplace programs, and he collaborates seamlessly with medical review officers (MRO) in ensuring accurate specimen collections for comprehensive drug tests.