For many, if not most, workplaces, workplace drug testing is the norm. A way of respecting employers’ needs for a safe and productive workplace is by trying to ensure that no workers become impaired on the job. Whether you are seeking a job or your workplace schedules regular drug testing, here are some important aspects of drug testing that you may want to learn: test types, how tests detect substances in the body, and the kinds of methods out there to enable one to pass a test legally and responsibly. In this post, we’ll cover everything you might want to learn about how to pass a workplace drug test.
Why Employers Conduct Drug Tests
Workplace drug testing may be started at the pre-employment stage but can also be done in the case of random or after-accident testing. Employers try to:
- Ensure Safety: Workers operating under the influence of certain substances may turn out to be dangerous for themselves and other people present around them, especially in those jobs that require one’s utmost attention or working with any machinery.
- Improved Efficiency: Use of drugs or alcohol impairs the faculties and results in lower outputs and an increase in the mistake rate.
- Legal Requirements: Transport, health, and such other industries demand regular tests for drugs by law.
- Promote a Safe Workplace: No employer would like to see a poor and unprofessional atmosphere at his workplace. Therefore, he would prefer a workplace with zero tolerance regarding drugs and alcohol.
Types of Drug Tests and How They Work
Knowing the kind of tests common in most workplaces would better equip you for preparedness. Each of these has its advantages and limitations, varying in detection time and accuracy.
1. Urine Tests
The most common types of drug testing in the workplace are urine tests, with a good balance between accuracy and low relative costs. These procedures detect evidence of recent drug use. A drug test detects metabolites, substances produced when the body breaks down drugs; these are long-acting in the system long after the drug’s effects have worn off.
2. Saliva Tests
Saliva tests can detect recent usage of drugs and are administered by simply swabbing inside the mouth. They are less invasive and have the ability to detect substances taken from the previous 24 to 48 hours; thus, they could be quite fitting for current alcohol or drug intake.
3. Hair Follicle Tests
Hair follicle tests have the widest window of detection and might detect drug use up to 90 days or even greater. A small hair sample is collected and analyzed for drug metabolites. However, hair follicle tests are usually much more expensive and not in common usage within workplaces.
4. Blood Tests
The results of blood tests are accurate as they show whether a given substance is active in the blood or not. They have a narrow window for detection, and they may be used when one needs to have a test result urgently, say in accidents.
5. Sweat Patch Tests
It requires a skin patch, normally worn for longer periods of time, 7–14 days. It works continuously and monitors drug use, thus giving an overview of recent substances taken. However, it is seldom used at workplaces as it will cover a longer period of detection and processes are somewhat complicated.
How Long Do Drugs Stay in Your System?
Factors influencing the detectable period of a substance in the body include the following:
- Type of Drug: Certain drugs, such as marijuana, tend to stay in the system longer, especially with higher frequency.
- Frequency of Use: Chronic users have traces of the substance remaining longer than casual users.
- Metabolism and Body Type: Individuals with a greater metabolism or body fat percentage may metabolize substances differently.
The younger the person is and the healthier the body, the quicker substances are flushed out.
Effective Ways to Prepare for a Workplace Drug Test
If an employee knows a test is looming, there are several preparation methods that are responsible and legal. The following methods are substance-free and should, therefore, be above suspicion.
1. Abstain from Substance Use
The surest method to ace any drug test, of course, is not using them at all. If one is aware that a drug test is approaching, the earlier this behavior is stopped, the greater the likelihood that the body would have cleared most, if not all, of the substances. This would be most effective in cases of drugs that have relatively small detection periods.
2. Hydrate More/Exercise
This also provides the human body with a better opportunity to eliminate toxins through urination. The more water one has taken in within one or couple of days leading up to the test, the less the concentration of the drug metabolites will be. The exercises should also be done habitually since it raises the rate of metabolism particularly for drugs like THC which are stored in fat cells.
3. Detox Program
A number of detox programs and products help the body clean out substances. Detox kits usually include herbal supplements, vitamins, and minerals that would help during the process of detoxification. It is very important to do proper research on whatever product you use for this purpose-as not all products can be trusted, and a number of them can even be detected when testing is done.
What to Do When Facing an Unexpected Drug Test
If you are faced with an unexpected or random test, there is still something to do to prepare for it:
1. Temporary Abstinence
If possible, quit cold turkey right away with substances upon learning a test may be given, even if it is supposed to be random. Any time you don’t use it will improve your odds of passing.
2. Test Yourself First
If you are particularly sensitive about the chance of failing, you may want to invest in a commercial testing kit and find out your status in advance. This would perhaps give you a good enough estimate as to whether you would need further preparation or abstinence before the test.
3. Watch out for Synthetic Substitutes
Some people use artificial products to help them pass the test; one of such is synthetic urine. Synthetic urine is at times kept and heated up using products like the urinator to simulate real urine in testing. Because there are such synthetic solutions, this should be done with caution because most labs have devised methods of detecting such alternatives.
Legal Considerations and Employer Policies
Employers have legal rights to drug screen employees, but employees have some rights too. Before attending a workplace drug testing, it would be wise to become familiar with the company policies and local laws concerning testing. Generally, employers document guidelines on how they will conduct drug testing in employee handbooks, detail types of tests used, consequences due to a positive test result.
In a few cases, it might be possible for an individual to dispute a positive result as being improperly administered or because of extenuating circumstances such as taking a medication prescribed by a doctor.
Myths and Misconceptions About Passing Drug Tests
There are many rumors milling around concerning drug tests and their passing. Let’s debunk a few of these myths:
Myth #1: Drinking Vinegar or Cranberry Juice Cleanses the System
While it may be true that cranberry juice and vinegar slightly change the pH levels of urine, neither helps in effectively eliminating drug metabolites out of the body and can, in fact, raise suspicion when tested.
Myth #2: Exercising Right Before the Test Helps
While exercising does help the detoxing process, it should be well in advance of the test. Exercising intensely directly before testing can release stored metabolites-particularly with substances like THC-and actually increase the chances of a positive test result.
Myth #3: Certain Home Remedies Mask Drug Use
They run the gamut from downing huge quantities of niacin to douching with baking soda. Unfortunately, these remedies have no scientific basis at all and can be harmful to your health.
Consequences of a Positive Workplace Drug Test
Consequences for failing a workplace drug test depend on company policy, job category, and state law. Most often, one of the possible actions that might be considered against failed tests includes:
- Disciplinary Action/Termination: Many workplaces may take disciplinary action against the employee in question, suspension, or even termination.
- Referral to Treatment Program: An employer may provide an avenue for further treatment instead of termination, especially in highly unionized environments.
- Future Employment: A drug test result on file against an individual may affect his or her future employment in industries where safety is a major concern.
Final Words
Workplace drug testing requires good preparation in terms of methods of testing, the window for substance detection in the body, as well as the self-cleansing process of the body. One should keep an eye on abstinence as the surest method but also explore other preparatory techniques of hydration maintenance, discouraging myths, and synthetic solutions such as urinators where necessary.
Now that you have a clear strategy and understanding of your employer’s expectations, you are so well-prepared that you may confidently but responsibly take on the workplace drug test.
