Learning how to pass a drug test is priceless, if you ever have to take one. For many people, a drug test is inevitable at some point in their lives. A negative drug test could lead to landing your dream job. Maybe it’s standing between you and an insurance claim after an accident. Or, perhaps you need to pass to stay on a sports team. No matter what the reason, we can help you learn how to pass a drug test.
Table of Contents
How Do Drug Tests Work?
There are four ways to test for drug use: blood, saliva, urine, and hair. The most common type of drug test is urinalysis. It’s used by doctors, rehab centers, sports authorities, and employers because it’s not as invasive as blood or hair. Yet, it will detect drug use for a longer period of time than saliva.Â
Urinalysis can detect a multitude of substances, like:
- Amphetamines
- Methamphetamine
- Barbiturates
- Benzodiazepines
- Cocaine
- Cannabis (THC)
- Opioids
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
There are two types of urine tests. Immunoassay (IA) testing is the most common method because it’s fast and affordable. Employers who screen all applicants almost always use IA testing. That said, IA tests have been known to produce false positives and false negatives. A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) test can verify the results of an IA test with significantly greater accuracy. However, this is rarely used because it’s fairly expensive and time-consuming.
A urinalysis isn’t exactly looking for active drugs in the system. Instead, it’s looking for the metabolites. This is what remains after a particular substance has been used up by the body. The metabolites linger in the system for an extended period. For some people, this can be days. For others, it can be weeks or even months. There are plenty of factors contributing to detox and detection time.Â
Factors Affecting Detox Time
It’s impossible to nail down an exact window of time for how long drugs stay in your system. For example, a young person in excellent health may detox from THC faster than an obese person in poor health based on how much they’ve consumed.Â
When looking at urinalysis, light or infrequent users can probably detox from THC in a few days. However, someone who smokes daily or in large quantities may take up to a month to fully rid their body of THC metabolites. In addition, many other factors play a role in determining how quickly you can detox.
Age
As we age, our natural rate of detox slows down. Our bodies’ major detox organs (livers, kidneys, intestines) just don’t quite work as efficiently as they used to in our younger years. Much like recovering from a few drinks is harder at 40 than it is at 21, the same goes for detoxing from drugs. It takes a bit longer.Â
Body Mass
Once an active drug becomes an inactive metabolite, it finds somewhere to hang out in the body until it’s detoxed. For most drugs, the metabolites make their way to the body’s fat cells, where they hang out until they are used up. This happens through our natural metabolism or with the help of fat-burning activities. So, a person with a higher body fat percentage may take longer to detox than one with less.Â
Hydration Level
Drug metabolites exit the body via urine and feces. Both of these bodily functions require water to move through the body. While you can’t completely flush your system of drugs by chugging water, you can support your body’s natural detox efforts by staying hydrated.Â
General Health
It might be common knowledge, but someone who takes good care of their health will detox faster. Diet and exercise are important factors for keeping your detox organs running efficiently. When you must pass a drug test, skip the fast food and swap it out for some leafy greens.Â
Dosage & Frequency of Use
The most critical factor for detection time is how much you’re using. As we mentioned, smoking weed occasionally versus a joint daily will produce varying results. Likewise, the potency and dosage matter. A 100 mg THC edible will take longer to leave your body than a single joint.Â
How to Pass a Drug Test Timeline
Sometimes you have plenty of time to prepare for a drug test. Other times you end up in panic mode after your boss surprises you with an unexpected test. No matter how much time you have, there are options that will ensure you pass with flying colors. The first thing you need to do is stop using all drugs immediately. The sooner you stop, the sooner your body will start to release old metabolites.Â
30 Days
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If you have a month to prepare, you’re in pretty good shape. However, for chronic users, taking action to support detox efforts will be well worth it. Since you’ve already stopped consumption, the next step is to get hydrated. Start drinking more water, herbal teas, and electrolyte-infused drinks daily. No need to drown your system, but aim for at least half your body weight in ounces of liquid per day.Â
The next best thing you can do is to get moving. Find some fat-burning activities you will enjoy and ramp up your fitness routine. The more fat you burn, the more toxins you will flush out of your body. Exercise is your new best friend as you prepare for a drug test. No need to hit CrossFit three times a day, but you get the point. Be sure to listen to your body and rest as needed.
Lastly, consider some modifications to your diet. Removing congesting foods can aid elimination and give your detox organs a break from breaking down complex food and beverages. Avoid things like red meat, pork, wheat, sugar, dairy, alcohol, and caffeine. Instead, eat plenty of fresh fruits and veggies, lean meat like chicken and fish, and add some herbal teas to the mix.
10 DAYS
Unfortunately, not everyone has the luxury of a 30-day notice. If you’re reading this now with less than two weeks to your drug test deadline, don’t panic. Reach for a 10-day detox kit to fully rid your body of all toxins. A unique combination of herbal supplements taken three times a day can kick your body into detox overdrive. Paired with a dietary guide and customer support to help you along the way.
Plus, each detox kit includes three home testing kits so you can track your progress. Do you have an even shorter timeline? Pass Your Test also offers a 5-day detox kit for times when you’re really in a pinch.
24 HOURS
A next-day drug test is enough to send you into a stress spiral. In this scenario, the only thing you can do is take a same-day cleanser. This kit includes supplements and a detox drink that rapidly flush your system of contaminants for up to six hours. With overnight shipping, you can get the fail-safe kit rushed to your door. Although not a permanent cleanse, this is the best option in an emergency. We recommend keeping one on hand at all times.Â
Trust the Experts
When you need to know how to pass a drug test, the answer is simple. Trust the experts. The fine folks at Pass Your Test are industry leaders and offer 100% satisfaction or your money back. Check out their site for dozens of testimonials from satisfied customers who passed their drug tests. Want to see if you can pass a test? Pick up a home test kit and monitor your results. With Pass Your Test, you can rest assured that you’ll pass any urinalysis test.
