Learning how to pass a drug test can save you from serious trouble. Drug tests are a touchy subject, especially with federal legalization so close to coming to fruition. Read below to learn how to pass a drug test.
Specifically, we’re going to look at how you can pass an oral swab test for THC. This method of drug testing is a favorite among employers — it provides instant results and is minimally invasive.
It’s also the favorite among those taking the test for several reasons:
- Mouth swabs have the shortest detection window (around 24 hours to 3 days), meaning they only detect recent marijuana use — blood or urine tests can detect use within 3 months
- These tests are also easier to pass
Whereas urine tests look for THC-COOH, which is what your body produces after having metabolized THC, mouth swab tests simply look for THC itself. That makes it easier because instead of looking for signs that your body has processed THC, it’s looking for direct evidence of recent THC that’s still lingering in your mouth.
Here’s how to pass one.
Tip 1: Don’t Consume Marijuana 1-3 Days Before the Test
The simplest solution is the most effective one. If you know a mouth swab test is coming, simply don’t smoke weed for a couple of days beforehand. If that sounds unappealing to you, consider the alternative — potentially losing your job, facing penalties, or failing to get hired.
Try for at least a 24-hour detox, or simply abstain from cannabis use for a week. If you consume a lot of THC, give it a few extra days. It might be overkill, but it’s far better than dealing with the consequences of failing the test.
Tip 2: Chew Gum
By chewing gum, you’re stimulating your saliva glands to wash out your own mouth. That’s like hosing down the inside of your mouth. Additionally, gum can alter the chemistry of your mouth and make it slightly harder for the test to detect THC.
Recommended flavors are citrus or cinnamon. And yes, if you never know when a drug test is coming, keep a pack of gum on you at work.
Tip 3: Eat a Sour Candy
You read that right. Find the sourest candy you can stand (remember Warheads, millennials?) and suck on it before your drug test.
Studies have demonstrated that swab tests are less accurate after the participant has sucked on a sour citrus candy. The acid and sugar blend with your saliva and make it more difficult to detect drugs. If you only have 5 to 10 minutes before your test, suck on 2 or 3 of them at once to maximize the amount of sugar and citrus
Tip 4: Eat Greasy Food
This one might be more up your alley: head over to the local diner and order some fatty, greasy goodness.
We’re talking fries. We’re talking pizza. We’re talking burgers, hot wings, poutine, and sliders. If it’s got oil, it’ll do the trick. The fats in these foods react with THC, drawing it out of the surfaces of your mouth and sending it down your gullet.
Plan ahead with this one. Try eating high-fat foods for the entire day before your test to help remove the THC from your bloodstream and your body.
There are healthier options available, too: things like avocados, nuts, eggs, cheese, tuna, and salmon will also help do the trick.
Tip 5: Gargle, Brush, and Rinse your Mouth
Cleaning your mouth can flush out residual traces of THC. Gargle 4 times per hour for 4 to 5 hours before your test using water, gargling for at least 20 to 30 seconds. Water helps dilute the THC in your mouth and makes it more difficult to detect.
Brush your teeth to get the THC out of the crevices between your teeth and gums. Brush for at least 2 minutes and scrub everything: your teeth, gums, tongue, and cheeks. Rinse and spit.
Tip 6: Hydrogen Peroxide
Now we’re getting to the less pleasant items on the list. Hydrogen peroxide can act as an “adulterant,” or a compound that interferes with drug testing.
Five minutes before the test, use hydrogen peroxide to rinse your mouth, swishing for 30 seconds as you would with normal mouthwash. Spit it out and do not drink it — it can harm you. If you don’t have hydrogen peroxide, rinse with a non-alcohol-based mouthwash.
These are some of the best methods to pass a THC swab test. It may be the case that your workplace stops testing for THC in the near future, especially as previously strict organizations start to loosen their restrictions, but it’s the reality for now.
