Drug tests have become a pretty common way of life in America and around the world. For one, employers often use drug tests for hiring purposes and to protect themselves in the case of an accident or injury. Testing for drugs is also a crucial step in upholding accountability for those in recovery from addiction. Unfortunately, since addiction rewires the brain, counselors and figures of authority cannot trust the word of recovering addicts.
So if you or someone you know is dealing with recovery or addiction, expect to pee in some cups. But as we will find in the rest of this article, urine analysis drug tests are not the only ways of detecting substances in the system. The following blog is a resource for you and any questions you might have when it comes to the differences between saliva and urine drug tests and what might be the best options for you.
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What Are the Most Common Types of Drug Tests?
Drug testing can also occur with a sample of hair, blood, or breath. But the most common ways of testing for substances are with urine analysis (UA) or saliva tests. The most common urine analysis type is the five-panel instant test cup. This test is relatively cheap and can be purchased over the counter by almost anyone.
Urinalysis Drug Tests Are Most Widely Used
Urine drug screens are the go-to for about 90% of drug tests when it comes to accountability for those in recovery. They are ready-to-use and can be administered in a home setting, making them very accessible and a first-line option. The five-panel drug test looks for five different types of substances: marijuana, opiates, methamphetamines, cocaine, and benzodiazepines.
With results ready within minutes, this is by far the most popular of all the drug tests. But five-panel cups can be easily fooled and a little research on the subject brings up thousands of articles on how to beat drug tests.
There Are Drug Tests You Cannot Cheat On
Enter urine analysis via gas spectrum chromatography. This highly advanced method for testing for drugs is nearly impossible to be. This is because the testing type uses a method that separates each of the molecules found in the urine. Therefore it’s nearly impossible to dilute or fool such a scientific test. But the gas spectrum chromatography test is expensive, so it’s not used as often. Most drug counseling centers will randomly throw chromatography tests into the mix along with five-panel cups to deter tampering.
Information About Saliva Drug Testing
Saliva testing is useful for detecting the ingestion of substances within a few hours. But unlike urine in which substances will be detectable for a month or more (as in the case of marijuana; other drugs are detectable for about 3 days), saliva only retains measurable amounts for less than 2.days (from 5 to 48 hours depending).
Saliva tests are usually used by school authorities or drug recovery accountability enforcers. Their inexpensive and quick result time also. make them. an ideal. test for certain jobs. As of now, about 10% of all. drug tests are saliva-based.
What Kind of Drug Test Should I Be Using?
If you suspect someone you love of secretly using drugs, you have many resources available to you. Drug tests of all sorts are available at most pharmacies, but you’ll most often see urine and saliva tests, why is that? Confirming drug abuse and the presence of substances might not be as easy as having your loved one give a sample to you to test; how would you know if it were tampered with?
The best way to confront a potential addiction is with a combination of abstinence, accountability enforcement, and certified drug counseling. There is no cure for addiction but there is hope and a community of people who have dedicated themselves to helping addicts overcome their darkest moments.
Published on: 2021-04-30
Updated on: 2024-02-16
