In the modern workplace, you’re likely to encounter drug testing at some point in your career. While a drug test is a harmless formality to some, for those who use drugs, the idea of having to take a drug test can be quite stressful. The internet is filled with supposedly foolproof ways for passing a drug test such as diluting your sample with water. However, the reality is that this rarely works. Our guide will explore drug test tampering and explain why it’s such a dangerous practice.
Table of Contents
Understanding Drug Testing
Drug testing is a fairly broad type of testing. It comes in multiple styles and happens on multiple occasions. Employers can use drug tests to check and see whether their employees are consuming various controlled substances. Tests are also used to check athletes for banned substances and see whether people are using drugs once they get out of prison. In some cases, drug tests might even be ordered by a court as part of a legal case.
There are multiple methods for testing for drugs. Here are examples of the most common types of drug tests:
- Urine testing: This is the most frequent form of drug testing in the nation. It uses a sample of urine and can detect things like amphetamines, benzodiazepines, and marijuana.
- Blood testing: Though less common, blood tests can detect drugs more accurately than urine tests.
- Hair follicle testing: This test can see whether a person has been using drugs at any time in the past several months.
- Breath testing: Typically, this test is only used for alcohol consumption. However, some versions can also identify other drugs.
Why Do People Tamper With Urine Tests?
Urine drug tests and other drug screens often carry significant pressure. A job offer may hinge on negative results, while other situations, like obtaining housing, competing in sports, or winning a lawsuit, may also require passing a urinalysis. With so much at stake, it’s understandable that some individuals seek ways to avoid a positive result.
The most reliable way to pass a urine drug test is to stop using drugs altogether. However, for those struggling with substance abuse, this can feel overwhelming. As a result, the temptation to tamper with a urine specimen by creating diluted urine or altering urine concentration becomes strong. Methods such as excessive hydration or urine dilution are commonly used in an attempt to produce negative results and avoid a false positive outcome.
Common Methods of Tampering With Urine Tests
If a person decides they want to tamper with a drug test, they have many available methods for affecting outcomes.
Adding Water
When a urine specimen is tested, the lab typically examines only a small amount of urine. To try to pass a drug test, some individuals attempt to dilute their urine so that drug-related chemicals are barely detectable. This can result in a diluted drug test. Methods include adding water directly to the cup or drinking excessive amounts of water before providing the sample. These diluted samples may lead to a negative dilute result, which indicates the sample is too watered down for accurate testing and may require a retest.
Substitution
Some people try to get around tests by not submitting their urine at all. Instead, they might fill a sample cup with another substance. The traditional method was using someone else’s urine, but in modern times, there is also synthetic urine that some people might use.
Adulteration
Another option is adding additional substances to urine after collecting the sample. This can confuse the lab’s testing equipment and potentially invalidate results. Some people add household items, like bleach or toilet bowl cleaner, and others add commercial adulterants that destroy drug-related chemicals in urine.
Does Tampering With Urine Tests Really Work?
These tests identify whether a subject’s urine has been overly diluted. Gravity tests measure the concentration of all substances in the urine, helping to determine if excessive amounts of water or diuretics have been used to dilute the sample. Creatinine tests check the creatinine level, which is a waste product produced by the body. A low creatinine level may indicate that the subject has consumed a large amount of water or engaged in a detox process to flush out metabolites, such as those from drug use. Elevated or abnormal creatinine levels can suggest tampering or attempts to mask drug presence.
Gravity and Creatinine Tests
These tests identify whether a subject’s urine has been overly diluted or not. Gravity tests will look at the concentration of all substances within the liquid. Meanwhile, creatinine tests will check for a specific level of protein byproduct your body naturally produces.
Temperature Checks
Temperature checks are used to ensure that the urine a patient submits was recently urinated. Typically, the tester will check the temperature of the urine right after a person submits the sample. Anything that is overly cool or warm might be flagged as a failed test.
Adulterant Checks
Many drug testing labs also run additional tests for adulterants now. They can look to see whether your sample has certain chemicals found in synthetic urine or chemicals that help to mask drug usage. These tests can check for situations where a person has tampered with their sample.
Risks of Tampering With Urine Tests
Many people choose to tamper with a test because they think their drug use should be a private matter. However, regardless of your personal beliefs on the subject, tampering with a test comes with many risks.
The Immediate Consequences of Tampering
The first issue you’ll notice if you’re caught tampering with your drug test is simply the failure of that test. Depending on the policies of the organization you were taking the test for, you might be required to take the test again, or a failure could immediately trigger more consequences. In some cases, you might end up losing your job or experiencing disciplinary actions. Some jobs may do things like suspend you without pay until you pass a test. This can cause a lot of financial problems for some drug test takers.
The Long-Term Repercussions of Drug Test Tampering
After failing a drug test, it can often be harder to find future jobs, and you may also have personal and social repercussions as well. A new employer who calls your old one for a reference might learn that you were fired for tampering with and failing a test. In athletic organizations, failing a drug test may lead to past wins or prizes being revoked. You might find yourself being monitored more closely or required to take more drug tests in the future.
The Legal Consequences of Tampering With Drug Tests
Keep in mind that the consequences of messing with a drug test won’t just be professional. In many states, it’s also illegal to alter a drug test. For example, in New Jersey, tampering with a drug test is legally classified as a type of fraud punishable with fines or prison time. These risks are even higher if you’re taking a drug test for non-work-related reasons. If you are caught tampering with a drug test for a probation officer, you’re even more likely to end up in jail.
The Ethical Implications of Drug Test Tampering
Even if you are not caught tampering with a drug test, keep in mind that it comes with some ethical considerations. In many cases, drug tests are part of an implicit agreement that you will not use drugs in that specific situation. Many people may find that they feel uncomfortable with this level of dishonesty. Furthermore, abusing drugs while working in a drug-free environment can lead to major safety issues. Potentially, this level of negligence could result in a disastrous outcome for you and the people around you.
Safer Alternatives for Those Dealing With Substance Abuse
If you don’t want to deal with all these risks and consequences, the safer option is to discontinue drug use altogether. Fortunately, admitting you need assistance is no longer quite as stigmatized as it used to be. Many organizations are aware that substance abuse is a type of illness, so people who fail their tests might have the option of getting treatment in order to retain their jobs.
At a substance abuse treatment center, patients get targeted care. There are many types of rehab centers, ranging from ones you visit twice a week to ones you live at. Depending on your health and level of addiction, you can choose to get 24/7 support or have treatment while still managing your daily responsibilities.
Your rehab center will provide access to a variety of treatments. For some types of addiction, like opioid addiction and alcohol abuse, there are medications that can reduce cravings. Most people also benefit from therapy as well. Options like group therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and family therapy all help people to process their addiction. You can identify triggers for drug abuse and find healthier ways of coping with these triggers.
Final Thoughts
Once you are free of addiction, a drug test no longer has to be a matter of dread. Instead of spending hours researching how you can pass a drug test, you can confidently take a test whenever you need to. If you’re tired of struggling with addiction, turn to Garden State Treatment Center. We carefully tailor addiction treatment programs to address your unique needs. Contact us today to get started.
FAQ
What happens if you fail a drug test by add water to your urine?
How Much Water Causes Diluted Drug Test Results?
Published on: 2024-08-09
Updated on: 2024-12-22
