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Home drug tests provide a simple and cost-effective way for parents to test their teens for drug use. However, teens can readily access ways to deceive them by masking their drug use. In this post, I summarize the most common ways they trick you and the risks you need to be aware of.
| Teens must be educated on the dangers of altering home drug tests, especially with masking products. These products work by altering the results of a urine sample, or even substituting a clean sample for the one being tested.
Masking drugs can range from specialized powders and additives to chemical adulterants and synthetic urine. While these products can provide temporary relief from a drug test, it is important to remember that they can also have serious repercussions.
Non-Chemical Ways of Defeating a Drug Test
Avoid a Test
The simplest way for a teen to avoid drug detection is to simply avoid the test. Many drugs don’t stay in the system longer than 72 hours after use. Delaying test admission by 2 to 4 days can significantly increase the odds of passing—even if drugs have been used.
Detox Temporarily
Similar to test avoidance, this strategy gives the body time to work through the chemicals that will produce a positive test result. This involves refraining from drug use for a small amount of time, consuming large quantities of Jell-O or gelatin, or other substances that can dilute urine or flush out the system.
This strategy can be hard on the body and comes with possible health side effects, but it is very efficient.
Dipping the Cup in the Toilet
Dipping the cup in the toilet is a technique some teens employ in an attempt to deceive drug tests. The approach entails collecting a sample from the toilet water and mixing it with the urine in the cup, intending to dilute the concentration of any drugs present.
This deceptive practice is not foolproof and can be easily detected by modern testing facilities due to differences in temperature, chemical composition, or the presence of waterborne contaminants.
Furthermore, this method is unethical and can lead to severe legal and professional consequences if discovered.
Using Someone Else’s Urine
Using someone else’s urine is another common method employed in an attempt to evade positive results in home drug tests. Teens who resort to this practice typically acquire “clean” urine from a family member or friend who does not use drugs and present it as their sample.
This strategy might seem effective on the surface; however, it also faces several challenges. For one, the temperature of the urine is crucial and can indicate a tampered sample if it does not align with the average human body temperature.
Secondly, modern drug testing facilities and home test kits can often detect the presence of preservatives or chemicals used to store the urine, making the approach quite risky. Just like the toilet water method, using someone else’s urine is unethical and can lead to serious repercussions if detected.
Test avoidance.
Sometimes, simply postponing the test is the best way to avoid drug detection. A wide variety of drugs do not stay in the system for longer than 72 hours after use. With such a small window of detectability, delaying the test admission by 2 to 4 days can dramatically increase the probability of passing — even if drugs have been used.
Temporary drug detox.
This strategy is similar to test avoidance, because it’s all about giving the body time to work through the chemicals that will produce a positive test result. Temporary drug detox involves abstaining from drug use for a small amount of time, consuming large quantities of Jell-O or gelatin, or other substances that can dilute urine or flush out the system. This strategy can be hard on the body and comes with possible health side effects, but it is very efficient.
Chemical Ways of Tampering with Home Drug Tests
Diluting Urine
As long as there have been urine screens for drug testing, there have been people trying to dilute their specimens in an attempt to fake their results. A diluted urine drug test is usually done by consuming excessive amounts of water before testing or adding water to the urine sample to dilute the concentration of substances in it.
A diluted urine test can sometimes be detected more easily than other types of cheating, based on the dilution of other prime compounds in the urine that are detected on the test.
Using Synthetic Urine Products
Sometimes, teens using drugs will resort to using synthetic powdered urine, or fake pee, for drug tests. These products work by providing a sample of clean urine for a drug test.
Products like powdered urine and synthetic urine contain chemicals that are designed to block the detection of drugs in the sample provided by disguising their presence.
Synthetic urine is not actual urine. Instead, it is a manufactured composite that mimics the look and chemical compounds of urine. It is passable in lab screens as a clean urine sample.
Synthetic urine is sold in the form of a powder that is then mixed with water. Heating pads are often part of the purchase to keep the urine at a passable temperature for the test.
Teens can purchase synthetic urine online or in some health food stores, and although it is being used to fraudulently pass drug tests, the product itself is legal.
It’s important to note that these products can be difficult to use. There are some risks associated with using these powders or additives, such as the possibility of false positives and inaccurate test results.
Creating False Negatives With Aspirin or Bleach
A false negative drug test is an attempt to introduce a compound into the body or the urine directly that influences test results. Chemical adulterants are typically added to urine samples to make them appear clean when tested.
These products can include things like bleach, vinegar, detergents, and other chemicals that can alter the results of a drug test.
Taking aspirin before the drug test is a common method of falsifying results. The chemical compounds of aspirin are known to have properties that can mask drugs within the urine, making this a popular method.
Drinking bleach to pass a drug test is another common method used to fake a drug test but it is highly dangerous and ineffective. Other common additives include eye drops or soap.
These products are very dangerous and should not be used as they can cause serious health risks. Teens are putting themselves at risk not only by using substances but by employing dangerous tactics to fake their drug tests.
Help Your Teen Understand the Risks and Consequences
Teens need to understand the risks associated with masking drug tests and the potential repercussions that may result from using these products.
| Parents can play a key role in educating teens on the importance of avoiding drug use and reminding them of the resources available for help if they are struggling with substance abuse.
By taking a proactive stance, you can help protect your teen from the dangers associated with masking drug tests and other risky behaviors. Remember, it’s never too late to get help for your teen to start living a healthier, drug-free life.
Caregivers Also Need Education
Caregivers, educators, and other adults who work with teens should also be aware of the dangers associated with masking drug tests and provide resources to help those in need.
Having an open dialogue about drug use can help create an environment where teens feel safe discussing their struggles and accessing the necessary support and resources they need to stay healthy and drug-free.
Reach Out For Help
For more information on masking drug tests or substance abuse, speak with your healthcare provider or trusted professional.
If you have a teen who may be avoiding drug tests or drug detection, we encourage you to reach out to us at Clearfork Academy. If your child is struggling with substance abuse or mental health, we’re here to help. We have different treatment programs for teens, each designed to help adolescents break free of addiction or any mental health issue they might be facing, and to ensure that relapse does not occur.
Originally from the Saginaw, Eagle Mountain area, Austin Davis earned a Bachelor of Science in Pastoral Ministry from Lee University in Cleveland, TN and a Master of Arts in Counseling from The Church of God Theological Seminary. He then went on to become a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor in the State of Texas.
Austin’s professional history includes both local church ministry and clinical counseling. At a young age, he began serving youth at the local church in various capacities which led to clinical training and education. Austin gained a vast knowledge of mental health disorders while working in state and public mental health hospitals. This is where he was exposed to almost every type of diagnosis and carries this experience into the daily treatment.
Austin’s longtime passion is Clearfork Academy, a christ-centered residential facility focused on mental health and substance abuse. He finds joy and fulfillment working with “difficult” clients that challenge his heart and clinical skill set. It is his hope and desire that each resident that passes through Clearfork Academy will be one step closer to their created design.
Austin’s greatest pleasures in life are being a husband to his wife, and a father to his growing children. He serves at his local church by playing guitar, speaking and helping with tech arts. Austin also enjoys being physically active, reading, woodworking, and music.
