Drug Addiction Testing

Drug addiction testing is used to determine if an individual is using drugs. Drug addiction testing alone is not a viable recovery solution for drug addiction and abuse. There are several goals that can be achieved through drug addiction testing at home. The first is that it deters young people from initially trying drugs. Second, it is a method to help identify those who have just begun experimenting with drugs. Lastly, it helps to identify those who have already developed a drug addiction or have a serious substance abuse problem. Drug addiction treatment programs also utilize drug testing as a precautionary measure to ensure that an individual is not using drugs while participating in treatment.

There are five main ways drug addiction testing procedures are conducted: urine, blood, hair, saliva, and sweat. Testing the individual’s urine is the most common method. It is the less expensive and intrusive than taking blood.

Drug addiction testing: Urine

• It can be done at home. However lab verification is recommended for accurate results.
• It is the least expensive method ranging from $7-$50 a test.
• Often times the samples are temperature tested to insure the sample’s integrity.
• This method can give inaccurate results if the individual abstains for a period of time before the test.
• This method can usually detect drug use within the past week.

Drug addiction testing: Saliva

• It can detect drug use primarily within the last few days.
• It is considered one of the most unobtrusive methods of testing.
• It is somewhat more expensive than urine testing ($15-$75).
• This method is easy to administer but does require a lab to process the results.
• This method is more reliable for the detection of meth and opiates but is considered less reliable for detecting marijuana.

Drug addiction testing: Hair

• All things considered, it is thought to be an unobtrusive method of testing.
• As of today, this method is much more expensive than urine tests ($100-$150)
• This method does not usually detect drug use within the past week.
• This method has the ability to detect drug use of a longer period of time.
• This method often tests positive more often than the urine method.
• This method requires sample of hair about the diameter of a pencil and 1.5 inches long. This testing method cannot be done with a single hair.
• This particular method can even tell when a person started using and if and when they stopped using.

Drug addiction testing: Blood

• Blood testing is considered to be the most accurate method of testing for drugs.
• It is one of the least common methods of testing.
• This is the most expensive type of testing.
• This method is also considered the most intrusive method of all the testing methods.

Drug addiction testing: Sweat

• This is a very intrusive method of testing because the individual must wear a patch for an extended period of time.
• This method is a controversial method of drug testing.
• This method is still uncommon when it comes to testing for drugs.

Drug Testing Detection Periods

The following chart gives approximate detection periods for each substance by test type. The ranges depend on amount and frequency of use, metabolic rate, body mass, age, overall health, drug tolerance, and urine pH:

SUBSTANCE	BLOOD	SALIVA	SWEAT	URINE	HAIR
Alcohol	unknown	unknown	unknown	12-24 hrs	n/a
Amphetamine	unknown	3 days	unknown	1-4 days	up to 90 days
Barbiturates	unknown	unknown	unknown	1-21 days	unknown
Benzodiazepines	unknown	unknown	unknown	1-42 days	unknown
Cannabis (single use)	2-3 days	12-24 hrs	unknown	2-3 days	up to 90 days
Cannabis (habitual use)	2 weeks	12-24 hrs	unknown	up to 12 wks	up to 90 days
Cocaine	unknown	1 day	unknown	4-5 days	up to 90 days
Codeine/Morphine	unknown	12-36 hrs	unknown	2-4 days	up to 90 days
Heroin	unknown	unknown	unknown	2-4 days	up to 90 days
Methamphetamine	1-3 days	unknown	unknown	3-5 days	up to 90 days
PCP	1-3 days	3 days	unknown	3-7 days	up to 90 days

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