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Methamphetamine use has become increasingly common throughout the United States, due to the drug’s ability to stimulate its users and cause them to feel extremely happy, energetic, and social.
Of course, with these enjoyable side effects, also come many consequences with using this drug. The biggest issue many people face with meth abuse is the risk of becoming addicted to this substance.
Once an addiction has developed, stopping their meth use will become extremely difficult and even dangerous without the right support. If you are struggling with meth abuse and have an upcoming drug test, you may be wondering how to pass a drug test for meth.
Keep reading to find out how to pass a drug test for meth use detected and find addiction treatment services that can help you overcome your substance abuse habits.
Drug tests are becoming increasingly commonplace in the modern world, with employers, schools, and even parents using them in an effort to keep their people safe and healthy. But why exactly do people take drug tests?
Drug tests are designed to screen for the presence of drugs in the body. While some of these substances are illegal, the majority are legal, yet potentially harmful. By identifying when someone has used drugs, tests can help identify potential substance abuse problems and alert those in charge to take appropriate action.
Drug tests have many benefits, both for employers and employees. Employers can help create a safe and healthy workplace, free from the dangers of drugs. This can improve the overall productivity of the workforce and help protect the business from the legal ramifications of drug use.
For employees, drug tests can help remove the stigma of drug use and provide an opportunity for treatment and rehabilitation if necessary. Drug tests can also be used to identify potential health risks. By detecting drugs in the body, tests can alert medical personnel to the potential of an overdose or an adverse reaction to a drug. This can help medical professionals provide the necessary care and treatment.
Finally, drug tests can be a useful tool in criminal investigations and as enforcement measures for those who are on parole or probation. By detecting the presence of drugs in the body, law enforcement can identify those who have used illegal substances and take the appropriate action.
Drug tests are a valuable tool for employers, employees, medical personnel, and law enforcement. They can help identify potential health risks, create a safe workplace, and provide evidence in criminal investigations. While drug tests may not be popular, especially if you are worried about failing, they are an important part of keeping people safe and healthy.
In many cases, the best defense for a positive drug test is the commitment to attend treatment, a decision that most responsible employers will applaud for the members of their workforce who are struggling.
Methamphetamine (meth) is a very dangerous and addictive stimulant drug that mainly affects the central nervous system. It is often abused for its ability to produce a euphoric and energy-boosting high. Currently, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies meth as a Schedule II controlled substance.
This classification means that, while meth can be used in some medical settings under the approval of the FDA, it still poses a high risk for abuse and addiction. When acquired illicitly, this drug is often referred to as “crystal meth.”
Meth can be taken in several ways, and its method of use can affect how long the high it produces will last, as well as how intense these effects will be. Most commonly, meth will be smoked or injected.
These methods of administration allow the drug to reach the brain more quickly and can produce a more intense high. Some people may also snort meth or ingest the drug orally. This will produce a longer-lasting high, but one with usually less intense side effects.
Mixing meth with other chemicals or substances can also prolong the effects of this high. This, however, is strongly discouraged, as it can lead to many adverse effects, including an increased risk of experiencing a drug overdose.
Unlike cocaine and other stimulant drugs, meth does not metabolize well. This means that it remains in the system for much longer, which can cause its stimulant effects to last longer as well.
These effects may persist over a period of 8-24 hours. The amount of time these effects will remain can vary depending on how high of a dose an individual took when they took it, and how they administered it.
The health of the user’s kidneys and liver, as well as their overall body chemistry, will also affect the amount of time it will take for meth and its effects to leave the system. Generally, meth’s half-life is around 12 hours.
This means that it will take around this amount of time for 50% of the drug to be eliminated from a user’s body. If the side effects have not worn off by that point, they should begin to subside once the drug’s half-life period is up.
There are many cases in which you may be tested for meth use, whether in a work setting, by your doctor or a family member, for court-mandated rehab, or as a part of the treatment process in an addiction rehab program.
Regardless of the “why” behind your testing, knowing what to expect for these tests and what kind of drug screening methods are going to be used can help you prepare yourself better. While a urine drug test is usually the preferred way of detecting meth use, blood, hair, and oral drug tests may also be administered depending on the situation. Should you fail a test even after reading our article, we maintain the best defense for a positive drug test is honesty and a solid plan for treatment!
For the most part, a urine test should be able to detect meth for up to 72 hours after it has been consumed. It is important to note that, as methamphetamine metabolizes into amphetamine, the user will test positive for both of these substances.
Typically, a urine sample should have a detection interval for amphetamines of between 3-5 days after the drug has last been used. This period may be even longer for chronic meth users, who may test positive on urine drug tests for up to a week after consumption.
Because of how common urine tests have become for detecting meth and other drugs, many people have found ways of working around these tests. For example, synthetic urine samples have become increasingly available on the internet to help individuals test negative on routine employer drug screenings and medical check-ups.
While these may seem like a convenient solution, the reality is that there are many faults that take away from the attractiveness of these synthetic urine samples. For starters, they can be expensive and difficult to acquire, especially when looking for a legitimate sample.
Most importantly, providing a fake sample on a mandatory drug test is illegal, and can have hefty repercussions if the person is caught. In fact, many doctors and law enforcement officers such as parole officers and probation officers have ways to prevent cheating when it comes to conducting drug tests, such as monitoring and testing for dilution.
While less commonly used, blood samples, hair follicles, and oral fluids can all be used for detecting a history of meth use. Blood tests and oral tests can provide more accurate results than a urine test will generally be able to.
However, both of these methods will have a lower detection window for testing meth use, especially if the drug is being taken in small doses. Furthermore, a blood test can be considered invasive, meaning it is less likely to be used unless absolutely necessary.
Hair testing can detect meth for up to 90 days after an individual’s last dose. This method of testing is often more commonly used within a forensic setting, rather than a clinical or workplace environment.
These tests may also be used as a way of double-ensuring a person’s history of drug use, especially in the event that someone believes that may have received a false positive the first time around.
If you have a drug test coming up and have been using meth, it makes sense for you to want to avoid a positive result by any means necessary. However, it is important to understand that many at-home methods can be dangerous or have their own repercussions.
While seeking out simple methods of getting meth to leave your system faster may seem more convenient, getting professional help to overcome your drug abuse habits will ultimately be your best chance at stopping your meth use. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recommends a period of at least 90 days for addiction treatment, but this can be achieved with a combination of inpatient and outpatient programs.
With that being said, there are some at-home methods of clearing your system that can be looked into. It is important to remember that these are not clinically proven, and may ultimately cause more harm than good in the long term.
At-home detox methods are short-term fixes and will typically do nothing to help stop meth addiction in the long run. This is because addiction is a chronic disease, and will need to be managed with a combination of physical and mental health treatment services.
If you are not yet ready or able to seek out professional treatment services, keep reading to find out ways that you can start your recovery process on your own that are considered to be safe when carried out correctly.
One of the most common at-home detox methods for getting toxic substances out of your body is to increase your fluid intake. In particular, fluids such as water, tea, and drinks can help replenish your electrolytes.
Drinking plenty of fluids can help dilute any traces of meth that are in your body, as well as help you to urinate more frequently, which expels toxins from your system. Of course, there is such a thing as drinking too much, and this can make you sick.
A condition called hyponatremia can result from overhydration, which typically occurs when sodium levels in the bloodstream are too low. This can cause nausea, fatigue, irritation, confusion, and, in extreme cases, death. This is why it is important to make sure you are increasing your fluids as carefully and as safely as possible.
Furthermore, with this method, there are many people who have used the desperation of struggling individuals to pass their drug tests and developed herbal kits and detox drinks that are marketed to help them do just that. Diligence is crucial with these products, however, as many of them are falsely advertised, overpriced, and unregulated in their production.
Furthermore, drug test results are able to identify when someone has purposely diluted their urine. If this is detected, you may be required to take the test again, in the rare case that it worked well enough for your drug use to not have been detected in the first place.
If increasing their fluids is not a viable option, many people will choose to excrete meth from their bodies another way. Eating foods that are high in fiber can be helpful for drug detox diets, as well as taking supplements or laxatives can help expedite the digestive process and get your body to expel wastes and toxins more quickly.
This, of course, does not come without its disadvantages. For one, using laxatives without medical necessity is, in itself, a form of substance abuse. There is also the issue that this can disrupt your normal bodily functions, and cause issues within this area in the long term.
For example, abusing laxatives can have many negative side effects, including severe abdominal pain and cramping, and rectal bleeding. This, coupled with the fact that there is no guarantee this will help ensure a negative result on your drug test, means that this method is likely not worth the discomfort it will ultimately cause.
Exercise can be helpful for those who are struggling with drug or alcohol abuse in many ways, and not just for possibly getting them a negative drug test result. The main theory behind using increased exercise as a way of removing toxins from the body is that a person will be able to secrete an abused substance through their sweat.
Intense exercise, then, can cause profuse sweating, supposedly removing these toxins more quickly. There is also the fact that, with increased exercise, a person will be motivated to drink more, further helping to rid their system of a toxin by increased urination.
The biggest drawback of this method, of course, is that there is no evidence backing its effectiveness or validity. Furthermore, someone who is not used to intense physical activity could suffer from extreme exhaustion and strained muscles, as well as potential dehydration if they are not drinking enough.
While at-home detox methods may seem easier and more convenient than getting professional treatment, there are many difficulties and setbacks that come with attempting to recover from addiction on your own.
Ultimately, medical detox programs are the safest and most effective way for removing methamphetamine from your system and passing your drug test with flying colors. If you have abused meth for a long period of time or have combined this drug with other substances, stopping this use will likely cause many complications.
This is because your body will become dependent on an abused substance over time, requiring its constant use in order to function properly. Thus, removing meth from your system can cause you to develop a number of unpleasant and potentially dangerous side effects.
These are known as withdrawal symptoms, and meth withdrawal symptoms are the reason why many people relapse during early recovery. Medically-supervised detox programs can be crucial in helping to wean you off of your meth abuse while managing and even preventing many of these withdrawal symptoms.
Furthermore, alongside the constant supervision provided by these programs, your treatment provider may also administer prescription medications to help further manage your withdrawal symptoms, as well as reduce drug cravings, significantly minimizing your risk for relapse.
How long you will spend at your detox center can vary based on several factors, including how long you have been abusing meth, how often and how high of a dose you use, your method of administration, and any previous health history that may complicate the recovery process.
On average, it will usually take around 72 hours for meth to be completely cleared from an individual’s body. Of course, long-term users may need more time to flush this drug from their system.
Fortunately, choosing to spend this time in an inpatient setting will allow you to receive constant support and supervision, making your treatment process as comfortable as possible. Your care team will be able to address and resolve complications as they arise and can help make your chances of relapse as small as possible.
Despite the amount of time the detox process can take, by seeking out professional help, you can give yourself a chance to safely and successfully begin your recovery journey and establish a solid foundation for maintaining long-term sobriety.
Alongside medical detox programs, there are various other treatment options available for overcoming meth abuse and addiction.
While many people will be encouraged to begin their rehabilitation process with a medically-supervised detox program, they may choose to seek further care through other treatment programs.
While there is no one specific method for treating addiction, there are many different rehab programs available to address your recovery needs and help you establish a healthy, substance-free life.
Most rehab programs follow a Continuum of Care (Levels of Care) approach to treating addiction, which is made up of seven main levels of care. These include:
With meth addiction, receiving treatment through an inpatient or residential rehabilitation center will usually be your best bet for establishing long-term sobriety. However, this can require a greater time commitment than you may be able to work with, as well as higher out-of-pocket expenses.
If you are in need of more flexible and affordable treatment options, outpatient rehab may be a better choice for you. These can equip you with recovery support, as well as tools and skills for maintaining independent sobriety while allowing you to continue to prioritize other personal obligations outside of treatment.
Of course, your recovery process will likely involve a decent amount of trial and error. Speaking with an addiction specialist, such as a Rehabs Of Armerica representative, can help you better understand your recovery needs and figure out which treatment options will be best suited to helping you stop your meth use for good.
If you are struggling with meth abuse and are ready to get clean, help is available. The Rehabs Of Armerica recovery team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect you with treatment programs that can help you stop using meth for good!
Call now to speak with one of our recovery representatives, and we will answer all of your questions about the treatment process, and help you find affordable rehab options nationwide. Whether addressing concerns about your insurance, treatment location, or anything else you need help with, we have got you covered.
Long-term recovery is possible, so pick up the phone, and get started on your path to sobriety with the Rehabs Of Armerica recovery team, today!
Urine tests can detect meth for up to 72 hours after initial drug use. It is worth knowing that as methamphetamine metabolizes into amphetamine, your urine sample can show positive for both substances.
Most often, a urine test will have a detection window of about 3-5 days after the last dose. Such a time frame is extended for frequent meth users, who may have a positive result on a urine test for as long as a week after their last use.
A drug test can show a positive for meth without drug use or can be mimicked by other drugs. Amphetamines, whether prescribed or illegal, will show a ‘false positive’ that can be construed as meth use in some cases. Certain cold medicines and nasal inhalers can cause this result, as can medications like Trazodone and Wellbutrin (bupropion) among others.
The typical detection window for methamphetamine is up to 72 hours, though this is for a urine sample rather than a blood test or other form of testing. Heavy users can expect this window to expand up to a week. At up to 90 days, hair follicle testing has the most extensive time for detection, though this method is used less frequently outside of law enforcement or casino staff settings.
Nicole R. is an experienced and accomplished writer with special interests in the fields of Anthropology, English, and behavioral health, and has written countless articles for newspaper publications, institutional research journals, and Find Addiction Rehabs.
Her alma matter is Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. Nicole hopes to spread awareness of and combat the stigmatization surrounding addiction and substance abuse treatment through her writing and work in the field.
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