The Risks and Reality of Using Baking Soda to Pass a Test
For those abusing illegal drugs, just the idea of having to take a drug test can make them desperate to find any means of avoiding a positive result. This can include following risky methods of fooling drug testing methods and their results.
One such method that has recently gained popularity is the baking soda flush. With its easy accessibility and affordability, using very ordinary household items like baking soda to pass a drug test can be a fairly appealing concept.
However, there are several risks that come with drug test cheating methods like this one that, unfortunately, many people may be completely oblivious too.
Keep reading to learn more about the potential dangers of doing a baking soda flush, and how you can find help for substance use today instead of trying the ‘pass drug test with baking soda’ method!
What is a Baking Soda Flush?
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is an alkaline substance that can help to neutralize excess stomach acid. When using this over-the-counter antacid to flush the system, it is most commonly mixed in powder form with warm water and quickly consumed.
When using sodium bicarbonate, a chemical reaction takes place in the body, turning substances into either an acid or a base. It is believed that baking soda helps people pass drug tests by forcing the kidneys to remove weak acids faster and before anything else, including an abused drug.
This essentially renders their drug testing sample useless. Some people also believe that baking soda helps pass toxic and unwanted substances from the body and therefore can detox the system. This, however, is simply not true.
It is important to keep in mind that there is little scientific evidence supporting that baking soda mixes can actually detox drugs from the system or fool urine tests and that using this substance to do so can have unpleasant side effects.
Does Drinking Baking Soda Have Potential Health Benefits?
There are some potential benefits to using alkaline substances like baking soda for health purposes. When used in small amounts, baking soda has been found to be effective for treating heartburn and indigestion, as well as a home remedy for nausea when mixed with lemon juice.
Some athletes also use this acidic substance to help prevent muscle soreness through bicarbonate loading. There is also reason to believe that using a baking soda mask can help reduce acne and facial inflammation.
Scientists report that sodium bicarbonate can also be used to treat life-threatening diseases, as well as promote anti-inflammatory abilities in certain parts of the body, primarily the spleen. Of course, these studies are still in the early stages of development and are not conclusive.
Despite the potential health benefits associated with this substance, it is important to remember that taking baking soda should be done in moderation and very carefully to avoid any negative side effects.
Does Baking Soda Actually Fool Drug Tests?
It is not surprising that many people want to confuse drug labs, hoping their at-home remedies will keep them in the clear from having their substance abuse exposed. Unfortunately, finding a reliable method of passing a drug test can be difficult.
While a baking soda flush can seem like a convenient way of doing this, there are several drawbacks to this method. For starters, it is likely only to work on older drug tests and for specific drugs, such as amphetamine drugs. It is a common myth to think that baking soda can regularly help to pass a drug test for meth. Other drugs, like weed or opioids, will likely still be detectable.
Furthermore, baking soda will only be a viable method for bypassing a urine test. Hair follicle tests, blood tests, and saliva tests will all still be able to detect an abused substance, regardless of whether the user has ingested baking soda.
Results Vary Based on Substance and Testing Methods
In most cases, a marijuana drug test will usually require a urine sample for detection, while a methamphetamine test can be better conducted using a blood or hair sample. This means that the one drug that might be obscured by baking soda will likely be detected using a drug test unaffected by this household product.
Furthermore, while several methods of cheating test results can worry testers, baking soda is not one of them. A qualified drug testing expert will easily be able to tell when a urine sample has been contaminated with household items like sodium bicarbonate.
If this is the case, they will disqualify the sample before even testing it for a specific substance. If this happens, you may be required to take the test again or face consequences for attempting to deceive the test in the first place.
The Dangers of Taking Too Much Baking Soda
While taking this substance in small doses can have some health benefits, baking powder’s high sodium content can make it dangerous when used in excess. Depending on how much baking soda was consumed, there are many adverse effects that can occur.
Mildly excess baking soda consumption can cause several uncomfortable side effects including:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
These side effects occur as the body attempts to remove the baking soda from the system and regulate its sodium concentration. More severe metabolic side effects that can also occur include:
- Metabolic alkalosis, or the over-alkalinization of blood
- Sore muscles
- Rupturing of the stomach walls
- Elevated blood pressure
- Heart complications
- Electrolyte imbalances, or hypernatremia
- Low potassium, or hypokalemia
- Kidney failure
- Alkalinization of the urine
Each of these symptoms can be serious, and will likely require medical attention. Unfortunately, many people do not realize the potential harm that can occur when consuming baking soda.
Doing your research before consuming any sort of product is always important to make sure that you are staying safe and informed.
What are the Signs of a Baking Soda Overdose?
If someone takes too large a dose of baking soda, this can cause life-threatening side effects. Some of the severe symptoms associated with taking too much sodium bicarbonate include:
- Constipation
- Convulsions
- Diarrhea
- Feeling full
- Excess urination
- Irritation
- Muscle spasms
- Weak muscles
- Nausea and vomiting
If someone is experiencing any of these symptoms, they will need to seek immediate medical attention and call their national capital poison center as soon as possible.
The Risk Behind Trying to Beat Drug Tests
There are many risks associated with trying to fool a drug test, aside from the various health complications that can come with some of these methods. For starters, it is becoming more and more difficult to actually cheat many drug tests.
As technology advances, so too do effective methods of ensuring that drug tests are not being tampered with or falsified. Many testing sites have also begun enacting stricter security measures to make sure that people are not coming in with false samples and contraband.
It is also important to mention that getting caught for trying to cheat on a drug test can get you into a lot of trouble. When applying for a government job, submitting a false or tampered sample can be considered fraud, which is a federal offense.
Even if you are not applying for a government job, cheating on a routine drug test in your place of employment or when applying for a position and getting caught can result in the loss of your job or rejection from a potential employer.
Stay Out of Trouble with Honesty and a Desire for Change
Perhaps the most serious circumstance in which many people try to fool a drug test is when they are testing for a probation or parole officer. Even though the consequences are greater in these cases, honesty and a desire to seek help are often the best defense for a positive drug test.
Rather than trying to manipulate the sample or your own system, which will certainly be frowned upon by your PO, the admission of drug use and a commitment to get treatment can work wonders.
Overall, trying to cheat a drug test is not worth it. The cons of doing so greatly outweigh the pros, and will ultimately lead you to further stress and trouble down the road. If you are struggling with substance abuse, the best thing you can do is get the help you need to put your life back on track.
If you want to present a solid plan for treatment to your Probation Officer, reach out to Find Addiction Rehabs today. We will help you present options with accredited rehab centers, no matter where you live in the US, to get approved by your PO so that you can get support to put worries about drug testing results in your past for good!
How to Prepare for a Urine Drug Test
If you have an upcoming drug test, it is important to know how to prepare yourself ahead of time. If you have been abusing drugs, the best thing you can do at this time is to be open and honest with yourself.
If you are trying to find ways to cheat your results, then it may be time to look at your habits of substance use. Hiding these habits can be indicative that you have a problem. If this is the case, you may need professional help to get clean.
While drug tests can be a stressful and even debilitating thing to deal with for those struggling with substance abuse, they can ultimately be the push they need to finally seek treatment.
The Next Steps After a Positive Drug Test Result
If you have recently tested positive for a drug test, you may be unsure of how to move forward. Failing a drug test can have serious repercussions, but you do not have to face them alone.
There are several steps that should be taken after testing positive for drug abuse, including:
Finding Professional Help
No matter what your circumstances are, the first and most important thing you should do after coming to terms with your substance abuse is to seek professional treatment. Overcoming drug abuse can be difficult, but it will be absolutely necessary in order to get your life back on track.
In most cases, your treatment will start with a medical detox process, which can help you to gradually stop using an abused substance and safely flush it from your system.
Unlike the various methods used for flushing the body when trying to pass a drug test, medical detox services will make sure that you are safe and comfortable during the early stages of recovery, and that your system is able to adjust to this detox properly.
Once this is done, you may want to continue treatment through a residential/inpatient or outpatient program, as well as various behavioral therapies and other recovery programs.
No matter what your treatment looks like, getting the right help can ensure that you are able to achieve long-term sobriety. The Find Addiction Rehabs team can help you find effective treatment programs nationwide.
Building a Support Network
The addiction recovery process can be a difficult and lonely one, but it does not have to be. There are several recovery support groups and sobriety networks available to help support you as you navigate your road to sobriety.
Whether surrounding yourself with supportive friends and family members or participating in organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), having people to keep you positive and committed to your sobriety can make all the difference in your recovery process.
Practicing Self-Care
Everyone deserves to feel well-cared for, and one of the best people to provide that to you is, in fact, yourself. When on the road to sobriety, you can be your own biggest ally.
Recovery can be difficult, but practicing self-care can help make this a much more comfortable and positive experience. There are several techniques that you can practice to improve your mental and physical well-being, including:
- Maintaining good hygiene
- Having a balanced diet
- Exercising regularly
- Practicing mindfulness
- Meditation and yoga
No matter how you choose to practice your self-care, taking the time to nurture yourself and appreciate the small things can help you maintain a positive recovery mindset and stay focused on achieving sobriety.
Get Addiction Treatment Options Nationwide Now!
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction and are ready to start seeking treatment, the Find Addiction Rehabs team is here to help.
We work with an extensive network of addiction rehab centers nationwide that can serve all of your recovery needs. Our hotline is available 24/7 to answer any recovery questions and connect you with resources, whenever you are ready.
The only person who can make the decision to start living a better life is you. So give yourself the chance you deserve, and call now to get started on your path to recovery today!
