Drug testing, also known as drug screening, is the process of analyzing an individual’s blood, saliva, hair or urine sample in order to find trace amounts of ingested drugs in the human body. The process of drug testing no longer needs to occur in specially designed laboratory settings but can happen in the privacy of your own home or business with the same accurate results for a fraction of the cost. Many people have unanswered questions about the screening procedure and below you will find the most frequently asked questions regarding home drug tests.

What are the different types of drug testing kits?

There are 3 main types of home drug testing kits; saliva, hair and urine. A saliva drug test requires a cotton swab be placed in the mouth and is considered the least intrusive of the home testing methods. A hair follicle drug test necessitates a small clump of hair, including the roots, be plucked and shipped away for results. The hair drug test can trace drug use back the farthest but also has the longest wait for results. Urinalysis, or the urine drug test, is the most common, cheapest, and provides the quickest results in only 5 minutes.

Which illicit substance is abused the most?

The most commonly abused drugs by teenagers and young adults are marijuana, cocaine, and prescription drugs like Vicodin, Xanax and Oxycontin. Adults commonly abuse cocaine, methamphetamines, and opiate based drugs like heroin and morphine. Screening options for these drugs vary; from single drug test kits to 5-panel drug test kits which can detect traces of the 5 most regularly abused substances.

What is a false-positive?

A false positive is when a drug user attempts to cheat or hide their substance abuse during a home urine drug test. Most addicts will attempt to drink excessive amounts of water or ingest outside chemicals designed to fool the urinalysis. Understandably, parents or employers who choose to utilize drug testing kits want to be assured that the results are as accurate as possible. Fortunately, instances of false positives have been significantly reduced as the technology of drug testing continues to be refined. Today’s drug testing kits guarantee accuracy rates of up to 99%, a success rate which is due to their ability to distinguish between actual illicit substances and similar substances which may be ingested through normal eating, dietary supplements, or vitamins.

Is drug testing a proven deterrent to drug abuse?

Employers need to be sure that their cost outlays are recouped by the tangible benefits of drug screening, while parents want to know that their efforts are really making a difference in their children’s lives. Based on the enormous amount of data collected by employment drug testing programs and parent and school surveys during the last 20 years, drug testing is an extremely effective option for preventing addiction. Randomly administered drug tests, whether given in the home or office, remove the opportunity for an individual to covertly use illicit substances. If a person knows that they will be tested for drugs sometime in the near future, the chances that they will choose to use illegal drugs are tremendously reduced.

Finding the answers to frequently asked questions about drug testing will arm you with the knowledge you need to protect you household or workplace from the dangers of drug abuse. Protect your family, protect your business and protect yourself by administering your own drug testing policy today.