Do Drug Detox Kits Work?

If you’re planning on buying a detox drink or kit to help you pass a drug test, you’re going to find a lot of expensive products. But you aren’t going to find reliable solutions.

Drug detox kits and drinks claim to help you pass a drug test by boosting your metabolism or by diluting your urine. Some kits also include chemicals that mask the presence of drugs or drug metabolites in bodily fluids.

For example, heroin stays in your system a short time before the body converts it to 6-MAM, a metabolite that can be detected in urine for less than a day after heroin use. An oxidant, such as halogen or nitrite, can destroy the 6-MAM metabolite in the urine and prevent it from showing up on a drug test.

However, these methods do not help you pass a drug test, according to the American Association for Clinical Chemistry and multiple drug testing companies.

Companies test for adulterants that can mask the presence of drugs in test samples. If lab tests detect these chemicals, the sample becomes invalid. The lab can also put the sample through additional testing to remove the adulterant and try to determine the drug that’s being masked.

Detox kits and drinks can’t alter the body’s metabolism significantly enough to help people pass a drug test.

Other Methods for Beating a Drug Test

Using someone else’s urine is one of the most common ways people try to beat drug tests. It can be effective if the person doesn’t get caught smuggling urine into the testing facility.

However, test collectors measure the urine’s temperature shortly after it’s received. Submitting a sample that’s too hot or cold can immediately invalidate the test.

Diluting the sample by drinking too much water or by consuming detox drinks can also invalidate the test. Testing companies measure ratios of certain chemicals in urine to determine if it’s diluted or not. Unintentionally drinking too much water can invalidate a sample.

Adding chemicals, such as soap, bleach or detox products, directly to a sample is an easy way to invalidate a test. These adulterants show up when the companies test the validity of the sample.

Drug Test Myths

The internet is full of myths and faulty science about how long drugs stay in the body. For example, some people may be misled into believing that cocaine use is rarely detectable because cocaine stays in the system for a short time. The drug is detectable in urine for about a day.

However, cocaine’s metabolite benzoylecgonine can be detected for up to two days in saliva and up to four days in urine.

Many people think that tests can’t detect alcohol once a person is sober. That may be true for blood tests that measure a person’s blood alcohol content. However, the metabolites of alcohol stay in the body for about a day.

Some people who smoke marijuana think a last-minute workout or cleanse will help them pass a drug test. Marijuana can remain in the body for up to 30 days if the person is a heavy smoker. Drinking water, exercising and taking detox supplements doesn’t significantly affect the time it takes to clear marijuana metabolites from your body.

Abstaining from alcohol or drug use is the only way to reliably pass a drug test. If you’re unable to quit using drugs, you may have a serious disease called addiction. Getting drunk or high isn’t worth losing your job or violating probation. If you’re taking these risks anyway, you should consider talking to your doctor or family about treatment for addiction.

Medical Disclaimer: DrugRehab.com aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.

Author

Chris Elkins, MA, Senior Content Writer, DrugRehab.com

Chris Elkins worked as a journalist for three years and was published by multiple newspapers and online publications. Since 2015, he’s written about health-related topics, interviewed addiction experts and authored stories of recovery. Chris has a master’s degree in strategic communication and a graduate certificate in health communication.

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@ChrisTheCritic9

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View Sources

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