January 18, 2023Tyler Collins
Are you worried about passing an upcoming oral drug test? Perhaps you have a saliva drug test in 24 hours and are worried whether you can pass it? You’re not alone. For countless people in similar situations, the prospect of having their mouths swabbed for drugs can be nerve-wracking.
Whether you’ve been offered a new job, or just want to show your current one that you are taking the necessary steps for a drug-free lifestyle, knowing how to pass a drug test is essential. Drug tests can provide an accurate, efficient way to find out if someone has used drugs in recent days and using saliva drug tests is one way that users can be tested on short notice.
There are a lot of questions that come with these tests. What is a saliva test and how is it different from other testing methods? How long can common drugs be detected in the saliva? What are the common ways people do to pass a mouth swab drug test? Is it difficult to pass a drug test using saliva?
This blog post will answer these questions and provide you with the information necessary to understand how to pass oral swab tests. It will also give you essential information on what you should do to guarantee that you pass the test and remain drug-free.
What Is a Saliva Drug Test?
A saliva drug test is a screening method used to detect drugs or alcohol in someone’s system. Unlike urine or blood tests, which require needles and complicated equipment, saliva tests only require the use of a cotton swab for collection. Thus, it’s also sometimes referred to as a cotton swab drug test.
This method makes mouth swab testing much less intrusive than other forms of drug testing. Furthermore, they are also much faster. Results from a saliva drug test can be available within minutes after collection.
Saliva drug tests are not used for all types of drugs. They are more commonly used for marijuana, cocaine, opiates, and amphetamines. They can also detect alcohol if it is present in the system.
How Long Can Common Drugs Be Detected in the Saliva?
The amount of time that drugs will stay present in someone’s system varies widely depending on several factors. The type of drug, amount of drug taken, frequency of drug use, and the person’s metabolism all play a role in determining how long the drug will stay in their system.
However, generally speaking, a saliva drug test can detect the presence of a drug within 12 to 72 hours. Below are some rough estimates of how long various substances may stay detectable in someone’s saliva.
- Opioid: Up to 4 Days
- Heroin: 5 hours to 24 hours
- Alcohol: Up to 24 hours
- Benzodiazepines (Xanax): Up to 3 days
- MDMA (ecstasy): 24 hours to 48 hours
- Meth: 24 hours to 48 hours
- Adderall: 1 day to 2 days
- Cocaine: 24 hours to 2 days
- Marijuana: Occasional or Moderate User – 1 day to 3 days; Frequent or Extremely Heavy User – 1 week to 4 weeks
It’s important to note that these numbers may vary based on individual circumstances. The above figures are just estimates to give you a general idea of how long saliva drug tests detect different drugs in your saliva.
What Are the Common Ways People Try to Pass a Saliva Drug Test?
People often attempt to cheat on drug tests, including saliva drug tests. Perhaps you’ve read about these methods below that people do to try to pass a drug test.
- Brushing your teeth is said to be a way to mask the presence of drugs in your saliva.
- Eating sour citrus candies as sour candy is said to make your saliva more acidic and sugary, making it difficult to detect drugs.
- Gargling with water every 15 minutes, suggesting that rinsing with water will dilute the concentration of THC and other substances in the mouth.
- Rinsing with hydrogen peroxide.
- Chewing gum to alter the makeup of your oral fluids.
- Eating high fat foods to flush the THC out of your system.
- Avoiding alcohol based mouthwashes as this can lead to a false positive result.
- Avoiding cough medications with codeine.
If you are desperate to pass a drug test, you might be tempted to try some of these methods. Unfortunately, many of these methods are often ineffective – many labs have sophisticated techniques for detecting masking agents and invalidating results accordingly.
How to Pass a Saliva Drug Test – Guaranteed Way
The only way to truly pass a saliva drug test is by abstaining from all illicit substances at least one week prior to taking your test – otherwise you risk failing even if you attempt any of the cheating methods discussed above.
The problem, however, is that there is still the possibility that the drugs can be detected in your system through other methods of drug testing. Some employers and organizations may require you to undergo urine testing or blood testing, which usually have much longer detection windows. This means that the drugs present in your system may still be detectable weeks after abstaining from all substance use. A hair test can even detect the presence of a drug up to 3 months after your last use.
If you are worried about being tested for drugs, one of the best ways to ensure that you pass is by completely abstaining from drugs. To do this effectively, seeking help from a professional addiction treatment center is the best course of action. Quitting cold turkey without professional help is not only difficult but can be dangerous as well.
By getting professional help, you can develop healthy coping methods that will enable you to stay drug-free so you can pass a saliva drug test or any other kind of drug test with complete confidence.
