How Drug Testing Works?

It is necessary to use drug tests when there is suspicion that a person is using psychotropic/psychoactive substances. In addition to changes in a person’s behavior, uncontrollable reactions, puncture marks, and bruises, there are extremely medical indirect signs of using active substances. These are primarily changes in the eyes (more dilated or, on the contrary, narrowed pupils, “cloudy” eyes), changes in digestion (refusal to eat, increased appetite, sudden weight loss, stool disorders), and changes in coordination (staggering, incoherent speech, slow movements).

Variety of Drug Tests

Drug tests detect both individual types of drugs as well as cannabinoid-derived narcotic substances. Without specialized knowledge, it is difficult to suspect a particular drug. That’s why there are a variety of comprehensive tests that you can find here. Different tests can detect several types of drugs at once. The test result can be known after only a few minutes with an express test.

What Happens During Testing

All testing is based on an antibody-antigen interaction reaction. When testing for drugs, a urine sample is often used. A test strip is immersed in it with “samples” of the drug on it. Accordingly, when the sample interacts with the substances that are formed in the human body after taking drugs, the color on the test strip changes. It should be noted that traces of drug ingestion persist in the body for some time. Most comprehensive tests can determine:

Codeine, Heroin, and Morphine

The three most common substances in the opiate group are codeine, heroin, and morphine. Their traces remain in the body for two days after ingestion.

Ecstasy

Ecstasy (the most famous drug of the amphetamine group) is very common among teenagers due to the improvement of mood and pronounced hallucinations that start after its intake. In overdose, blood pressure changes develop, and death from heart failure is possible. With prolonged use, hypertension and insomnia develop. This is one of the most dangerous drugs for teenagers, which they think are harmless pills. Traces of amphetamines persist in the urine for three days after ingestion.

Marijuana

Synonyms for marijuana are cannabis, weed, hashish, and dope. Causes unmotivated cheerfulness and laughter, leads to dilated pupils, thirst, and flushed face. There is a specific, easy-to-perform drug test that allows you to qualitatively, even at home, determine, with the help of special test strips in the urine test, whether a person has used marijuana.

Barbiturates

The fairly high prevalence and availability of sedatives and hypnotics containing barbiturates lead to a high risk of using these substances as narcotics. A drug test can detect barbiturates in the urine for one to three days after ingestion (up to 72 hours).

Methamphetamine

One of the most dangerous drugs that lead to the development of paranoid psychosis. The substance is in the urine for 24 hours after use.

Benzodiazepines

These substances belong to the class of tranquilizers and are prescribed as sleeping pills, sedatives in the treatment of depression, and some diseases that require correction of the nervous system (irritable bowel syndrome, neurodermatitis). However, abuse of drugs can take on the features of drug addiction. It should be taken into account that these substances are detected in the urine within a week after intake.

Don’t miss the moment

When there is a suspicion of a person’s drug use, experts advise not to lose time, and with the help of tests to determine the problem and as soon as possible to go to the experts. Drug tests can be carried out at home; they do not require special sampling (blood tests), only a portion of urine. At the same time, such testing will detect the most common and most dangerous drugs and not lose precious time that should be used to save not only the health of the person but also his life.