Drug test

A drug test is a way to check if certain substances are in someone’s body. Scientists look at samples like urine, hair, blood, breath, sweat, or oral fluid/saliva to see if specific drugs or their by-products are present.

Drug tests are used in many places. For example, they help make sure athletes are not using unfair performance boosters like steroids. Employers and law officers also use them to check for drugs prohibited by law, such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin. Police often test for alcohol in the blood using a device called a breathalyzer.

In sports and workplaces, most drug tests use urinalysis. There are many ways to do these tests, and they can differ in how exact they are and how long they can detect a substance. Sometimes, drug tests also measure the exact amount of an illegal drug to help people use drugs more safely.

Detection periods

The time it takes to find drugs in a test depends on many things, like the type of drug, how much was used, how often it was used, and the person's health. For example, some drugs can only be found for a few hours after use, but their breakdown products can be found for several days in urine.

Hair tests can show drug use from months ago because the breakdown products stay in the hair. Oral fluid and breath tests are also used, but they work a bit differently for some drugs. Some places, like California, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, New York, and Vermont, do not allow certain quick oral fluid tests in workplaces.

Types

Urine drug screen

Urine tests are often used because they are not very expensive. This is one of the most common ways to check for certain substances in the body. The test looks for these substances or their breakdown products in the urine. It does not show exactly when or how much someone used.

Breath test

Main article: Breathalyzer

Breath tests are a quick way to check if someone has alcohol on their breath. Special machines can measure how much alcohol is present. These tests are commonly used by police to see if drivers have been drinking.

Hair testing

Main article: Hair analysis

Hair tests can show if someone has used certain substances over the past few months. This type of test is sometimes used by courts or employers. However, it may not always show recent or very infrequent use.

Presumptive substance testing

These tests can help figure out if a suspicious powder or substance might be a certain type of drug. They work by mixing the substance with special chemicals that change color if a drug is present. These tests are often used for general screening.

Saliva drug screen / Oral fluid-based drug screen

Saliva tests can show if someone has used certain substances very recently, usually within a few days. They are good for detecting very recent use but have some limits.

Sweat drug screen

Special patches can be placed on the skin to collect sweat over time. This can show if someone has used certain substances over the past couple of weeks. These tests are used in some special situations.

Blood

Blood tests are very accurate for showing if someone has a substance in their body at that moment. However, they need special equipment and trained people to do them.

Random drug testing

Random tests can happen at any time, often when there is a reason to think someone might be using a substance. These tests follow strict rules to make sure they are fair.

Diagnostic screening

In emergencies, doctors might test for many different substances to find out what is causing unusual symptoms. These tests can also be done after someone passes away to help understand what happened.

Optional harm reduction scheme

Some events offer voluntary testing of substances to help people know what they are taking and avoid risks.

Occupational harm reduction strategies

Some workplaces, like airlines, use random testing to make sure employees are not using substances that could be dangerous while working. This is meant to improve safety, though it is not always clear how much it helps.

Commonly tested substances

Recreational substances

Anabolic steroids

Anabolic steroids are used to improve performance in sports. Because they are not allowed in most big competitions, drug tests are often done to make sure players follow the rules. This is especially important in individual sports like athletics and cycling.

Methodologies

Before testing samples, the seal on the container is checked to make sure it has not been broken. If the seal looks damaged, the sample is not tested.

There are different ways to prepare samples for testing. Urine and saliva can sometimes be tested directly, but other samples like hair, blood, and sweat need special preparation. For example, hair is washed and broken down before testing.

Testing is done in two steps. The first step is a quick screening test to see if any drugs might be present. If this test suggests drugs may be there, a more detailed confirmation test is done to be certain. Most labs keep positive samples for a while in case there are questions later.

Urine drug testing

Urine tests are the most common type of drug test and are used in many places, like workplaces. They have been used in courts for over 30 years. These tests can check for many different substances.

Spray drug testing

Spray or sweat tests are easy to collect and do not need a bathroom or a lab. However, they can only detect a few drugs and can be more expensive.

Hair drug testing

Hair tests can show drug use from a longer time ago compared to urine or sweat tests. They are often used by big companies and the military. Hair grows slowly, so it can show drug use from up to several months ago. These tests usually look for breakdown products of drugs rather than the drugs themselves to avoid wrong results.

Legality, ethics and politics

When the government requires drug testing, it often has similar effects to letting industries test their workers on their own. Some believe this could be done more cheaply without government rules.

A psychologist, Tony Buon, has spoken about issues with using drug tests at work. He says the tests don’t always work well in real life. He also points out that because it’s easy for workers to trick the tests, they must be watched closely, which raises questions about privacy and fairness.

In the United Kingdom, some people think forcing workers to take drug tests might break privacy laws, except in jobs where safety is very important.

In the United States, President Ronald Reagan introduced rules for drug testing government workers in jobs where safety mattered. These rules were challenged in court. Many companies started testing their workers after being encouraged by government groups. Some companies reported better productivity and fewer workers leaving after starting drug testing.

In Australia, businesses must make sure workers aren’t putting themselves or others at risk due to alcohol or drugs. They are encouraged to create policies to manage these issues, including education and support for workers. All drug testing in Australia must follow specific standards.

Refusal

In the United States, if someone under supervision for a crime refuses a drug test, their supervision may end automatically.

In Victoria, Australia, drivers can choose not to take a drug test. If they refuse once, their license will be taken away for two years and they will pay a fine. Refusing a second time leads to a four-year license ban and an even bigger fine.

Historical cases

• In 2000, a mining company in Australia asked its workers to take drug tests. The workers refused because a positive result did not mean they were impaired at that moment. The company did not pay them for a week.
• In 2003, some players on the Chicago White Sox thought about refusing a drug test to push for stricter rules about steroid testing.
• In 2006, many volunteer librarians in Levy County, Florida quit their jobs instead of taking drug tests.
• In 2010, some weightlifters in Iran refused to take a drug test required by their league.