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Addiction to Drugs/Can cold pills & Infection Pills show up a false positive for cocaine

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Expert: Caroline West - 6/1/2009


Question
My boyfriend took a drug test and it showed a positive faint line for cocaine. That is impossible he said. He had taken amoxicillin, allergy multi-symptom caplets,sudoxone, xanex within 24 hours of this drug test. Can any of these medications show positive for cocaine?

Answer
Hi Jenny,

One reason for Cocaine coming up positive on the urine test is because maybe in some over the counter medicines they may contain derivatives of Cocaine and that shows up positive for it. But which drugs on the pharmacy meds? you have to do a bit of investigating to see what possible ingredients has caused it. (I know some meds cause heroin to come up as positive but to be honest I have never heard of a med causing a Cocaine positive)

OR-he may have smoked a joint with a pal and it had Coke in it

OR-(and take this on board or not, up to you) he may have had some and he has lied.

To find out for sure is to have a Swab test done which is very accurate and gives many more information on what actually caused the positive. But these Swab Test are expensive and not all clinics do it but thats the sure fire way of detecting exactly what caused the Cocaine positive.

Do some further investigations and look at all the possibilities.

All the best, Caroline

Addiction to Drugs

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Caroline West

Expertise

My expertise in this area is in illicit/street drugs as well as some over the counter and prescription drugs/meds. I can answer questions about most illicit drugs and prescription drugs. I can offer advice on Opiate maintenance drugs like Methadone, Subutex and Suboxone,and the process of going through a Detox and/or Rehab. I understand the problems Drug use can cause regarding convictions and debt problems. There is a difference between recreational drug use and drug addiction and can answer questions on both. Relationship advice if you or your partner is using and can offer help there too. Drug addiction is no joke and it can shatter the lives of the family as well as the user so I can also offer help and advice to friends and family. Drug dependency creates a great deal of issues both mentally and physically and left untreated can lead to poor Mental Health, Psychological and Physical harm and worse. Life can become unmanageable in many ways including work and schooling alongside breakdowns in relationships,risk of convictions and a reduction in personal care. I can offer advice and support in all these areas having been in them and now out of them.

Experience

I have had multiple drug addictions in the past that have included Cannabis,Heroin,Crack,Benzo's,Codeine and over the counter tablets as well as prescription medicines and taken near enough everything. It caused a great deal of problems in my family and I also had suffered breakdowns,Hospitalizations,suicide attempts,convictions the lot. I had been in a 7 year drug using relationship which was tough. I've come out the other end now and haven't used illicit drugs for 5 years. I really do understand what it is like for the user and those around them.

Organizations
I am in 4 other categories here at All Experts: Abusive Relationships; Borderline Personality Disorder or BPD and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy or DBT which can simultaneously help those with BPD and with Drug/Alcohol Problems; and Teenage Problems. I also belong to Care2.com which helps various causes all over the world.

Education/Credentials
I have schooling up to A-Level standard,College Diplomas and what I offer here is valuable 'life experience'.

Past/Present Clients
I have done this voluntary job here at All Experts for about 3 years now.

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