Expert: Patricia M. - 10/3/2011

Question
This is a long post, but the question itself is short, this is mostly background info.

I am a 24 year old male, I weigh between 150 - 160 lbs and I am 5'10. I am very active, maybe not as much recently, but I walk at least a half our everyday (I used to play a lot of sports but have been busy the last couple months so I haven't been played very much)

For the last 7 years I have had the worst insomnia, that I beleive has ruined my life. I've been fired from jobs for not being able to get up in the morning because I sleep so late, I've failed/dropped classes because I couldn't make it on time, and the low quality of sleep I've been getting has made me feel like shit all the time.

It should also be noted that I used to be strongly against smoking weed, and looked down upon people that did it. For one reason for another, I tried smoking about 4 months ago, and it was the best thing I've ever done. Ignoring all the other ways it benefited me, I was able to sleep early and get quality sleep (It should be noted that I have only smoked with a medical card for my insomnia, I tried all the pills you could imagine and even the one's that worked had side effects where the bad outweighed the good.)

The problem now is I JUST found out I'm being tested for a job (Last second thing, I wasn't expecting to be let go from the job I'm working at) and I'ts going to happen in about a week. I've stopped smoking for 2 days, and have gone online and looked for some ways to help flush the THC out of my system, but I don't know if it's all for not.

Is there a point in trying to flush it out or is it impossible? I've smoked everyday, but not a large amount, and took a month off of smoking in the summer (I wanted to stop smoking out of bongs and saved money for a vaporizer).

Do you know of any "proven" ways to pass the drug test. I will try just about anything to pass, because I feel like my need for sleep and my need to pay rent are about equal.

Also: I have confirmed they don't want someone even with a medical card, but I live off of minimum wage and I live paycheck to paycheck.

Thanks,
Tony

Answer
Tony,
Sorry, but I forgot to mention one important thing that ANYONE should tell you before they sell you a cleansing product. Don't forget to drink lots of water every day before your test, and ESPECIALLY ON THE DAY OF THE TEST. This not only dilutes your urine via your kidney and urinary system (which is very healthy anyway), but also works by pulling the THC out of your cells faster. However, I have seen people come into question when their urine is too diluted, simply from drinking lots of water so they can urinate in front of a staff member. Those are the kinds of drug tests I feel are the most unfair: When a staff member has to go into the bathroom and observe you getting the specimen! Riduculous! But, I've seen in happen many times, usually in rehab centers, and before they started testing hair. I had a good friend who is also a nurse who simply had a random test since she worked at a hospital. Knowing that she was "shy" with someone watching her "pee" she drank about a quart of coffee and water prior to the test so she could go easily. Because her urine was very light yellow they questioned it, and required her to retest! Of course, she was clean, but how degrading is that!!?? They also have methods of testing the temperature of the urine as well as the pH. Perhaps that is one of the reasons that testing has gone from urine to hair.

I really do wish you well. Yes, I'm a nurse who has practiced for many years. Yes, I believe in safe workplaces free of alcohol and illegal drugs. However, I am so very against these kinds of invasive tests. About 13 years ago before they used hair, I was tested routinely and they found AMPHETAMINES in my urine. Well, I was shocked. However, all I had to do was speak with a knowledgeable pharmacist who explained that since I was using sinus medication and nasal sprays just so I could breathe through my nose (!) they were metabolized in the body and appeared the same as amphetamines, or methamphetamine, speed, even cocaine. Even though this pharmacist spoke with my employer it still put a big question on me. They thought I was using cocaine or meth, and I have never even touched either! My job actually came into question, and I had no recourse without consulting an attorney. This was simply a routine drug test; this should never, ever happen, especially in America. So, you can understand my strong feelings regarding these issues.

There are many variables that come into play with drug testing. There are so many over-the-counter drugs which will give a False-Positive result that it is truly scary. Good case in point is the Afrin Nasal Spray I was using when I had a cold. It is entirely possible that large (very large) quantities of caffeine can show up as a stimulant such as amphetamines. Caffeine is, after all, a central nervous system stimulant as amphetamines and cocaine are. Yet, we all drink it daily, and with Red Bull on the market it is entirely possible to have it spill over into our urine to show up as a drug! Do you see what I'm saying? Eating poppy seed breads or muffins can also give false-positive results for opiates. Large amounts of Robitussin or other cough medications can give positive opiate results, as well. I'm not sure of anything that would give a false THC result. However, another thing I omitted to tell you in my previous note is that, unfortunately, marijuana stays in the system for UP TO A MONTH after use. I know that's not good news for you, but that's why you are going to look into getting a cleansing kit. I worked for a very short while in a rehab center. (It wasn't my cup of tea, so to speak), but the general rule of thumb was that cocaine stayed in the body for about 48 hours; opiates for 72 hours; marijuana stayed up to a month. The marijuana-using patients' drug tests were repeated each week, and even though they continued to be positive, we ran a 'quantitative' test which showed how much THC was present, and if it indeed was decreasing in quantity, which it should be if the patient was staying off the marijuana. Believe me, I saw several false-positive results in that job. On most occasions it was evident that the patients were lying, but there is a huge margin for error, and I saw some patients discharged and taken before a judge due to the positive tests. I just think there should be a better, more thorough and FAIR method of testing. And, another point: If we, as the public are allowed to go home after work and drink alcohol, why is it not OK to go home and smoke a joint or use another drug? I know that doesn't sound consistent with my position as a healthcare worker, but I have seen lots of injustices in the drug testing area. You can tell I feel strongly about it!

Here is another website you can get some good information from. The site I sent you previously will probably list this one, but I want to make sure you have access to it: www.PassYourTest.com. Also, don't neglect visiting one of those "paraphernalia" shops to see what they have to say. They may be much more savvy than myself on this subject.

As I said, I'd surely appreciate hearing back from you. I hope you can find something to help you and that you find employment. I really do.


TONY,
I RECEIVED THIS QUESTION IN MY POOL. DID I NOT ANSWER IT FOR YOU PROPERLY, OR DID YOU NOT RECEIVE IT? PLEASE LET ME KNOW, AND I'LL RESEND MY ANSWER. OR IF YOU NEED MORE HELP LET ME KNOW ASAP. I'M CONFUSED, BECAUSE I THOUGHT I HAD ANSWERED YOU. PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
THANKS, PATRICIA M.