What is a Detox Drink for Drug Test?
Do detox drinks work for drug tests? What is a detox drink? What are the main active ingredients of a detox drink for drug tests? Detox drinks are a type of beverage such as smoothies, teas, and juices that are manufactured and marketed as a product to help clear the body of toxins usually found in those who use drugs. It is basically a liquid drink one takes in order to help them clear out their system of substances and pass a standard drug test.
Generally, detox drinks are marketed as drinks with two express purposes. The first is a drink designed to help a person pass a drug-screening test. The second is a drink to help minimize withdrawal symptoms from substance use. Manufacturers of these products usually target those who have a substance use disorder and are looking for a way out of addiction.
There are very big claims on these types of detox drinks. However, there is no scientific evidence that proves any type of detox drink can help clear the body of toxins. In fact, the rise in false advertising has prompted the FDA to take legal action against some companies selling detox drinks or cleansing products.
The National Institutes of Health says very few studies have been performed on the effectiveness of detox drinks. Not only that, but only a small handful have resulted in any benefits. Today, there is no official consensus over what these drinks can or should contain and whether or not they are actually effective in what they claim.
What is a Detox Drink for Drug Test?
Detox drinks are made up of a combination of herbs, vitamins, fruits and veggies. Popular ingredients include turmeric, dandelion, vitamin B12, vitamin B2, potassium, lime or lemon juice, ginger, green tea and apple cider vinegar. The ingredients may look safe, but it is not always the case with hidden additives that can be dangerous in themselves.
These beverages claim to contain all-natural ingredients and other synthetic chemicals that can help hide or dilute specific types of drug compounds in the body. They are often advertised without enough support, data-backed research and clinical evidence of effectiveness to vulnerable consumers.
These detox drinks for drug tests are most commonly designed to help users test clean for meth, marijuana or cocaine. It is used to help people who want to consume drugs or alcohol, produce a false and negative test result when testing for drugs.
Common ingredients found in Drug Detox Drinks
- Herbal diuretics – They facilitate urine production, making the person have to use the restroom often.
- Creatine monohydrate – This ingredient is used to build up creatine levels to dilute urine. It is used when urine quality is checked and it helps keep your urine looking normal and natural.
- B vitamins – It is important for your urine to be a natural color during a drug test. B vitamins help put natural essential nutrients in the body to help mask the urine testing sample.
- Electrolytes – Electrolytes make sure the concentration of the drug in your body is at the correct proportion.
Do Detox Drinks work for drug tests?
Drug tests are designed to detect the presence of illicit substances or prescription medication in a person’s system. General drug tests cover illegal drugs like opioids, stimulants and hallucinogens. They also cover prescription drugs like painkillers, sedatives and stimulants like Adderall. They are typically used for educational purposes, legal purposes for job employment, sports purposes for athlete eligibility and in the healthcare system. Drug tests can be in the form of a urine test, a blood test, a saliva test or even a hair sample test.
The body has its own natural way of detoxing. The kidney and liver are two organs at the forefront of helping to filter out toxins from the body. Each person’s metabolic rate influences how quickly and effectively they can naturally eliminate toxins from the body.
The reality is, you cannot speed up the body’s natural detox process. Especially when it comes to drug use. Detox drinks claim to be able to eliminate byproducts of drugs such as opioids or THC from the body. However, there is no clinical evidence or research that supports detox drinks are actually effective and do what they claim.
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How do Drug Test Detox Drinks work?
Drug detox drinks can work in a number of ways. It can hide the presence of drugs, it can destroy the drugs within the system, or it can work by interfering with the drug testing agents in the person’s system.
Sample diluents or adulterants are types of drinks that decrease the concentration of drugs inside the body below the detection threshold. This works to prevent drugs from interacting with the testing agents. Common brands of this type of detox drink include Goldenseal and Mary Jane Super Clean.
Oxidizing adulterants oxide the drugs or their metabolites that hinder interaction with drug testing. It interferes with the reagents used in drug tests. It is the most prevalent type of drug detox drink and is used for passing urine tests. Common oxidizing adulterants include nitrites, chromium, bleach and peroxide.
Other types of detox drinks supply the body with essential nutrients to help maintain the appearance of normal urine during a drug test. Common ingredients include vitamins B2, B16 and B12 along with creatine.
Most common substances Detox Drinks are used for:
- Weed – THC detox drinks contain ingredients such as bleach or table salt, ammonia, vinegar, a type of herbal tea and goldenseal root.
- Cocaine – Cocaine can be detected in urine for up to 4 days after drug use. Common ingredients in detox drinks for cocaine include bleach, herbal tea, goldenseal root and water.
- Benzodiazepines – Detox drinks for these drugs have milk thistle, vitamin C and B to help eliminate toxins and bleach or table salt.
- Opioids – Detox drinks for opioids work by flushing out the substance through urine.
- Amphetamines – The most common ingredients in detox drinks for amphetamines are bleach or table salt and ammonia.
Risks and Side Effects of Detox Drinks for Drug Test
- Detox drinks for drug tests can contain questionable ingredients, which can also lead to risks and adverse side effects. Ingredients such as fiber or laxatives can cause excessive diarrhea, bloating or abdominal discomfort.
- Some drinks have diuretic properties that cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. They contain laxatives that promote flushing of the system of harmful drugs, but when large quantities are ingested, it can also lead to severe kidney dysfunction and heart disease.
- Other drinks contain a high sugar content that can impact a person’s blood sugar levels.
- Certain types of herbs, fruits and veggies within detox drinks can trigger allergies. Ingredients like burdock or dandelion can trigger allergic reactions. Ingredients like cayenne pepper and green tea can provoke gastrointestinal irritation. And drinking large quantities of vinegar, usually present in drug detox drinks, can cause diarrhea.
- Some studies have indicated that dependent use of detox drinks can lead to psychosis, aggression and liver dysfunction.
- Other dangerous side effects of drug detox drinks include seizures, high blood pressure, renal failure, stroke, Cushing syndrome, anemia and abdominal pain.
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Treatment for Substance Use Disorder
The effectiveness of drug test detox drinks is widely debated. They are unregulated and some may even contain illegal and harmful ingredients. There is no documented evidence that proves they work to help you rapidly detox from substances and in some cases, can actually cause more harm than good. At Hotel California by the Sea, we provide a professional medical detox program for those with substance use disorders.
We offer treatment at all levels of care including detox, residential, PHP and IOP. We utilize evidence-based treatments such as CBT, DBT and MAT. Hotel California by the Sea is dedicated to helping clients achieve their goals in sobriety and overcome their addiction.
References:
https://ophelia.com/blog/dextox-drinks-and-opioids
https://recovered.org/blog/drug-detox-drinks
https://addictionresource.com/drug-detox/detox-drinks
https://www.nursingscience.org/top-detox-drinks-for-drug-test
https://www.bicyclehealth.com/suboxone-faq/do-detox-drinks-work-for-eliminating-opioids-from-the-body
