Heroin Assisted Treatment

Introduction

Hi Guys and welcome to my blog about opiate addiction. Summer is right around the corner and I must say, it feels good. The warm weather is certainly a plus and the combination of free time and nice weather has allowed me, and I'm sure many others, the opportunity to partake in some of our favorite activities, sports, and enjoyments that tend to disappear during the cold winter months. I always thought of summertime as the best time to get off opiates with the warm weather (I absolutely despise the chills associated with withdrawal), time off from school or work (vacation?), and the general sense of mellowness most associate with the summer. I hope my blog can help anyone who is thinking about or currently partaking in a life without opiates.

I also want to alert you guys about a new section of my blog that I have recently created and published. This new section will provide readers with various graphs, photos, charts, figures, and the like that can be used as a reference page for the related post that you are reading. For example, if the post you are reading is about the effectiveness of Suboxone treatment programs, you may read a sentence that says "Suboxone has had various levels of success in relation to specific age groups, which can be seen in Figure 25". You can then check out the new section to view this table, chart, graph, or photo. I will still include these illustrations within the posts themselves as well with the idea of this new section being that users can view these items at later times. The section is simply a normal post created in the usual fashion of my other posts and is labeled as "Tables, Charts, Photos, Figures, and Graphs Reference Page". The section can be found by simply clicking HERE. It can also be found on the homepage of my blog which can be accessed by clicking HERE. This section will be updated constantly and will be effective for any posts published after June 6, 2013.

On that note, I would like to use this post to discuss a topic that I recently came upon that has been meet with much criticism and debate; heroin assisted treatment.

Heroin assisted treatment is a method of treatment that is used to help treat opiate addicts (heroin addicts) by using the drug diamorphine/diacetylmorphine, commonly referred to as heroin. The drug is given to addicts under supervision with dosages being gradually lowered over time to help minimize withdrawal from the drug. I must say, I was really shocked when I first heard of this method and was pretty curious as to how effective this method of treatment really is. A doctor giving heroin to an heroin addict to help combat addiction seemed almost surreal and bizarre when I first came upon this treatment option.



Pharmaceutical Heroin Today
Figure 36

After doing some research on the issue, I began to gain a better understanding of the procedure and started to see the concept behind it. Some within the addiction community see heroin assisted treatment as a means of treating addicts with a drug that is "cleaner" than what they would normally be getting on the street while also having the drug administered in a safer fashion and dosage than what they would otherwise normally be practicing. This method of treatment is somewhat similar to what doctors sometimes do to aid patients who have been prescribed opiates over an extended period of time get off opiates by tapering the patient's dosage over a period of time with the eventual goal of coming off opiates altogether.

Obviously there is a major difference between tapering prescription painkillers with tapering heroin but the overall concept remains, for the most part, quite similar. This method of treatment is without a doubt one of the more lesser preferred methods of treatments but is still nonetheless actively used in some countries. With the methods, beliefs, concepts, medications, and technology constantly changing within the addiction community, it is not that unrealistic to think that this kind of approach (or one similar) of treating those who struggle with opiate addiction reaching other countries or facilities over time. Thus, I would like to go into further detail about this matter by talking about the exact nature of heroin assisted treatment, its history, where it is used, its effectiveness, the risks and benefits, and finally, my opinion on the matter. To make things a little easier on myself and your eyes, I will be using the acronym HAT at times to refer to heroin assisted treatment.

 

What is Heroin Assisted Treatment and How Does It Work?

Heroin assisted treatment (HAT) is the "prescribing of a synthetic heroin, in an injectable or capsule form, to opiate addicts that do not benefit from or cannot tolerate treatment with one of the established drugs used in opiate replacement therapy such as Methadone or Buprenorphine (Suboxone)". Under this method of treatment, heroin is administered under the supervision of a doctor with the dose being gradually lowered over time. Similar to how doctors taper patients off of prescription painkillers, the goal of heroin assisted treatment is to eventually wean the patient off of the drug in an effort to minimize withdrawal. After gradually tapering down to a fairly low dose of heroin, patients will sometimes then be switched over from the heroin to a low dose of Suboxone or Methadone for a brief period of time before jumping off opiates altogether.

The method of treatment allows addicts to identify and learn about their addictions with the hope that these addicts can learn to cope with their addictions and eventually achieve sobriety. By having the heroin administered under medical supervision, the risk of overdose, disease, criminal activity, and costs are lowered or minimized. Heroin assisted treatment is available and practiced in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom while experimental trials are currently being conducted in Canada and Belgium. Meanwhile, the policy has been heavily criticized and opposed by many within the United States with Methadone, Buprenorphine, and total abstinence being the more preferred and favored methods of treatments for opiate addiction.

The history of heroin assisted treatment began in the United Kingdom during the early 1920s and was commonly referred to as heroin maintenance. The method of treatment was available to a select group of patients, with many ironically being doctors themselves. Due to the close relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom along with the United State's strong anti-drug stance in what would eventually be labeled as the War on Drugs, the use of HAT experienced a sharp decline beginning in the 1960s. However, the method of treatment begun to see somewhat of a resurgence beginning in the mid 1980s and has since found a niche within the addiction community today with the United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Switzerland notably maintaining an active role and voice in the policy today. Germany and the Netherlands actually include the treatment option as a component of their national health care systems.

Bayer Prescription Heroin in 1910

Figure 51

The way in which the heroin is prescribed and administered varies from not only country to country but from clinic to clinic as well. For most patients who are partaking within a treatment program offering heroin assisted therapy, the patients are usually given their dose of heroin under the supervision of a doctor or medical professional. This course of action is preferred as it can help reduce the chance of the heroin being abused or sold on the streets. However, the United Kingdom is unique in that it sometimes allows patients who have demonstrated a sense of trust and responsibility to take home their heroin prescription or to have to only show up to the clinic once a day rather than several times throughout the day due to heroin's short acting half life. It is important to note that while this may seem rather extreme as well as the fact that the United Kingdom is one of just a few countries where HAT is legal, less than 1% of all opiate replacement treatments for heroin in the United Kingdom are heroin assisted treatments.

Clinics in the Netherlands meanwhile often require patients to make at least two visits per day to obtain their doses of the heroin with the option of being able to take home a single dose of methadone each day. Switzerland handles their treatment programs by at first requiring patients to make daily (sometime multiple times per day) visits to obtain their doses with the possibility of patients being able to take home a pill form of heroin after the patient has demonstrated a sense of trust as well as being able to obtain employment.

Patients are sometimes prescribed Methadone in addition to the heroin to help provide relief for withdrawal if the heroin wears off before the patient is able to obtain their next dose. The use of heroin in treating addicts is seen as a way in combating what has been viewed by many as an epidemic that is growing in size and severity each day. Still, there is much fear that this method of treatment can be dangerous, contradicting, and ineffective with many fearing the possibility that the drug can make its way to the streets. Similar to the way in which concerns surrounding Suboxone and Methadone affected programs, this has resulted in tight regulation and supervision of the clinics and doctors who offer this option of treatment.

The Pros and Cons of Heroin Assisted Treatment

As you can probably already gather, there are several pros and cons of heroin assisted treatment. The method has been met with its fair share of intense criticism with many feeling that it is simply a means of providing addicts with their drug of choice, holding little to no value in actually treating their addictions. There is also the issue of the prescription heroin possibly getting out onto the streets. We have already seen just how easy it can be for prescription painkillers to make their way onto the streets and into the hands of addicts each and every day with little disturbance or interruption. With the heroin used for HAT programs most likely purer and with little to no additives (cuts) than most heroin found on the streets, there runs the possibility that drug dealers and addicts may see this as a means of making profits or getting high. Think about how often you hear about a corrupt doctor or pharmacist who wrongfully prescribes, steals, or sells prescription drugs for profits. Well, what would stop these same kinds of people from doing the same exact thing with heroin?

Another cause of concern involves the safety of the patients themselves who are partaking within an heroin assisted treatment. Heroin is a dangerous drug and is certainly one of the more common opiate culprits behind overdoses and opiate-related deaths. Doctors will have to use extreme caution in not only determining how much heroin is safe enough to administer but that there is enough administered to help provide relief from withdrawal. I ask myself, what happens when a patient with an extremely high tolerance to heroin enters treatment? The patient will most likely require a dose of heroin that could be considered dangerous in order to minimize withdrawal. Is the risk really worth it or would the patient be better served with a drug such as Methadone or Suboxone? I'm sure programs offering this type of treatment have thoroughly thought these concerns over but it begs to ask the question, how safe, supervised or not, can administering heroin really be?

The Success of Switzerland's Harm Reduction Programs

Figure 53

The benefits of heroin assisted treatment are a little more difficult to identify and support. A good comparison of HAT would be to the harm reduction programs that several cities across the world run. These programs are created and implemented with the hope that they can reduce and minimize the various risks and negative consequences so often associated with drug use. An example of a harm reduction program would be a needle exchange clinic in which IV users of heroin can drop off dirty or used needles in addition to being able to obtain new and clean needles. The program helps prevent needles from being carelessly tossed on the ground where they could be picked up by an innocent child or accidentally poking someone who unintentionally comes into contact with the  carelessly disregarded needle. Needle exchange programs also discourage needle sharing which can result in the spreading of diseases such as hepatitis or HIV/AIDS. This is critical as diseases such as these are very present within the world of drug and its inhabitants.

I mention the comparison of the needle exchange programs in relation to the heroin assisted treatment option because both concepts are meant to reduce the risks and harm that often come along with using a street drug such as heroin. Supporters of programs such as these see heroin use as a problem that is difficult to stop or even prevent and look to ways to help deal with the problem at hand through harm reduction rather than the difficult and, unfortunately, often unrealistic attempt to eliminate heroin use totally. To sum it up, supporters of these programs feel as through quitting heroin cold turkey or with drugs such as Methadone or Suboxone is too ineffective for some select addicts such that using heroin under a supervised tapering regimen is the next best option. A good saying for this particular scenario is that heroin assisted treatment is the lesser of two evil when compared to heroin use on the streets.

Sign for a Needle Exchange Program

Figure 54

Another benefit that is used to support HAT is that the method of treatment can reduce criminal behavior and costs. Addicts partaking in one of these programs would be obtaining their heroin legally (man that sounds crazy, doesn’t it?) through a doctor’s prescription rather than buying it off the streets from a drug dealer. Addicts will also not have to pay anywhere near as much as it would cost to maintain a habit of buying heroin off of the streets. This would, in theory, reduce the need to commit criminal acts such as theft, drug dealing, prostitution, and violent crimes to support one’s habit. Ultimately, this combination would result in fewer arrests and incarnations. Who would have ever thought that giving heroin to heroin addicts could reduce criminal behavior?

A final benefit that one could associate with HAT is that the method of treatment would be much safer for the addict than if they were purchasing and using heroin from the street. Because individuals within the program would have their doses overseen and administered by a medical professional rather than the addicts themselves, the risk of overdose is greatly decreased. More often than not, heroin is rarely pure, often containing a variety of additives. Occasionally these additives can result in serous illness or death due to the presence of harmful additives, allergic reaction, or the inclusion of more potent drugs (such as Fentanyl). Another factor to consider is the overall nature of the heroin underworld and drug game, which is often filled with dangerous places, acts, scenarios, and people. No one is going to get harmed or killed in a medical facility or treatment program over bag that was shorted or because someone didn’t pay back some money or drugs that they were loaned.

So, Just How Effective is Heroin Assisted Treatment?

Trying to determine the overall effectiveness of heroin assisted treatment in comparison to more traditional methods such as opiate replacement therapy, AA/NA, or total abstinence is, for the most part, quite difficult to determine.

In North America and Europe alone, there are an estimated 2-4 million heroin users with 1-2% of this population prematurely dying each year. The social, economic, and medical costs attributed to heroin use is believed to be in the billions of dollars in addition to the thousands of individuals serving sentences in prisons, jails, hospitals, and institutions each year. In other words, heroin has had a major impact on society and this holds true to not only the addicts themselves, but to everyday people as well. Every day, family members and friends lose loved ones to heroin addiction, be it from incarnation, destroyed relationships, or death. Heroin use is unfortunately a growing problem that looks like it is here to stay. This is all without mentioning the enormous impact prescription painkillers such as Oxycodone, Oxycontin, Dilaudid, and Fentanyl have had on society as well. 

There are a few studies out there that have been conducted over the last 25 years in regards to the effectiveness of heroin assisted treatment. It is a lot of information to digest in these studies to the point that it wouldn't really be appropriate to include all this information in this post. Rather than copying and pasting all this information into this post, I thought it might be a better idea to include the links to these studies below. I will also touch upon some of these findings in my own words below as well as providing you guys with some of the more important results of these studies. The following links below this paragraph will bring you to these studies. The first link is a detailed study conducted by the European Monitoring Centre for Drug and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) that provides a great insight on the matter. I defiantly recommend checking it out if you have the time even through it unfortunately requires you to download the document after you click on the link (it is, however, free and on a secure site). The articles are as follows:

EMCDDA "New Heroin Assisted Treatment Findings"

Heroin Assisted Treatment, A Decade Later: A Brief Update on Science & Technology

Heroin Assisted Treatment/Heroin Maintenance

Heroin Assisted Treatment for Opiate Addicts: The Swiss Experiment

Heroin Assisted Treatment in Europe: A General Overview

Between 1994-1996 , a study involving the effectiveness of heroin assisted treatment was conducted by an independent research team consisting of members from the Addiction Research Institute and the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine at the Swiss university, Zurich University. The study demonstrated several positive results in regards to the effectiveness of HAT. The link to the study is the 4th link above this paragraph and can also be accessed by clicking HERE. Some of the findings include (in blue font): 

"The safety of patients and staff could be evidenced (no fatal overdose from prescribed substances, no successful thefts or deviation to the illegal market, few cases of violent behavior). In contrast to expectations, the daily dosages of Diamorphine could not only be stabilized, but were slightly reduced over time. Many patients preferred to combine injectable Diamorphine with oral methadone, in order to have more freedom to resume school attendance or employment"

"The consumption of illegal / non-prescribed substances while being on the program was reduced significantly (especially the daily use of heroin and cocaine, to a lesser degree the regular use of Benzodiazepines). Cannabis use on the other hand remained essentially unchanged, but without noticeable effect on treatment outcome."

"Regarding social integration, it may be mentioned that homelessness was significantly reduced, while reintegration into the regular labor market proved to be more difficult. Most spectacular was the reduction of criminal activities according to self-report and police data (Killias & Rabasa 1998)."

"Retention in treatment was superior to what is observed in other forms of treatment (76% over a 12-month period). 60% of discharged patients could be transferred to a regular treatment program within 18 months (about half of those to drug-free programs)."

In 2000, a second systematic follow-up study was made (Güttinger, Gschwend et al, submitted). The study included 244 patients covering a period of 6 years. At that time in 2000, 46% of patients in the previous study were still in treatment while 48% of discharged patients had entered a regular program. The study also provided a comparison of those still in treatment with those who were discharged showing the following information (again, in blue font):  

 

- a significant reduction in illegal heroin, cocaine and Benzodiazepine use in both groups

- no reduction in cannabis use in both groups

- a significant reduction of homelessness in both groups

- no reduction in unemployment in both groups

- a highly significant reduction in living from illegal income and in new court cases.

The results of the Swiss study clearly illustrated mostly positive outcomes for patients involved in the heroin assisted treatment trials. Despite these results, the study stresses that it is not recommending heroin assisted treatment as a first line of defense in the battle against opiate addiction. Rather, the method of treatment should be reserved for a select few individuals, focusing on those who are 1) using heroin and 2) have been unsuccessful with other lines of treatment in the past such as Methadone or Suboxone. In other words, someone with an addiction to prescription painkillers shouldn't attempt to go this route as it geared more towards heroin addicts as a last resort. Using heroin, whether in a program or not, can at times be like playing a game of Russian roulette as the potential risks, addictive nature, and reputation of the drug are all well documented. Heroin assisted treatment should thus be reserved for those heroin addicts who have exhausted nearly all other possible options (with little to no success) such as abstinence, Methadone, or Suboxone before looking into a HAT program.

 

Now lets take a look at a study conducted in the Netherlands in which injectable Diamorphine (heroin) was administered to patients. The group receiving the injectable heroin was compared with a group receiving Methadone. The Dutch study showed that after twelve months, client retention rates were higher for the Methadone group compared to the heroin assisted treatment group. However, patients in the heroin assisted treatment group responded better than those in the Methadone group in regards to aspects such as comfort level, side effects/reactions, and overall cost effectiveness of program. The overall findings of this study demonstrated that the group receiving the heroin assisted treatment was usually nearly equal to or greater than (although not by substantial margins) in most factors of the study than the group in which members were administered Methadone.  

A quick summary, conveniently in the form of a table, of a few of the studies conducted that focused on the effectiveness of heroin assisted treatment can be found by clicking HERE.

 

A final aspect to look at when determining the effectiveness of heroin assisted treatment is the availability of the program. As I mentioned earlier in my post, HAT is quite limited in that it is only legal and available in a select few (five to be exact) countries and even in those countries, the number of heroin assisted treatment programs is small. I bring this issue up because what good is a treatment option when it is close to impossible to find or partake in. To demonstrate to you guys just how few HAT programs there are worldwide, take a look at the number of HAT programs in each of the five countries where the method of treatment is legally available.

Country                                   Number of HAT Programs

Denmark                                             3

Germany                                             7

Netherlands                                        17

Switzerland                                        23

United Kingdom                                3

 

 

My Final Thoughts and Opinion on Heroin Assisted Treatment

Over the past decade, the world (especially the United States) has seen what appears to be an epidemic in regards to the abuse of prescription painkillers and opiates. Thus, we must learn new ways to deal with this growing and demanding problem. Is heroin assisted treatment the perfect solution to this problem? Of course not, but neither are drugs such as Suboxone or Methadone. For some, these methods of treatment work wonders while for others they are ineffective. Rather than praise one method while bashing another, we should give each method a fair and efficient evaluation determining what works and what doesn’t. Would I consider HAT a solid solution to opiate abuse or something I would try myself? My answer is probably not, but I believe that if it truly works for some people, then it has its place within the addiction community.

What I’m trying to say is that if it works for some people, is proven to be relatively safe and effective, and is used the right way, then who am I to say it does or doesn’t have its place within the addiction community. For example, I am currently on less than 1 mg of Suboxone a day after being addicted to over 200 mg Oxycodone for roughly two years. I have been on the Suboxone for a little over a year and through a supervised taper regimen, have found the drug to be a total godsend. However, there are some people who feel Suboxone just doesn’t work well enough for them and would prefer other means such as Methadone maintenance, AA/NA meetings, or total abstinence to treat their addictions. If those routes work for you, than all the power to you with the most important thing at the end of the day being whether or not you are clean off of opiates or are, at the very least, heading into that direction through your method of treatment.

Typical Outpatient Clinic

Figure 55

I look at heroin assisted treatment as a more untraditional means of tapering just like how someone would be tapered off of a prescription painkiller. I think a lot of criticism surrounding HAT programs is due to the stigma that revolves around heroin. Most people, rightfully so at times, see heroin as an evil, dangerous drug that has no place in the medical community. Yet when you get down to the main ingredients in most prescription painkillers, they are almost the same ones usually found in heroin, often coming from the same kind of plant. Because these prescription painkillers are made in a factory or lab, there is often a sense of false security that comes with them. Well guess what, at the end of the day both heroin and prescription painkillers can cause addiction and both result in similar withdrawal. To provide you guys with a metaphorical example, think about marijuana. There is a difference between some high grade marijuana and some low grade mids. Yet, at the end of the day, they are both kinds of marijuana.

The best way that I can describe how I feel about HAT is to tell someone to try to look at the relationship and similarities between heroin and prescription painkillers in the big picture. By big picture, I am referring to looking at where both come from, the similarities in the highs between the two, the withdrawals that can accompany both, and the devastating consequences that both can have on people and those around them. Is it really that insane to think and see the similar nature between both beasts? Sadly, I think it is not that crazy to think and see such as thing.

To reiterate and summarize my final thoughts on heroin assisted treatment, I say that while it is something I would never consider partaking in myself (if it were legal in the U.S.), I think that the method of treatment is deserving of further attention. As of right now, I feel this method of treating addicts leaves far too much opportunity for it to be misused or abused. I admit that I could certainly use more information or firsthand accounts of the process that one undergoes when getting into one of these programs as well as more information as to how they usually operate.

Under the proper supervision and environment, I feel there is potential and promise for this concept. However, the idea of giving someone with an addiction to heroin the opportunity to take home doses of the drug seems a little absurd to me in that I feel the potential for abuse or misuse is too great to allow someone to take home and administer the drug themselves without the supervision of a medical professional. I have met and seen firsthand several addicts with prescriptions to Suboxone and Methadone who do not take their medications as prescribed or even sell them as a means of supporting their habits. Thus, I don’t believe it is too farfetched to see something like this occurring in a program that offers heroin assisted treatment.

Conclusion

Well, I think this post might take the icing on the cake for the longest post that I have written thus far. If you read it all, especially in one sitting, I would like to thank you for taking the time to do so. I hope you found this post interesting and if you are someone in a country where heroin assisted treatment is legal and are considering this method of treatment, that you found this post was helpful. I would love to hear what you guys think of this topic under the comment section so please don’t hesitate to drop a comment. If you have any firsthand experience with HAT, I would greatly appreciate your input on the matter.

As always, thanks for reading Guys. Don’t forget about the new section in my blog that allows readers the opportunity to view the various pictures, graphs, charts, figures, and tables used throughout my blog. I think this section will be especially helpful for referencing items as well as allowing readers the opportunity to look something up that they may have read in one of my previous posts. I can only hope that my next post is as exciting and interesting as this one as I must admit, it is at times getting more and more challenging to find and write about fresh and interesting topics. I guess that's part of the fun as well. I have certainly learned a lot since I wrote my first post roughly a year ago.

Well, my time is now up and I thank you for yours. Take care my friends and remember…in even the darkest places and times, there is always light so don't hesitate look around a little bit to keep seeing that light! It’s there somewhere, I promise.

Be safe, be healthy, and most importantly, be happy.

-Seeingthelight

Things I Miss & Don't Miss About Using Opiates

Hi Guys and welcome to what is now my 22nd post for my blog about opiate addiction. As always, thanks for reading and a special thanks to those who take the time to comment. Now lets get down to business. I would like this post to discuss some of the things I miss and don't miss about using opiates. Most of the readers out there viewing this post will probably relate to this list and might even share in common a few of the items on the list as well.

I think a lot of addicts at one point in their lives make a list inside their heads about some of the pros and cons of being an addict. Obviously, the cons outweigh the pros nearly every time but that won't usually stop addicts from remembering or reminiscing about the days when they got high. I know I do sometimes. There are some aspects of using that I miss terribly but there are also many things I am glad are in the rearview mirror for now and hopefully forever.

Thus, I would like to provide you guys with a list of some of the things I miss most about once having and maintaining an addiction to opiates in addition to some of the things that I am so glad are now no longer part of my life. This post will be pretty short (shocking!) in comparison to some of my other posts as I would like to leave a lot of room for the readers to comment and share some of their likes/dislikes during their time of using opiates as well as any experiences during their addiction to opiates. These experiences can be funny, sad, shocking, or perhaps a combination of all three. As always, feel free to disclose as much or as little as you would like about your experience with opiate addiction.



The Things I Miss:

• The simple feeling of getting high

• The ability to numb any emotion, pain, worries, sorrows, stress, and such with the simple addition of a drug such as an opiate.

• Getting high and hanging out with friends or at social gatherings

• Some of the goofy and funny experiences that you say, do, or think when you are high

• Some of the trips or adventures that come with scoring or looking for drugs

• The rituals or habits that each and every addict has with getting high

• Knowing that I can probably never again use "here and there" without going back to old habits

• Not having anyone to answer to because no one yet knows your dirty, little secret

• Having to leave behind or limit my time with some people, some of which my own good friends, who use like to use

• Having no one aware of my addiction and not being known as someone with a "bit of a past"

The Things I Don't Miss:

• Spending all my money on drugs and constantly being broke all of the time

• Having to lye, cheat, or steal to get high and afford having an addiction to opiates

• Letting down those closest to me such as friends and family

• Being dishonest with my friends and family about where I was going, what I was doing, and who I was associating with

• Having to act like a totally different person to hide my addiction from friends and family, commonly referred to as living a double life

• Putting my mind, body, and health at risk

• Taking risks that could potentially lead to getting arrested or going to jail/prison

• Participating in shady or sketchy situations with just as shady and sketchy people

• That feeling in the back of my mind that I know what I am doing is wrong and that I am a better person than the one I am becoming

• Having to constantly worrying about being able to afford my next score or whether my dealer will be carrying or around

• Seeing people I grew up with suffer from an addiction, some possibly losing their freedom or even lives.

• Having to wait around for sometimes hours for my dealer to meet up with me even when he said "just 15 minutes" three hours ago. Sometimes I would waste an entire day just waiting around and looking for drugs or my dealer.

• Having to scrap together change or pawn things to be able to afford my next score

• The constant fear of withdrawal

• Waking up every morning feeling like absolute crap and having the urge to immediately score and get high only to feel and act the same way the next day

• Having to work or go to school without being able to use and feeling like total crap

• Feeling like I am unable to accomplish anything without being high or at the very least not withdrawing

• Using just to feel normal or comfortable rather than actually getting high

Conclusion

Well Guys, that's all I could come up with for right now. I'm sure there are quite a few things I either forgot about, overlooked, or simply took for granted. If you have been following my blog, you know that I am currently taking part in a outpatient Suboxone program. I am now taking .5-.75 mg of Suboxone once a day and feel pretty good about myself and my situation. I haven't been perfect but can say that I am doing a hell of a lot better than I was just a year ago. Over the past year, I would say I have been sober around 345 of the roughly 365 days that I have been in the Suboxone program. Again, not perfect but much better than being high 365 out of 365 days a year I suppose.

I will be making the jump off of Suboxone fairly soon and will have to face a life of no opiates, even ones like Suboxone. I know this is going to be a tough challenge and will require a lot of willpower and strength but I am confident that I have put myself into a better situation. I send my support and best wishes to those who are in a similar situation or who are using and are really thinking about taking the big step of getting clean off opiates. It's not easy and takes a lot of work but is so worth it in the long run. I always ask myself, how many opiate or heroin addicts do I know with 20 or 30 years in the game or who are over 60? Not many. Most, unfortunately, end up either dead or in jail/prison if they are not able to change their lifestyle. You won't find a happy, successful, and well addict who has been in the game long enough.

As you can see from this post, there are certainly some things I really miss about getting high and using opiates. When I decided to get on Suboxone and stop abusing Oxycodone, it almost felt as if there was a void in my life, a feeling of as if I had just lost a good friend. I have heard from other addicts who feel the same way and most attribute this feeling due to the changing of lifestyle by removing something that was such a major part of your life. I miss the feeling of getting high, goofing off with my buddies who liked to use, and the general feeling of warmth that opiates brought. In the past, whenever I was stressed out, depressed, or angry I would turn to Oxycodone as a means of coping with these emotions and feelings. The Oxycodone would numb the pains and struggles of every day life that everyone experiences, addict or non-addict. Our drug of choice was a way out and something that was usually always there for us, providing us with a sense of security and wellness. However, these feelings were false feelings of happiness and enjoyment.

Today, there are still times when my mind tries to talk me into using again or even stopping Suboxone. A voice that appears all too often tempts me with things such as "you've done such a good job lately, why not take a break and have a little fun?" or "Man, remember how fun getting high used to be? Don't you miss it?" I have to remind myself of all the times that I suffered when I couldn't afford or find my next score in addition to some of the things that I had to do to get or afford my next high. I have to remind myself of the withdrawals, the mornings where I would wake up hurting, and the numerous times alone in which I would ask myself, sometimes in near tears, "what got me here and why do I continue to do this to myself?" Most of the time this is enough to deter me from using but like many other addicts fighting the same battle, I sometimes lose and crack.

My point is, we must remember both the good and bad aspects of our addictions and hopefully this will allow us to see that our time using drugs usually led to more bad things than good. We must learn from our experiences and really get a grasp on our minds and bodies. Learning why we get the urges to use and what causes these urges are extremely important and is something I am still doing today. I believe things really do get better over time but as addicts, we will always have to stay on point and look over our shoulders for the demons that we once thought of as our "friends." If we can successfully do this, we can learn ways to cope with the urges and cravings that can so often be dangerous and tempting.

I would love to hear from you guys about some of the things you miss and don't miss most about your addiction to opiates. Please feel free to leave a comment in the comment section telling us about these things as well as any questions or experiences you would like to ask or share. I think that by talking about things such as this with one another, we can learn from and relate to one another. We are all in the same boat fighting the same thing, so why not put our minds together to talk, get things off our chest, and hell, even have a good laugh over some of the silly and desperate things we once did.

When you attempt to put opiates in your past and out of your life, try to think of it as if you are holding a funeral for someone you once knew. Share and remember the good, the bad, and the ugly experiences that you once had with your old "friend" and decide that it is now time to move on to greater things. Think to yourself that while it was fun while it lasted, it eventually had to stop. We're now burying an old friend (our addictions) and looking to move on with our lives.

Remember Guys, there is always a brighter day after a dark night so never let anyone or anything put or keep you down. An addiction to opiates is one hell of a battle but never less, it is a battle that can be won. Keep seeing the light, stay strong, and remember that you can do this if you put your mind and heart into it.

Best Wishes,

Seeingthelight

Opiates and Drug Screens/Tests

Introduction

Having to take a drug test or drug screen can sometimes be a difficult task and time for some within the opiate addiction community. Some struggle to stay clean and away from opiates making the thought of having to take a drug test a total nightmare. Others simply have difficulty in having to submit a sample right on the spot or in front of someone supervising them. All and all, having to take a drug test is something most, if not all, of us truly despise and loathe.

As someone who has to take a drug test/screen about once a week for the Suboxone program I am currently in, I can honestly say that it can be a real pain in the butt sometimes. It can be not only a nuisance at times but can also be a nerve wrecking and, at times, even humiliating experience. Even when I know for sure that I am clean, I sometimes think in the back of my mind "what if something strange happens and my sample gets contaminated?" Or perhaps, "what if I eat or take some kind of medication that results in a false positive?" These questions are, for the most part, rather silly but still add to the stress of having to be drug tested. Not to mention, having to submit a urine sample in front of someone is something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Seriously, where do they find those people who are comfortable and willing enough for that type of job?

Most of us here reading this blog are probably familiar to drug tests through things such as work, rehabilitation programs, opiate maintenance programs, or legal issues. At times, these tests can be time consuming, degrading, and even expensive in some cases making drug tests that much worse. I have heard from and talked to a few people in Suboxone programs whose insurance won't cover drug testing requiring them to pay anywhere from $20 to almost $200 for a drug test. So it goes without saying, that while drug testing can help one stay away from opiates by having someone to answer to if they relapse, the process can certainly have it's strain on an individual.

As I mentioned earlier, I have to get drug tested almost weekly due to the Suboxone outpatient program I am currently partaking in. I have been involved in this program for close to a year now, starting out at 4 mg of Suboxone once a day. Today, I am now at .75 mg once a day and am confident I am moving in the right direction. This program has resulted in me taking around 40 drug screens in which about 4-5 were supervised. Thus, I feel I have a relatively good deal of knowledge and experience in regards to taking drug tests.

I created this blog to help people as much as I can and have always wanted to be straight up and honest with each and every reader who takes the time to read my body of work. In this post, I will talk about the detection times in certain drugs, my experiences with getting drug tested, some ways to defeat or possibly avoid having to take a drug test, and finally, just some basic information about the topic. I want to make clear that I am not encouraging anyone to go out and get high or to get high every day until you have to stop for a few days to clean out your system to beat a drug test. That is NOT the point of this post. Rather, I hope this post will provide readers with a sense of knowing what to expect when having to take a drug test and if they do mess up and mistake of using their drug of choice, all might not be lost. On that note, lets begin.

Some Quick Information About Drug Testing

Some reasons for why a person may have to take a drug test include the following:

Pre-employment or random, work-related drug testing to identify on-the-job drug abuse

 Drug treatment programs such as Suboxone and Methadone maintenance programs

 Legal Issues such as parole

Drug testing for college or professional athletes

Post-accident drug testing - a vehicular or on-the-job accident which may have involved human error and resulted in casualties or property damage

Safety-related - if an employee's job could lead to safety issues if judgment or physical ability were impaired

Like I always say, everyone and their bodies are different and unique in each person's own way. Thus, someone might be able to get a drug like Oxycodone out of their system in two days while someone else may need close to an entire week. As of right now, there is really no definite way or formula out there to know whether or not you will pass a drug screen unless you test yourself beforehand with an at home drug test. There are ways to perhaps determine your chances of passing/failing but even then, these are just estimations.

One can usually go out with little trouble and buy drug screens/testing kits at pharmacies such as CVS, Walgreen, and Rite Aid. Testing kits such as these range from a few bucks to close to a hundred dollars and can vary in reliability. The more expensive ones are usually more accurate and test for a variety of other drugs while the cheaper ones often test for less substances and can sometimes be less reliable. Please be aware that some of these drug testing kits do not test for Oxycodone, even if its says on the packaging that it does test for opiates. Oxycodone is unique in that it is an opioid rather than an opiate which can result in a negative result in some products even if you have used Oxycodone. This can be true with other drugs so make sure you are sure that the drug testing product you are getting and using is appropriate for your situation. Most professional lab tests and technicians, however, will be able to detect and differentiate these kinds of drugs.

There are numerous aspects that can affect whether or not one passes or fails a drug screen. In my opinion, one's metabolism is perhaps the most crucial. I know some people, as well as reading from others online, that those with a fast metabolism can often get drugs out of their system relatively fast. One's health, activity level, diet, and health can all affect the body's metabolism thus having quite an impact on the chances of someone testing negative or positive for drugs on a drug test. Usually, the younger, healthier, and more active an individual is, along with their physical make-up (body fat, muscle mass, etc.,), the less time it will take to get out of one's body.

It is also important to know that the cutoff limit of the drug test can play a role as well. The cutoff limit is the maximum amount of the presence of the drug allowed that can be present in the individual's drug test without failing. Cutoff limits are usually higher in employment drug screens and lower in treatment programs or parole. If you are nervous about whether or not you can pass a drug screen, the higher the cutoff limit, the better.

Some important factors to take into consideration about the length of time it takes for a drug to leave one's system can be found below.

Amount and Frequency of Use:

-Single, isolated, small doses are generally detectable at the lower boundary. Chronic and long-term use typically result in detection periods near or at the upper boundary.

Metabolic Rate: 

Individuals with slower body metabolism are prone to longer drug detection periods.

Body Mass: 

In general, human metabolism slows with increased body mass, resulting in longer drug detection periods. In addition, THC (marijuana's active ingredient) and PCP are known to accumulate in fatty lipid tissue. Chronic users, physically inactive users, and individuals with a high percentage of body fat in relation to total body mass are prone to longer drug detection periods for THC and PCP.

Age: 

In general, human metabolism slows with age, resulting in longer drug detection periods.

Overall Health: 

In general, human metabolism slows during periods of deteriorating health, resulting in longer drug detection periods.

Drug Tolerance: 

Users typically metabolize a drug faster once a tolerance to the drug is established.

Urine pH:
          Urine pH can impact detection periods. Typically, highly acidic urine results in shorter  detection periods. 

 

Half Life

 

Perhaps the next most important aspect of determining one's chances of passing or failing a drug test involves the drug's half live. A drug's half life is "the time required for a quantity to fall to half its value as measured at the beginning of the time period." In other words, after a specific period of time, the amount of the drug one used will be spilt into half. For example, the half of Oxycodone is roughly 4-6 hours. If someone were to consume 60 mg of Oxycodone, the amount of this drug after 4-6 hours would be equal to around 30 mg. Another 4-6 hours later, there would be around 15 mg of Oxycodone in one's body.

 

The half life varies greatly from drug to drug. Most opiates have relatively short half lives meaning they are out of one's system pretty quick. However, some drugs like Suboxone and Methadone meanwhile take much longer in comparison to most opiates while Marijuana is notorious for having one of the longest half lives in the world of drugs. Some quick research and a little math can go a long way in helping one with determining their chances of passing or failing a drug test. Remember, this formula isn't 100% accurate but is rather more of a general guideline to use.

For more information on the half lives of drugs, click on the links below. The final (3rd) link below is a great video that provides a quick understanding of drug half lives.

University of Nottingham - Half Life of Drugs

Wikipedia Biological Half Life

Drug Half Life Video

 

 

Common Types of Drug Tests/Screens

 

There are several methods a doctor and lab can use to drug test individuals. The most common types are urine, blood, hair, and saliva. The most common kind of drug test out of these four methods is the urine drug screen. This test is usually pretty cheap, fast, and reliable for the most part. Urine drug screens can usually provide evidence of drug use for some drugs over the course of a few days to even weeks. Blood and saliva tests are less common  but can be effective in determining whether someone recently used over a 24-48 hour period. These tests are used frequently in things such as a fatal car accident as the test can determine what kind of drugs (if any) were used over the last day or two. Hair follicle testing can provide positive results of drug use for weeks and even months after using but these tests are much rarer than urine screens. Some information on these types of drug testing can be found below. 

 

1) Hair Testing: 

Hair analysis to detect drugs of abuse has been used by court systems in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and other countries worldwide. In the United States, hair testing has been accepted in court cases as forensic evidence following the Frye Rule, the Federal Rules of Evidence, and the Daubert Rule. As such, hair testing results are legally and scientifically recognized as admissible evidence.^. Most hair tests screen and confirm for the main drugs of abuse (Cocaine, Amphetamines, Methamphetamines, Opiates, PCP, and Marijuana).

Hair testing for alcohol markers is now recognized in both the UK and US judicial systems. There are guidelines for hair testing that have been published by the Society of Hair Testing that specify the markers to be tested for and the cutoff concentrations that need to be tested. Drugs of abuse that can be detected include Cannabis, Cocaine, Amphetamines and drugs new to the UK such as Mephedrone.

2) Urine Testing:
Drug Screens are reported as PASS, or FAIL with urine reported invalid or adulterated.
When an employer requests a drug test from an employee, or a physician requests a drug test from a patient, the employee or patient is typically instructed to go to a collection site or their home. The urine sample goes through a specified 'chain of custody' to ensure that it is not tampered with or invalidated through lab or employee error. The patient or employee’s urine is collected at a remote location in a specially designed secure cup, sealed with tamper-resistant tape, and sent to a testing laboratory to be screened for drugs (typically the SAMHSA 5 panel). The first step at the testing site is to split the urine into two aliquots. One aliquot is first screened for drugs using an analyzer that performs immunoassay as the initial screen. If the urine screen is positive then another aliquot of the sample is used to confirm the findings by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC-MS) methodology.

If requested by the physician or employer, certain drugs are screened for individually; these are generally drugs part of a chemical class that are, for one of many reasons, considered more abuse-prone or of concern. For instance, oxycodone and diamorphine may be tested, both sedative analgesics. If such a test is not requested specifically, the more general test (in the preceding case, the test for opiates) will detect the drugs, but the employer or patient will not have the benefit of the identity of the drug.

Common Urine Drug Testing Kit

Employment-related test results are relayed to an MRO (Medical Review Office) where a medical physician reviews the results. If the result of the screen is negative, the MRO informs the employer that the employee has no detectable drug in the urine. However, if the test result of the immunoassay and GC-MS are non-negative and show a concentration level of parent drug or metabolite above the established limit, the MRO contacts the employee to determine if there is any legitimate reason—such as a medical treatment or prescription.

On-site instant drug testing is a more cost-efficient method of effectively detecting drug abuse amongst employees, as well as in rehabilitation programs to monitor patient progress. These instant tests can be used for both urine and saliva testing. Although the accuracy of such tests varies with the manufacturer, some kits boast extremely high rates of accuracy, correlating closely with laboratory test results.

3) Saliva Testing:
Saliva oral fluid-based drug tests can generally detect use during the previous few hours to roughly 3 days. THC may only be detectable for less than 12.0 hours in some cases. On site drug tests are allowed per the Department of Labor.

Detection in saliva tests begins almost immediately upon use of the following substances, and lasts for approximately the following times:

• Alcohol: 6–24 hours
• Marijuana: 24-36 Hours

4) Blood Testing:
Drug-testing a blood sample measures whether or not a drug or a metabolite is in the body at a particular time. These types of tests are considered to be the most accurate way of telling if a person is intoxicated. Blood drug tests are not used very often because they need specialized equipment and medically trained administrators. They are also the most expensive method of testing out of four mentioned here and are usually reserved for criminal cases such as DUI's, vehicular homicide, and the like or during investigations regarding work place accidents.

Depending on how much marijuana was consumed, it can usually be detected in blood tests within six hours of consumption. After six hours has passed, the concentration of marijuana in the blood decreases significantly. It generally disappears completely within 30 days. Most opiates can usually be detected in the blood for no longer than 24-36 hours.

 

Some Ways to Defeat or Get Around a Drug Test

 

While I recommend being honest with your doctor, family, friends, or hell even your parole officer, I know that situations do arise when one must truly find a way to successfully pass a drug test. Below I have included a few options one can attempt to use to defeat or get around a drug test. Please remember that there is no fool proof plan that works every time and to use caution with any of these scenarios. There are a number of factors one must consider before trying any of these "tricks". A good place to start is to find out as much information as you can about the kind of test you are taking and the usual habits and steps the testing facility you are at commonly takes. Try to study, learn, and remember things such as how they go about testing you, where they keep the samples and how they handle them, whether or not you are supervised during your test, and such. The more you know, the better off you will be. Also, please note that these scenarios are meant to work for only urine drug screens.

 

1) Diluting Urine:

 

Diluting one's urine works by drinking a large amount of water in hopes of diluting one's urine so much that there will be little to no traces of drug use in the urine specimen. Diluting is defined as "to make a liquid thinner or weaker by adding water or another solvent to it". Most opiates are water soluble, meaning they leave the body through urine and sweat while staying outside of one's fat cells. The reason a drug such as marijuana takes so long to exit the body is because it stores itself in one's body fat. The traces of marijuana stay much longer in the fat cells than they would if they were stored somewhere else in the body. Opiates, meanwhile, usually leave the body much quicker and are often stored in the blood distributed throughout the skeletal muscle, liver, intestinal tract, lungs, spleen, and brain. Opiates are then usually excreted through urine and sweat.

There isn't really much of a clear cut answer out there as to whether or not drinking large amounts of water can actually make one "flush out" their systems faster but it is proven that drinking a solid amount water shortly before submitting a drug test can certainly dilute the urine specimen enough to force a negative result. In other words, don't count on drinking large amounts of water to flush out your system faster. Instead, the focus should be on using the water to dilute one's urine.

Most labs can and will test for dilution so someone attempting to try this route should come prepared. I have read that taking the Vitamin B-12 a few days leading up to as well as the day of the drug test can help keep your urine a yellowish color. When you attempt to drink enough water to dilute your urine, your urine will most likely come out looking like, well, water. Having very clear and lightly colored urine is usually a clear indicator for lab technicians that an attempt at dilution has been made so it is important you are able to get around this. Dilution can also affect Creatine levels in the urine so taking a Creatine supplement the week of your drug test may also prove beneficial if you are considering submitting a diluted sample.

It is important to be aware that some labs, treatment centers, and parole officers can reject urine specimens that are considered too diluted resulting in the individual having to retake the drug test or worst, face possible failure. Labs can measure and judge things such as urine color, smell, Creatine levels, zero gravity levels, and temperature so be sure to do your research beforehand and plan ahead for the worst. If you are absolutely positive you are going to fail your drug test and don't want to come clean with whomever is testing you, diluting your urine may result in you having to retake the test which can possibly buy you a few days to get clean. This is especially true if the drug test is sent off to a lab as it will take the lab some time to get your results, providing you with even more time to get clean. If the testing and results are collected onsite, then it may prove extremely difficult to get around this. 

 

2) Urine Substitution

 

Urine substitution can involve two scenarios. The first is using synthetic urine which can be brought at certain specialty stores (think smoke shops) as well as online. I have no experience with using synthetic urine but I do know that recently, the more complex and evolving field of lab testing can easily determine most of the time whether the urine specimen on hand is actually real urine. Again, there are literally hundreds of different kinds of drug tests and testing facilities and some will be more modernized and efficient than others. One person may be able to get away with using synthetic urine at one test site while another may fail miserably.

Synthetic urine was a great tool to use in the past but as technology has advanced, its effectiveness has been somewhat diminished. From what I have read, synthetic urine can be effective for cheap drug tests that are commonly used at employment drug screening but are usually no match for drug testing in scenarios such as Suboxone/Methadone programs or parole. At the end of the day, I really recommend not going this route as it just seems far too risky (even for this kind of matter).

 

The other kind of method of urine substitution involves using someone else's urine who is clean from drugs. This could be a friend's or family member's urine sample that you would collect, carefully package, and bring to the testing facility with you. You can than simply add the substituted urine from your friend or family member into the specimen cup needed for the lab. However, there are a few potential complications or problems that could arise from this method.

 

First, you want to make absolutely sure that who ever you are getting the substituted urine from is a healthy individual who is clean of drugs. This can be a problem for some addicts as most addicts are friends with or hang around with, well, other addicts thus potentially resulting in one's search for clean urine being difficult and limited. There are literally hundreds of myths and urban legends out there on the internet about drug testing and I am not sure if this is simply one of them but I have heard labs can tell the difference between male and female urine so you may want to take that into consideration. Again, this may be just one of many invalid claims surrounding drug testing but it is good to be better safe than sorry.

A second potential complication that could arise is if you have to submit your urine sample in front of someone that will watch you while you do your business. This person's job is to look for any suspicious behavior indicating cheating or altering the results of your drug test as well as making sure the specimen is handled properly with little chance for contamination. To get around this issue, some people use a tool called a Whizzinator (see HERE) to get around submitting a substitute sample under supervision. A simple Google search of the product can provide you guys with all the details you'll need but to give you a quick description, it is basically a kit consisting of a false penis, dried urine, and tubing that can be used to make it seem like the individual is peeing as one normally would. I have no experience with this product and probably wouldn't have the "guts" to even attempt it. My best piece of advice for someone attempting to go this route would to be extremely cautious with this route and to only do this as a last resort with plenty of practice. It is also important to remember that some states consider drug testing tampering a crime, especially in instances of parole, so again, please use caution and be aware of what you could potentially be getting yourself into.

 

A final concern with using substituted urine is to make sure you keep the urine warm when you submit it as they sometimes test the temperature of your sample. The temperature should be around a normal person's body temperature (98-100 degrees). You can use the hand warmers packets to keep your specimen warm by wrapping these packets around the container. It may help to have a thermometer handy as well. Urine can deteriorate quickly so make sure if you are going to keep it sealed up for more than a few hours to keep it in an airtight container and out of the light. The sealed sample should be placed in a fridge for no more than a few days. If you can, the best way to go about doing this is to have your friend provide you with the sample, such as in the parking lot of the testing facility, right before you submit the drug test to ensure freshness. Also, be aware that the temperature of your urine begins to drop immediately so keep those hand warmers close by!

 

I have used substituted urine twice during my time in the outpatient Suboxone program and was successful in passing both drug tests. I used my own urine when I knew I was clean and had a drug test in the near future and like an idiot, wanted to get high. I never used substituted urine that was more than 24 hours old to be on the safe side. I want to note that I did not have someone watching me submit my sample and I don't believe that they test the temperature of the specimen at the facility I get tested at. I made sure to keep my urine in an airtight container wrapped in a brown paper bag (to prevent light from getting at and deteriorating the sample). Immediately after collecting my sample at my house, I put it into my refrigerator and kept the sample there up until roughly a half hour before my drug screen. I made sure to give the bottle holding my sample a good shake as well as making sure that there was enough time to thaw out the sample. I then used the hand warmers (can be found by clicking HERE) to ensure the temperature was appropriate, although like I said before, I don't believe they actually tested the temperature at my particular facility as the samples are simply put into a big box right after you submit them. 

 

3) Rescheduling

 

Another option is to, if possible, simply reschedule your appointment to provide yourself with a few extra days to work on getting clean and any substances out of the body. This will usually work in most Suboxone and Methadone programs if you don't have a history of missing/skipping appointments or failing drug screens. Just be sure that it doesn't become a regular thing as I'm sure it could cause some suspicion. On the other hand, it may be much more harder for some individuals to be able to reschedule an appointment for a scenario such as parole.

 

4) Stay Clean

 

This one needs no explanation and is by far the best yet sometimes most challenging route to go. If you know you are clean, you know you will pass the test. It really is that simple.

*Detox Drinks/Kits/Supplements*

I know there are numerous drinks, kits, and supplements out there that claim they can either get you clean in a short period of time or that they can help you defeat or override a drug test. These products are usually on the expensive side and there is much debate in regards to their effectiveness. I have no experience with any of them and in my opinion, they are not worth the money and risk. Some people claim some of them work great and if you can find one that works, then by all means go for it. I think at the end of the day, the good and effective ones are probably few and far between. In addition to the lack of evidence supporting some of these products, some of the ingredients in these products can be tested for in labs and can result in a failed test depending upon the lab and its policy.

 

 

Average Detection Times 

 

Under this section, I have included a few tables and charts that give you guys a brief understanding of the average detection times of various drugs. I provided you guys with a few sources. Some of the numbers vary from one another a little bit but for the most part, they are all in the same ball park. Please remember that these numbers are by no means definite and to not base your situation solely on these numbers. As I said earlier, some people manage to get drugs out of their systems fairly quick while others need much more time. The most important factor determining the detection time of an individual is the individual themselves rather than the amount of time or drug.



 

	LOQ (ng/mL)	Detection Time* up to
Amphetamine-Type Stimulants
Amphetamine	50	3 days
Methamphetamine	50	3 days
3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA)	50	2 days
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)	50	2 days
Phentermine	50
Ephedrine/pseudoephedrine	Not quantitated	5 days
Barbiturates
Long-Acting
Phenobarbital	100	15 days
Intermediate-Acting
Butalbital	100	7 days
Amobarbital	100	3 days
Short-Acting
Pentobarbital	100	3 days
Secobarbital	100	3 days
Benzodiazepines
Long-Acting		10 days
Diazepam	100
Nordiazepam	100
Intermediate-Acting		5 days
Alprazolam	100
Lorazepam	100
Oxazepam	100
Temazepam	100
Chlordiazepoxide	100
Clonazepam	100
Flunitrazepam	50
Short-Acting		2 days
Triazolam	100
Flurazepam	100
Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine	0.5	7 days
Norbuprenorphine	0.5	7 days
Cocaine & Metabolite
Cocaine	50	<1 day
Benzoylecgonine	50	5 days
Fentanyl
Fentanyl	0.2	3 days
Norfentanyl	1.0	3 days
Ketamine
Ketamine	25	2 days
Norketamine	25	2 days
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)
LSD	0.5	<1 day
2-Oxo-3-hydroxy-LSD	5	5 days
Marijuana/Cannabis (THC-COOH)
Single Use	3	3 days
Moderate Use (4 times per week)		5 days
Heavy Use (daily)		10 days
Chronic Heavy Use		30 days
Methadone
Methadone	100	7 days
EDDP (methadone metabolite)	100	7 days
Methaqualone
Methaqualone	100	6 days
Opiates
6-MAM	100	1 day
Morphine	100	3 days
Codeine	100	3 days
Hydrocodone	100	3 days
Hydromorphone	100	3 days
Oxycodone	100	3 days
Oxymorphone	100	3 days
Phencyclidine
Phencyclidine	25	8 days
Propoxyphene
Propoxyphene	100	3 days
Norpropoxyphene	100	10 days

 

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Drug	Class	Street Name	Prescription Brand Name Examples	Detection Time in Urine
Amphetamine	Stimulant	speed	Dexedrine, Benzedrine	Up to 2 days
Barbiturates	depressants / sedatives / hypnotics	downers, barbs, reds	Amytal, Fiorinal, Nembutal, Donna	short-acting:  2 days long-acting: 1-3 weeks (based on half-life)
Benzodiazepines	depressants / sedatives / hypnotics	bennies	Valium, Ativan, Xanax, Serax	therapeutic dose: 3 days chronic use: 4-6 weeks or longer
Cocaine (benzoyl ecgonine metabolite)	Stimulant	coke, crack, rock cocaine	N/A	Up to 4 days
Codeine	Analgesic / Opiate	N/A	N/A	2 days
Ethyl alcohol, ethanol	depressants / sedatives / hypnotics	alcohol, liquor, beer, wine booze	N/A	urine: 2 to 12 hours serum/plasma: 1 to 12 hours
Heroin	Analgesic / Opiate	smack, tar, chasing the tiger	N/A	2 days
Marijuana, Can- nabinoids	Hallucinogen	pot, dope, weed, hash, hemp	Marinol, Cesamet	Single use: 2 to 7 days Prolonged, chronic use: 1 to 2 months or longer
Methadone	Analgesic / Opiate	fizzies	Dolophine	3 days
Methamphetamine	Stimulant	speed, ice, crystal, crank	Desosyn, Methedrine	Up to 2 days
Methaqualone	depressants / sedatives / hypnotics	ludes, disco bisquits, 714, lemmons	Quaalude (off U.S. market)	Up to 14 days
MDMA (methylenedioxy- methamphetamine)	Stimulant	ecstacy, XTC, ADAM, lover's speed	N/A	Up to 2 days
Morphine	Analgesic / Opiate	N/A	Duramorph, Roxanol	2 days
Phencyclidine	Hallucinogen	PCP, angel dust	N/A	8-14 days, but up to 30 days in chronic users
Propoxyphene	Analgesic / Opiate	N/A	Darvocet, Darvon (all form of propoxyphene withdrawn from US market in November 2010)	6 hours to 2 days

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Urine Drug Testing Detection Times

Drug	Cut-Off Level	EIA Screen Cutoff Level	GC/MS Confirmation Cutoff Level	Approximate Detection Time in Urine
Amphetamine (AMP)	1000 ng/mL	1000 ng/mL	500 ng/mL	2-4 Days
Amphetamine (AMP300)	300 ng/mL	1000 ng/mL	500 ng/mL	2-4 Days
Methamphetamine (MET)	1000 ng/mL	1000 ng/mL	500 ng/mL	3-5 Days
Methamphetamine (MET500)	500 ng/mL	1000 ng/mL	500 ng/mL	3-5 Days
Cocaine (COC)	300 ng/mL	300 ng/mL	150 ng/mL	2-4 Days
Cocaine (COC150)	150 ng/mL	300 ng/mL	150 ng/mL	2-4 Days
THC (THC)	50 ng/mL	50 ng/mL	15 ng/mL	15-30 Days
Opiates (OPI)	2000 ng/mL	2000 ng/mL	2000 ng/mL	2-4 Days
Opiates (MOR)	300 ng/mL	2000 ng/mL	2000 ng/mL	2-4 Days
Phencyclidine (PCP)	25 ng/mL	25 ng/mL	25 ng/mL	7-14 Days
Barbiturates (BAR)	300 ng/mL	300 ng/mL	150 ng/mL	4-7 Days
Benzodiazepines (BZO)	300 ng/mL	300 ng/mL	150 ng/mL	3-7 Days
Methadone (MTD)	300 ng/mL	300 ng/mL	150 ng/mL	3-5 Days
Propxyphene (PPX)	300 ng/mL	300 ng/mL	150 ng/mL	1-2 Days
Ecstasy (MDMA)	500 ng/mL	-	-	1-3 Days
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA)	1000 ng/mL	-	-	7-10 Days
Hydrocodone	300 ng/mL	-	300 ng/mL	2-4 Days
Hydromorphone	300 ng/mL	-	300 ng/mL	2-4 Days
Oxycodone (OXY)	100 ng/mL	-	100 ng/mL	2-4 Days
Oxymorphone	100 ng/mL	-	100 ng/mL	2-4 Days

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Conclusion

 

Many of us here know just how stressful a drug test can be. Since being on Suboxone, I have been clean for about 95% of the time. Unfortunately, I have had my slip ups here and there where I crack and use Oxycodone. I have, for the most part, been sober but can feel for those struggling. It's not perfect but I can say I am doing a hell of a lot better than I was just a year ago. I would really like to remain totally sober with no its, buts, or what's, but as most of you, it is a lot easier said than done. Whenever I use my drug of choice, Oxycodone, I always end up turning into a nervous wreck the next few days after as I become so afraid that I will fail my next drug screen. It is a shitty and totally avoidable situation that I have put myself into a few times. In fact, a few times too many as no matter what the situation, the right thing to do is stay clean and learn how to deal with those dangerous and often sudden cravings and urges instead of cracking and using.

 Getting high is fun and all, but in the end it is not worth the constant worrying. That's not even mentioning what would happen if I actually failed the test. Suboxone and the program I have taken part in has helped me so much that I would be devastated to be kicked out of the program for being not only stupid but selfish.

I don't want to sound like a smart ass or like I am proud of getting around the system with this post. If you have read some of my previous posts, this particular one may have shocked you a little bit. Instead, I wanted to write this post to help anyone who, like me, made the silly mistake of getting high when in reality, they should have stayed doing the right thing and remained sober. I truly know just how difficult and challenging it can be in getting and staying clean from opiates. It really is no joke. If this post can help someone stay in their Suboxone or Methadone program or avoid going to jail/prison, I am happy. However, please don't take this post as an opportunity to learn a new way of getting high without getting caught. I believe that if you keep getting high, cheating the system, and lying not only to your doctors, friends, and family, but to yourself that it will all come back to bite you in the end. The world of drugs and getting high is a dangerous game where the lows almost always outweigh the highs.

 

As I write this post, I have yet to fail a drug screen (knock on wood) and have found that giving myself a minimal of three days in between from when I last used my drug of choice (Oxycodone) and the day of my drug test works well. Obviously, it goes without saying that the more time since your last time using, the better off you will be. I believe the combination of being a relatively healthy, young man with a good metabolism along with using a drug that has a pretty short half life are the main factors explaining why I haven't failed a drug test. There has defiantly been a few close calls where I have gone about 60 hours since my last time using but in the end, I still passed. I don't really drink a lot of water, exercise a lot, or do anything else extreme to help increase my chances so it must be my metabolism, the short half life of the drug I use, and a little bit of good luck.

 

There are also a lot of myths and urban legends out there about ways to pass a drug test or get clean quickly. In my experience and to the best of my knowledge, the only way to truly beat a drug test without cheating is with time and a little will power. Some of these myths and urban legends are even dangerous so please, please, please be careful before trying anything or putting anything into your body. There have been people who have actually ended up in the hospital and even died from ingesting too much water over a short period of time (known as Hyponatremia or water intoxication/poisoning) so be careful if you do decide to try diluting your urine for a drug test. Another dangerous myth out there is that one can pass a drug test by ingesting large amounts of the vitamin Niacin. The vitamin can cause illness and death when taken in high enough doses and there is little to no evidence that it is effective in defeating the drug tests/screen around today.

A list of common myths and urban legends surrounding drug testing/screening can be found by clicking on the two links below this paragraph.

Common Drug Testing Myths Busted

Urban Legends, Drug Test Facts, & False Tips to Pass a Drug Test That Will Get You Into Trouble

 

As always, thank you guys for reading my blog and taking the time to comment on some of my other posts in the past. I really hope this material can reach out to and help some people, even if it is just one person. This post was defiantly different than the others I have written and it was a post that I really went back and fourth on writing and posting. In the end, I decided it might help some people who got themselves in a sticky situation. I know for every low life, scum bag addict you see in the news or on T.V., there are numerous other good people out there who just got themselves in a tough situation with opiates. I like to think of myself and most of my readers on here as these (the good) kinds of addicts.

 

Take care Guys and until next time, keep seeing that light!

 

Sincerely,

 

Seeingthelight