Drug testing provides detailed information about a person’s recent drug use, which makes testing one of the most effective ways to identify drug addicts and abusers. Drug testing can be carried out using many methods which use blood, urine, hair samples or saliva of the subject. Saliva drug testing is amongst the most popular methods of drug testing due to its simplicity and effectiveness.
Saliva, which is oral fluid, retains small amounts of used drugs and their particles for a few days after the use. This is one of the reasons saliva drug testing is so effective and commonly used.
Why Use Saliva Drug Testing?
There are three main reasons to use saliva testing:
1. Simplicity of Use and Quick Results
No special training or staff is needed to be able to use a saliva drug test kit. The results can be obtained instantly at the site of testing, making this a great option for portable drug testing kits. It takes no more than 5 to 10 minutes to get the results of a test.
2. Cost Effective
With each test costing a mere $10 to $12, saliva drug testing is a lot more economical than hair test or blood tests.
3. Ability to Detect Multiple Drugs
A single saliva drug test can check for the presence of multiple drugs in the oral fluid of the subject. This increases the likelihood of the test detecting drug abuse of a number of substances.
Drugs That Saliva Testing Can Be Detect
Saliva drug testing can detect the presence of multiple drugs which include the following:
1. Alcohol
As the levels of alcohol in saliva are identical to the blood alcohol content, saliva tests are usually the preferred methods to test for alcohol consumption. Saliva testing can detect alcohol up to 12 hours after intake.
2. Marijuana (THC)
The active ingredient of marijuana, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) can be detected using saliva testing, as marijuana is usually ingested through the mouth. Saliva testing makes detection of marijuana use possible up to one day after ingestion.
3. Cocaine
Cocaine, which is a strong stimulant of the central nervous system is usually abused by intravenous injection, smoking or nasal inhalation. Saliva testing can detect the use of cocaine up to one day after ingestion.
4. Opiates
Opiates include codeine, heroin and morphine and are derived from the opium poppy. Opiates act as central nervous system depressants making them highly addictive. Saliva testing can detect the presence of opiates in the subject’s saliva up to 3 days after the intake.
5. Methamphetamine and Ecstasy
Methamphetamine stimulates the central nervous system while Ecstasy (MDMA) is a psychoactive drug similar to methamphetamine. Depending on the quantity ingested, methamphetamine can be detected using saliva testing up to 3 days after ingestion.
6. Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines come from a family of tranquilizers and are one of the addictive substances abused by addicts. They can be detected using saliva testing up to 3 days after ingestion, depending on the method of use.
7. Amphetamines
Saliva testing can detect amphetamines, which are CNS stimulants, in the oral fluid up to 3 days after consumption.
8. Phencyclidine
Phencyclidine is a hallucinogen which can be detected using saliva testing in the oral fluid. The detection is possible up to 3 days after ingestion of the substance.
It is important for parents, school administrators, employers and sports authorities to know about the different methods of drug testing to reduce the problem of drug abuse.
