Companies nowadays have been firm in their resolution to keep their workplaces drug-free. If you’re planning on taking kratom and incorporating it into your day-to-day routine, you might be worried if it shows up on a drug test. Whether kratom shows up on a kratom drug test depends on what the test is designed to do and how you use this botanical.
Can Kratom Show Up on a Drug Test?
Kratom is usually detectable in blood and urine-based drug tests since it is considered a foreign chemical in your bloodstream. If you are keen to test, the urine testing strips are cost-effective and easy to use if you want to test yourself at home.
Although the status of Kratom’s legality in the United States is somehow complicated and may vary from state to state, due to Kratom being relatively obscure, most drug tests are not designed to detect it in your system.
The average drug test looks for cocaine, PCP, opiates, amphetamines, and cannabinoids. Kratom is not detected in opioid drug tests, because the two chemical compounds are not related structurally.
It is highly unlikely for Kratom to cause a false positive in generalized drug tests, although interactions between Prozac, Benadryl and Kratom can trigger a false-positive result. Talk to a medical professional before you take OTC or prescription drugs together with Kratom.
If you take a general drug test after taking Kratom, metabolites may show up in the test but as a completely different substance.
Is Kratom Legal or Not?
Kratom is not considered an illegal substance under the United States Controlled Substances Act, so it is not bound by federal laws. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), however, lists Kratom as a drug of concern.
Because there is no harsh stance enforced on Kratom, legislation concerning this plant mostly depends on state laws. Some U.S. states have banned the botanical, while some have allowed counties to outlaw it within their borders. Check with Health Street to find what substances and drug testing are allowed in which states.
Why Get Tested for Kratom?
If Kratom isn’t technically illegal, why is there a Kratom drug test designed to detect the substance?
The answer is simple: it is within your employer’s or company’s rights to demand a Kratom drug test if they observe your work productivity is lagging or if you are suspected of overusing it. When you apply for a job position (any job), your employer should inform and make the drug policy available to you. So you know what to expect.
Standard Department of Defense (DoD) drug tests do not really detect Kratom. Even though Kratom is not approved for use for service members.
Several public schools have also started conducing random drug tests on students and teachers. These tests are generally designed to detect the use of illegal drugs. But, people below 18 years of age should not take Kratom without medical clearance. Before you try Kratom, please take time to do research on local laws concerning it.
Is it Legal for Employers to Require Drug Testing?
There are federal laws that restrict employers from requiring drug tests, although some state laws may limit the legality of randomized drug tests for employees in positions that do not necessarily require extra safety measures. Employers that require drug testing should be the ones to pay for it. They should cover the costs for the tests, which normally occur during normal working hours. Employees must get paid for the time they spend off work to get tested.
If your workplace abides by a comprehensive drug-free program, you must be given access to a written guideline explaining expectations concerning drug use among employees. If you are worried Kratom may pose a threat to your job. Speak with your bosses or human resources manager to learn what your company’s stance on Kratom use is.
Kratom Drug Testing in Collegiate Athletics
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and affiliate universities regularly test collegiate athletes for illegal drug use, as well as performance enhancing drugs (PEDs). The NCAA has not specifically listed Kratom as an illegal substance. But the association also do not have a complete list of banned substances. For collegiate athletes, it would be wise to speak with your trainers before you try Kratom.
Testing for Kratom Among Professional Athletes
Kratom is not considered an illegal drug by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Kratom is not even monitored by the WADA. The US Anti-Doping Agency follows a similar stance. Thereby allowing athletes to use Kratom in moderation and at their own discretion.
Although Kratom is not considered a performance enhancing drug, many athletes like to use it before a workout.
How Long Does Kratom Stay in One’s System?
According to experts, it takes about 3-7 days before a moderate dose of Kratom is flushed out of your system. Trace quantities of kratom may remain and be detected in a urine sample for a week or more after taking it.
Blood tests are often very effective in detecting Kratom in the bloodstream for 24 hours after your dose. If you use Kratom regularly, it can build up in your body and be detected in your blood for more than a day after your last Kratom intake.
Kratom’s elimination half-life is approximately four hours, after which its concentration in your bloodstream should be half the original dose.
The larger the dose of Kratom you take, the longer it stays in your body. This is simple logic. Other factors such as how you take Kratom and your body’s composition, can affect the length it stays in your system.
When you take Kratom on an empty stomach, or drink lots of water after taking Kratom, it can decrease the length of time it stays in your system.
Mitragynine, is a fat-soluble chemical found in Kratom, which means substance remain longer in people with higher body fat percentage. Younger people usually have faster metabolisms. So they are able to flush out Kratom from their system faster compared to older people.
Kratom is a potent substance that can stay in your system for days. So be sure to ingest Kratom that is sourced only from a trusted seller.
Bottomline
Kratom contains alkaloids that are then broken down into metabolites. These metabolites can be detected in a Kratom Drug Test. But most drug tests out there are only designed to detect illegal drugs, so taking a dose of Kratom shouldn’t be a cause of worry since you won’t fail your drug test with it.
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