How Sensitive Are Drug Urine Tests To Alcohol
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 As long as
employers lose relatively large amounts of money and "person-hours" to alcohol abuse, they will continue to
utilize random alcohol tests.
If you drink alcohol and you work for a company, institution, or for an organization that has
random urine alcohol testing, it makes sense that you would ask the following: "how sensitive are drug urine
tests to alcohol"? Please continue reading for the answer to this and other urine alcohol testing
questions.
The Major Characteristics of Urine Alcohol Tests
Urine Alcohol Tests have the following characteristics:
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They are the least expensive of the alcohol testing methods.
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They can be used at home, for instance, by parents, though lab verification is required for accurate
results.
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They are considered an intrusive method of testing.
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They detect alcohol ingestion mainly within the past week, or longer with regular drinking.
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They are often temperature tested to assure sample integrity.
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They indicate the presence of alcohol in a person's system, but it takes up to 2 hours for the alcohol
to show up in urine.
Urine Alcohol Tests Pros
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They have a high assurance of reliable results.
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They are relatively inexpensive. 
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They provide the most flexibility in testing different drugs, including alcohol and nicotine.
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They are the most likely of all drug-testing methods to withstand legal challenge.
Urine Alcohol Tests Cons
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The specimen can be adulterated, substituted, or diluted.
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They have a limited window of detection (typically 1 to 5 days).
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They are considered as invasive or embarrassing form of testing.
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They present a biological hazard when the specimens are handled and shipped to the lab.
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They indicate the presence of alcohol in a person's system, but it takes up to 2 hours for the alcohol
to show up in urine.
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A positive urine test does not necessarily mean the person was under the influence of alcohol at the
time of the test. Rather, it detects and measures the use of alcohol within the previous few
days.
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The overriding plan of action when experiencing a possible alcohol overdose
situation is this: Do not take chances when someone's life is at stake. If you suspect that a
person has alcohol poisoning or is overdosing on alcohol, get immediate medical assistance, even
if the person is underage.
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 As far as passing alcohol
urinalysis tests is concerned, as mentioned above, the specimen can be adulterated, substituted, or
diluted.
Not only this, but a positive urine test does not necessarily mean that the person was under the
influence of alcohol at the time of the test. Rather, it detects and measures the use of alcohol within the
previous two or three days.
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Heavy drinking can increase the risk for certain cancers, especially those of
the throat, voice box (larynx), liver, and esophagus. Excessive drinking can also cause immune
system problems, brain damage, harm to the fetus during pregnancy, and cirrhosis of the
liver.
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If, for instance, the person has a alcohol urinalysis test on a Monday morning, a positive test
would show that this person had alcohol within the past few days.
If this person works a typical work week (i.e., Monday through Friday), this would indicate that
the person ingested alcohol on Friday night, Saturday, or Sunday when he or she was not at work.
Such a scenario has little, if anything, to do with passing or failing the alcohol urinalysis test
that was administered.
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Recent research demonstrates that it is important to treat every person who is
experiencing alcohol withdrawal. It can be pointed out, however, that approximately 95% of the
people who quit drinking alcohol suffer from mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms and can
normally be treated on an outpatient basis by a healthcare professional. The remaining 5% of
people who experience withdrawal symptoms, however, suffer symptoms so severe that they must be
treated in a hospital or in an alcohol rehabilitation facility that specializes in
detoxification.
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How Sensitive Are Drug Urine Tests To Alcohol: Conclusion
As long as companies and organizations lose substantial amounts of money and "person-hours" to
alcohol abuse, they will continue to employ random alcohol tests.
If you drink alcohol and you work for an employer that has initiated random urine alcohol testing
as part of their drug and alcohol screening procedure, it is likely that you will be asking the following
question: "how sensitive are drug urine tests to alcohol"?
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Codependency is a pattern of habitual self-defeating coping mechanisms.
Codependency is typically a result of living in a house with someone who suffers from alcoholism
or drug addiction. In these dysfunctional homes, there are three messages that are not
explicitly stated but nevertheless, reinforced everyday by unhealthy actions, behaviors, and
beliefs. These three messages are: don't trust, don’t talk, and don't feel.
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