Workers who are concerned about drug screenings may be worried, if they are also Kratom enthusiasts. Many people throughout the U.S. are wondering if the substance will be detected on one of these drug tests, and the answer is no. Most standardized drug tests are not designed to test for the Kratom alkaloid. If you have an upcoming drug test, there is no need to worry, because it is doubtful that it will be detected.
Even though it won’t be detected by a drug test, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t still be careful when using Kratom. Depending on where you are in the country, Kratom may be illegal. In some of these places, there are specific tests that look for Kratom, but these will usually be named a Kratom test. However, as it is legal in a majority of states in the U.S., many employers are not looking for this because they either don’t care or don’t know what it is.
Standardized Drug Tests Don’t Detect Kratom
Standard drug testing procedures, including blood testing and urine testing, cannot detect Kratom alkaloids. While there are test designs to test for Kratom, these are not very common. The reason most standard drug tests are not looking for Kratom is that it is more expensive to test for more substances. They make the standardized tests equal so that they can produce large quantities.
There are five major categories that drugs will fall into under testing as outlined by the Federal workplace drug testing guidelines:
- Amphetamines
- Methamphetamines
- Cannabis or THC
- Cocaine
- Opiates
Sometimes an employer will issue a 10-panel test which includes five other categories including:
- Barbiturates
- Benzodiazepines (Xanax)
- Prescription opioids
- MDMA, spice, or designer drugs
- Ethanol
Things To Consider If You Are Still Worried
If you are still worried about Kratom being detected in drug tests, you need to consider who is performing the test and whether Kratom is legal where you live. When starting work in a general office job, the standard drug tests will most likely not be testing for Kratom. However, if you are applying for another job, such as a parole officer or law enforcement, they may conduct a more thorough assessment and include Kratom on the drug test. You also need to consider if you are being tested by a parole officer as there may be rules you must follow, and they will want to be extra careful with the testing.
Even though the FDA has put efforts in place to ban Kratom, it is still legal at the state and federal levels. While there are some cities and states who have banned the product, it is virtually accessible from everywhere in the country.
In the states where it is banned, Arkansas, Alabama, Indiana, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, you need to be more considerate when approaching a drug test, as they may be specifically looking for Kratom.
There are also limited restrictions in:
- San Diego County, California
- Sarasota, Florida
- Illinois (age restrictions)
- New York (age restrictions)
Even in the places where it is banned or where there are restrictions, a Kratom test is highly unlikely. You can still look into the various policies if you want to be extra careful.
How Long Does Kratom Last In The Body?
When considering whether Kratom is going to show up on a drug test you have coming up, it is good to know how long it lasts in the body. If you have an upcoming drug test, it is best to stop using Kratom several weeks beforehand.
How long it lasts all comes down to its half-life. The half-life is how long 1/2 of the Kratom left in your body takes to metabolize and leave your body. A study was done in 2015, putting Kratom’s half-life at approximately 24 hours, which means it takes about a week for it to be fully eliminated from your body.
For types of testing, blood tests will usually be able to find Kratom only a few days after use, whereas a urine test can detect substances usually fairly long after they have been used.
The best way to avoid trouble is by staying away from Kratom for several weeks before a drug test, and looking into the policies outlined by the person administering the test.
Get Reputable Kratom
The best way to ensure you are using high-quality Kratom is by purchasing from a source with an excellent reputation. There are many places that sell Kratom, but sometimes they may not have the experience to know whether the product they are selling is of inferior quality or contaminated.
A reputable vendor will ensure you are getting lab-tested Kratom, which is safe and effective.