Last updated : July 14, 2025
An employee who tries to achieve a false negative result is being dishonest. Dishonest with their employer, fellow workmates, and, most of all, themselves. We get that nobody wakes up one morning making a conscious decision to get hooked on drugs. But the only true way to get negative results on drug tests is by staying sober.
What begins as a casual experience for many—intended to make them feel good—turns into a nightmare of an existence. Once the brain falsely accepts the drug as being a “normal” component of the life cycle, it begins building a tolerance to it. That means that it takes continuously upping the the dose to experience the feelings they seek. This puts the user at increased risk of overdosing.
Moreover, by that point, it begins to send out warning signals—also known as withdrawal symptoms—when the substance is missing from the body. As withdrawal symptoms set in, the discomfort level grows and can sometimes become life-threatening. Once a person finds themselves in that situation, they become desperate to “feed the beast.” Just like that, the vicious cycle of drug addiction takes root.
Advanced technology improved test methods
Employee drug tests have become far more sophisticated than in the early days. Back then, the urine test was the only test method available. Someone discovered that drinking a lot of water before arriving at the test site caused them to achieve a negative drug test result. Of course, word spread like wild fire. This method is still touted as an easy way to pass a urine test today—however, that’s not likely to happen anymore.
Laboratory equipment wasn’t as sophisticated at reading drug tests back then as it is today. Now, someone trying to achieve a false negative result by ingesting a large quantity of water—or any other liquid—walks a very fine line. That’s because ingesting too much liquid into the body in a short period throws the creatinine levels off. When that happens, the drug test results are either a positive or negative dilute.
A positive dilute indicates a diluted urine specimen that also tested positive for drugs. A negative dilute means no drugs but a diluted specimen. Either way, many employers treat those results the same as a positive drug test. In the case of a negative dilute, the employee may be given the benefit of the doubt and allowed to test again. It all depends on the company’s drug testing policies.
Hoping you ingested exactly the right amount of liquid necessary to squeak past a dilute result is far from the only method cheating employees try though.
Trying to beat urine drug tests
While you can never say never, false positive results on urine drug tests are rare. However, poppy seeds used to cause people to pop positive for opiates. Opioid test levels were set so low that any opiate residue remaining on the seeds could cause a false positive read out. It’s not the case any longer because levels were raised to eliminate the problem.
The age-old debate as to whether or not ingesting poppy seeds can cause a false positive for opiates is still circulating today. In fact, some employees still try blaming poppy seeds when testing positive for the drug. If it gets them a chance to re-test, the employee tries to dodge testing until any opiate metabolites are out of their system. Unless an addiction foils the plan and they can’t refrain from using until after testing that is.
Other ways dishonest employees try to achieve a false negative include:
Using manufactured “Detox” drinks
After employers began employee drug testing in earnest, it didn’t take long for detoxification—marketed as detox—products to hit the stores. These products claim to remove or mask drug metabolites for a specific period of time so they don’t show up on the test. Do they actually work though? The fact that the small print always contains a disclaimer is a bit suspicious. Moreover, the directions must be followed to the letter and if someone who used their product tests positive for drug use, it’s easily blamed on the fact that they must not have measured correctly.
Goldenseal root
Most commonly known as a way to mask marijuana use, goldenseal root has also been reported to mask other drugs, such as cocaine. People are advised to take it for several days prior to the test so it can build up in their system.
Certain over-the-counter products
Over-the-counter products that include, but aren’t limited to, aspirin, baking soda, or Sure Jell are said to mask drug use, they must be used with exact measurements, however. There are also warnings of the dangers of ingesting too much of these products. We believe that should make it to risky to try, but you know what they say about desperate times—
Eating specific foods
They say eating healthy clears drug metabolites from the system more quickly. Avoiding fatty foods is another tip that is a good idea—especially if you smoke marijuana— because drug metabolites stow away there.
However, in a strange twist, there are claims on the internet that people who use marijuana pass the mouth swab drug test by eating fatty foods just before the test. The theory goes that any marijuana metabolites are attracted to the fatty food residue and, thereby, provide time to get a negative test result.
Somebody should remind the cheaters that the mouth is constantly producing saliva though. That fact blows this theory right out of the water.
Sweating it out in a sauna
The sauna theory is in hopes that drug-using employees can sweat all the drugs out of their system. Let’s hope dehydration doesn’t set in during the process!
Exercise
The exercise theory is likely to backfire—especially if they’re hoping to hide marijuana use—burning fat is going to release the metabolites back into the system at higher levels.
Synthetic urine
Synthetic urine is the latest method to hit the black market. It can be difficult for lab equipment to detect that the specimen isn’t natural. Lab technicians are in on the ploy, though, so no worries there.
Most people don’t realize that there are small particles of “stuff” floating in urine. Believe it or not, the naked eye is a vital tool in the field of drug testing. If something doesn’t look right to the lab techs, further testing determines whether the specimen is synthetic or natural.
Trying to beat oral fluid drug tests
The oral fluid drug test is becoming more popular because it affords employers the ability to determine recent drug use. In fact, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) began allowing federally mandated employers to use the test on January 1, 2020. However, it’s up to individual entities whether or not they will incorporate it into their drug testing procedures. Safety-sensitive employers still can’t use this method though because there aren’t any SAMHSA-approved labs ready to receive the samples.
Products claiming to beat oral fluid drug tests are all over the place. They include mouthwashes, chewing gum, and specific brands of toothpaste—and, of course, all include disclaimers somewhere on the packaging.
A quick online search can have them delivered to your door in a matter of days—possibly even the next day if one is willing to bear the expense. Trying to save your job because you smoked a joint or popped a pill yesterday and got hit with a random today could seem a viable reason to some.
Specific over-the-counter products to try just before the test include chewing Altoid mints, swigging lemon juice or apple cider vinegar, swishing hydrogen peroxide or—horror of horrors—bleach in your mouth. The last two suggestions include pleas to use extreme caution and not to swallow the substances.
That should be a no-brainer!
Trying to beat hair drug tests
Employers are beginning to realize the value of the hair test. SAMHSA is in the process of approving it for use in the safety-sensitive workforce. It’s proposed ruling should be published for comment in May, 2025.
It’s currently the most expensive of the three employee drug testing methods. Even so, employers are switching to the test because of the 90-day detection period. As a matter of fact, some employers in the trucking industry are already choosing to take on the expense of the test for pre-employment testing. Their employees take both the DOT test and a company-required hair test.
Employers report that when some applicants learn they must submit to a hair test in addition to the federally mandated urine test, they get up and walk out. That’s because they know there is no way to beat a hair test. The drug metabolites stored in the hair follicle grow out into the center of the hair shaft becoming a part of it. That means it’s there forever.
It doesn’t stop some from trying to get over on the test though.
Here’s a quick list of ways they try:
- Shaving off all the hair on their heads—it just leads to the collector gathering hair from other places.
- Detox shampoos—you can’t wash away something that is part of the hair itself.
- Home remedies—including, but not limited to, substances such as tar shampoo, laundry detergent (Tide is certainly a popular brand in these concoctions), detox salts, and vinegar.
How to beat a drug test
If an employee tests positive for drugs, letting them go is understandable. They’re putting themselves and others at a higher risk of being involved in an accident. That’s unacceptable. As an employer, it’s your responsibility to make the workplace as safe as possible for all who work there.
However, testing positive on a drug test is likely a rock bottom moment for your employee. Voicing your concern for their well-being—and for that of their family—and expressing hope for their future could be the catalyst for change.
Living life drug-free is worth the struggle of fighting addiction. Let them know you stand with them in the battle.
