Everything You Need to Know About Alcohol and Drug Testing
If you are concerned about employer drug testing, you might have a pressing question on your mind: Do panel drug tests detect alcohol? The short answer is usually no – a drug panel specifically searches metabolites of certain substances.
However, that doesn’t mean an employer can’t check for alcohol use at all. A special test called an EtG urinalysis, which screens for ethyl glucuronide chemicals, can find alcohol use in a urine sample, if the employer requests this extra process.
Purpose Healing Center knows that people searching for this information are typically scared they’ll have positive test results and face disciplinary action at work. You may feel ready to get help with alcohol or drug use.
As you read about how the body metabolizes drugs and alcohol and appears in test results, feel free to reach out to our admissions team for help.
Why Don’t Drug Test Panels Detect Alcohol?
As mentioned earlier, drug testing generally doesn’t detect alcohol unless an employer specifically requests a separate alcohol test. Here’s why:
Your body processes alcohol within a few hours. That means drinking alcohol the night before giving a urine sample will probably not yield a positive result. Drug testing has a certain window, usually closing before the employee can be tested.
When workplace drug testing includes alcohol testing procedures, employers may request a breathalyzer or urine test to check for the presence of ethanol, which has a longer detection window with the right test.
What Do Laboratory Panel Drug Tests Test For?
Employers usually request drug testing before hiring an individual – they want to see a negative result, or if they suspect the employee may be using illicit drugs.
Panel drug testing checks for an array of drugs, from stimulants like amphetamines or cocaine to depressants like heroin or fentanyl. If you would like to know more about how long drugs stay in your system, our comprehensive guide breaks down those details and can be visited using the link above.
Keep reading to learn more about what each drug screen typically includes:
Does a 5-panel Drug Test Test for Alcohol?
A 5-panel drug test looks for five substances:
- THC (Marijuana)
- Cocaine
- Opiates (including heroin and prescription medications like morphine or codeine)
- Amphetamines (methamphetamine and prescription drug Adderall)
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
The five-panel test doesn’t detect the presence of alcohol. This test is often used by private employers. Many state DOT agencies also rely on this testing method to ensure compliance with federal regulations across the United States.
Carlos Is a Typical Example of a 5-Panel Drug Test for a New Employee
‘Carlos’ found a great-paying job driving a cement truck for a company with lucrative government contracts. He was about to earn more money than he’d ever made.
As an employee of this organization, he could soon afford to take his kids on their first family vacation. Carlos willingly took a drug screen to prove that he followed all DOT regulations and aced the test with flying colors.
Does a 7-panel Drug Test Test for Alcohol?
The seven-panel drug test looks for the following drugs:
- THC (Marijuana)
- Cocaine
- Opiates (including heroin and prescription drugs like morphine or codeine)
- Amphetamines (methamphetamine and prescription drug Adderall)
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
- Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium)
- Barbiturates (phenobarbital, secobarbital)
These can detect legal prescriptions and illegal drugs, but not alcohol. The 7-panel drug test results are helpful in facilities where staying alert on the job is important, including construction and transportation.
Sandra Took a 7-Panel Test to Become a Welder
‘Sandra’ had the chance to work at a union welding job, helping to build a high-rise hospital complex in downtown Phoenix. To prove she would be an alert and safe employee in this hazardous environment, she had to take a drug screen and an alcohol test. The urine sample returned clean, and she started her job the following week.
Does a 9-panel Drug Test Test for Alcohol?
The 9-panel drug test adds additional prescription medications; it’s requested when the abuse of prescription substances is a risk. It looks for these drugs in the system:
- THC (Marijuana)
- Cocaine
- Opiates (including heroin and prescriptions like morphine or codeine)
- Amphetamines (methamphetamine and prescription drug Adderall)
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
- Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium)
- Barbiturates (phenobarbital, secobarbital)
- Methadone (used in treating addiction to opiates)
- Propoxyphene (a now-banned painkiller)
Like the prior tests, these do not factor in alcohol test results.
James Had to Take a 9-Panel Drug Screen after an Accident
‘James’ operated a forklift at a retail store chain’s distribution center. He was typically very safe, but had an accident that caused significant damage to a pallet of inventory. His company required employees to take a 9-panel urine test after these incidents.
Because James took a prescription medication, he received positive drug screen results. He explained his situation and had a secondary test at an off-site lab, where he provided medical documentation from his doctor. With that factor considered fairly after the second test was conducted, James received a negative result and was cleared to return to his duties.
Does a 12-panel Drug Test Test for Alcohol?
The 12-panel screening tests for the most drugs of all the substance screenings:
- THC (Marijuana)
- Cocaine
- Opiates (including heroin and prescription drugs like morphine or codeine)
- Amphetamines (methamphetamine and prescription drug Adderall)
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
- Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium)
- Barbiturates (phenobarbital, secobarbital)
- Methadone (used in treating addiction to opiates)
- Propoxyphene (a now-banned painkiller)
- MDMA (Ecstacy)
- Oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet)
- Buprenorphine (Suboxone or Subutex, a common presence when someone is stopping opioid use)
Twelve-panel drug testing is most often used in a healthcare setting or a rehab center.
12-Panel Drug Testing Helped Save Myra’s Life
‘Myra’ had started using drugs to silence her flashbacks after she’d been brutally assaulted. Her drug of choice was Percocet, which she typically purchased from a street dealer. She took pills that were laced with fentanyl without her knowledge. The high dosage of Percocet her body required also delivered a near-fatal dose of fentanyl.
Myra arrived at the emergency room unresponsive after her friend found her nearly passed out. Narcan woke her up, but she remained very confused. Out of caution, the clinical team conducted a 12-panel blood test to detect whether Myra had ingested any other drugs. After they ruled out other drugs, they continued following opioid overdose protocols and saved her life.
Why Urine Drug Testing Detects Marijuana (Legal in AZ)
Marijuana is legal for both medical and recreational use in the Grand Canyon State. So why do urine panel drug tests screen for its presence?
Arizona state law allows employers to enforce a drug-free workplace, which includes testing for drug use off the company’s clock. Employers must have a written drug testing policy and distribute it to employees. However, they can request either random drug testing or a test anytime they believe substances may hinder work performance.
Also, jobs requiring high safety standards, such as machine operators or truck drivers, often have zero-tolerance drug testing. That’s because many of these fall under federal DOT standards, which still consider marijuana an illegal substance.
Rights of Medical Marijuana Users
Those who use medical marijuana have some protections under the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act. However, federal requirements usually supersede those state protections.
What if I Have False Positive Test Results?
False positive results are rare but do happen. That doesn’t automatically mean trouble. If your panel drug test is positive for illicit substances, you can request confirmatory testing. The staff at certified labs will test again using more advanced testing. This process helps rule out false positive results that may come from legal prescriptions or other substances.
If you take a prescription for a medical condition, you’ll have the opportunity to speak with the lab’s medical review officer and explain and provide documentation from your doctor or pharmacy. An example of this is someone who takes methadone while turning their life around after addiction. The doctor has ordered methadone, making it legal in this instance.
While the confirmation test process takes a little additional time, you get fairer results.
Other Tests Besides Urine Drug Testing
Urine tests are the favorite drug testing method of employers. They prefer the less invasive sample collection and quick turnaround time. However, these other lab test methods can detect drugs, as well:
- Alcohol test: These tests specifically picks up ethanol and the presence of alcohol in the body. Breathalyzers detect alcohol for about 12-24 hours. However, EtG urine tests can detect it for up to 80 hours.
- Blood test: A more invasive sample collection, blood labs have a high degree of accuracy when screening for drugs. The detection window for this drug testing is from a few minutes up to 24 hours for most drugs.
- Hair test: Hair follicle tests can detect the residuals of illegal drug use for months after the initial drug use. Depending on how long your hair is. For example drugs remain detectable for 90 days for longer hair.
- Saliva test: Saliva swab samples, like urine tests, are less invasive but highly accurate tests. They detect drugs from as soon as one hour after consumption up to 48 hours, depending on the drug.
Blood, hair, and saliva tests are also panel drug tests that look for specific substances in the system; the alcohol test looks only for EtG. It’s also worth noting that test results can vary among individuals, based on different factors like size and metabolism.
Get Professional Help for Alcohol and Drug Abuse at Purpose
If you’re researching drug testing because you’ve been wondering if you’ll pass the next urine test at work, you might also consider professional treatment. Purpose Healing Center offers two treatment centers conveniently located in Phoenix and Scottsdale.
For those who know that their drug or alcohol use has become a problem but still manage jobs, school, and family functioning, outpatient treatment is a likely option.
Once you complete the rehab process, you’ll no longer need to worry about drug testing; you can be clean, sober, and pass every workplace drug test without worrying again.
Call Purpose Healing Center today. It’s always free and confidential to speak with our admission staff.
480-579-3319