The rapidly growing reports of drug abuse in the United States and other neighboring countries have made research organizations worried and determined to check its growth and find an immediate solution to lessen it. Found to be ten times more effective than urine drug testing, hair drug testing has been found to detect drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, phencyclidine, and opiates, these five drug classes are mandated to be tested by the government.
This method of drug testing is frequently used for tremendous critical situations where there is zero resistance for drug use. Hair drug screening can detect drug use over a much longer period of time compared to other tests and not to mention this is the most convenient method to use even in schools and in offices regarding the testing of students and the employees respectively, to determine whether or not they have drugs in their system.
Handy kits containing instructions on how to perform the test is given to those who are to be screened for drugs. The hair sample is taken near the scalp and a minimum of 40 to a maximum of 120 hair fibers are collected for this test. If there is lack of hair on the head, hair on the body may be applied as a substitute, this includes hair on the face, legs and arms or even on the pubic area, but be aware that body hair and hair in the head do not grow at the same rate and so the results may vary.
After this step, the hair specimens are sent to the laboratory to be evaluated. Lab officials evaluate the hair for drug residuals that are stored when the person recently took the drug. They measure the molecules of the substance and their particular metabolites that are conceived after the substance has been altered by the human body. The reason that they examine the hair is simple; when we take drugs, it enters our system as with anything we ingest like food, drinks, and medicine. All of these are mixed with our blood, and as we are all aware of, blood nourishes all parts of the body including the head. Hair follicles trap and filter traces of the drug in the later period. And as the gradual growth of hair is inevitable, these chemicals are found to be stored in the hair and can be found during the hair drug test. The possibility of the chemicals becoming a part of the hair is also great.
12 Comments
I have to take a hair follicle test for cocaine….i am desperate..what should i do?
Hi, Tania.
It depends on 2 factors: when was last time you took cocain and how long is your hair. Hair growsin an inch every 2 month, so if your hair is short and last time was long ago – you have a chanse to pass.
I’d recommend you to buy and use masking shampoo: http://mbdetox.com/Ultra-Cleanse-Hair-Cleansing-Shampoo-Conditioner_p121/ / Use it and you’ll pass your test.
If you have questions – just call the phone on that site (it’s toll free) and they will help you
I have hair test in a week or so and barely smoke last time I did was possibly July. Will I be ok?
Please delete previous post.
I smoked for the 1st time on OCT 1ST took like 3 pulls didnt even no wht to to and was blowing it back out and took a urine test NOV 3rd and passed it just took a hair test on Dec 15th…Do you think i will pass the hair test???
Hi, I was aware of the NYPD that I have to take a hair follicle test and I have long dreadlocks past my shoulders. I’m planning to cut my dreadlocks because I am too concern about this test. I’ve been growing my hair since December 2006 and on December 31, 2006, I smoked marijuana for the last time. On Friday December 3, 2011, five years after the last time I smoked marijuana I was hanging out with a friend who smokes marijuana and started smoking marijuana for that night only. I think that I only smoked about two or four puffs of it while inhaling it in my system. Do you think I’ll pass the test by the end of January if I only smoked about two to four puffs of marijuana? I heard it stays in your hair for a long period of time.
Hi, Jay.
Yes. I think we can say it stays in your hair forever and the only way to remove it it’s cut the hair.
So let’s checs. You’ve smoked 31-Dec-2006. 5 years have passed. Hair grovs an inch every 2 month. 5 years, 12 month in each, 2 inches per month – so if your hair is shorter then 30 inches (it’s nearly 20-inches dreadlocks, which I think are the coolest thing in the universe after Star Track and jamaica tour).
You’ve smoke last time 25 days ago and a small amount. For now nearly half an inch is dirty. Knowing the police methods I can say you that mostly sure you’ll be clean!
So you don’t need to cut your dreadlocks. Oh, and you know what? You can simply check yourself with home test like this one: http://mbdetox.com/Home-Hair-Test-Kit_P50335/
Ok thank you. That’s the information I’ve needed it because I was worried about how long it stays in your hair. Well explained. Thanks again!
I have to take a hair test on Tuesday Jan. 10th and i had smoked on new years eve Dec.31st. what can i do to get my hair straight.
I have to do a hair follicle drug test on Friday but I’m worried because I’m around people that smoke marijuana so Im wondering if I will fail the hair follicle test
Had 8 hits off crazy joint on Oct 30, 2011…now Feb. 8, 2012…6′ 3…225…athletic build…..had very little fat at time of smoke..little more now…any THC test that I would fail????
I weigh 135 and im 6 foot i am trying to get this job but they do hair follicle test that at the time of my interview i havent smoked in a little over two months. From what i know about the test is that they dont test back that far. will i pass the test if not what can i do to pass the test.