Does Vaping Show Up On A Drug Test?

Vaping has become a popular alternative for those who want to quit smoking. However, even people who have not smoked tobacco cigarettes before have picked up the habit. In the United States alone, millions of Americans are vaping and that number continues to rise.

Newbies to vaping often have questions about drug testing. One of the most common questions asked by vapers and people interested in switching to vaping is: Can I use my vape and still pass a drug test? It’s important for users to understand how they will fare on a drug test if they have a vaping habit. If you're looking for an answer to this question, this article will help clear up any confusion about vaping and drug tests.

Is there drug testing for vaping products?

If you need to go through drug testing whether it’s for employment or school, you might be wondering whether your vaping hobby will cause a problem for you. Is there actually a drug test for vaping? The answer is no - there is no drug test specifically designed for vaping. However, this does not mean you will not test positive for the substances being tested.

You have to understand that vaping is a delivery method of substances and not the substance itself. This means that when you undergo a drug test, you will be tested for the substance or drug that you are vaping and not whether you used a vaping device to take in the substance.

Does vaping show up on a drug test? Yes, the substances you vaped will show up on a  drug test if you are being tested for that substance.

So, what will show up on your drug test? The results of a drug test will depend on the substance that you are vaping. There are three common substances that are usually found in vaping devices: nicotine, THC, and CBD.

Nicotine Drug Testing

Nicotine is a highly addictive substance that is found in traditional tobacco cigarettes. Vapers often have the mistaken belief that vaping products do not contain nicotine but in fact, most vaping products such as JUUL contain nicotine. If you are being tested for nicotine in a drug test, this could lead to a positive result.

But why do companies test for nicotine? There are employers in the United States who test for nicotine because they have a “no nicotine hiring policy”. If the company that you are applying for has this policy, you might be denied a job.

If you undergo a drug test for nicotine, tests will usually look for the nicotine metabolite called cotinine. So how long will cotinine be detected in your system?

• Urine test - Cotinine may be detected for up to four days but if you’re a regular smoker, it may be detected for up to 20 days.
• Blood test - Cotinine may be detected for up to three weeks.
• Saliva test - Cotinine may be detected for 7 to 14 days.
• Hair test - Cotinine may be detected for up to 90 days.

THC and CBD Drug Testing

Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC is the psychedelic ingredient in cannabis plants that is responsible for the effects of getting high. CBD or Cannabidiol, on the other hand, is also an active ingredient found in cannabis but it doesn’t cause any psychedelic effects. CBD is often used for its calming and therapeutic effects.

If you are vaping cannabis products that contain THC, then this could lead to a positive drug test result for THC. One popular cannabis product that is being vaped is dab weed which is a concentrated form of cannabis with very high THC levels. Many dab weed users use a dab pen which is an electronic vaping device to consume the weed.

What if you’re only vaping CBD products that are legal? Will this still result in a positive drug test for THC? Theoretically, if you are vaping CBD products like hemp then THC should not be detected in your system. However, studies found that it is still possible for THC metabolites to be detected in your system and could cause an unexpected positive result. This means that even if you might think that what you’re vaping is a legal CBD substance, you might still be at risk of testing positive for THC.

So, how long could THC be detected in your system?

• Urine test - THC may be detected between 3 to 90 days.
• Blood test - THC may be detected for 1 to 2 days.
• Saliva test - THC may be detected for 24 hours.
• Hair test - THC may be detected for up to 90 days.

Vaping addictive substances

Vaping is not only used to vape nicotine or marijuana, some people use vaping to vape more potent and addictive substances. If you vape narcotics, these narcotics may show up on a drug test. Again, this will depend on the specific substance that you’re vaping and the frequency of your use.

If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse, help is available.

Contact Anaheim Lighthouse today.