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What Causes False Positive Test Results For Amphetamines?
Question: I need to ask a question about my son. He is on parole has been for the past 6months. On the 2/2/2015 he had a urine test it came up possitive for amphedemines. He said he had no drugs whats so ever and I believe him. They arrested him and put him in jail for 30 days. The only medication he was on was panadine fort for his tooth ache his teeth are rotton from drugs . The parole told me his reading was 300 but looking at the lab report it says 240 not 300 I am not to sure how they read this because they wasnt a point in the result. My son is very frightend because he told them he had not taken any amphedemines but they arrested him anyway. The point is my son is frigtened to give them a urine test because he doesnt trust them anymore. If he doesnt give you then he goes to jail anyway. The advice I have given him is make sure when you give them the sample that they test it while he is there and if it comes up possitive again , make sure he follow up with a blood test straight away.
Brief Answer:
He has to give urine sample, could ask for blood test as well
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thank you for using Healthcare Magic. Sorry your son is having such problems. However, I think he has no choice but to give a urine sample for testing. He could ask to have a confirmatory blood test at the same time, but typically the urine tests are pretty accurate. Panadeine has codeine in it, so that could give a positive drug test but it would not be amphetamines, it would be opiates.
People who have a history of drug abuse with amphetamines, particularly methamphetamines, often have rotten teeth from use of this drug. You do not say what your son was on parole for, but based on what you've said, it sounds like he has a problem with addiction to amphetamines. Unfortunately, addiction is a relapsing disease. That is why people on parole for drug addiction have to get checked, since they can relapse and use the drugs again.
Even though your son has said he didn't use any amphetamines, they are going to go by the test results. Unfortunately, people with drug addiction often lie or rationalize about their use. This is what they will assume about your son. He may be frightened to give them another sample because he knows it will be positive and he will end up going to jail. Whether the previous result was 240 or 300 doesn't matter; the fact that it was positive does.
I know it is difficult for you as his mother, but for people with drug addiction, sometimes the only thing that gets them to finally quit is to suffer the consequences of using the drugs, which includes jail. So it may be for his best interests that he get the test, and if it's positive, be accountable to the
consequences. I have seen addicts in recovery who, looking back, said something like this was the best thing ever to happen to them, as it got them into good recovery.
Hope this answers your query. If you have further questions, I would be happy to answer them.
He has to give urine sample, could ask for blood test as well
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thank you for using Healthcare Magic. Sorry your son is having such problems. However, I think he has no choice but to give a urine sample for testing. He could ask to have a confirmatory blood test at the same time, but typically the urine tests are pretty accurate. Panadeine has codeine in it, so that could give a positive drug test but it would not be amphetamines, it would be opiates.
People who have a history of drug abuse with amphetamines, particularly methamphetamines, often have rotten teeth from use of this drug. You do not say what your son was on parole for, but based on what you've said, it sounds like he has a problem with addiction to amphetamines. Unfortunately, addiction is a relapsing disease. That is why people on parole for drug addiction have to get checked, since they can relapse and use the drugs again.
Even though your son has said he didn't use any amphetamines, they are going to go by the test results. Unfortunately, people with drug addiction often lie or rationalize about their use. This is what they will assume about your son. He may be frightened to give them another sample because he knows it will be positive and he will end up going to jail. Whether the previous result was 240 or 300 doesn't matter; the fact that it was positive does.
I know it is difficult for you as his mother, but for people with drug addiction, sometimes the only thing that gets them to finally quit is to suffer the consequences of using the drugs, which includes jail. So it may be for his best interests that he get the test, and if it's positive, be accountable to the
consequences. I have seen addicts in recovery who, looking back, said something like this was the best thing ever to happen to them, as it got them into good recovery.
Hope this answers your query. If you have further questions, I would be happy to answer them.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
The reply you gave me for my son. I am aware of drug addicts but honestly you were no help at all. You said in your email that my son had taken amphetamine's and not being honest in telling me I work in an ICU unit and of course the answer you gave me was wrong. My question was if my son was taking panadeine fort would it be possible for the tube testing was incorrect saying amphetamine's of 250 this is with out a point before or after the 250. Of course the parole would not give me the lab report I even went to the solicitor and asked if he could get me a copy.
The parole sent an email with the results but was told by the parole office not to give me a copy. Its Steven's lab report and hes out of prison so I am hoping to get the answer's for this report of showing amphetamine's. Of course I understand that you do not believe anything that a person who takes drugs ( ICE CRACK ) methamphetamine or amphetamine's.
My son is telling the truth and I am 100% on his side with this. You know when someone is taking drugs and I can assure you that he did not take any sort of drug not even POT. He is so frightened to go to this office parole because he was sent to jail for no reason and still no explanation why? For XXXXXXX my son he had to say he had taken amphetamine's just to get out on parole having spent a 30 days in prison.
He didn't like saying this in his parole papers because he said on a visit seeing XXXXXXX " Mum I hate lying you have always said to me never lie this is the way you have brought me up" He hated saying he was guilty and sorry that he had a relapse and he is so sorry. That would be hard for anyone who is saying that when they are not guilty of a crime. Now the question I asked was if XXXXXXX was suffering from really bad tooth ache (CAN A POSITIVE RESULT FOR AMPHETAMINE'S SHOW IN HIS URINE ) I have spoken to XXXXXXX and the advice I gave him was if they need a sample of his urine today if it comes up positive then ask for a blood test ASAP. I am just hoping that XXXXXXX can get this lab report because I will take it to work and ask the Intensivist read the results for me.
The parole sent an email with the results but was told by the parole office not to give me a copy. Its Steven's lab report and hes out of prison so I am hoping to get the answer's for this report of showing amphetamine's. Of course I understand that you do not believe anything that a person who takes drugs ( ICE CRACK ) methamphetamine or amphetamine's.
My son is telling the truth and I am 100% on his side with this. You know when someone is taking drugs and I can assure you that he did not take any sort of drug not even POT. He is so frightened to go to this office parole because he was sent to jail for no reason and still no explanation why? For XXXXXXX my son he had to say he had taken amphetamine's just to get out on parole having spent a 30 days in prison.
He didn't like saying this in his parole papers because he said on a visit seeing XXXXXXX " Mum I hate lying you have always said to me never lie this is the way you have brought me up" He hated saying he was guilty and sorry that he had a relapse and he is so sorry. That would be hard for anyone who is saying that when they are not guilty of a crime. Now the question I asked was if XXXXXXX was suffering from really bad tooth ache (CAN A POSITIVE RESULT FOR AMPHETAMINE'S SHOW IN HIS URINE ) I have spoken to XXXXXXX and the advice I gave him was if they need a sample of his urine today if it comes up positive then ask for a blood test ASAP. I am just hoping that XXXXXXX can get this lab report because I will take it to work and ask the Intensivist read the results for me.
Brief Answer:
Panadeine forte would not cause a positive for amphetamines
Detailed Answer:
Please forgive me if I was not clear in my message. At the very beginning I said the Panadeine forte would not cause a positive test for amphetamines, as it is an opiate. If he were taking a decongestant drug such as Sudafed, which is related to amphetamines, conceivably it could cause a false positive. You did not say what he was on parole for, but you did say his teeth were rotten from drugs, which is a common side effect from methamphetamine. So I assumed it might be for amphetamine abuse. I apologize if this was wrong.
Unfortunately when urine drug tests are taken, they are not generally done on the spot, but sent out to the lab. He certainly could ask for a blood test instead of the urine test and not even bother with the urine. There is no guarantee that they will, but it's certainly worth asking.
It doesn't matter where the point was on the 250. They are going by the fact that it was positive. What I was said was that the parole board thinks like what you accused me of- that a drug addict always lies about his drug use.
This puts your son in a very difficult situation because that IS how they think and there is nothing anyone can do about it. Unfortunately that is how the legal system works. Even if there is 100% chance he didn't take any amphetamines, they will not believe him. Or they are claiming a positive test for some other reason. My feeling is that if they truly believe someone is using drugs, they should not be punishing them with jail, but getting them into some kind of treatment program.
I greatly emphasize with your situation. I lost my brother to drug addiction. He never got in prison for it, but maybe that might have saved him. Maybe not. He went through several treatment centers without maintaining recovery. My mother had a horrible time because he insisted he wasn't using anything and yet continued to do so. She continued to believe him and basically enabled him so that the problem continued until he died. I do not want you to go through what my mother and I went through.
XXXXXXX is now entangled with the legal system, which can be brutal and
unforgiving. He will have to go through whatever they put him through. It is unfortunate but that is reality. You as his mother cannot fix that. All you can do is be supportive of him. Hopefully if he continues to be honest and jumps through all the hoops they give him, he will come out well.
Panadeine forte would not cause a positive for amphetamines
Detailed Answer:
Please forgive me if I was not clear in my message. At the very beginning I said the Panadeine forte would not cause a positive test for amphetamines, as it is an opiate. If he were taking a decongestant drug such as Sudafed, which is related to amphetamines, conceivably it could cause a false positive. You did not say what he was on parole for, but you did say his teeth were rotten from drugs, which is a common side effect from methamphetamine. So I assumed it might be for amphetamine abuse. I apologize if this was wrong.
Unfortunately when urine drug tests are taken, they are not generally done on the spot, but sent out to the lab. He certainly could ask for a blood test instead of the urine test and not even bother with the urine. There is no guarantee that they will, but it's certainly worth asking.
It doesn't matter where the point was on the 250. They are going by the fact that it was positive. What I was said was that the parole board thinks like what you accused me of- that a drug addict always lies about his drug use.
This puts your son in a very difficult situation because that IS how they think and there is nothing anyone can do about it. Unfortunately that is how the legal system works. Even if there is 100% chance he didn't take any amphetamines, they will not believe him. Or they are claiming a positive test for some other reason. My feeling is that if they truly believe someone is using drugs, they should not be punishing them with jail, but getting them into some kind of treatment program.
I greatly emphasize with your situation. I lost my brother to drug addiction. He never got in prison for it, but maybe that might have saved him. Maybe not. He went through several treatment centers without maintaining recovery. My mother had a horrible time because he insisted he wasn't using anything and yet continued to do so. She continued to believe him and basically enabled him so that the problem continued until he died. I do not want you to go through what my mother and I went through.
XXXXXXX is now entangled with the legal system, which can be brutal and
unforgiving. He will have to go through whatever they put him through. It is unfortunate but that is reality. You as his mother cannot fix that. All you can do is be supportive of him. Hopefully if he continues to be honest and jumps through all the hoops they give him, he will come out well.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
thank you for understanding the position of my son delema at the parole office. Yes I agree what you are saying about drug addicts and its not nice at all to put family's through this. However I have no explanation of why this result came up. My advice to XXXXXXX was when they ask you for a urine test you need to ask them for a blood test ASAP. Amphetamines only stay in the system for a couple of days its only pot as I name it stays in the system for weeks. The parole said it wasn't pot it was amphetamines and looking on Google its amazing what you find out. XXXXXXX went the first time when released from Jail he was a little on edge, but they were very nice to him. I think they woke up to the fact something was wrong and like always they sweep it under the carpet. XXXXXXX is good with this and he is willing to give as many urine samples they do the test it in front of him and I have said you make them give you a blood test if it comes up positive for anything that you haven't done. I really think that they are a little more leaner now because I stepped in ( having a medical back ground I think they will do the right thing.) Not telling you your job but honestly they tell you heaps on Google It opened my eyes thanks for responding to my email complaint
XXXXX
XXXXX
Brief Answer:
You're welcome
Detailed Answer:
Best wishes to both you and XXXXXXX and I hope things work out well.
You're welcome
Detailed Answer:
Best wishes to both you and XXXXXXX and I hope things work out well.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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