The rising popularity of energy drinks has put these drinks under several concerns and questions.
There are many side effects of energy drinks, however, some people have claimed that energy drinks can even cause you to fail a drug test. But this claim is entirely false!
Energy drinks do not cause you to fail a drug test; energy drinks do not contain illegal substances which are likely to harm you in the way addictive drugs do, they just contain caffeine. So drug tests do not test for caffeine.
Let’s read a little more about it below!
Page Contents
What is a Drug Test?
A drug test is a test that is performed to determine if a person is using illegal drugs or drugs that can be harmful to him or her. Drug tests are used to test for illegal drugs to help prevent drug use, keep users safe, and protect the legal rights of the accused.
A drug test is a test to detect the presence of illegal drugs in the body through bodily fluids. It is also known as a urinalysis, and the test is commonly used as a way to detect the presence of drugs in the body and the urine of an individual.
Purpose of Drug Tests
The test is most commonly used by employers to test job candidates and employees for illegal drug use, but can also be used by public agencies and courts to check on the suitability of an employee or job candidate for a particular position.
Random drug testing can be a helpful tool in the workplace. The drug testing policy or procedure should be worded and include the basics of what a test entails. The test is also used by schools, universities, and law enforcement, as well as by the military.
It is widely used as part of many drug and alcohol testing programs, to ensure that people who are impaired are not working.
What is Considered a Drug?
There are several types of drugs; drugs can be anything that is used to treat certain medical conditions or used to relieve the symptoms of any disease.
Whereas some drugs can affect the way your brain and body function; from changing your mood to changing your thoughts, some drugs can have complete control over your brain.
A few drugs mildly affect your brain and body, however, a few drugs can have strong impacts on your mind.
Types of Drugs
There are several types of drugs and they have different uses and purposes:
- Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants.
- CNS Stimulants.
- Hallucinogens.
- Dissociative Anesthetics.
- Narcotic Analgesics.
- Inhalants.
- Cannabis.
A few drugs in the list above have medical and legal usage; while others are illegal drugs. The most commonly used illegal drugs are those that are classified as illegal narcotics, such as heroin, cocaine, and marijuana.
These are often referred to as street drugs, although some of them have legitimate medicinal properties. These may also include prescription medication that has been diverted to street sales, such as OxyContin, or illegal prescription medication that has been diverted to the black market, such as painkillers like oxycodone.
Common street drugs include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Crystal Meth
- Heroin
- Crack Cocaine
- Cocaine
- Ecstasy
- Marijuana
- LSD
- Opium
What Does a Drug Test Detect?
Drug tests are not used to test all drugs, but a few illegal drugs might harm the person. Commonly a drug test is done for detecting the following drugs:
Drug tests commonly test for:
- Alcohol
- Amphetamines also include methamphetamine.
- Barbiturates, such as secobarbital and phenobarbital.
- Benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam or clonazepam
- Cocaine
- Marijuana (THC)
- Opioids and opiates, such as oxycodone, morphine, heroin, codeine, hydrocodone, and fentanyl.
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
- Steroids
Caffeine
Caffeine is the most common ingredient on which most energy drinks are based. To increase the energizing effects of energy drinks, these drinks combine the energizing effects of caffeine with a few other ingredients.
However, sometimes caffeine can have certain side effects due to which people avoid drinking highly caffeinated beverages.
Following are a few side effects due to which people do not like to consume caffeinated beverages:
- Restlessness and shakiness.
- Insomnia.
- Headaches.
- Dizziness.
- Fast heart rate.
- Dehydration.
- Anxiety.
- Dependency
Is Caffeine Considered a Drug?
Caffeine is considered a drug, but not the kind of drug you are thinking of.
It is a legal stimulant and it is not an illegal drug. It is a central nervous system stimulant, and it can have certain effects on your brain because can might have the power to alter how your brain works.
Being a psychoactive drug, caffeine affects your brain as it affects your mood and makes you more active mentally.
Does Caffeine Fail Drug Test?
Caffeine is not likely to fail a drug test because a drug test does not detect caffeine.
So, it is not possible that caffeine might fail a drug test; caffeine is not an illegal drug that might harm you like certain narcotics, cannabis, or antidepressants.
Sugar
Sugar is a sweet compound present in the energy drinks we consume and the food we eat. However, this ingredient has been accused of several side effects for decades.
The deteriorating effects of sugar on health include diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, etc.
However, one cannot deny the quick energizing effects that come from the consumption of sugar. Even though the effects are temporary and result in a sugar crash, you can enjoy the momentary energy spike
To avoid sugar, you can also opt for one of these top 10 Best Sugar-Free Energy Drinks (Detailed List)
Is Sugar Considered a Drug?
Sugar is not a drug, it is a chemical, however, there is a long debate behind this. The reason why most people consider sugar a drug is the way it works.
There is a great similarity between the way sugar works and the way addictive drugs work. Addictive drugs control the emotional part of our brain, making us habitual of their consumption.
Our brains have been hardwired for a sense of pleasure, and the drugs upon consumption release a huge wave of dopamine, which is the hormone responsible to provide us with a sense of pleasure.
However, do you know that sugar does the same? Sugar consumption releases a gush of dopamine, making us crave sweets to an extent that some people start feeling annoyed and irritated.
So yes, sugar can be as addictive as a few drugs, however, it is not a drug even though it acts like it.
Does Sugar Fail Drug Test?
No, sugar does not fail a drug test because sugar is not a drug.
Research claim sugar to be as addictive as some drugs, which is true to some extent, however, sugar is still not a drug.
Do Energy Drinks Cause You to Fail a Drug Test?
Energy drinks are beverages that are now available in almost every house. Some people like to consume energy drinks at least twice a day; it is because of the energizing effects provided by these drinks.
Due to the presence of caffeine and similar ingredients, energy drinks can make us active and alert.
The caffeine present in energy drinks is a psychoactive drug that affects our brain in such a way that it becomes more active and alert and works more efficiently.
Caffeine replaces the molecules of adenosine by attaching themselves to the receptors of adenosine present in the brain and in this way caffeine molecules make you active and help you to concentrate in a better way.
Being said that, if you think that due to the presence of caffeine, an energy drink can cause you to fail the drug test so let’s look into it.
Even though caffeine is a drug, it is not an illegal drug, and caffeine is not what the drug tests or toxicology tests are used to detect.
So any energy drink containing caffeine or similar stimulants is not going to cause you to fail a drug test.
You will come across many rumors on the internet claiming that energy drinks should not be consumed before a drug test as it might cause you to fail the drug test, there is no truth in it and it is entirely wrong.
Can Bang Energy Drinks Cause You to Fail a Drug Test?
Bang energy drink is a famous energy drink that contains around 300 mg of caffeine, which makes it a bit of a high caffeinated drink.
If you have a drug test the other day and you are wondering whether you should consume a Bang energy drink or not as it might cause you to fail the drug test, then you do not have to worry at all!
The Bang Energy drink will not cause you to fail a drug test.
There were false rumors which circulated on the internet claiming that Bang energy drink can cause a failure in a drug test, however, it was entirely false.
Following are the nutrients of Bang energy, one can make sure that it does not contain any illegal substance:
| Typical Values | Bang (16 fl. oz) |
| Energy | 0 calories |
| Protein | 0g |
| Fat (Of which Saturated) | g (g) |
| Carbohydrate (Of which Sugars) | 0g (0g) |
| Sodium | 40mg |
| Caffeine | 300mg |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 5mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.5mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.5μg |
| Vitamin C | 27mg |
| Magnesium | 5mg |
| Calcium | 5mg |
Substances that Can Cause False-Positive Drug Tests
Few substances do not fall into the category of being illegal, but they can cause a false-positive drug test because the drug test might confuse them for a few other illegal substances, so these substances are the following:
- Weight Loss Pills
- Poppy Seeds
- Mouthwash
- Antidepressants
- Antibiotics (In rare cases)
- CBD Oil
- Antihistamines
- HIV Medication
- Coca Tea
- Antipsychotic Drugs
Final Verdict
- A drug test is a test that is performed to determine if a person is using illegal drugs or drugs that can be harmful to him or her.
- Any energy drink containing caffeine or similar stimulants is not going to cause you to fail a drug test.
- People believe that energy drinks such as Bang energy drink and Red Bull can cause you to fail a drug test, which is also false.