Will Kratom Show Up on a Drug Test? And What Can You Do About It?

Kratom’s popularity throughout the U.S. isn’t slowing down, but it’s also safe to say kratom has a way to go before being fully accepted by mainstream culture. There are still 6 U.S. states with bans on kratom. But even in states where kratom is legal, you may be subjected to kratom drug testing. 

Companies may drug test potential hires or current employees. If you’re on probation, you may also be required to take drug tests at regular intervals.

Will Kratom Use Cause Positive Drug Test Results?

We wish there were a simple “yes” or “no” answer. Truthfully, there isn’t. Kratom creating a positive drug test result depends on several factors. Let’s go over them. 

The Type of Drug Test

The most important factor regarding kratom showing up on drug tests is the type of test you’re taking. The most common drug panels that employers use do NOT test for kratom. Think of each panel simply as a way of testing different substances. These standard tests commonly look for include:

• Cocaine
• Methamphetamine
• Marijuana
• Opiates (OxyContin, Percocet)
• Phencyclidine (PCP)
• Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Klonopin)

And so, if the word around the water cooler or from the recruiter is that the company is really only looking for serious drug abuse, you’re probably fine. Kratom-specific tests do exist, however, so be careful about making assumptions. 

Kratom Testing Methods

Drug tests can also differ based on what they’re testing vs. what substance they’re testing for. Additionally, different testing methods can detect kratom use for longer periods of time, depending on if the testing specimen is hair, saliva, urine, or blood. However, there aren’t commercially made tests designed to detect kratom in one’s saliva or blood at this time. 

With a half-life of about twenty-four hours, we can deduce that kratom typically takes about five days before it’s out of your system in a urine test. However, it isn’t unheard of for kratom to take over a week to eliminate itself from the body.

Hair follicle drug tests typically detect past drug (or in this case, kratom) use for longer than other tests. If looking specifically for kratom, follicle tests can go as far back as about 90 days.

How Often You Consume Kratom

The more kratom you use, the higher the likelihood of it showing up on a drug test that’s testing for this specific substance. This same rule would apply to alcohol or marijuana. Heavy users of any substance will have higher concentrations of it in their systems compared to others.

An additional factor that can affect whether kratom is detectable depends on taking kratom with or without food. For instance, kratom is more likely to be detected if you consume it on an empty stomach than with food or beverages also in your system.

Kratom Potency

Another factor that can lead to kratom showing up on a drug test is the potency of the kratom you consume. For example, liquid kratom extracts often contain significantly more kratom than what you’d get from a small amount of kratom powder or a few kratom capsules.

Someone who consumes more potent kratom products is likely to have higher mitragynine levels than someone who consumes a few grams of kratom per day or uses it only on occasion.

Your Metabolism

Your body breaks down everything you consume. This chemical process is known as metabolism. While everyone has a metabolism, some are slower and faster than others. A person with a slow metabolism would break down kratom slower than an individual with a fast metabolism.

Can Kratom Trigger a False Positive on a Drug Test?

We hope for a time when employers and organizations won’t utilize any testing to detect someone’s kratom use. However, it could be a while before that day arrives. In the meantime, some people and even a published study from 2020 noted that false positives on drug tests are possible from kratom.

A false positive on a drug test occurs when someone’s test results incorrectly indicate a substance in their system. Specifically, kratom’s alkaloids can sometimes mimic the makeup of opiates enough for someone who uses kratom to be mistaken for taking opioids. 

However, kratom is far from the only consumable that can cause false positives. Besides kratom, antibiotics, antidepressants, and even ibuprofen can mimic illicit drugs. 

What Happens If Kratom Shows Up on a Drug Test?

Kratom’s legality and general safety remains something lawmakers can’t agree on. A drug test indicating positive results for kratom can violate the law in places where this substance is illegal, but in most every state, an employer can terminate or deny employment for kratom use. Again, this is rare. 

Just in case there’s a false positive for opioid use, it’s not a bad idea to document your kratom use. This should help give leeway to request a second test, but we can’t vouch for every company’s employment policies. 

Discreet Ways to Enjoy Kratom From Golden Monk

Whether on the go or at work, using kratom discreetly can sometimes be a must. More than just drug testing and employment policies, some people do not feel comfortable making their kratom use public knowledge, especially in the workplace. Kratom capsules are an easy way to get around this problem.

For Further Reading

Christina Pierre, Catherine Gineste, Lindsay Bazydlo. A Kratom Metabolite Causes False Positive Urine Drug Screening Results for Methadone. American Journal of Clinical Pathology, Volume 154. Published October 2020. Pages S19–S20. 

Trakulsrichai S, et al. Pharmacokinetics of mitragynine in man. National Library of Medicine, PubMed Central. Originally published April 2015 in Drug Des Devel Ther.