Wanted to post 2 real-world examples on here since there are so many posts asking about Peth testing and how long it takes to become negative and how many drinks. The 1st example is on the lighter side of drinking and 2nd example is "heavier." I got my own lab tests to do these (order online and pay with credit card, confirmation comes, and then you go to CVS/Walgreens/Labcorp or other labs that the website tells you to).
Wanted to enjoy a few drinks on a Friday - drank 3 standard size drinks (three 1.5 oz measured pours) of Bourbon (40% ABV) within 1.5 hours starting at 6pm on an empty stomach. Had not drank for 6 weeks prior to this episode. After 3 days later, on Monday - Got my own Peth blood test at a lab and the results = negative, below 20ng level of detection.
Another time, went to a tailgate party on a Friday - had 7 standard drinks from 11am to 3pm. Went to a 2nd tailgate party on Saturday, had 7.5 standard drinks from 10am to 3pm. Both days were on an empty stomach. Had not drank for 5 weeks prior to this episode. 10 days later in the morning - Got my own Peth blood test at a lab and the results = 48 ng/ml. So this is above the established medical cutoff of 20ng/ml and considered positive.
I would probably have been negative in ANOTHER 7-10 days if we consider the half-life of Peth is around 4-5 days. So I would have a negative Peth after that fairly heavy drinking episode weekend after 17-20 days. So this also goes in line when they say a Peth blood test "can detect alcohol consumption up to 28 days.” If I drank even heavier, it would maybe take 28 days to get below 20ng/ml.
Conclusions:
-If Peth is near 0, then a light drinking episode will not raise it above the cutoff of 20ng (as my 3 day example above). This is confirmed with a study on the internet as well.
-Heavy drinking 10 drinks or more - You could be negative with Peth after 2 weeks, but really need 3 weeks/21days to be very safe.
-THE MOST IMPORTANT - Peth is additive so ALWAYS need 4 weeks of no drinking so you start with a near 0 Peth level for any chance of passing tests before the 28 day mark
Here's what I found out about the SSRI part and why they are checked. There are some in monitoring with a contract that actually specifies that they get a DBS finger prick test every month (expensive!). That could be due to them showing that they are endangering patients due to their mental illness and medication noncompliance. That's why they are checking to see if you are taking your SSRIs, antipsychotics or whatever regularly. Not really to see if we are getting high off it.
Ahhh that makes sense. I didn't even know you could be thrown in this program simply for having a mental illness though... that's wild.
Have info on another example on a peth blood test using whole blood. It's from a dentist I went to rehab with. She drank 4 standard glasses of wine at a restaurant on a Friday evening along with multiple appetizers (no dinner). I believe they poured her 5-6 oz she said for each glass. She had not drank anything for 4 weeks prior to this restaurant. She got a peth whole blood test on Tuesday morning, so that's 4 days later. It was negative.
Have info on another example on a peth blood test using whole blood. It's from a dentist I went to rehab with. She drank 4 standard glasses of wine at a restaurant on a Friday evening along with multiple appetizers (no dinner). I believe they poured her 5-6 oz she said for each glass. She had not drank anything for 4 weeks prior to this restaurant. She got a peth whole blood test on Tuesday morning, so that's 4 days later. It was negative.
Well, I'm not the one doing the tests but I do have a drink occasionally and limit it to 1 or 2. I don't have an SUD. As you can see, I can limit my drinking to 1 or 2 but the monitoring agency sees differently and everyone has to have a diagnosis because otherwise, you shouldn't be in monitoring anyway, right?
It's the people who sneak in drinks who have an SUD, will be caught eventually by peth or hair tests because they can't stop at just 1 drink.
THese urine etg and peth are not very useful for the occasional 1 drink every now and then.
Well, I'm not the one doing the tests but I do have a drink occasionally and limit it to 1 or 2. I don't have an SUD. As you can see, I can limit my drinking to 1 or 2 but the monitoring agency sees differently and everyone has to have a diagnosis because otherwise, you shouldn't be in monitoring anyway, right?
It's the people who sneak in drinks who have an SUD, will be caught eventually by peth or hair tests because they can't stop at just 1 drink.
THese urine etg and peth are not very useful for the occasional 1 drink every now and then.
What irks me is because people use things were not supposed to I feel like we all pay the price. You haven't been caught so far and I hope that continues.
These are good benchmarks. I am now passing into the 2nd half of my monitoring period and I have noticed getting more "random" Peth tests on the RecoveryTrek app! It's crazy! It's a $100 or $120 test and now I'm having to go to the lab for Peth tests. I'm not sure how often this will be. .
Peth tests are scary - they are very sensitive. They are multiple times scarier than hair tests.
How are peths scary if you're not drinking? I'm not in monitoring but if I was I would take NO chances. Id do my time and stay sober. Drinking isn't worth having your license suspended.
How are peths scary if you're not drinking? I'm not in monitoring but if I was I would take NO chances. Id do my time and stay sober. Drinking isn't worth having your license suspended.
Peth tests can and do have false positive tests far too often.
Another anecdotal data point: Met a guy in recovery (he's an NP I believe), who gets a dried blood spot test every month which tests for peth and 50 other substances. Yes, every 30 days, he has to pay $120 for a DBS (dried blood spot) test on top of the urine etgs. His case manager said that since he takes an SSRI for major depressive disorder, they want to make sure he is compliant with that.
So indirectly, he has to watch out for alcohol and the 50 other substances also.
Can't wait to stop monitoring so we call can stop bleeding money.
Helenalsephinacat
18 Posts
Ahhh that makes sense. I didn't even know you could be thrown in this program simply for having a mental illness though... that's wild.