Kratom?

Let me clear up something some think a DOT drug test is. For some reason, a few people here and there think a DOT test is like what the character "Abby" did in NCIS with her "mass spec". This is NOT the case. The DOT has established the prohibited substances. At the lab, they take one of the split samples and "dip" a strip in it. I understand some labs have special cups they can use that will do this as well. If they get a reaction it is noted and the results sent to the MRO. Honestly, I highly doubt Kratom will show up in a DOT test. I recommend against using it, however, because of what several comments before mine have said. One more point, in the trucking world, stop thinking about state laws in regard to drugs. Almost ALL OTR drivers are operating under the FMCSA and they are clear about what is allowed and what is prohibited.

To avoid the inevitable you don't know what you are talking about because my wife works in a lab reply, Let me post some links. The first one is to Subpart F of part 40 of the DOT regulations. I would direct you to 40.83 and 40.85. Next is a great youtube video discussing the lab process. In this video, there are several very brief glimpse's of what these panel testing strips look like.

 

I know several people outside of trucking that take it. They say it has many great benefits but they also say they are somewhat addicted to it.
I personally would not feel comfortable knowing fellow drivers were using this stuff. In the future this will probably be a pharmaceutical and a controlled substance. It may be perfectly legal for you to take it but that does not make it a good idea.
It is a mind altering drug and should be treated as such.

 

Definitely take some random "drug" over actually figuring out what is wrong with your back.

A simple visit to a chiropractor might be all you need.

 

Well better start feeling uncomfortable then, because there's drivers out there that take all kinds of different drugs.


Edit: I'm more worried about the ones that should be on meds because they're bat #### crazy without them and probably shouldn't be in a truck in the 1st place.

 

My take is until dot specifically tests for the stuff or makes guidelines it's A ok. Hits the opiate receptors like pain pills do

 

Have noticed that some people don’t understand how and what drug tests look for. No test looks for for the actual drug. What it looks for are the metabolites the are produced by the body processing the drug. Anything that could create a metabolite of a similar type to known drugs will come back as positive. This why they can find synthetic drugs. If the product has a similar response, like say an opioid, it could trigger a positive. Another factor is the solubility of the compound, water or fat. This is what has been happening to CBD users, THC is fat soluble compound, after a while the level becomes detected.

 

Your comment is 100% right on. This is why I don't get into these 100% it will or 100% it won't when it comes to reactions to this testing. Your comment is also why part 40.87(a) (1-5) is so detailed on how this testing is to be calibrated. Some people don't understand that a small-time med like Tylenol 3 can cause a positive for Morphine. I have actually seen it happen. This is why it is CRITICAL you be under a physician's care while taking even Tylenol 3. It can mean the difference between having a job or a really bad headache! The human body can process substances differently. The substance this thread is about I would advise against using. If drivers that are using it are getting testing negatives that's great. Just make sure your facts are all in line before you use it.

 

The metabolites kratom breaks down to won't cause you to fail for any of the opiates unless they're specifically testing for whatever metabolites kratom produces.

I know a guy who has adderall and Suboxone (buprenorphine) and he drives a school bus.

 

Do you know this for a 100% fact? Do you have first hand knowledge of someone using this substance tested negative? There is another aspect to testing I have not brought up yet. That is cutoff amounts. To better understand why this is critical is to know what the half life of this substance is. As well as how fast does it leave the body. Example. Alcohol will generally metabolize about 1 oz an hour. I don't know the answers to these questions. This is why I highly recommend being extremely careful using this substance until these questions are all answered.

 

I have taken kratom for several years for pain. It just works for me. I don't get high or have the euphoric feelings that true opiates give me. The only time I have ever taken a drug test while taking kratom was when I had to do a pre-employment drug screen a couple of times and I have never failed a 5-panel or 10-panek drug screen. YMMV.