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Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

Drinking Bleach and Drug Tests

By , About.com GuideMay 19, 2012

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There are all kinds of rumors about ways you can beat a drug test. Obviously the easiest way to pass the test is to avoid taking drugs in the first place, but that's not going to be much help if you've already taken something and are facing a test. According to Snopes, some people drink bleach believing it will somehow clear their system of drugs. While it is unclear where this idea originated, the rumor is out there. Will it work? Will drinking bleach hurt you or kill you? Here's the lowdown:

Drinking Bleach to Pass a Drug Test

Household bleach consists of about 5.25% sodium hypochlorite in water. Specifically, Clorox says their bleach contains water, sodium hypochlorite, sodium chloride, sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide and sodium polyacrylate. They also make scented products that include fragrances. Bleach also contains small amounts of impurities, which aren't a big deal when you're using the product for disinfection or cleaning, but could prove toxic if ingested. None of these ingredients binds to drugs or their metabolites or inactivates them such that you would test negative on a drug test.

What Happens If You Drink Bleach?

So, of course you are wondering what happens if you drink bleach. People have done this and lived to tell the tale. Drinking a small amount of bleach won't kill you, particularly if you dilute it in water, but it is corrosive and can irritate or damage your mucous membranes and esophagus. Ingesting a few milliliters of bleach most likely will irritate your eyes, nose and throat and may cause nausea and vomiting and possibly diarrhea. Vomiting a small amount of bleach is not recommended, since this re-exposes your esophagus to the chemicals and may worsen the damage. Drinking a larger volume of bleach can hurt or kill you. The toxicity results from the chlorine gas that is produced, the corrosivity of bleach and ingestion of sodium (hypernatremia). Chest pain, low blood pressure, shock and possibly coma or death may result from either inhaling too much bleach or drinking it.

The Bottom Line

Drinking bleach won't help you pass a drug test and may make you sick or dead.

Comments

November 23, 2011 at 9:09 pm
(1) David says:

I hadn’t heard the blech myth but I had heard of vinegar. Any chance? I never believed it but then I never needed to worry about it.

December 7, 2011 at 2:53 pm
(2) stoner says:

Bleadh works in small small amounts if dilluted and with a good drink to wash it down

January 9, 2012 at 1:43 pm
(3) Nick420 says:

the stoner is correct. dont chug, just about 4 driples into some carbonated dark pop. indeed it does work. but only in a light dosage. cant stress that enough. after that drink a gallon of water. do all of this the day befor your test.

January 26, 2012 at 8:27 am
(4) Jay says:

It works!!! One cap x one half gallon does the trick, just be sure to use bathroom once before the test and the next load should be ok. Remedy has worked three times for me.

February 7, 2012 at 12:15 am
(5) mar says:

hey stoner, will this method work with proxies

February 23, 2012 at 12:07 am
(6) joe blogs says:

yeah i tasted bleach and it tasted yum

April 4, 2012 at 2:23 pm
(7) Jae says:

You people have the intelligence of a circus monkey. Actually, scratch that….I’m sure a circus monkey would be smart enough not to drink bleach. IDIOTS….

April 17, 2012 at 10:27 pm
(8) Whitedog says:

Who in their right mind would ever drink bleach??
Cant you just put a few drops into the urine thats being tested

April 23, 2012 at 8:46 am
(9) Silhouette says:

Are you people especially dense or something. The woman just said don’t try it at all because it can make you extremely ill or even kill you and here you all still go giving the desperate saps of the world ways to attempt to get around the inevitable. I mean why bother? If you took drugs in the first place then you don’t value your brain or body much anyway! So go ahead, try it! Listen to the addicts of the world and drink one teaspoon of bleach per half gallon of water. While we’re all watching your sad story on the news shaking our heads about the new craze, your family will either be making medical or burial arrangements for you.

May 16, 2012 at 9:36 pm
(10) Hollywood says:

Well I jus, drank it n hope I dont die hope I passs my test too

May 21, 2012 at 9:20 am
(11) Myra says:

Silhouette,your right.Maybe those who said that its still ok to drink bleach are an addicts.Anyway,for sure,they are old enough for them to know whats good and whats bad to health.If they took dangerous drugs,knowing that its harmful,then why avoid bleach knowing its also harmful?
Guys do you love your mom?then give value to yourself?Your mom didn’t carried you in a womb for 9 months then just to kill yourself.
Life is a gift!

May 22, 2012 at 12:51 pm
(12) ARCpoint Labs of Columbia says:

All bleach would do is give you a false reading. It would not get you off the hook. Not to mention, who would want to risk the potential health problems.

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