[kozy13]

Well tomorrow was supposed to be my 90 days and I completley fell. I get off this device This Tuesday also, and I messed up. My question is, last night I had 5 vodka lemonades(I was buzzed a little but not drunk) I do have a very high tolerance... My last drink was probably 1:45. Well this morning when I blew-I blew numbers because it went off twice and Now I need to go in to take a UA. I have blown numbers before but it went down to zero when I retested it a few minutes later. Well this time it didn't go down to zero. I have been drinking tons of water to hopefully flush my system and have been going to bathroom non stop and also I was in a steam room earlier today..

I was wondering if there is any way I could pass the test? I haven't drank in a long time.. and last night I did. Also I'm assuming I blew like a .004? Or something..

[DrBill100]

When do you take the UA? Do you know what they test for?

[kozy13]

Alcohol-I will be taking it around 3... I have been also drinking juice with vitamins in it. And lots of gaterade. I can't believe I messed up. It might be better if I dilute it. Im not sure because I've had issues with the device before but I WASN'T drinking and passed the UA's.. this time though I'm scared I won't.

[DrBill100]

If they are testing for alcohol then there's a good chance that you will be clean. Should be if you had 5 drinks.

But I suspect that they may be testing for EtG, a longer lasting metabolite of alcohol. If so you're probably loaded up.

Do they do the testing on site or is it sent out?

[kozy13]

I am pretty sure it is the ETG testing. Yes, it is sent out. I have blown numbers though on that device before... what are the reasons people can blow even if they weren't drinking? Sorry, what does your "probably loaded up " mean? Thank you very much for responding.

[kozy13]

Im so scared, I can't believe it.. and I've literally on this device for 5 more days and I messed up the last 5 days. And I've been on it for 3 months now.

[DrBill100]

I'm not terribly knowledgeable about the breath devices. I can tell you that since 2004 they respond to any type of alcohol, not just ethanol. So even rubbing alcohol probably sets it off.

That's not terribly significant however, as if the UA test is for EtG your numbers will be very high at that time span. That is what I meant by loaded up.

[kozy13]

What if I dilute it?

[DrBill100]

what if I dilute it??

Here is the problem. Dilution of urine can be detected by several means, creatinine, pH, specific gravity. With EtG in particular it can be analyzed by normalizing EtG to creatinine, a process called UEtG100, and so long as the urine is testable that overcomes the dilution. Your problem is the amount of EtG that would be present at that time span.

With this test you always have a chance as the initial screen has an error rate of about 10-15%.

You sure picked a bad time to lapse.

[kozy13]

I know I picked a awful time to lapse-I am wondering if I was just"testing" the waters because I get off this device now in literally 4 days and I have not drank once until the other night. I know the old me(a year ago) def. would have messed up on this but it's a good thing I Have been sober and this device has helped me.. and what's crazy is the DEVICE went off TWO times this morning. Im assuming I blew numbers the first time and then the second time It was all zeros that's why it didn't go off a third time. A few months ago though I did dilute a UA and yesterday I took a UA at the same place where I once diluted it. All I know is I litreally had probably 3 liters of water before my test and I kept going to the bathroom. But again, they can detect if its diluted? I'd rather have it be diluted then show that I had some stuff in my system.

[DrBill100]

If you had that much water in proximity to the test it probably will show as dilute or untestable.

Are you being offered any type of counseling or medication related to this testing? It sounds as though you want to stop the drinking?

You mentioned the device going off twice today. Was that in addition to twice yesterday?

You also mention previous dilution. Was that detected?

[kozy13]

I actually just graduated my outpatient program I was in for 4 months on the 4th of January. Now I am currently in low intensity which is one day a week. I def. want to stop drinking, I have stopped--untill Thursday Night-and I slipped... had 4 mixed drinks. Yes, the device in the past has gone off more then once. The device has up to 3 retest. Last night I blew at 5 PM(and I was fine-it went off once), and 10 PM(It only went off once), and this morning it went off twice(so I retook it one time because it clearly said I blew numbers the first time.. then the second time I took it it went down to zero). It went off.. THREE times yesterday morning(I didn't take it the third time because I knew I would fail it because I actually DID drink the night before)... thats why I had to go in and take a UA. Well a about 8 months ago I had to take a UA and I drank the night before so I drank tons of water... and it was diluted and I'd rather have it be diluted then actually have the levels be high. I am super proud of myself... and I won't let this get me down and in the past I literally would have said 'F-ck it ' but not now because I have been doing so great. Yes, I had tons of water.. im wondering though what I maybe blew at 7 am? Because again I had like 5 drinks(they weren't that strong.. ) and I was buzzed for sure but not DRUNK. So basically I didn't have naything 5 hours priror to be blowing in the device Friday Morning(Really stupid of me.. I know).

[kozy13]

And now I'm freaking out because I have court TUESDAY and I'm sure the results will be back by then... and I'm just praying to God I didn't screw myself over because my lawyer and prosector saw how well I was doing(being sober) and they were going to give me a break because.. im doing so great. And gosh, I really hope I di dn't mess everything up. That's kind of why I hope I dilute it because again-i've had issues in the past with the device and two weeks ago--they wanted me to take a UA because they thought I was drinking and I did take the UA and I passed it.

[DrBill100]

8 months ago when you provided a dilute sample what happened?

The breathalyzer probably reacts to different forms of alcohol, as I mentioned previously. Really isn't important now, however. These devices are only accurate to .02 so .04 is probably a good guess.

Thurs, when you had the 5 drinks, over what period? I see last drink was nearly 2 am. Tell my how much you weigh, M or F?

[Fr_Chuck]

Not being rude, by why should they give you a break, why should they not require additional programs and longer probation times.

You obviously have not kicked it yet and perhaps staying in a program longer or another program may be more what you need ( not what you want)
Remember their goal and yours is to stop the problem from happening again.

[kozy13]

I am a female -weight 135 very active/fit. I know,--im just hoping I don't get a lot of jail time because of this. I have been in numerous treatments and... I have not been sober for this long in a long time and literally I have grown in the last few months and have accomplished so much--more then I have in a long time. I had five drinks probably over a 3 hour period. I did "kick it" I would like to think. At the time though Thursdy night --its sad I was out(at a bar) and I think I just got caught up in all the hipe which has never happened to me before.. ever. How do you know the devices are only good at .02 or .04? They have told me I have blown like a .005... but then it went down to zero. I know they just want to help, this device has helped me alot-believe it or not. I just slipped-it happens. But I'm going to a meeting tonight and not going to let my slip bring me down which is a good thing because in the past... I would have just said screw it.

[kozy13]

Nothing happened when my UA came back as "diluted" I just said... I did have a lot of water because I worked out earlier which in general I do drink a lot of water be ecause I'm a very active person.

[kozy13]

I don't want ot say it but I know everything there is to know about treatment. I know I will kick this- I knew deep down I shouldn't of gone out-it took me a while to decide if I wanted to... but I did. I knew I should have went with my gut instinct and stayed in. I have been out to bars numerous times... and this last time I caved in. Again I might off because I let my guard down.

[DrBill100]

I've never known of a field breath analyzer tested below .02. Beyond the fact that a confirmation test was run, your BAC at 7am would have been above .02 even figuring a fast metabolism of .018 ph.

At any rate, based on what you have said, that the device helped you, that you just completed outpatient, and that you want to stop drinking, FrChucks conclusion is pretty much on target. Presupposing that it would result in extended treatment and further use of monitoring.

Even if your dilution works you should seriously consider some more intense intervention. I believe that would be good for at this stage of recovery.

That is not to diminish your accomplishment nor to over emphasize the brief lapse. That's a very common occurrence and you have the right attitude. Don't let it be an obstacle to your recovery.

So if you slip by this time I hope you make the best of it. If your drinking is detected then hopefully it will mean greater therapeutic attention to your needs as opposed to jail.

[kozy13]

I already took the UA--I took the UA Friday at 3:15. Im not sure what they test for... alcohol I know. I think they are testing for everything.