The Truth About Kratom: Will Kratom Make You Fail a Drug Test?

Will Kratom Make You Fail a Drug Test? Here’s What You Need to Know 

You’re loving your kratom herbal tea, kratom mints and kratom tablets. You’re feeling focused, energized, and a little less in pain, and then it hits you...your employer just introduced random drug test screening as a requisite of continued employment.  

So....Will kratom show up on a standard drug test? Should you start looking for a new job? Are you in violation of the Law?

The short answer is "NO", you should be fine, but there are things to consider.

Don’t worry. At ETHA Natural Botanicals, we’re here to separate fact from fiction and give you the science-backed answers you deserve. 

Is Kratom Legal?

Kratom is federally legal in the U.S., but a few states and municipalities have banned it. So, kratom legality depends on your state or country (and county). ETHA advocates and supports safe, science-based regulation and transparency in the industry — and we encourage you to check your local laws before use. 

What is Kratom?

But here’s the kicker: kratom’s chemical makeup is unique. It doesn’t act exactly like opioids or stimulants, even though it mimics those and can produce similar effects depending on the dosage and the alkaloid combination present in the kratom you are taking.

Will Kratom Show Up on a Drug Test? 

Short answer: Not on a standard 5-panel drug test. 

Most employers use a standard 5-panel test, which screens for: 

• THC (marijuana) 

• Cocaine 

• Opiates (like morphine or heroin) 

• Amphetamines (like Adderall or meth) 

• PCP 

Kratom’s primary alkaloids are NOT chemically similar enough to these substances to trigger a positive result. So if your employer is ONLY screening with a 5-panel test, you're likely in the clear.

What About More Advanced Tests? 

Some specialized drug tests (like a 10-panel test or targeted lab analysis) can be designed to detect mitragynine or 7-hydroxymitragynine. But here's the thing: these tests are rare and expensive, and they're typically only used in legal investigations, medical settings, or athletic organizations. 

Translation: unless someone is specifically looking for kratom, they’re probably not going to find it.***

This can be confusing, especially because kratom interacts with opioid receptors, people sometimes assume it behaves the same way in drug screenings. But drug tests don't detect how something works in your body — they look for specific chemicals or their byproducts (called metabolites). 

And kratom’s metabolites are not the same as those from opiates or synthetic drugs. 

****PLEASE Check with your Employer and/or Test Administrator for clarification of what they are testing for and why they are conducting the test(s).

Bottom Line 

✅ Will kratom make you fail a standard drug test?  - Highly unlikely. 
🧪 Can kratom be detected in specialized testing?  - Yes, but it’s rare. 
🚨 Should you tell your employer about it?  - That depends on your job, your relationship with your employer, and local laws.

When in doubt, research, ask questions, and transparency is key. 

 

At ETHA, we believe in empowering our community with science-backed facts — not fear or guesswork. Kratom is a complex, natural plant with incredible properties, and the more you understand how it interacts with your body (and your world), the better equipped you are to use it responsibly. 

Got questions? CONTACT US. We’ve got answers — and lab results, too. 

This article is for educational purposes only and not intended to be medical or legal advice. Always consult with a professional if you’re unsure about your situation. 

 Stay informed. Stay natural. Stay you. LIVE FULLY!

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