Blood Drug Testing

Why do poppy seeds result in a failed drug test?

If poppy seeds are a drug, why don't people become addicted to them? Is there a way to distinguish poppy seeds and actual drugs in a person's system on a drug test?

Public Comments

1. Poppy seeds are not a drug, but if you have enough in your system they can be detected as one, even though they are not actually a drug. They have traces of opium or something in them, I do not know all the details
2. I saw this question being done on MythBusters. Yes, poppy seeds will give you a negative drug result. The poppy seeds come from the poppy plant which is used to make opium. Eating a poppy seed muffin will show up in a drug test.
3. Heroin is derived from poppy plants.
4. Because opium comes from poppies. Just like marijuana seeds, poppy seeds contain very little intoxicant. But would you expect to pass a drug test after having a delicious pot seed bagel?