You would probably never even consider that eating your morning bagel could land you in a situation involving a DUI, but if you enjoy poppy seed bagels then you might want to read on…
If you have been charged with a DUI in RI, you need an experienced DUI Defense Attorney. Contact S. Joshua Macktaz now at (401) 861-1155.
The Poppy Seed Problem: These Little Seeds Can Cost you a DUI!
If you plan to snack on a poppy seed muffin before you head off to work, watch out! These little black seeds have been known to cause false drug test readings, and get people into trouble. They are one of the only legal substances that contain a small amount of illegal chemicals. These tiny black seeds are usually found in and on breads for seasoning, and contain small traces of morphine. They lead to positives for opiates, which can lead to a serious DUI charge. One doctor states that a pastry filled with these seeds will result in a "high opiate user" test reading. Sometimes, this can also create a positive reading on a heroin test. In rare cases, poppy seeds may cause a positive codeine rating.
The popular Discovery Channel TV show Mythbusters attempted to disconfirm the rumor that poppy seeds can skew a drug test in February 2011. One of the show stars, Adam, ate an entire loaf of poppy seed bread, while his co-host Jamie snacked on three poppy seed bagels. Every 30 minutes, both took a drug test to see their results. Adam tested positive for opium on his first try, thirty minutes after eating the bread. It took Jamie a bit longer to reach positive, but after two hours the poppy seeds had infiltrated her system and convicted her of opium use. The pair was convicted of drug use with every drug test that they took for the rest of the day. The next morning, 18 hours after the initial meal, both were clean.
Certain poppy seed items will yield higher readings than others. A couple poppy seed bagels or one pastry can often do the trick. Also, Purim cookies known as Hamantashen are known to have five to six tablespoons of poppy seeds each. Just a few of these will cause a high opiate reading. Watch out for casseroles, and salad dressings that have a high amount of poppy seeds as well. While these seeds do not have any of the effects of the drugs they are associated with, they definitely have the power to self-incriminate you.
In most cases, if you test positive on a drug test due to poppy seed problems, a GC/MS test can verify the issue and disconfirm your charge. Though poppy seeds have the same metabolites as opium, they have different chemical patterns then the ones in the heavy drug. Still, Medical Review Magazine states that it is difficult to interpret these chemical differences in a drug test and various court cases have proven that it is very possible to be charged with a DUI when the driver was simply snacking on a muffin.
In Chicago, a 20 year old man caused the death of another driver when he made an illegal U-turn and crashed into an oncoming vehicle. When the police arrived, the young man was issued a drug test. He tested positive, and was convicted of driving under the influence of morphine. Thankfully, an investigation proved that the opiate detected in his tests was really just the result of a muffin. In another instance in Pennsylvania, a woman tested positive on a drug test and confirmed to be an unfit mother. Her baby was taken from her because her drug tests showed that she was using opiate. The opiate was actually the result of an entrée with poppy seeds. Some wrongfully accused drivers have even sued because of their false charges. One woman in Florida won her case and received almost a million dollars in compensation. If you have been wrongly convicted of a DUI, you need an experienced lawyer to help your fight your case. Find a local attorney who knows the ins and outs of DUI law in order to prove your innocence and avoid serious consequences.
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