These common drug tests lead to tens of thousands of wrongful arrests a year, experts say. One state is fighting back
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Read the original article: https://krdo.com/news/2026/04/05/these-common-drug-tests-lead-to-tens-of-thousan…
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16 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.
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“These common drug tests lead to tens of thousands of wrongful arrests a year, experts say.”
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“Colorado just enacted the nation’s first law banning arrests based solely on the results of colorimetric drug tests.”
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“The tests are popular because they’re cheap, portable and can screen for drugs in mere minutes.”
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“Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania found that colorimetric drug tests have error rates between 15% to 38%.”
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“A study by the New York City Department of Investigation showed test error rates from 79% to 91% in some correctional settings.”
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“Bird poop scraped off a man’s car appeared on a drug test as cocaine.”
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“A toddler’s ashes registered as methamphetamine or ecstasy.”
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“A great-grandmother’s medicine tested positive for cocaine.”
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“Colorimetric tests are pouches containing chemicals that change color when certain substances or compounds are detected.”
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“More reliable electronic drug testing devices cost between $24,000 to $80,000.”
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“The chemical characteristic of amphetamine has similar characteristics to the chemical compound for sugar.”
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“Former Georgia Southern University quarterback Shai Werts was suspended after a colorimetric test falsely identified bird droppings as cocaine.”
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“In Illinois, officers claimed a 2-year-old girl’s cremated remains tested positive for methamphetamine or ecstasy.”
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“In Florida, Kena’z Edwards was jailed for over three months after a colorimetric test falsely identified lidocaine as cocaine.”
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“A 13-year-old girl in Iowa was expelled from school after cookies she brought tested positive for THC on a field drug test.”
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“Holly Bennett, a 65-year-old Coloradan, was charged with cocaine possession after a colorimetric test falsely identified her prescribed Ritalin as cocaine.”
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Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.