Blog Post

If you’re facing an mpu [Medical-Psychological Assessment] because of drug-related offenses, one critical question will dominate your mind:
“Am I still detectable?”
Drug tests — blood, urine, and hair analyses — are central to passing the MPU, and understanding drug detectability is key to preparing properly.

In this in-depth guide, we’ll cover how long different drugs stay in your system, what tests are used, how authorities interpret results, and **how a mpu anwalt [mpu lawyer] and rechtsanwalt verkehrsrecht [traffic law lawyer] can help you master this challenge.

Ready? Let’s dive in.

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1. Why Drug Testing Matters Before the MPU

Passing the mpu requires proving you are no longer consuming illegal substances.
Authorities demand objective proof — meaning medical tests — not just words.

If you test positive for banned substances (even in tiny amounts!), you are considered “ungeeignet zum Führen von Kraftfahrzeugen” (unfit to drive).

🚨 Important: Even occasional use (gelegentlicher Konsum) can lead to MPU failure without abstinence proof.

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2. Which Drug Tests Are Used?

Before and during the MPU, authorities usually request:

• Blood tests: Immediate recent use (hours to 1-2 days)

• Urine tests: Recent to medium-term use (days to weeks)

• Hair analyses: Long-term consumption (months)

Tip: Hair is the gold standard for detecting habitual drug use over up to 6–12 months!

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3. Detection Times for Different Drugs

Let’s break it down drug by drug:

Key takeaway:
Hair tests are the biggest danger because they show long-term patterns, not just recent slip-ups!

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4. Deep Dive: Cannabis and MPU

Cannabis causes more MPU cases than any other drug in Germany.
Understanding THC behavior is crucial.

• THC in blood: Psychoactive — causes driving impairment.

• THC-COOH in blood: Metabolite — proves past consumption.

🚨 Critical values:

• THC active in blood > 1.0 ng/ml = “relative driving incapacity.”

• THC-COOH over 75 ng/ml = habitual consumption suspected, often triggering MPU.

👉 Occasional smokers (gelegentlicher Konsum) can sometimes avoid MPU if they prove no dependency.

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5. Deep Dive: Cocaine Detection Before the MPU

kokain nachweisbarkeit [cocaine detectability] and nachweisbarkeit kokain [detectability cocaine] are serious topics.

• Cocaine disappears quickly from blood (within 12 hours).

• In urine: detectable for about 2–7 days.

• In hair: can show even small amounts for up to 6 months.

Authorities view cocaine consumption extremely seriously, because:

• It strongly impairs judgment

• It’s associated with high-risk driving behaviors

• Recidivism rates are higher compared to cannabis users

👉 If any cocaine is detected in hair or urine, abstinence proof (at least 6–12 months) is mandatory before passing the MPU.

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6. What Abstinence Means Before the MPU

Simply “not using” isn’t enough.
You must prove abstinence through:

• Continuous, supervised drug screenings

• Certified hair analyses (no dyeing or bleaching allowed!)

• Documented monitoring periods (typically 6 or 12 months)

Common abstinence programs:

• 6-month program: For single offenses, low-risk drivers

• 12-month program: For heavy users, repeat offenders, or cocaine/heroin use

Important: Breaks between tests >4 weeks can destroy your proof chain!

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7. How Authorities Evaluate Your Abstinence

When the ordnung polizei [police order] issues your evaluation order, they expect:

• Consistency (no gaps)

• Professional documentation

• Transparency about your past consumption

During the fragen zur mpu [questions about MPU], the psychologist will also test your honesty about your drug past.

🚨 Trick: They often ask tricky questions like:

• “What did you learn from your consumption experience?”

• “How do you ensure today that it won’t happen again?”

Wrong answers = suspicion of ongoing drug affinity = automatic fail.

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8. Can You Speed Up Drug Elimination?

Many desperate candidates ask:
“Can I detox faster before the MPU?”

👉 Short answer:
No reliable method exists.

Fake detox kits, extreme sweating, or drinking 10 liters of water don’t fool serious lab tests.

The only true safe path:

• Real abstinence

• Professional documentation

• Time (your best friend here)

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9. What Happens If You Test Positive Again?

If you test positive during preparation:

• Your abstinence program resets to zero.

• You must start a new monitoring period (6 or 12 months).

• Your MPU appointment is postponed indefinitely.

• Costs rise significantly (new hair analyses = €200–€500 per session).

👉 Bottom line: One mistake can cost you 1–2 years extra without a license.

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10. Case Example: Julia’s Cocaine Battle

Julia, 29, faced an MPU after a cocaine-related driving incident.

• She waited 3 months without consuming but didn’t realize nachweisbarkeit kokain is longer in hair.

• Her hair test came back positive.

• Authorities demanded a full 12-month abstinence program before reapplication.

Lesson:
Always work with a mpu anwalt immediately after drug offenses to understand real detection risks!

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11. Costs of Drug Detection and Abstinence Proof

👉 Saving by “skipping” abstinence proof is a dangerous illusion — it almost always backfires.

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12. Conclusion: Time, Honesty, and Patience Are Your Allies

In the world of MPU and drug detection, the truth is simple:
There are no shortcuts.

If you truly want to pass the MPU:

• Understand how long substances stay detectable.

• Commit fully to documented abstinence.

• Work with a mpu anwalt to organize your path correctly.

• Prepare deeply for psychological questioning, showing credible, lasting change.

Freedom on the road requires work — but it’s absolutely achievable!