Pre Employment Drug Test

Angeleyes13
Everytime I have had to test before getting the job I was asked if I was on any prescriptions that might show up. I have done this about 4 or 5 times and never had a problem.
Take care,
bill

Thank you, just a bit paranoid at this point I guess. Jumping the gun,lol. I understand why they do it in general, but like I said, prescription drugs should be private between my dr and me. Not the people in the department I will be working in. Test for the illegal stuff and require a physical if they really want to know if you able to do the position safely.

Does the ADA protect at all in these types of situation? I will take it further if needed, not to secure a postion, but more to make a point.

I like cogito's plan and agree its no ones business about meds you take, but maybe for liability issues the workplace HR dept should be aware.

Hope your new job works out well and it all goes the way works best for you!!!

Congrats!!!

Something else I just remembered is you may want to get a letter from your dr that states the medications will not impair you from performing your job duties. A friend of mine did this when she was hired at her current job. They put the letter in her file.

Good luck....Susie

Angeleyes I think as a minimum I would bring a list of all prescribed medications that I was on, with the type, dosage and strength, frequency, just all the regular information, about the medication. It might not hurt to have a list of all the over the counter medications that you take also. Just have it with you, if they ask what medications that you might be on. A letter from your Doctor is also an excellent idea, not only stating the medications that your prescribed, but if and how it will affect you and your job performance.

It seems that everyone is doing this testing now days.  I personally don't have  any problem with it, they had been doing that for ages in the military, back as early as the seventies they would do random drug testing, they would suddenly pull you out of work and require a urine sample, and you had no choice but to give it! Later on they even required that you be watched while giving your sample, so there was no cheating. Yes even back then you had innovative GI's that would put a IV bag full of someone else's urine strapped to their abdomen, and with the IV tubing so they could pass their test. Once this was exposed, they changed the rules, and had someone watching the urine leave your body into the container. Senior NCO's usually got the duty of being the observer!  I think that duty was worse than having to give the dug test! Ha. Don't know if they still do that as I have been retired for quite a long time now!

Good Luck to you and I hope you get the job!

White Beard

Hi Angeleyes! My experiences with employment drug screens is a bit different than most here, apparently. I have had maybe 5 or 6 (could be more) pre-employment drug screens done over the years. I've also had 2 post-employment screens done. When I would ask if I should list the medications I was taking, I was always told no. They explained that the results would be looked at by the medical review officer and if there was a 'positive' result, the MRO would call me and ask what medication(s) I was taking. With the exception of 2, my results would come up positive for opiates - (and I have NO idea why those 2 were neg. - I was taking the same meds that I always had, nothing was different!). After the pos. result, the MRO either called my Dr. to verify my prescription(s) or I would fax over copies of my pharmacy record.

As for your question about withdrawing the job offer - I would think it would depend on the job and its requirements. Obviously, there are certain types of work where they don't allow an employee to be on any kind of narcotic. Unless the company you received the job offer from has a rule/guideline precluding the use of narcotics, I wouldn't think they would withdraw your job offer. Just my opinion, however!

I agree with your thoughts about pre-employment drug screening......

(Almost forgot - Congrats on the new job!!)

Post Edited (Splashdancer) : 9/2/2013 6:37:07 PM (GMT-6)

I took a drug test and was still hired because I let them know what I was taking. Also, I was out of pain meds at the time and went 3 days without taking anything. If I remember correctly some of the things I said I was taking didn't even show up on the test.

I'm going for an interview this week in fact. So I'll be in the same boat as you if I get hired.

I hope the test goes well for you in the morning. Ugh 7 am I'm sorry I know how dreadful that can be. I think everything is going to work out just fine, try not to worry to much.

I hope that once they get this test back, they can see that you take your medication as prescribed and they can finally get down to business and offer you the job.

Wanted you to know that I hated to hear that the MTX made you so sick. I can really mess with some folks, my Dr just increased my dose from 25mgs weekly to 30mgs weekly, of course, I do injectable too. The biggest problem I have with the drug is I get sores in my mouth which interferes with my ability to eat certain foods.

It's okay that we didn't meet up last month. Hopefully, sometime this fall we can manage to get together. Even though I'm in a cast, I still can drive. It's my left foot in the cast and often times I have no one to take me to my Dr appointments so I take myself. I still think we can manage meeting up somewhere 1/2 way or I possibly can come a bit further into PA. You have my email just let me know when it's a good time for you.

Take care and I'm sure all is going to work out just fine. Keep the faith, it'll be fine.

Hugs,
Barbara

Does Marinol cause a positive THC result on a drug test?

Just an FYI that discussion of anything illegal is not allowed here at HW. I know we are discussion a drug screen and so forth.... but could see how this could go into a gray area..... just as a "head's up" (also because I just had to edit another thread on this subject).....

The forum rules are listed in the upper right hand side, for anyone who hasn't looked at them.

Edit: This wasn't to OP; just the direction at the end of the thread.

Thanks for understanding..... --Tina

Yes, you CAN get false positives.. big issue in news in a mid-west state where a friend lives.. wife is nurse.

Newborn are given drug screens & urine coming up positive but blood tests were done & they were negative.

Think it was university in NC that did testing & found several product contained chemicals caused urine screen positive results.
Including baby washing products. He sent me links back when it was in their news ..

I find it incredibly invasive that they put such an emphasis on specific drug testing, yet have no regard for something like alcohol and the potential to show up to work under the influence or hung over. That being said, I also understand that for liability purposes, they need to protect their investments, and in some fields, depending on your clearance, they frown upon a longer list than most of us will ever have to endure.

From what I recall reading, a great number of drugs will show up in tests, even if you haven't taken them in up to a month. Not all, but many.

I never understood that. I also never understood how I failed two drug tests. I tested NEGATIVE despite taking my meds exactly as prescribed...and I had been on the same meds for years when this happened. I was floored. I asked if it was because I drank over a gallon of water a day, and she said "no, that wouldn't do it."

To this day, I have no idea why twice I pulled up false negatives.

In college, we had one teacher who would periodically pick a student at random to have a drug test performed. (He was the only teacher who ever did this). One time, it was me. Of course I tested positive, for several things,....all legal, all verified by my physician. I don't smoke, anything, and I don't even drink alcohol, ever. Any and all drugs I take are by prescription (other than Tylenol, Colace, vitamins,...and even some vitamins are Rx'd for me!)

But I still got suspended for 30 days.

Looking back, I would've, could've, should've fought that. But I was too intimidated and didn't want to alert the entire school to my medication list.


Merrida