Pre-Employment Drug Testing? (Full Version)

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beamerjx3 -> Pre-Employment Drug Testing? (8/19/2008 10:54:10 AM)

I am interviewing with a company that does pre-employment drug testing and I have never been through this process before. They may call me as soon as today or tomorrow and I have some questions that I am hoping someone can answer.

First if anyone could describe their experience with it that would be great. Second I know that I have a drug in my system that is one of the most commonly tested for. I also have a current legal prescription for that drug. It is an anti-anxiety medication that my doctor has prescribed - not for anxiety but for another condition that she is having difficulty diagnosing. I only take the medication at night so it should not in anyway affect my on-the-job performance.

Does anyone know if this will affect my chances? Or if I will be required to give an account of why how or why I am taking this drug? Or do I just disclose the information before taking the test with proof of prescription?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.



I_Walk_Alone -> RE: Pre-Employment Drug Testing? (8/19/2008 11:07:35 AM)

Hello,
I have had to go for drug testing for employment and it is pretty easy process. First, before you go for the test you have to tell the people who are administering the test of any prescription meds that you are on and maybe provide documentation for the prescription. Then they will have you take in a bunch of fluids, usually coffee or any other caffienated drinks. This is to make sure that the urine is yellow. They can't test it if it is completely diluted with water.

One other tip, is to make sure you tell them if you had to take any pain relief medicine, like tylenol or asprin or any other over the counter meds. These can alter the results of the test.

But besides that, there isn't much else to it.

I love that question on applications though, "Do you mind taking a drug screen test?" I think to myself, the only thing they will find is caffiene and nicotine. So I have nothing to hide.lol



GroupW -> RE: Pre-Employment Drug Testing? (8/19/2008 11:43:35 AM)

I think I'd just take a copy of the prescription with you so they know exactly what they're likely to find and why. You'll probably need to supply a copy of that to your future employer as well.

No worries though - drug testing companies aren't stupid. They know there are legitimate uses for most of the substances they test for.



Don675 -> RE: Pre-Employment Drug Testing? (8/19/2008 10:30:04 PM)

I take medication for depression,etc. I worked an inspection job for
2 months after retiring from 43 years of civil service in ship building.
Anyway i had 3 drug tests in 60 days and passed all 3. Just have your
prescription,etc. readily available.


DONK



phosadaud -> RE: Pre-Employment Drug Testing? (8/19/2008 11:27:47 PM)

It's no big deal. Just be up front with them at the beginning. I know with some things, they can run a different test to rule out the illicit vs. the legitimate. Years ago when I got hired for a job in college, I had to do a pre-employment drug-test. They didn't give you any notice - just called you up and told you to go in and get tested today. I'd spent the entire week before that eating poppy seed muffins for breakfast. [8D]I just told them at the lab and somehow they were able to show that I wasn't using drugs - just enjoyed poppy seed muffins! [:D]



revbob4God -> RE: Pre-Employment Drug Testing? (8/20/2008 10:53:24 AM)

You can list the prescriptions or merely take the bottles and offer to show them, and you do not have to go into great detail about what they are for. All they would need to know is how to get ahold of the doctor to veify the prescription and that is basically what they do anyway. Good luck.



acknwldgeverygdthing -> RE: Pre-Employment Drug Testing? (8/20/2008 11:05:55 PM)

You may not need to disclose to your future employer that you take prescription meds. They may find out anyway- but you don't have to disclose it. Recently, I took a drug test afterward I was told to write down on the back of the paper what I was taking, if any, and expect a call from an M.D. who would ask questions and report back to the employer. The employer has no right to know what medical history you have or what meds you take. In other words, they can not deny you a job based on your medical history or medication use.



reach -> RE: Pre-Employment Drug Testing? (8/22/2008 1:53:05 PM)

FYI: I work in HR. The form we received states Pass or Fail. It does not tell what they found and that it was explained, it just states, Pass or Fail.

The instructions we give out is to take any meds you are taking with you to the testing area, so they know that you have a prescription for anything they find. If you don't do this, then they will have to confirm with a Dr that these are prescribed.



phosadaud -> RE: Pre-Employment Drug Testing? (8/22/2008 4:05:05 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: reach

FYI: I work in HR. The form we received states Pass or Fail. It does not tell what they found and that it was explained, it just states, Pass or Fail.

The instructions we give out is to take any meds you are taking with you to the testing area, so they know that you have a prescription for anything they find. If you don't do this, then they will have to confirm with a Dr that these are prescribed.


Yep!



beamerjx3 -> RE: Pre-Employment Drug Testing? (8/22/2008 6:44:32 PM)

Thanks everyone for the replies. I did get the job (Whoo Hoo!!)and went for the drug test yesterday. I am sure it must vary from place to place. This facility did not ask about anything I was taking and when I asked them why not they said that if they found anything that they wanted to know about they would call me and ask me to bring in proof of prescription.

Anyway I had no idea it was so serious. They followed me into the bathroom and I couldn't take my purse with me. They put some fizzy blue stuff in the toilet and they even took the temperature of my sample?!? I guess some people have come up with creative ways of getting around the system.



Zhi -> RE: Pre-Employment Drug Testing? (8/25/2008 6:44:33 PM)

Hubby had to take a drug test while on vicodin (which is a narcotic, heh) due to emergency surgery.

It's good to bring your prescription with you, though they may not be interested in it (depends on the company). It's good to have your doctor's info with you, as they will want to contact him or her regardless of whether you're holding a prescription. I believe they legally have to check with you if you test positive for something that could be prescription, before failing you. So, don't be surprised if you get a call.

As far as we can tell, he tested positive for the narcotic, but nobody cares because they called the doctor, he confirmed the prescription, and it was fine.

They care about whether or not you're on ILLEGAL drugs. Prescription drugs that you have a prescription for are not a problem. ;)



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