drug testing

[alex44]

Can someone give me the stright scoop on drug testing as in pre employment? I went to a recruiter, was offered a job. Had to go for drug test. was assured that BEFORE any results were given that labs would be sent out and I would be contacted to verify that my meds were legit. bottom line, recruiter calls and says I tested positive. No word on job yet. I have yet to be called by lab to verify ( I had meds in original bottles with me), have not heard from recruiter. Read in paper today that job has to be held for me until final results are in. I don't know what to think except LAWYER. People, I want to work. i take a smal amount of Morphine at night and xanax on occasion but i am not foggy nor nodding. i work in the IT industry and have lost one job due to being politically incorrect, not having worked in over twenty years can do that to you - a long story - not asking for sympathy - my own fault - bottom line, I can do the work, no accomadations necassary - just a little patience since i am an older worker (52) and it does take a little time to acclimate to a companys computer system and culture. Anyway , how do I handle this? I am afraid to say I am disabled, but at the same time what are my rights under the drug screen? Do I have any? I was under the impression that anything legal had to be reported as a negative as I do NOT do any illegal drugs,period. And yes, I am mad as H--- at the system where I cannot show my meds to the lab and be done with it. I could understand the concern if I were operating heavy machienary or such but I operate a keyboard or fix computer hardware.
Thank you
Alex44

[suede]

Alex,
I'm sorry I don't really have any answers for you, I'm sure other will have some though.
Myself I would call the guy back that called you and ask what the deal is.
There must be actions you can take to get pass this as it's not right.
Good luck and please let us know how this turns out.
Linda

[ErinENj]

Alex,

I'm sorry that this is becoming such a nightmare for you! And I'm sorry that I don't have any answers for you about this. But I wanted to thank you for asking the questions you've asked here because since I just graduated, I'm now looking for a job, and this is one of my biggest fears about job hunting. I have no concerns about being able to prove that I should have certain things in my system, but it's more about being able to get around the stigma that accompanies being on so many of the medications I'm on. I really don't want to have to fight tooth and nail just to get a job.

I'm going to be talking to my PM doc about this when I see him on Wednesday, so I'll get back to you as to what he tells me. Until then, I hope that someone else here can help!!

[Mark N]

Alex, I can only tell you my past experience with this. I failed my drug test due to my prescription meds. The lab couldn't report to the perspective employer until they contacted me about my meds. The doctor called asked me about my situation and my meds. Her first comment was 'how can you still be working?'; the truth was I shouldn't have been working and within 18 months I had no choice but to go on disability. The lab then went back to my perspective employer and told them I had cleared the drug testy and I was hired.

I know some of this procedure was based on the teachers contract established by the union and corporation. I am not sure about the law in your state. Indiana is a state were you can be fired for any reason unless you have a contract to protect you. So we don't have the laws in place to protect us from drug test being used unfairly as far as I know.

I hope it works out for you and you get the job. It is good that the company can't hire anyone until your drug test is cleared and it indicates that you will be on equal footing with the others, I hope.

[Kathi49]

Alex,

I wish I had some answers as well. I just don't. I just wanted to say I worked in IT also for the Federal Government; LAN Administration, Database Administration, Project Management and Testing...through the years. So, I can completely relate to what you are saying about learning a company's system and culture. It DOES take time and a lot of it! It took me at the very least, 5 years to completely learn them. I can't remember exactly the number of systems but, I, myself worked on at least 6...mainly entitlement, and disbursing systems. One system had at least 26 interfaces...so it was NOT easy. One system alone can boggle your mind! I am smiling a little; I hope you don't mind. Because I also know about being "politically correct." The "customers" do NOT like hearing the word "no"! So, yep, handling them with kid gloves was a constant challenge. And by "customers" I mean the programmers and what we called the "functionals" or rather the "users" from MY standpoint. The true customers were the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines. I know you know how it is!

Like you though I was NOT nodding off and I was taking meds. I DID retire; not due to the job because I loved it. But you must know how it is; trying to concentrate with the severe pain. If I could have cut the pain, I would have stayed put. But life just didn't turn out that way. And I have to say my bosses; all upper management were very accomodating. But it got to the point where I was missing work so much. No one ever said a word....but I hated the fact I just couldn't make it in sometimes! When you know you have always been a hard worker and then this CP or spinal stuff just knocks you down is hard to take. And, from what I was told by the docs...NO MORE computer type of work...not for a straight 8 hours.

Sorry for rambling. Mark mentioned the laws in Indiana. But I don't recall ever having to go through any kind of drug screening. I did, however, have to fill out all kinds of forms for OPM, when I asked for Advanced Sick Leave for my procedures. But the NS and my PM filled all of those out for me. It was sort of like having disability forms filled out. And I know they listed the meds I was taking but they also made it clear as to why and WHY I would need the Leave. Anyway, of course we had the Union and those of us under certain grade levels were protected. So, I guess you could say that was a form of a contract.

Again, sorry for rambling. I hope it works out for you. It just doesn't seem fair when you have someone like yourself WANTING to work and can do the job but then there is that "stigma". I hope someone can come along that can speak to your "rights" because I am just unsure of what recourse you can take. And, I agree, it is GOOD that the company is holding the job until all results are in. I hope as Mark says, you are then on equal footing. I also know a lot of IT jobs or companies are big into Telework. Would that be an option? Or are you strictly a "hardware" person? I just mentioned that because it was something that was also offered to me.

[Pharmacist.steve]

Alex ...

It may not be so much the drugs/lab test but your age and the company's cost of providing you with medical insurance.. since you are both "old" and a "sickie"

I would touch base with EEOC.. you might have "protection" under age discrimination and ADA

[Lea]

Alex,

The lab is obligated by law to contact you first and if you have legitimate prescriptions they have to report your drug tests as negative. I take alot more meds than you do and I have "passed" 2 drug screens at work.

[alex44]

Please tell me more about this law - the lab, the recruiter, no one except this board seems to care. I am going to speak to an attorney tommorow as I feel as I have been given the shaft. I want to work. I am a vet on pain management by the goverment. this whole situation is tearing me and my family up emotionally and financially. Thank ya'll for letting me vent. Alex44

[curiousforever]

i'm sorry that is happening to you....I agree with what everyone has said.

[lobelsteve]

It sounds like the lab messed up. THey are supposed to get a list of all medications taken including dosages and last dose taken time and date before getting your specimen. Otherwise they cannot make heads or tails in interpreting the data that comes when they test your specimen.
Sounds like a cheaper lab tht just took a specimen and did a dipstick, when the dipstick turned positive, they sent it off for confirmtion.
Real labs like AIT and Ameritox and SPECTRUM do the tests right the first time by having the appropriate staff, forms, and policies and procedures in place to ensure a chain of command and accurate reporting.

[Lea]

Alex,

Listen to Steve. He is our resident PM on the forum and we appreciate his help in alot of matters.

I can't quote you the exact law but when I went back to work the supervisor offered me the job and told me about the drug testing I started to tell her about my meds, BUT she stopped me. It is either an EEOC or HIPPA or ADA deal. She explained it to me like I did to you.

Now the lab didn't want to know my meds ahead of time and said they would call me if they got any positives. As long as I had legitimate RX's they would report a negative finding to my employer. Now I am also on Duragesic which doesn't show up on the standard opiate screens.