Pre-Employment Drug Screening and the Paranoia of False Positives

[Snaploud]

I have never taken non-prescription drugs in my life, but I have a pre-employment drug screening coming up. I've been doing research to double-check if there's anything that might create a false positive for me. Apparently, I'm on an antibiotic (doxycyline hyclate) that might create a false positive for opiods and a bit of THC.

I'm going to take my prescription bottle with me to the drug screening. Hopefully it will all work out all right. Please post if you've gone through something similar.

Canada doesn't have to deal with this stuff. They're civilized enough to ban random and pre-employment drug screenings.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Sorry to hear that.

I think those screenings (as well as pre-employment credit checks) are a fucking horrible idea and shouldn't even be legal.

Best of luck to you!

 

[SmoothieX]

Canada doesn't have to deal with this stuff. They're civilized enough to ban random and pre-employment drug screenings.

I'm not a drunk or a druggie, test away, I don't care.

You want your surgeon removing the wrong kidney because he's high as a kite? You want your airline pilot drunk on your flight to Cleveland?

I'm all for it, especially when it is an industry entrusted with public safety, as mine is.

 

[clint g]

Yeah, I have no issue what so ever with pre-employment drug screening. All drug screenings that I have taken (and I take an average of four a year) give you the option of declaring whatever medication or dietary supplements you have taken. I've been on medication before and have never had an issue.If you believe you may come back positive, bring your prescription with you.

 

[Theodore Jay Miller]

Don't eat anything with poppy seeds, like a poppy seed bagel; that gives a false positive as using opium (at least according to an episode of Seinfeld).

 

[Kestra]

Canada doesn't have to deal with this stuff. They're civilized enough to ban random and pre-employment drug screenings.

I'm not a drunk or a druggie, test away, I don't care.

You want your surgeon removing the wrong kidney because he's high as a kite? You want your airline pilot drunk on your flight to Cleveland?

I'm all for it, especially when it is an industry entrusted with public safety, as mine is.

Is this a serious problem in places that don't drug test? And do random screenings actually have an effect?

 

[B.J.]

Don't eat anything with poppy seeds, like a poppy seed bagel; that gives a false positive as using opium (at least according to an episode of Seinfeld).

This one is actually true. I had a coworker (back in the '90s) get into a bit of trouble before they sorted it out for this exact reason. He regularly ate poppy seed bagels, and came very close to getting fired due to the false positive.

 

[Methos]

i'm actually all for this...

much like in Florida, i'm for drug screening before people receive benefits from the government as well... sick of seeing people around who can work, but chose not to and just claim money of the government and spend it on drugs and booze...

M

 

[Lumi]

^ I 100% agree with Methos.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Well, this thread has quickly taken a disgustingly racist, fascist turn.

 

[Methos]

racist and fascist? how?

M

 

[clint g]

racist and fascist? how?

M

This....

Canada doesn't have to deal with this stuff. They're civilized enough to ban random and pre-employment drug screenings.

I'm not a drunk or a druggie, test away, I don't care.

You want your surgeon removing the wrong kidney because he's high as a kite? You want your airline pilot drunk on your flight to Cleveland?

I'm all for it, especially when it is an industry entrusted with public safety, as mine is.

Is this a serious problem in places that don't drug test? And do random screenings actually have an effect?

It makes sense in multiple professions. For example, would you wan't a police officer who is using drugs to be on the force? Yes, it does happen, yes cops have been caught with drugs in their system, and yes we are better off without them. While not caught via drug test, one NYPD cop was recently busted for stealing guns from the lockers of other cops and selling them to feed his drug habit. You don't need people like that doing police work.

 

[MacLeod]

An argument for screening for drugs on safety grounds could be made for certain sectors, i.e Airline pilots. But pre-screening before interviews and in sectors without safety grounds. Sounds like the start of a slippery slope.

Sure the old argument of if you've got nothing to hide what's the problem, might be brought out. But at what point do you draw the line.

Drug taking is of course wrong, and yes people like the Police could ask you to submit to a drug test. But they have to have cause in order to do so.

 

[Methos]

i wouldn't call it fascist... it's a drugs test...

maybe i should expand... i'm not saying everyone should be routinely drugs tested, that would be fascist... but if you're in a job where you're in control of heavy machinery, or where people have to put their trust in your opinions, work, or sometimes even put their lives in your hands, then yes, i believe drug screening should be in effect...

It's no different from mandatory STD tests in my line of work... every 3 months i get tested, and even if it wasn't mandatory, i'd do it anyway for my own piece of mind...

it's not just about screwing yourself over, it's about people you work with, and people around you at work... if you're taking drugs to an extent where your mind and judgement is impaired, then you're not fit for work... you wouldn't go to work with five shots of vodka in your system, so why go to work with drugs in your system?

M

 

[iguana_tonante]

I can't really understand how this screenings are even legal. Police forces have the right to test people for illegal substances. Private citizens and companies? Not so much. Since when corporations can wield the powers reserved to the state? Can they raise their own taxes, too? Have their own army?

You want your surgeon removing the wrong kidney because he's high as a kite? You want your airline pilot drunk on your flight to Cleveland?

I'm all for it, especially when it is an industry entrusted with public safety, as mine is.

Is this a serious problem in places that don't drug test?

Not that I know of. Another poster mentioned Canada, and on this side of the pond I'm sure it is illegal at least in Italy (but I think also in other European countries). Any report of lots of drunken Canuck pilots and drugged European surgeons?

racist and fascist? how?

It's a police-state procedure, not worthy of a liberal democracy. And the mention of "them welfare leeches" has racist overtones more often than not.

 

[Methos]

i wasn't meaning to be racist by my comment, i see people of all races committing benefit fraud to feed drug and alcohol habbits... as far as i know, race doesn't factor into addictions...

M

 

[clint g]

No one is forced to take a pre-employment drug test. If you want the job you take it. If you don't then you are free to leave. For it to be something close to "fascist" the government would have to go around and force the average citizen to take it whether they wanted to or not.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

racist and fascist? how?

It's a police-state procedure, not worthy of a liberal democracy. And the mention of "them welfare leeches" has racist overtones more often than not.

Bingo.

And people talking about how it's not fascism if it's not the government doing it... come on. There is no real distinction between corporate America and the government these days. It's a revolving door and they scratch each other's backs.

 

[iguana_tonante]

No one is forced to take a pre-employment drug test. If you want the job you take it. If you don't then you are free to leave. For it to be something close to "fascist" the government would have to go around and force the average citizen to take it whether they wanted to or not.

Your prospective employer wants to shove a frozen gherkin up your arse, to test your loyalty to the company. No one is forced to take a pre-employment ass-gherkining. If you want the job, you take it. If you don't, then you are free to leave. Sure, your family will starve and you will find yourself homeless, but if you want a job then it's perfectly fine to trade in your civil freedoms for it.

Now bend over and be a good employee.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

No one is forced to take a pre-employment drug test. If you want the job you take it. If you don't then you are free to leave. For it to be something close to "fascist" the government would have to go around and force the average citizen to take it whether they wanted to or not.

Your prospective employer wants to shove a frozen gherkin up your arse, to test your loyalty to the company. No one is forced to take a pre-employment ass-gherkining. If you want the job, you take it. If you don't, then you are free to leave. Sure, your family will starve and you will find yourself homeless, but if you want a job then it's perfectly fine to trade in your civil freedoms for it.

Now bend over and be a good employee.

And hey, it's cool when your Republican-supporting boss forces you to attend a political event without pay, and if you don't like it, no problem, they will just fire you.