Pre-employment drug testing question??

[Chris2597]

My ds is looking for a job and is concerned that a RX (prescribed by his dr) will show up on the employment drug screening. He takes an anti anxiety med as a migraine preventive. Will the drug screening co. ask for his RX verification or will they automatically divulge this info to a prospective employer. The dr told him as long as he can show an RX he will be fine. Anyone know the scoop? He is concerned that an employer will see that he is on an RX and not want to hire him.

 

[live4christp1]

Lots of people take RX medicines so I don't think he should be concerned. Our company policy is if you are taking anything you need to state it up front, on the form. A RX drug can test positive for certain other things they screen for.

 

[JCJRSmith]

As I recall, for my drug screen for my current position I had to list all the prescription meds I had used in the past 6 months. No biggie.

 

[Chris2597]

I wonder if they advise the employer of the RX or is that part of HIPA..??

 

[SkyGirl]

My ds is looking for a job and is concerned that a RX (prescribed by his dr) will show up on the employment drug screening. He takes an anti anxiety med as a migraine preventive. Will the drug screening co. ask for his RX verification or will they automatically divulge this info to a prospective employer. The dr told him as long as he can show an RX he will be fine. Anyone know the scoop? He is concerned that an employer will see that he is on an RX and not want to hire him.

That is a difficult situation. It happened to me on two positions. I tested positive for Xanax and although I had the prescription bottle they did feel they had the right to question me regarding the drug. One of the positions I was offered and one I was not and always believed it was due to the drug.

Good luck to him.

 

[SkyGirl]

Lots of people take RX medicines so I don't think he should be concerned. Our company policy is if you are taking anything you need to state it up front, on the form. A RX drug can test positive for certain other things they screen for.

I would NEVER do that. There are several different types of drug testing; some that test everything and some that just screen for simple things. I could put down that I was a Xanax taker at the time and the test wouldn't even search for it. AFTER the test comes up positive, show your RX bottle but not before. Just my opinion and obviously not your company policy.

 

[minkydog]

I would NEVER do that. There are several different types of drug testing; some that test everything and some that just screen for simple things. I could put down that I was a Xanax taker at the time and the test wouldn't even search for it. AFTER the test comes up positive, show your RX bottle but not before. Just my opinion and obviously not your company policy.

I agree. Don't divulge something unless you are asked. Your health is private; potential employers do not have a right to know what you have or what you're on unless your condition would keep you from functioning fully in the job. If the drug test shows something, all you have to do is bring in your prescription bottle to prove that you are authorized to take it.

This happened to my son when he was about 17yo. He was taking Adderall for ADHD at the time. The Adderall showed up on the drug screen as "amphetamines"(which it is...) When the employer called him to discuss the drug screen John told them why he was taking it. All they required from him was the prescription bottle. No problem and he got the job.

 

[sksjasams]

My DH changed jobs a few times in the last 3 years and had several drug tests. He was never asked to list his RX meds and they were never mentioned after the tests (he was offered every job, they usually don't ask you to take the test unless they want to hire you). I believe they only tested for illicit drugs (except maybe in certain jobs, like medical/pharmacy?). I would never volunteer private medical info. In my DH's case, he is on antidepressants and I feel he never would have been offered any jobs had they known. They would have been worried about health insurance costs, for one thing. And the stigma is a whole 'nother thing...
Tell your DH not to worry about it unless they ask after the test, then he can explain it if he needs to.

 

[Chris2597]

I guess what I am wondering....is to the drug testing companies call the prospective employee and inquire about a drug that flags or do they call the company and divulge what drug was found....

 

[sksjasams]

Since they are hired by the employer, I can't imagine they would ever call the perspective employee. I really don't think they are looking for all drugs, just the few illicit ones, and they would notify the employer positive or negative for those drugs they specifically tested for. At least that's what I think. You could always call a drug testing company anonymously in the yellow pages and ask about pre-employment testing.

 

[Forevryoung]

I test positive for methamphetamine

I'm also 25 and have gone through this- at this point it's funny to me to freak the testing people out point blank stating, "I'm sorry, I know I will test positive."

Unless you can't prove to the company doing the drug test why you tested positive, they are NOT ALLOWED to say anything to your employer. If you can prove that it's legal you tested positive, they can not report that you tested positive.

My fire department has no clue that I test positive every year (except the guys I joke with about it).

 

[SkyGirl]

I guess what I am wondering....is to the drug testing companies call the prospective employee and inquire about a drug that flags or do they call the company and divulge what drug was found....

The company gets back a report that shows what comes up positive; amphetamines, cocaine, alcohol (some do test for this), marijuana, whatever. Prescription drugs disguise themselves as other illegal drugs often. With Xanax, I used to test positive for benzodiazepine or downers, and it is illegal if you are taking it without a prescription. However, I didn't fail every drug test because they don't all test for the same things. One company I worked for only tested for marijuana and alcohol (cheaper test) but most were middle of the road and I failed all of those.

I test positive for methamphetamine

I'm also 25 and have gone through this- at this point it's funny to me to freak the testing people out point blank stating, "I'm sorry, I know I will test positive."

Unless you can't prove to the company doing the drug test why you tested positive, they are NOT ALLOWED to say anything to your employer. If you can prove that it's legal you tested positive, they can not report that you tested positive.

My fire department has no clue that I test positive every year (except the guys I joke with about it).

I wonder if that is true everywhere? I have failed almost every single drug test. Every company was informed that I failed and the reason/drug that I failed with. The company would call me (although I told them beforehand that I would fail) and I'd have to either have a letter from my doctor or take in the prescription bottle. As I stated above, one company chose not to keep me after I failed and they found out it was Xanax. Most, however, didn't care at all after seeing the bottle.

 

[Forevryoung]

I wonder if that is true everywhere? I have failed almost every single drug test. Every company was informed that I failed and the reason/drug that I failed with. The company would call me (although I told them beforehand that I would fail) and I'd have to either have a letter from my doctor or take in the prescription bottle. As I stated above, one company chose not to keep me after I failed and they found out it was Xanax. Most, however, didn't care at all after seeing the bottle.

I don't know but you would have a great privacy case- I don't have a problem clearing it with an outside agency (who then would report a negative) but I WOULD have a problem clearing it with HR and proving that I take a prescription- they could choose not to hire me based only on the fact that my prescription in expensive and "might" bring health insurance premiums up or something like that.

It is NONE of my employer's business what I am prescribed by a doctor and I find that horrifically intrusive. There is a law (HIPAA) preventing most people from talking about your health/care (which most health providers take too far to be safe), I would bet that as long as an outside company is used, it would protect all (employer and employee) to keep the name of the medication (legally prescribed) a secret.