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Discussion

Drug testing in the work force

Nurse friends I have a question for all of you, and would appreciate your input.

How important do you think drug testing is in the work place?...and how often should random drug tests be given?

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    • Featured Replies

    Is this a homework question? If so, what are YOUR thoughts?

    If not, can you give us a little context and background?

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    Pre-nursing student and this is her only post....it's homework.

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    I hope your screenname isn't your real name.

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    Rebecca, why don't you tell us what you think first, and we can chime in :)

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    Are we going to get paid for testing these new drugs?

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    It's important in any field. They should randomly test anyone as often as they feel like it. Kind of don't have much of a choice if your employer wants it and you want to get/keep your job.

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    No one....unless there is just cause.

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    • Guides

    I've always had issues with the constitutionality of drug testing. For one thing, what employees do on their time off shouldn't be any of the employer's business---if they want to smoke a little MJ on their days off (in states where it's legal, or if they have a MM card), or take Klonopin for anxiety, why shouldn't they? And in the latter case, why should they have to disclose a mental-health diagnosis in order to prove the need for the medication?

    That being said, I think UDS is valuable sometimes, like when there is a question of possible diversion. Even then, it's not foolproof, because the guilty party may not be taking the drugs her/himself but selling them. However, drug testing is here to stay, and with increasingly stringent regulation of scheduled drugs, it's probably only going to get more and more invasive.

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    • Guides
    For one thing, what employees do on their time off shouldn't be any of the employer's business---if they want to smoke a little MJ on their days off (in states where it's legal, or if they have a MM card), or take Klonopin for anxiety, why shouldn't they?

    There is no problem with screening and legally prescribed medication. I have many patients that are health care workers who I prescribe controlled substances. They have no problems with their employment and their legally prescribed drugs.

    Those that take drugs recreationally then there is a legal problem there. And a potential impairment problem.

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    I honestly can't remember when they did start drug testing. I do remember in the 1980's the agencies would have you sign a paper stating that they would not drug test you. I personally have never been tested in 42 years. Do they really have the entire staff take drug tests when diversion is suspected ? Don't they need a warrant?

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    No. They are not law enforcement or government doing a search. You can refuse, and your employer can fire you for refusing. That's why most people comply, to keep their jobs.

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    • Experts

    I have no objection to drug testing. Then again, I'm not doing anything that I shouldn't be. And you will find that usually (but NOT always) the ones that scream the loudest about drug testing in the workplace are the ones that are often doing things that they shouldn't be.

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