Anticipate starting a new job soon and expect to do an employment drug test. I take Remeron, Welbutrin, and Buspar for depression and Mysoline and Topamax for essential tremor. I have been told that matabolites of some of these can show up as a positive on the basic urine drug screen....does anyone know if this is true?
In doing the drug test, it is my understanding that the lab will ask for a list of my medications. Will my employer receive that list?
The lab does not ask for a list; you wait until they call you after it comes up positive and then give them your docs number to confirm Rxs. If everything is valid the test goes back to the employer as a negative. You have privacy rights and the employer is not given a list of meds unless it was Rxs that couldn't be varified or street drugs which in such a case the test would have been sent as a positive to the employer.
I know a person who sued a drug testing company for revealing the meds to the employer when they had valid Rxs for them. If your meds are legal then the result from the testing company must be sent to the empolyer as a negative. Only when it's illegal can the testing company reveal the drugs to the employer. Know your rights.
Not true, at least any more. If an employer is testing only for illegal drug use and the lab informs them of legally prescribed drug use then you've got a case. But employers can also ban the use of even legally prescribed medications, and test for those. In that situation having a prescription doesn't help.
This is a complete shock to this Canadian Nurse... Do you really have to go through drug testing pre employment.. unbelievable.. I think this is a complete infringement on your human rights!!!
Of course!!! Companies do not want to hire those who take illegal drugs!!!
Not true, at least any more. If an employer is testing only for illegal drug use and the lab informs them of legally prescribed drug use then you've got a case. But employers can also ban the use of even legally prescribed medications, and test for those. In that situation having a prescription doesn't help.
These are federal laws and the current legal precedent was set in a Federal court of appeals, I don't know of any state law Hawaii has the overrides this. If someone qualifies as "disabled" then an employer can't prohibit prescribed medication use, unless they can claim that it may affect their work performance, which has long included Nurses and even occupations with far less potential risks to others from medication use.
MunoRN, RN
8,058 Posts
Not true, at least any more. If an employer is testing only for illegal drug use and the lab informs them of legally prescribed drug use then you've got a case. But employers can also ban the use of even legally prescribed medications, and test for those. In that situation having a prescription doesn't help.