Help! Tested positive

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I hope someone can help me on this. I have been reading through the threads related to this, but I'm just looking for more.

I was just denied a job at an agency because they said I tested positive for COCAINE! I don't use cocaine and have never abuse any drug! When I called and asked for the results they said my level was 202 and the cutoff level is 150.

Currently, I am not working as I left my last job voluntarily (I broke my ribs in March and was unable to continue doing lifting). No, I am not on narcotics.

I don't know how this is happening. A few days prior to this, I was cleaning out my sister's apartment who is addicted to meth and is currently in jail. She got evicted and it was up to my family to get her stuff out! And now, somehow I tested positive.

The agency of course said they are reporting it to the BON. I'm scared and not knowing what is going to happen. I'm in MN so I believe they have to offer you counseling and another chance, but what if I don't have a substance abuse problem and have never had one in my life. It's been a few days and I haven't heard anything from the BON, but from reading on here it says it can take a few months or longer.

I am currently interviewing for other positions (IRTS mental health facility, allergy clinic, telephone case management, and planned parenthood). I am completely at a loss and don't know what to do or even say because I'm sure that the BON is not going to believe anything that I have to say. HELP!

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Get a hair follicle test and a lawyer. In the mean time find a job. If I wasn't an addict I would fight tooth and nail not to go in a monitoring program. I would never admit to something I didn't do.

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What if I say, fine I'll go into your monitoring program just to prove that I don't use drugs. Ideally, I would like to avoid going into it at all, but what if I just said fine I'll do your program and it will be no problem at all

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Specializes in Case Manager/Administrator.

I would ask you why you would even consider this. Going through a program for drug use is a serious program for those who are addicted and in need of assistance. What you are suggesting is some superficial fix, sorry I would not hire you for fear you are in denial. You are presenting as someone who has used as evidenced by positive test and blowing off the consequences.

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It is going to cost you alot of money. You will likely have to do inpatient or outpatient therapy before you can work again. Then there's the probability of work restrictions like no passing narcotics for a certain period of time. Work will have to know about it. In Texas you have to attend four AA meetings weekly. Random drug testing two to three times a month. The money adds up. The program is not for the faint of heart.

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First of all Neats, it's not fair for you to days that I'm superficial. I'm more trying to think that of course the BON is probably not going to believe me. I'm sure they have heard every excuse in the book before. I'm not an addict and I don't use drugs. I was simply making the comment wondering if it would just be easier. I have no idea how this works nor did I have any idea about the cost.

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I urge you to go to a lab and do a hair panel. Noone should assume anyone is guilty, but unfortunately some people and the boards do. False positives do occur. So, arm yourself with a more clinically accurate test.

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Yeah,

The BON is not going to believe you so you are going to have to prove that you are innocent. Fortunately you can. Get a hair-follicle test and prove that you are clean. This cost would be a small fraction of the cost of being in a nurse monitoring program. Also, here in Pennsylvania you have to admit your guilt and state that you are addicted to something to get into the voluntary program. Once you have made that admission there is no "proving your innocence"

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If you want an idea of cost, I am two years and 3 months in(nine months to go) and between outpatient therapy, initial consultation, after care costs and drug testing I have spent 14,789.00$. Should top out at well over 15K by the time I'm done.

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Got it! Thanks everyone. Hair follicle test it is! I'm going to find a lab where I can get this done.

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1) get a lawyer specializing in nurse licenses in your state NOW

2) hair follicle test

3) since you are applying for new jobs anyway, get one that would be "monitoring friendly" just in case. By this I mean one that does not involve passing of narcotics. Even better if no direct hands on patient care such as the case management job. But at least one that does not involve controlled substances would be best.

4) collect proof that your sister is in jail for drugs, was evicted, and that you were helping to clean up her apartment. A copy of her eviction notice? Letters from family vouching on your behalf? I don't know if this would help but it wouldn't hurt.

Good luck!

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I'm not sure if I can afford a lawyer out of pocket right now. I am looking into where I can get a hair follicle test done. Do you think that I should do the test (from a legit lab) and bring it with me if/when the board contacts me or should I wait until they say something? How long does it take before the BON usually contacts people? The jobs I am applying to are for case management and allergy testing, both of which I am interested in, not just because I am trying to avoid anything. Plus they are both close to my house, which is HUGE considering I live in a state where there is heavy snow frequently in the winter. And it will be absolutely no problem at all to prove that my sister is in jail for drugs or that she was evicted. I can easily get this from her landlord and he, my husband, my dad and his girlfriend can all testify that there were loads of drug paraphernalia in the house.

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