Has anyone gone through this program without false positives?

Persephone Paige, ADN · Dec 18, 2018

I haven't. But I know plenty of people who have. Deep breath and don't get paranoid, just have a plan if it should happen to you. I didn't have a plan, because I never thought I would need it. I'd been the real 'positive' before and I'd beaten drug tests before. I knew what it took to NOT be positive (don't use drugs/alcohol) or bring somebody else's urine, or 'forget' to 'check in.' I didn't do any of those because I had nothing to hide. Still, I somehow got a positive. As soon as I knew about the positive I pulled a pEth on myself. There are hair and nail samples for positive drug tests. I had all of those done through the evaluator. Hppy has a lot of information that she has compiled on foods that can cause false positives for Etoh. And maybe drugs too, idk. But, I just stay away from Poopy seeds, Vick's inhalers, etc... While a false positive is a dreadful nightmare, a huge pain and expense. In the long run, it's not the end of the world. If you haven't done anything wrong, you'll be able to prove it IF you are proactive. Don't sit back and wait for instructions, pull a pEth for Alcohol. If it's drugs you test positive for, you can relax a little. They would stay in your hair/nails longer and the hair and nail test will help to prove you took nothing. It will be okay.

svetlana36 · Dec 18, 2018

I have not and I've been in monitoring for about a year and a half. But I still freak out over it regularly. I just started a job and my new worry is the alcohol based hand sanitizer but I get tested after a night of working and it was fine. I don't completely avoid alcohol based products like the hand sanitizer, bug spray, sun block and such. But I do try and limit them and use alcohol free products when available .

SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN · Dec 18, 2018

I have never had a false positive yet. I did have a positive test as a result of a vivitrol shot I got while inpatient. I (like many) live in great fear of the false positive. I read some good advice here about getting a follow up Peth test ASAP after the positive

Eris Discordia BSN, RN · Dec 18, 2018

I'm two years in and I've not had a false positive, but I had a dilute. The only difference that morning was I had my cup of coffee before I left for the lab...that's it. No other beverages, just the cup of coffee. Now, I not only always go before my first pee of the day, I never drink anything before I test. Yes, on days I work when called to test, that means no coffee before work and a bursting bladder, but I can't risk another dilute; two dilutes ever in my program automatically results in increased testing and mandatory observed, which are much pricier and I have to attend a special lab for them. Three dilutes is automatically considered a relapse, even if they are years apart. So yeah...I fear the dilutes.

sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN · Dec 18, 2018

No false positives,

My advice just comply with what the program ask......

And fly under the. Radar

Best wishes, it can be done with a successful ending of the program

catsmeow1972, BSN, RN · Dec 19, 2018

I've never (lord willin' and the creek don't rise) had a dilute etc. either and I'm 4+ years in. I do what Eris does and give them the first pee of the day if I've got to hop in there with my legs crossed. I have as little contact with the case managers as I possibly can. Gives me minimal opportunities to tell them what I really think. I go through the motions, cross my I's and dot my t's and turn all thier silly little reports on time. I ceased getting anything useful out of this from well, before it started.

allnurses Guide · Dec 20, 2018

Finally started my IOP after a long drawn out mess. Starting the UDS and all of their glory and I am certain I will regret saying this later but I'm actually excited to get it started! Anyway, after reading about all the false positive horror stories, wondering if anyone has made it without a single scare. I would love to, dare I say, get an early release, so want to cross my T's and dot my I's. Any tips? Thank you all for your honesty and transparency. It is really appreciated!

Stanley in the 5 years I was in the program and I have never heard of anyone released early in California. I had two false positives for ETg and one flagged for dilute. The tricks I used will not negate a positive if you are in fact trying to cheat but if you are trying to avoid the true false positive may work. Understand that everyone's body chemistry is different so there are no guarantee's.

Notice I say true false positive because in reality there is no such thing as a false positive for ETg. That is because the liver only produces ETG when it is metabolizing ETOH isopropanol (C3H8O), What it's presence means is that somehow alcohol got into your system. This does not mean that you drank but it will set you up for an E-ticket ride of increased scrutiny. That is why it is suggested to avoid alcohol based hygiene and beauty products.

I usually was not able to go for tests in the am after I started working again because I had to get Wonder Boy to school then be at work by 7 am. So if I had been selected for testing I made sure to drink as usual but nothing during the last two hours of my shift. I would also eat 15 to 20 grams of high quality protein during the day (Peanut butter or tuna sandwich).

There's lots of horror stories that will reduce you to thinking about living on Saltines and bottles water for 3 to 5 years but essentially avoid anything that has alcohol in the ingredients. If you are not sure don't eat it. I did most of my cooking at home or a restaurants that would prepare food for me based on my "Allergy" to alcohol. I avoided sauces and dressings and bought my fruit and veggies for local organic sources. My organic grower knew I was not working and gave me veggies at a discount that were a day or two old. We did this for a couple of years and I now pay it forward by donating a box of fresh veggies to our local food bank monthly.

Most of all as others here have said Follow all the rules and don't draw any attention to yourself, Go to your meetings and get your card signed and good luck to you.

Hppy

dagobah, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Dec 21, 2018

Never had false positives, but did have a positive for Mucinex with DM. Long story, but ended well. Good luck to you.

markko · Dec 22, 2018

I had a hair test come back positive for hydrocodone. I hadn't used any hydrocodone for the prior three years before then. Go figure.