Peth test?

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Hi guys, my case manager told me that 'I will be getting a blood test' prior to starting work on march 24th (got a clinic job and I'm really lucky and thankful for that!!) So I got a PeTH test the second week I was in the program and it came back positive... I mean, I'd barely gotten sober so even my case manager said she expected it to be positive. Welp she says I have to get another one between now (March 1st) and when I start work on the 24th. I relapsed on Feb 14th and had 2 mixed drinks... do you think that will make this PeTH positive as well? I'm not sure what the time frames are on this test. I'd been 100% sober prior to that relapse, for months, and I've stayed sober since that date. I'm not sure exactly WHEN I have to take the test... I did an Option 2 UA yesterday so I'd guess in a week or two. Do you guys think I'll pass the PeTH? Because of the drinks on Feb 14 (my manager does know about that incident just FYI). I hope she lets me work regardless of the PeTH test result... I've been waiting almost a year to gain employment as a nurse again so it'd be an astronomical bummer if she didn't let me work bc the PeTH was positive. 😞 What are your thoughts, guys?

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Well unfortunately it just depends on how much alcohol was in the two mix drinks. Honestly you might barely pass or barely fail since it's only been two weeks. In California if you fail a peth test you have to start all over with your contract and wouldn't be able to work for another year. 

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Dang that's crazy!! In Washington if you fail a drug test you're taken out of work until you can produce at least 2-3 negative tests and your worksite is notified... but not start over with your contract. I have a 5 year contract, not up til 2029, so if they started me over for this that'd be insane. 

I'm not SURE they're gonna do the test next week... I suspect they will though. If they didn't do the peth test until I was clean 3-4 weeks do u think I'd pass? I really hope they wait at least a couple weeks... possible since they UAd me yesterday... 

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

When was the 1st peth test? If you had two drinks on the 14th of February and have another peth test coming up, I'm thinking you're gonna pass. If it has been a month or more between drinking episodes, you should pass.  2 drinks 2 weeks before will not show up.

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the first peth test was in... I think October? Long time ago. I really hope that relapse doesn't show... as a given, those 2 drinks were quite strong. Whiskey. I hadn't gotten drunk in quite some time so they made me feel trashed, probably because my alcohol tolerance was 0 at that point. hopefully they give me at least 3 weeks before the test... I think after 3 weeks I wouldn't worry at all. 

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

So you haven't had anything to drink other than the 2 drinks since October? If this is the case, you're going to be fine. Try not to stress about it.  I know thats easier said than done but I guarantee you will pass. Just don't do it again. These monitoring programs are tricky....believe me, I know. I thought I could cheat the system and boom!....I got a peth test just like that and failed. Just go through the program, don't relapse! It's not worth the stress of losing your livelihood.  I hope this helps.

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I did drink in December. Not much but I did. My case manager also knew about that... she gave me a little bit of lenience there because I was in my first 90 days. Now I'm just terrified of this peth test... my case manager won't let me start work at the end of March unless I pass this peth. She may give it to me Monday; maybe not... I have until March 24th to get it done. Because my relapse was only 16 days ago, I'm horrified thinking I would fail it. We will honestly just have to wait and see. 

You're right, this stuff isn't worth losing my livelihood. like at all. Drinking just so isn't worth this level of stress. I never want to feel this scared again. 

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

Even if you drank in Dec and not again until the 2 drinks in February,  you will pass. It's going to be OK. But like I said, just don't drink or do anything you're not supposed to. I wish I would have done this but here I am 2.5 yrs in and I failed my first test.  The program will eventually catch you. Post an update when you know the result. And congrats on your new job!

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Munchkin2018 said:

Even if you drank in Dec and not again until the 2 drinks in February,  you will pass. It's going to be OK. But like I said, just don't drink or do anything you're not supposed to. I wish I would have done this but here I am 2.5 yrs in and I failed my first test.  The program will eventually catch you. Post an update when you know the result. And congrats on your new job!

Did they give you more time?

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They didn't because I was in the first 90 days of the program. But they did say they would wait longer to let me work with my license again. Here I am 9 months later (from when I first started the program entirely.... won't let me work unless I pass this peth test. I'd start end of March)

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PEth test this morning! Finally called in. 27 days sober; starting PEth level of 0. Such an important test 😞 so much pressure. 

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Was the Peth test negative? 

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