Pre-Employment Drug Screen - Benzo RX OK?

TIMFY · Sep 18, 2021

you'll be fine, you don't have to disclose before, the MRO will call you after and tell you what you tested positive for and then you'll have an opportunity to provide your script. Once the MRO verifies the script, he will report the drug test to the hospital as negative. This protects your privacy so your employer won't know what you're taking. Side note though, if you can abstain that might be best, my drug tests have been taking two weeks to get back because they have to do additional testing if it comes back positive, a negative test will get reported in a day or two.

BeatsPerMinute, BSN, RN · Sep 18, 2021

As long as it is a prescribed medication, it is OK.

I have ADHD and anxiety and always test positive (for Stims and Benzos).

Each testing center is different. Each experience has been a little different.

During my most recent drug screen brought my pill bottles with me to the testing center and showed it to them so they could verify that I am prescribed the medications that could cause a drug screen to come back "positive" and the nurse made a note and there was no issue.

In a prior job to that, the nurse said that wasnt her job / she was not privy to know my medications. It created a delay on my start date, and I had to meet with the new job health nurse, and send photos of my prescription bottles (include name, date, RX number, medication), and then I got the green light to start my job.

In other places, while on the phone with HR or a recruiter, after given instructions that I have to submit XYZ forms (ex: vaccination forms), sign the offer letter, and also complete a drug screen, I shared that I am prescribed medications that I have been on for years that often show up on a drug screen test and asked for instruction so that there is no delay. No issues there either.

As long as youre upfront, youre fine. And you don't need to share with your employer what meds youre on, why you're on them, or anything.

My MD told me straight up: "if you were denied employment because of a positive drug screen, for prescribed medications, they'd be putting themselves at risk for a lawsuit"

THC is a little different... that one is still a tricky area. Never had to deal with that one myself TBH. However that's not your case though, so no need to worry about that one.

CP.60RN · Sep 18, 2021

5 hours ago, TIMFY said:

you'll be fine, you don't have to disclose before, the MRO will call you after and tell you what you tested positive for and then you'll have an opportunity to provide your script. Once the MRO verifies the script, he will report the drug test to the hospital as negative. This protects your privacy so your employer won't know what you're taking. Side note though, if you can abstain that might be best, my drug tests have been taking two weeks to get back because they have to do additional testing if it comes back positive, a negative test will get reported in a day or two.

Thanks for response!

1) I have abstained. Last dose was 0.25mg Wednesday bedtime so I will have 108 hours abstinence before test.

2) I ordered those “Easy at Home” urine tests from Amazon. 300ng detection level which is federal standard. Testing strong NEGATIVE which kind of amazes me as I’ve been taking small dose almost qHS for 10 months. 2 bold lines every time and those tests I believe are pretty good indicator per reviews.

3) keeping in mind I will probably test negative Monday anyway (fingers crossed) should I offer ANY information before the test to HR? To get ahead of the game? Or am I just needlessly giving too much information regarding my personal medical info?

in all my pre-employment drug tests the nurse/tech has always said immediately (unsolicited) that I passed (always been quick result urine tests). I can’t can’t count on that again but should I perhaps say something about my RX or is that strictly handled later? It seems like everybody has HIPAA rights except new hire nurses? (that’s a Socratic thought). Years ago I recall filling out a form asking to list your medications? That’s no longer a thing?

Any further thoughts are appreciated in advance. As you see here I’m a nervous Nellie about this.

CP.60RN · Sep 18, 2021

2 hours ago, BeatsPerMinute said:

As long as it is a prescribed medication, it is OK.

I have ADHD and anxiety and always test positive (for Stims and Benzos).

Each testing center is different. Each experience has been a little different.

During my most recent drug screen brought my pill bottles with me to the testing center and showed it to them so they could verify that I am prescribed the medications that could cause a drug screen to come back "positive" and the nurse made a note and there was no issue.

In a prior job to that, the nurse said that wasnt her job / she was not privy to know my medications. It created a delay on my start date, and I had to meet with the new job health nurse, and send photos of my prescription bottles (include name, date, RX number, medication), and then I got the green light to start my job.

Thank you so much! Love what you are saying.

Could you be so kind as to scroll up and read my response to the first respondent and let me know if any further thoughts come to mind?

Much gratitude.

BeatsPerMinute, BSN, RN · Sep 18, 2021

I read and read your first response. I don't have too much to add. If youre OK with abstaining you can certainly do that, however, I wonder if at home kits may not be as sensitive / accurate as an a testing place (I don't know for sure, just a thought), so if it were me I wouldnt rely on that.

New grad or not, you cannot be discriminated from employment from testing positive for a prescribed medication. Now, if you were taking some sort of medication on the job and it had a negative impact on your performance / safety issues, THAT could lead to issues / problems for you down the road. Thats an entire different scenario.

Some places during the new hire process can ask that you write out your medication list (I've also done that) with employee health during a new employee health screening. That information is confidential though, and will not be revealed to your hiring manager.

You could reach out to your MD too, and say that you're in process of getting hired, and have been asked to do a drug screen. Even though you're prescribed this medication, you have some concerns as you've never had to do this before. I think that talking with your MD and hearing what they have to say will alleviate your worries about this drug test impacting your ability to get hired.

Another thing you could do (to stay ahead of things) is ask that your MD write a letter, and then just have that all ready in case your employer requests that (again, every place does things differently). I have heard that if a drug screen comes back positive, all they need is a note from your MD that endorses that you are prescribed this medication. And all should be good.

Since its the weekend IDK that you'll get a response from employer/ HR before you complete your drug screen, so you might as well go forward with the test and just bring your medications with you. When you go in for the test, share that youre on a prescription medication that may show up positive on the drug screen, and ask about the process / protocols.

If they just need to see your med container / prescription, then you can show them on the spot, and they can make a note of it. If they need a letter from the MD be sent to them directly or somewhere else, then you can share that you will get that to them. If they need to wait to see the results and are unable to do anything further until the results come back. Ask how long that will take. You will probably receive a phone call. If you don't get a phone call back after XYZ amount of time, reach out to them, and inquire about what the next steps are.

One step at a time.

CP.60RN · Sep 19, 2021

16 hours ago, BeatsPerMinute said:

I read and read your first response. I don't have too much to add. If youre OK with abstaining you can certainly do that, however, I wonder if at home kits may not be as sensitive / accurate as an a testing place (I don't know for sure, just a thought), so if it were me I wouldnt rely on that.

New grad or not, you cannot be discriminated from employment from testing positive for a prescribed medication. Now, if you were taking some sort of medication on the job and it had a negative impact on your performance / safety issues, THAT could lead to issues / problems for you down the road. Thats an entire different scenario.

Some places during the new hire process can ask that you write out your medication list (I've also done that) with employee health during a new employee health screening. That information is confidential though, and will not be revealed to your hiring manager.

You could reach out to your MD too, and say that you're in process of getting hired, and have been asked to do a drug screen. Even though you're prescribed this medication, you have some concerns as you've never had to do this before. I think that talking with your MD and hearing what they have to say will alleviate your worries about this drug test impacting your ability to get hired.

Another thing you could do (to stay ahead of things) is ask that your MD write a letter, and then just have that all ready in case your employer requests that (again, every place does things differently). I have heard that if a drug screen comes back positive, all they need is a note from your MD that endorses that you are prescribed this medication. And all should be good.

Since its the weekend IDK that you'll get a response from employer/ HR before you complete your drug screen, so you might as well go forward with the test and just bring your medications with you. When you go in for the test, share that youre on a prescription medication that may show up positive on the drug screen, and ask about the process / protocols.

If they just need to see your med container / prescription, then you can show them on the spot, and they can make a note of it. If they need a letter from the MD be sent to them directly or somewhere else, then you can share that you will get that to them. If they need to wait to see the results and are unable to do anything further until the results come back. Ask how long that will take. You will probably receive a phone call. If you don't get a phone call back after XYZ amount of time, reach out to them, and inquire about what the next steps are.

One step at a time.

Thank you again this helped immensely!

TIMFY · Sep 20, 2021

Not sure if this is the best advice, but even if HR asks if I'm on any meds, I usually say no. It really shouldn't expediate things to list your meds because if you test positive, it has to be sent out, they can't just look at your list and go off that. Ex-you take adderall, so you test positive for amphetamines. Even if you present them with your script, etc it still has to be sent out because you could be taking meth and not adderall. Sounds like you abstained long enough that it won't show up though!