Opioid Tests

[YodaNell (imported)]

Guys, may I venture a question?

I just saw a documentary on TV. It is said that if a persone in America tests positive for opioids they will be fired from their jobs.

Why? Are Americans not allowed to use strong pain meds such as morphine, oxynorm etc.?

[C&TL2745 (imported)]

Guys, may I venture a question?

I just saw a documentary on TV. It is said that if a persone in America tests positive for opioids they will be fired from their jobs.

Why? Are Americans not allowed to use strong pain meds such as morphine, oxynorm etc.?

The concern is not about prescribed pain killers but about illegal "recreational" drug use, and I don't think screening for drugs is universally done by all employers. My hubby's employer has a policy of random testing for drugs, and employees have to sign a form agreeing to that as a condition of employment. I'm not sure I understand the logic, but maybe they're concerned about security and decreased productivity if they have drug addicts there or possibly company liability in case of accidents. Tim says they don't fire a person if he agrees to addiction "treatment," whatever that is. I would expect that having a prescription for pain killers after surgery would be accepted as legitimate use, outside the scope of the policy.

Sandi

[YodaNell (imported)]

The concern is not about prescribed pain killers but about illegal "recreational" drug use, and I don't think screening for drugs is universally done by all employers. My hubby's employer has a policy of random testing for drugs, and employees have to sign a form agreeing to that as a condition of employment. I'm not sure I understand the logic, but maybe they're concerned about security and decreased productivity if they have drug addicts there or possibly company liability in case of accidents. Tim says they don't fire a person if he agrees to addiction "treatment," whatever that is. I would expect that having a prescription for pain killers after surgery would be accepted as legitimate use, outside the scope of the policy.

Sandi

Hi Sandy, I saw an episode of MythBusters where they tested the possibility of being tested positive for opioid use by eating bagels covered with poppy seeds. They proved the experiment true that eating that stuff CAN cause one to test positive.

Apparently lots of people complained loosing their jobs being tested positive by only eating bagels with poppy seed covering.

So they lost their jobs?

[C&TL2745 (imported)]

Hi Sandy, I saw an episode of MythBusters where they tested the possibility of being tested positive for opioid use by eating bagels covered with poppy seeds. They proved the experiment true that eating that stuff CAN cause one to test positive.

Apparently lots of people complained loosing their jobs being tested positive by only eating bagels with poppy seed covering.

So they lost their jobs?

I suppose that could happen. I think a company is rather short-sighted if they'd fire anyone over such a thing, and I've never heard of a (documented) case where it's happened, though there are always stories about "someone" who lost his job somewhere, generally without names, dates, and other details.

The US is very, very slowly starting to recognize that legislating morality doesn't work, but the practice of trying to make people righteous through laws is deeply rooted in the nation's history, back to the 1600's. Nearly a hundred years ago, it was illegal to make or consume alcohol. They called that "Prohibition," and all it accomplished was creation of criminal organizations, particularly here in the Chicago area, warring over control of alcohol distribution and running of "speak-easies" where it could be consumed. That was the era of notorious gangsters like Al Capone. Alcohol consumption didn't stop; it just went underground. The same thing has happened now with drugs, with warring cartels, first in Colombia and now in Mexico, corrupting governments and causing mayhem while fighting to control distribution of illicit drugs in the US.

I think a company has a legitimate issue with employees showing up for work stoned, as it means lower productivity and a higher accident rate, both of which affect the company's bottom line, but I think most executives realize it's foolish to fire a top-performing employee for eating a bagel.

Sandi

[YodaNell (imported)]

I suppose that could happen. I think a company is rather short-sighted if they'd fire anyone over such a thing, and I've never heard of a (documented) case where it's happened, though there are always stories about "someone" who lost his job somewhere, generally without names, dates, and other details.

The US is very, very slowly starting to recognize that legislating morality doesn't work, but the practice of trying to make people righteous through laws is deeply rooted in the nation's history, back to the 1600's. Nearly a hundred years ago, it was illegal to make or consume alcohol. They called that "Prohibition," and all it accomplished was creation of criminal organizations, particularly here in the Chicago area, warring over control of alcohol distribution and running of "speak-easies" where it could be consumed. That was the era of notorious gangsters like Al Capone. Alcohol consumption didn't stop; it just went underground. The same thing has happened now with drugs, with warring cartels, first in Colombia and now in Mexico, corrupting governments and causing mayhem while fighting to control distribution of illicit drugs in the US.

I think a company has a legitimate issue with employees showing up for work stoned, as it means lower productivity and a higher accident rate, both of which affect the company's bottom line, but I think most executives realize it's foolish to fire a top-performing employee for eating a bagel.

Sandi

My thoughts exact.

[kristoff]

Hi Sandy, I saw an episode of MythBusters where they tested the possibility of being tested positive for opioid use by eating bagels covered with poppy seeds. They proved the experiment true that eating that stuff CAN cause one to test positive.

Apparently lots of people complained loosing their jobs being tested positive by only eating bagels with poppy seed covering.

So they lost their jobs?

Me thinks Myth Busters are perpetrating a Myth.

[Arab Nights (imported)]

Many phases of my business involve working around machinery and things that can crush you paper thin or generally maime and mutilate you. In some situations you check in and are given a thin metal dogtag to ID the remains. It is informally called a squish plate. Safety meeting are endemic to the business. I once asked if any of that made any difference. The instructor admitted that the last giant leap in safety improvement came in the 80s when drug and alcohol testing began. Not so much since then. (which, of course, does not keep the documentation from getting more and more complicated).

I was told back in the mid-80s that there were two laboratory tests. The first was a sort of general yuck - something is wrong. They followed that up with tests for specific illegal drugs. As I remember, you first filled out a form which gave you a chance to write down any legal things you were taking. We were snickering because one resident druggie was busy scribbling down every cold medicine in the universe. They mandated drug testing everywhere except corporate headquarters (more snickering). Anyway, they did the first drug testing just as a new program began and the work level doubled. We lost every White American worker except the foreman. All the Hispanic American workers tested clean.

Things went much smoother with following tests after they began doing drug testing as part of the hiring process.

[Hopeful1 (imported)]

Guys, may I venture a question?

I just saw a documentary on TV. It is said that if a persone in America tests positive for opioids they will be fired from their jobs.

Why? Are Americans not allowed to use strong pain meds such as morphine, oxynorm etc.?

If someone tests positive for opioids and has a prescription, there should be no problem...unless they are in a job that doesn't allow usage of such medications. For instance, an airline pilot would be required to remove himself from duty until whatever problem he has is cleared up. If he doesn't and gets caught in a random test, he would be subject to some type of disciplinary action. The same applies to most companies with high risk work areas such as working ramp area for an airline. Many companies with Federal contracts or Federal oversight are required by the government to do random testing. And yes Sandi, with some it's about litigation in the event of an accident. Even with a positive test though, to avoid lawsuits, some companies will allow a retest.

[YodaNell (imported)]

Looks like are similar then regarding opioid use. For a moment it appeared that the states are harsh in it's legislation.