Drug Test

LegacyUser

Hey, recently I had to go for a medical for pre-employment in a new company I satrted working in. However, I had to give a urine sample for Drug Screening. I wasn't informed of this prior of the medical and it wasn't mentioned in my contract. The problems occurs here, I had been "smoking" at the weekend, nothing major or anything, but still smoking illegal substances. How long will this stay in my system? Also, can I get fired for this? I have been passed fit by my doctor so can they turn it around and tell me that I'm unfit? I just don't know where I stand with this. Its not like I smoke all the time, just an occasional bit

Nevyn

It will stay in your system for 3 months.
A unrine test for a pre employment medical is standard practice.
They may let you go at the end of your probation or they may keep you on saying that they reserve the right to test you anytime you come into work.

Had you been on holidays to Holland any time in the 3 months proir to the test ?

Cancer-chick

If you can prove that you had a break/holiday in Holland (where smoking is perfectly legal) then you can say that you were not in Ireland when you partook and therefore did not break irish laws.
However tbh bud most multinationals esp americans can really assume that you a total stoner and not hire you on those grounds

Having said that i do remember Mr CC getting away with it after a particularly heavy weekend so i guess it just depends on how sensitive the test is

LegacyUser

'I read up on it and it said that it could take anything up to 2 weeks to clear out of ur system. is this right? its not an American company and I was informed that it was a standard medical, but nothing about drug screening was mentioned'

LegacyUser

'It is not illegal in this country to have smoked cannabis. It's more an issue for the legal forum maybe but i'd assume that if you've been formally offered the job, even if you were offered it 'pending the outcome of a medical examination' (once drug screening wasn't mentioned), it'd be a potential violation of employment law for you to be dismissed now for having taken a narcotic substance prior to taking up employment with the company.

I would guess though that if you completed a questionnaire during the medical which asked if you had ever taken drugs for recreational purposes (a reasonably common question on medical forms), an answer given by you which contradicts the findings of a urine sample analysis could provide grounds for a withdrawal of the employment offer.

All very speculative, i'm not legally inclined...'

King of Kings

you don't know that they are checking for drugs. I did 2 company medicals and there was no issue when my urine would have been pretty stinking with narcs.

it could be just other re-existing medical conditions.

amazingemmet

Drink lots of water to flush your system, also taking hemp oil supplements will make you test positive for cannabis so that can be used as an excuse if you do

LegacyUser

It was for drug screening, was mentioned when I was doing the medical. I wasn't asked during the medical or on any questionnaire if I had taken illegal substances. If it does come back positive I doubt anything will come of it, there wouldn't be too much in my system anyway, and it is only a 6-month contract, no offer of renewal so couldn't see me getting sacked for it

Steyr

Unr2egi343100 wrote:

Hey, recently I had to go for a medical for pre-employment in a new company I satrted working in. However, I had to give a urine sample for Drug Screening. I wasn't informed of this prior of the medical and it wasn't mentioned in my contract. The problems occurs here, I had been "smoking" at the weekend, nothing major or anything, but still smoking illegal substances. How long will this stay in my system? Also, can I get fired for this? I have been passed fit by my doctor so can they turn it around and tell me that I'm unfit? I just don't know where I stand with this. Its not like I smoke all the time, just an occasional bit

2 weeks for it to clear, its your own fault, doesnt matter if you smoke occasionaly its illegal, oh and it is Major.

humanji

I'd agree that little will come of it. It might be used against you if you really started causing trouble or otherwise were being a liability to the company, but as you say, it's only a 6 month contract so you'll be fine.

Faith

Thaedydal wrote:

It will stay in your system for 3 months.
A unrine test for a pre employment medical is standard practice.
They may let you go at the end of your probation or they may keep you on saying that they reserve the right to test you anytime you come into work.

Had you been on holidays to Holland any time in the 3 months proir to the test ?

I don't think 3 months is right, Thaed. I'm pretty sure that a single dose, as it were, will be detectable in urine for 1 - 6 days, and for chronic usage, it could be up to 30 days. I think it's traceable in blood for a longer period.

seamus

It really depends on what they're looking for. They may be looking for prescription medication to detect if you're on any anti-psychotics or otherwise being treated for any condition that could make you unable to do your job.

I'm pretty sure that your contract would have stated that the employment is conditional on satisfactory completion of a medical. There's also no law about refusing to hire someone because they have taken illegal narcotics prior to employment.
If they do find opiates though, you could claim that you're addicted to poppy seeds and consume lots of them on a daily basis. One major drug test manufacturer admitted that their test comes out positive for people who had consumed largish amount of poppy seeds, depending on the threshold they test for. Some US police forces and corporation have gone as far as making poppy seed consumption a dismissable offence, as they like to periodically test their employees.

LegacyUser

Please.

Excuse me.

But - It never ceases to amaze me and I fail to
understand why people would bother
looking for this kind of job that wants to put you
through the hoops in the first place.

I have told potential employers 'to go
sling their hook' for a lot, lot less.

As for the drugs, I cannot advise on this
as I have never used.

kraggy

Steyr wrote:

2 weeks for it to clear, its your own fault, doesnt matter if you smoke occasionaly its illegal, oh and it is Major.

Firstly, you're information is wrong.

Secondly, who the hell are you to judge the OP? Did he ask for a moral opinion? No he didn't. He asked for information regarding the detection period of something that he took at the weekend. None of your business what he does or doesn't do. Get off your high horse.

Mods, should Steyrs post be allowed to stay? That's not on in my opinion. He was not on topic and rather unhelpful.

OP, a one-off use of cannabis is detectable for 3-6 days.

Occasional use - 2-4 weeks

Chronic use - up to 8 weeks.

1 question: you say your doctor passed you fit for the job. was it him that gave you the medical?

LegacyUser

'Ya my doc passed me fit after d medical, checked blood pressure, etc. the usual stuff. Will the doc come back to me first regarding the drug test?'

matt-dublin

its more likely the test is for medical insurance rather than you getting the job or not. Plus the doctor can't tell them i believe, its patient doctor confidentiality stuff.

They can only say wether you're healthy or not afaik.

Cheese Princess

The last time I did a full medical for a job they took a urine sample but didn't say why.

I was at my regular doctor's later in the week for something else and I mentioned it. He said that you can't be tested for drugs without your consent.

silvine

kraggy wrote:

Firstly, you're information is wrong.

Secondly, who the hell are you to judge the OP? Did he ask for a moral opinion? No he didn't. He asked for information regarding the detection period of something that he took at the weekend. None of your business what he does or doesn't do. Get off your high horse.

Mods, should Steyrs post be allowed to stay? That's not on in my opinion. He was not on topic and rather unhelpful.

OP, a one-off use of cannabis is detectable for 3-6 days.

Agreed

dudara

Cheese Princess wrote:

He said that you can't be tested for drugs without your consent.

This is true. You would have had to have signed an agreement giving them permission to test you for narcotics.

sam34

seamus wrote:

It really depends on what they're looking for. They may be looking for prescription medication to detect if you're on any anti-psychotics or otherwise being treated for any condition that could make you unable to do your job.
.

firstly, antipsychotics are not detectable in urine. Secondly, being on antipsychotics does not necessarily mean someone will be unable to do their job. we dont know what the OPs job is, but antipsychotics do not have any mandatory restrictions re driving licence or machine operating in this country.

Umiq88

Get a friend to pee into a bottle bring it with you to screening pour into plastic cup thing job done.