![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Springtime on August 7, 2001, at 21:36:56
I'm looking for info on employer drug testing. I take xanax and inderal for Panic Disorder. I have heard that I should tell the employer what legally prescribed drugs I take but that they can't ask why. Is this correct? I'm applying for a Phlebotomist/LabTech position at a hospital with 6 years experience (I'm sure they will know why I take the two drugs) but I don't really want to tell them I have PD. I was thinking that if they ask why I take the xanax I will just tell them that it is for occasional insomnia and anxiety. Can they tell how much of the xanax I take? I would like to be as honest as possible. This is kind of a sticky situation as xanax can cause cognitive impairments but I have been taking it for over 5 yrs, am a senior in college with over a 3.5 GPA. I really don't feel like it causes any cognitive problems for me. I am a little concerned about this as I've never been tested before and am not quite sure how to handle the situation. Any info, legal or from personal experience, will be much appreciated. Thanks
Posted by Willow on August 7, 2001, at 22:16:34
In reply to Employer Drug Testing, posted by Springtime on August 7, 2001, at 21:36:56
> I'm applying for a Phlebotomist/LabTech
Don't worry about that yet, I think you may need to go through the interviews etc. first. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
Here's also a link to a website you may find helpful:
http://www.bu.edu/cpr/jobschool/index.htmlGood Luck, let us know when you land it!
Willow
Posted by stjames on August 7, 2001, at 23:22:22
In reply to Employer Drug Testing, posted by Springtime on August 7, 2001, at 21:36:56
If they drug test, they will know you take Xanax
because you will test postive for it. If they don't test you do not have to tell about taking it. Either way you never have to say why or what condition. A note from a doc that says "James is under my care and takes Xanax" is all you need, never mention the condition.Some sticky points:
For me, I wait for the test to come back postive to produce my doc's note. Many labs don't even want to see this note or hear about your Rxs till after the test, so why show your whole hand ?Under ADA, you do not have to mention disability
if you don't want accomidation. If I request it later, and this issue comes up, I would say based on the limited job descriptions and interview I had no reason to feel an accomidation would be needed. Most only need to take their meds; one does not need the ADA to have this right.Jmaes
Posted by Ted on August 8, 2001, at 18:21:12
In reply to Re: Employer Drug Testing, posted by stjames on August 7, 2001, at 23:22:22
I am probably wrong, but I seem to remember that drug tests only look for certain drugs/metabolites. Xanax is probably not even on the list of things they look for. They are more interested in amphetamines, barbiturates, narcotics, cocaine (classed as narcotic even though it isn't), etc.
And James is right: Don't divulge anything until they point out you failed the drug test. However, you might want to get your doctor's letter first, just so it's handy when you need it.
Good luck.
Ted
> If they drug test, they will know you take Xanax
> because you will test postive for it. If they don't test you do not have to tell about taking it. Either way you never have to say why or what condition. A note from a doc that says "James is under my care and takes Xanax" is all you need, never mention the condition.
Posted by Springtime on August 8, 2001, at 19:09:06
In reply to Re: Employer Drug Testing, posted by Ted on August 8, 2001, at 18:21:12
Willow....Thanks for the web site. I received an email this morning at 7:00 requesting I show up for an interview Thursday at 9:00.
stjames....I called my doc today requesting the note as you outlined. No problem. He knows about the potential for discrimination. He agreed totally with the short format and brevity.
Ted and stjames....My doc said that the drug screen will only test positive for benzodiazepines, not any specific one, nor will it quantify the dosage. He did worn me not to reveal the PD diagnosis. Apparently hospitals are notorious about denying jobs to individuals with mental illness. Of course they don't tell you that is why you were denied the job. He suggested I tell them that I sometimes take it for insomnia. But he also said that xanax was so widely prescribed these days that most employers don't worry much about it. Guess we'll see what happens. Thanks for all your input. I didn't know much about this issue. I am in your debt.
Posted by Ted on August 8, 2001, at 19:15:20
In reply to Re: Employer Drug Testing, posted by Springtime on August 8, 2001, at 19:09:06
Springtime,
>Apparently hospitals are notorious about denying
> jobs to individuals with mental illness.I am surprised about this. Of all employers, I thought hospitals would be the most informed. Another note: When I was hospitalized 2 years ago in the psych unit, two nurses told me about the psychotropic meds they take. One took wellbutrin, the other took prozac. Perhaps they don't mind hiring "crazies" in the psych ward. :-)
Ted
Posted by Springtime on August 8, 2001, at 20:32:45
In reply to Re: Employer Drug Testing, posted by Ted on August 8, 2001, at 19:15:20
Ted....I was surprised to hear that also. Maybe it was just his own personal bias, or perhaps it's that we live in an incredibly conservative part of the country where the stigma of mental illness hasn't quite escaped the dark ages yet. I'm still trying to get my family to accept that I have PD after 20+ years of dealing with it. Not once in all that time has one member of my large extended family ever asked me about it. But that is a whole other story. One would logically think that if there was a place where mental illness was accepted it would be in a hospital. I often just try to quit thinking about these types of issues as there seems to be no answer in what I call Jokelahoma.
Posted by jojo on August 8, 2001, at 20:46:41
In reply to Re: Employer Drug Testing, posted by stjames on August 7, 2001, at 23:22:22
> If they drug test, they will know you take Xanax
> because you will test postive for it. If they don't test you do not have to tell about taking it. Either way you never have to say why or what condition. A note from a doc that says "James is under my care and takes Xanax" is all you need, never mention the condition.
>
> Some sticky points:
> For me, I wait for the test to come back postive to produce my doc's note. Many labs don't even want to see this note or hear about your Rxs till after the test, so why show your whole hand ?
>
> Under ADA, you do not have to mention disability
> if you don't want accomidation. If I request it later, and this issue comes up, I would say based on the limited job descriptions and interview I had no reason to feel an accomidation would be needed. Most only need to take their meds; one does not need the ADA to have this right.
>
> Jmaes
>I am saddened that you should be put in the position of having to explain or reveal what medicines you are taking. I wonder if the people who wrote the Bill of Rights had this in mind, and I wonder if a people who derive great satisfaction out of calling themselves "Free" think about this.
jojo
Posted by Springtime on August 8, 2001, at 21:26:24
In reply to Re: Employer Drug Testing, posted by jojo on August 8, 2001, at 20:46:41
jojo....it saddens me also. But I gave up calling myself free in this country many years ago. It may still be the best place on the planet to live, but I don't consider myself to be free living in the U.S.. I asked myself once a long time ago after a day at work if I really felt free, if work is what I would choose to do if I were really free. My answer was no, but there is no alternative short of living homeless. It's kind of like you have to work for 8 or 10 or 12 hours, a sentence if you will, just to come home for at most 1/3 of the day to do what you really want, but by that time your often too tired or stressed to enjoy or engage in true freedom. But we have to deal with reality and just keep on pushing until we are put out to pasture.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.