What is hydrocodone?


Hydrocodone is an opioid used to treat severe pain of a prolonged duration, if other measures are not sufficient. It is also used as a cough suppressant in adults.  A mixture of hydrocodone and other chemicals work to suppress coughing. The narcotics in this cough treatment slow down and depress the reflex in your brain that makes you cough. Hydrocodone is usually present in a combination with different chemicals, and is often used to treat moderate to severe levels of pain. Hydrocodone is one of the class of medications considered an opioid or narcotic, and it relieves pain by blocking the ability of your brain and nervous system to sense pain.

You may be prescribed a pain-reliever or cough suppressant in a capsule, liquid or pill, or possibly a tablet. As a pain-reliever, doctors will usually tell you to take as needed to treat pain, but never more than every 4 to 6 hours. Since it is an opioid, this product can be highly addictive. Your doctor will tell you that if you take hydrocodone in combination with some other medications, you dramatically raise your risk of experiencing serious breathing problem issues, and could possibly lapse into a coma.

 

how it works


The way hydrocodone works when it “talks” to your brain and nervous system can create a powerful addiction in some people. Because it is a narcotic, it can deliver short-term euphoria which an addicted individual wants to replicate frequently. This can lead to physical dependence and addiction if hydrocodone and other opioid painkillers are taken long-term.

Also, the withdrawal symptoms after an abrupt cessation of this drug are so powerfully negative, some users will do just about anything to get their hands on some more hydrocodone, or a similar opioid or opiate such as Oxycontin, Heroin or Fentanyl.

 

urine, saliva or hair…oh my!


When it comes to drug testing choices, the most common specimen types are urine, saliva or hair follicle testing.  The differences in costs,  the ability to cheat the test as well as the window of detection of various drugs vary depending on the specimen type tested.  Depending on the reason for the drug testing, it is important to understand these differences when choosing a drug test for your particular needs.

urine specimens

The most popular, cost effective and widely available drug test is the urine drug screen. Urine specimen testing can be completed via rapid testing or laboratory testing. Urine testing allows for the largest number of drugs to be tested. When choosing a rapid test, it is imperative to have any presumptive positive results confirmed by a laboratory before taking any kind of action.  Laboratory testing is the gold standard when it comes to drug testing and provides the most accurate and scientifically valid results, period. 

 

Drug detection times for urine specimens are fairly short – most drugs only being detectable for 2-3 days. THC, the metabolite found in marijuana can be detected for a longer period (up to 30+ days) depending on the frequency of use of the substance.

 

The ability to adulterate or cheat a urine drug test is moderate in comparison to other options. Given the short window of detection, a user may be able to refrain from use for a few days prior to an anticipated drug test like a pre-employment drug test. As a result, they may be able to pass the test giving the appearance of a drug free lifestyle.  Where most urine collections are conducted in private and not observed, the opportunity to adulterate or substitute the specimen is always a possibility.

saliva specimens

Saliva drug testing is often a little more expensive than urine testing in that it is not as widely used at this time. It is, however, growing in popularity as an option for testing. Saliva testing can be completed using rapid tests or laboratory testing. Unlike urine rapid tests, saliva rapid testing is not as effective or accurate in drug detection or use. WE DO NOT RECOMMEND RAPID TESTING FOR SALIVA SPECIMENS. Laboratory testing of saliva specimens is far more accurate and scientifically valid in terms of results.

 

Drug detection times for saliva are actually shorter than urine testing for all drugs, including THC. Saliva is the only specimen type that can detect from immediate usage up to 3 days, depending on the drug.

 

The ability to cheat or adulterate a saliva specimen is very difficult as the entire collection process is observed by the collector. This eliminates the opportunity for the donor of the specimen to provide someone else’s specimen or to try and adulterate the specimen in other ways.

HAIR FOLLICLE SPECIMENS

Hair follicle testing is more expensive than urine testing or saliva testing – and for good reason. Hair follicle testing can only be completed via laboratory testing and provides many benefits above and beyond urine or saliva.  Some companies and attorneys prefer hair follicle testing by itself or in combination with urine or saliva testing.

 

The detection window for hair testing is much larger than urine or saliva, however detection of drug use can only be detected approximately two weeks after the last usage. For this reason, hair follicle testing in not a good option if looking to detect recent usage of drugs.  Detection of drug use can be detected up to 90 days or more depending on the length of hair being tested.

 

The ability to cheat or adulterate a hair follicle test is very difficult as the collection is an observed collection by a collector. This eliminates the ability to use someone else’s specimen or to adulterate the specimen in other ways.  The use of bleach or harsh chemicals may affect or mask the drug test results for some types of drugs, but not all.

CONCLUSION


When deciding on which drug test to use, consider the potential drug use time frame you are concerned with (recent or long term) as well as the ability for the donor to be able to cheat or adulterate the specimen.  Consideration for the specific drug(s) of concern may also play a factor. Not all specimen types can test for all drugs. 

Urine testing provides  the most affordable option as well as the widest availability of drugs that can be tested. To combat concerns of cheating a urine test, an observed collection may be an option. 

If privacy concerns are a factor, saliva and hair follicle specimens provide observed collections by default and offer more accurate results for the short and long term.

The most important consideration is to have a certified collector performing specimen collections and use an approved and certified laboratory to test  all specimens.

 

 

 

 

 or H

Top 5 reasons to drug test employees


Drug testing has become a common practice in many companies, helping to ensure that employees are drug-free and able to perform their duties safely and effectively. Here are the top five reasons why a company should drug test both employees and prospective employees.

  1. Maintaining a Safe Workplace: Drug testing can help identify employees who are struggling with substance abuse, which can pose a risk to the safety of themselves and their coworkers. This can include impaired judgment, decreased productivity, and even physical danger if the employee is under the influence while operating heavy machinery or performing other dangerous tasks. By testing for drugs, companies can mitigate these risks and ensure a safe working environment for all employees.
  2. Protecting Company Assets: Substance abuse can also lead to decreased productivity, missed work days, and decreased job performance, which can negatively impact a company’s bottom line. Drug testing helps identify and address these issues before they become a problem and can protect the company’s financial assets.
  3. Complying with Legal Requirements: Many industries are regulated and require drug testing as a condition of employment. Failing to comply with these regulations can result in significant legal and financial consequences for the company. For example, transportation companies are required to drug test employees who operate commercial vehicles to ensure that they are not under the influence while on the job.
  4. Promoting a Drug-Free Culture: By testing employees and prospective employees for drugs, a company can send a clear message that drug use is not tolerated in the workplace. This promotes a drug-free culture and encourages employees to maintain a healthy and safe lifestyle.
  5. Attracting Top Talent: Companies that drug test are seen as being committed to the well-being and safety of their employees. This can make the company a more attractive place to work for top talent, who are looking for a workplace that values their health and safety.

In conclusion, drug testing employees and prospective employees can provide a variety of benefits to a company, including maintaining a safe workplace, protecting company assets, complying with legal requirements, promoting a drug-free culture, and attracting top talent. Companies should consider implementing a drug testing program to ensure a safe and productive workplace for all employees. It is important to keep in mind that drug testing should be done in a fair and non-discriminatory manner, and with the privacy of employees in mind.

Top 5 Reasons Companies 

To Test or Not To Test

That is the question…

 

In our capacity as a drug and alcohol testing professionals,  we have come across many business owners and employers that have outright refused to drug test their employees or applicants because they feel that doing so would cause them to lose half or more of their current employees and significantly reduce their overall applicant pool.  When asked what makes them think that, they answer with complete confidence that the kind of people they employ are frequently found to be users of marijuana, and as a result, would never pass a drug test.  Sadly, we have to agree – they probably wouldn’t pass a typical drug test.

Fact of the matter is, there are some industries that are more likely to employ
users of marijuana. These are typically lower paid jobs or hard labor type jobs such as landscapers, restaurant workers, hospitality workers, construction laborers, etc.   Employers and business owners in these, and similar industries often struggle to find enough help to meet demand and simply make the executive decision to eliminate drug testing altogether.

 

Then we ask them the only question left to ask – 

“So you trust a crystal meth user, cocaine addict, pill popper or heroin junkie to take care of your customers, drive your company vehicles and represent your company to general public?”  

Without fail, the answer is a quick, “no way, of course not.” Our reply is just as quick… then why aren’t you testing for those drugs? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With states across the country legalizing marijuana use for medicinal and recreational use, the stigma of marijuana users has decreased dramatically and marijuana use has become more acceptable overall in society.  We are not here to debate whether employers and business owners should be testing for marijuana or not. There are pros and cons on both sides of that question and that decision must ultimately be made by the individual employer.  

 

 

 

The primary goal of Carolina Testing is to serve our clients and meet their specific needs.  The need for a drug screen that tests for drugs of concern for a specific employer has never been greater than it is today.  As a result, we have introduced a custom drug test options that does not test for the marijuana metabolite known as THC.  This test is available as a rapid urine test, providing negative test results to the employer within 15 minutes. 

To learn more about your company’s employee screening options and how Carolina Testing can customize an employee screening program to meet your individual needs, give us a call at 843-972-3287, send us a text message, or shoot us an email today.

The old adage, “time is money” has never been more true. It didn’t take long for the management team of a small asphalt company in South Carolina to realize how much money was literally waiting for them when they evaluated their current drug testing service provider. Having used a local urgent care clinic for their drug test collections for years, company representatives didn’t realize there were options available to them until they were approached by a representative from Carolina Testing based in Conway, SC.

The asphalt company maintained an average of 120 employees in 2014, all of whom were subject to pre-employment and random drug testing as well as other forms of drug testing as needed. After reviewing the previous year’s drug testing information, the company found that 58 random drug tests, 32 pre-employment drug screens and 17 other tests were completed at the local urgent care clinic, for a total of 107 drug tests in one year. Average wait time at this facility was 2 hours or more for an employee to be taken care of.

 

The results of their review were astounding:

  • Average wait time at clinic: 2 hours per employee
  • Average wage per employee tested: $19.50 per hour
  • 107 drug tests X 2 hours waiting = 214 hours

214 hours waiting X $19.50 per hour = $4173.00

Over $4,000.00 was paid out by the company to have employees sitting in a waiting room.

The math got even worse as they dug deeper. On average, the company bills out $54.00 per hour per employee to its customers. While employees were sitting in the waiting room, the company lost $11,556 in billable hours.

TOTAL MONEY PAID FOR EMPLOYEES TO WAIT :    $15,729.00

The Carolina Testing Difference

Four months after switching to Carolina Testing for their drug testing services in September 2015, the company ran the numbers again. Average wait time was found to be less than 10 minutes.

The math tells the rest of the story:

  • Average time at clinic: 5 minutes per employee
  • Average wage per employee tested: $19.50 per hour
  • 107 drug tests X 5 minutes waiting = 8.92 hours
  • 8.92 hours X $19.50 per hour = $173.94
  • 8.92 hours X $54.00 billable hours = $481.68

TOTAL SAVINGS:  $15,073.38

Please contact Carolina Testing for a free, no obligation evaluation of your company’s drug testing program including cost reporting, policy review and other savings opportunities available to your company.

 

the role of the medical review officer


Maintaining the integrity of the drug testing process, the MRO plays a critical role.

 

 

 

The Medical Review Officer (MRO) is an integral part of the drug testing process, who plays a critical role in maintaining the accuracy, fairness, and privacy of the results. The MRO is a licensed physician responsible for reviewing and verifying the results of drug tests conducted in the workplace. They act as impartial third-party experts who ensure that the drug testing process is conducted in compliance with all relevant federal and state laws and regulations.

The primary function of the MRO is to review the results of a positive drug test and determine if the result was caused by legitimate medical use of a prescription drug or if it was due to illegal drug use. If a positive test result is obtained, the MRO contacts the employee and gathers additional information to help make an informed decision. The MRO also has the ability to request additional medical or laboratory information if necessary to help make a determination.

One of the key responsibilities of the MRO is to protect the privacy of employees by ensuring that the drug testing process is conducted in accordance with all relevant privacy laws and regulations. They maintain confidential records of all drug test results and ensure that the information is protected from unauthorized disclosure. This helps to ensure that the results of the drug test remain confidential and are only used for the purpose for which they were intended.

The MRO also serves as a resource for employers and employees. They can provide information on drug testing regulations and guidelines and help employers develop effective drug testing policies and procedures. They can also answer questions and provide guidance on the medical aspects of drug testing, including the effects of different drugs, medical conditions that may affect test results, and the appropriate use of prescription medications.

Another important role of the MRO is to help prevent the abuse of drugs in the workplace. By verifying the accuracy of drug test results and ensuring that they are conducted in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations, the MRO helps to create a safe and drug-free workplace. This helps to maintain the health and safety of employees and the public, and to protect the reputation of the workplace.

In conclusion, the role of a Medical Review Officer in the drug testing process is critical. They serve as impartial experts who help to ensure the accuracy, fairness, and privacy of the results. By verifying the results of drug tests and protecting the privacy of employees, they play a critical role in maintaining a safe and drug-free workplace. The MRO helps to protect the health and safety of employees and the public, and to protect the reputation of the company.

Teen Drug Abuse Set To Rise Again


It is that time of year when students begin returning back to school and back to a major source of availability and opportunity to experiment with drugs and alcohol.  Some reports show that In 2016,  99% of doctors prescribed narcotic painkillers in dosages which exceed the federally governed three day limit. This means only 1 out of every 100 doctors was responsibly prescribing powerful painkillers. Drugs that have been shown to drive addiction leading to a dramatic downturn in quality of life, criminal behavior, and even death. 

In the United States as many as 45 people die each and every day from the abuse of opioid painkillers which have been prescribed by a doctor. This is more death than what is caused by the combined overdoses of cocaine and heroin. Unfortunately, many of these deaths include teenagers.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reported in 2017 that 4.3 million Americans take prescription painkillers for non-medical reasons each month. More than 50% of those people got their drugs from a relative or friend. Teenagers have wide access to these drugs and could be abusing someone else’s prescription medications without you knowing.

 

what can you do?


Keep lines of communication open with your teen. Talk to them about the dangers of amphetamines like Ritalin or Adderall.  Discuss the fatal consequences of experimenting with drugs they don’t know anything about. Don’t keep your personal, prescribed medications in the medicine chest. Keep them under lock and key, in a location unknown to your teen. If your child asks for money, make them account for what that money was spent on and follow up with them. When your teen comes home from school, extra curricular activities or from a friend’s house, make it a point to have a conversation with them before they hide in their room. Speak to your child’s educators, and arrange for drug abuse education at the school level.

You should also understand that things like cough medicine can be addictive. There are opiates and narcotics in many cough suppressants which can be abused. Prescription cough medications include the opiate codeine and can become addictive quickly. Keeping these and other more serious medications away from your teen, talking to your teen about drug addiction and arranging a discussion between your family doctor and your teen are some simple steps that could keep addiction from devastating your family.

let us help.

 

If you ever question whether your child may be experimenting with drugs or alcohol, have them tested by a qualified professional who can work with you to determine the most effective test options for your situation. Call us at 843-972-3287 for more information.

 

6 Tips For Talking To Kids About Alcohol

6 Tips For Talking To Kids About Alcohol

Waiting until your child is in high school to talk about underage drinking could be a big mistake. Research shows that alcohol use and experimentation can start as early as age 10. There is no better time than now to start the conversation, but the key to discussing underage drinking is to start early, stay engaged and stick with it.   The following statistics show the need for early intervention:

  • Children who begin drinking at age 13 have a 45% greater chance of becoming alcohol dependent as an adult.
  • On average, kids in the United States start drinking alcohol at 13 years old.
  • Half of all cases of substance use disorders begin at the age of 14 and over 90% of substance abuse behavior starts with alcohol.

Reducing the trends of underage drinking is not easy and requires the efforts of parents, schools and communities. We can be successful when we work together to create safe environments – at home and in the community – for our children to strive and thrive.

Don’t think your kid will listen to you? Talk to them anyways. Despite the fact that many parents think their kids don’t listen to them, parental disapproval is still the number one reason kids choose not to drink alcohol.

Here are 6 tips for talking to kids about alcohol:

1. EDUCATE YOURSELF ON THE DANGERS OF UNDERAGE DRINKING

Some parents don’t understand why the legal drinking age is 21 – telling their kids, “you can’t do it because it’s illegal,” or “you could get in a car accident and kill yourself or someone else.” While these statements are both true, there’s more…

Research shows us that brains don’t finish developing until the mid-twenties. Drinking alcohol before this time can have severe, long-term consequences. Consuming alcohol at an earlier age interferes with early adult brain development. The potential for serious problems such as alcohol addiction, dangerous behavior, reduced decision-making ability, memory loss, depression, violence and suicide is greater. Other potential risks of underage drinking include risky sexual behavior, increased risk for physical and sexual assault, unintentional accidents and even death.

underage drinkingWhen teens drink, they are typically binge drinking 90 percent of the time. While binge drinking, teens are more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior, are at an increased risk for physical and sexual assault, are most likely to use an illicit drug and can suffer from alcohol poisoning.

Armed with this knowledge, parents are better prepared to have a more accurate and informed conversation with their children about the risks of underage drinking.

2. START SOONER RATHER THAN LATER

Waiting until children are 14 to 19 years old to start a conversation about the dangers and effects of underage drinking is a common mistake. Children are exposed, aware and start to think about alcohol between ages 9 and 13. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends talking to children about the dangers of alcohol as early as 9 years old.

3. HAVE ONGOING, AGE APPROPRIATE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ALCOHOL

It is important to engage in conversation with your child at their level of understanding.   You wouldn’t discuss the inner workings of an internal combustion engine when an 8 year old asks how a car moves. Keep it simple and on their level.

For an 8-year-old, simply explain that their brain is still growing and drinking alcohol could really hurt the way their brain grows. Tell them that you want them to grow to be super smart and in order to do that, their brain needs to grow strong.

For a 15-year-old, you could talk about the disruption in brain development, as well as the potential for chronic problems such as greater risk for alcohol addiction, dangerous behavior, poor decision-making ability, memory loss, depression, violence and elevated suicide risk.

Find ways to talk to your kids about alcohol without interrogating them or making them feel like you don’t trust them. beerpongFor example, you can ask your kids what they hear at school about alcohol or if any of their friends drink or talk about drinking at parties. If you’re watching television or a movie and underage or irresponsible drinking is shown, use that as a conversation starter by asking your kids what they think about it. If what’s shown is an unhealthy drinking behavior, take the opportunity to explain how the behavior is unhealthy and what the risks are.

Make sure your children know that they can feel comfortable in talking to you about any questions or concerns they have about drugs and alcohol.

4. RULES AND EXPECTATIONS

When you set clear rules and expectations, kids are much less likely to drink. Children are 80% less likely to drink alcohol or do drugs when it is made clear by their parents that alcohol and drug use in not allowed.  Explain to them that you can and will have them tested for alcohol or drug use at any time if you suspect that they may be drinking or using.
underagedrinkingTalk about the consequences of drug and alcohol use – not only the consequences in your home, but also about the legal and medical consequences that can occur such as being arrested or hospitalized. Be clear about what you will do if the rules are broken and more importantly, follow through on these consequences.

Vague or general statements like, “I will kill you if I catch you drinking!” just don’t work. Clearly defined consequences have a much greater impact. Examples include removal from special or extra curricular activities, taking away privileges such as computer or cell phone use, or requiring them to attend substance abuse counseling or group sessions.

5. TEACH THEM HOW TO SAY NO

Children who are taught how to say no are less likely to experiment with alcohol or drugs. Come up with good ways to say “no” and practice them in role-play situations.

For example, they could say “Oh there’s no way I can drink that. If my parents smell booze on me, I’ll be dead.” Or “No thanks man. I have practice tomorrow and you know how coach is if he finds out we’ve been drinking.”

6. TALK ABOUT FAMILY HISTORY

Research has shown that addiction to alcohol and other drugs is a chronic, progressive disease that can be linked to family history and genetics.  If you have a family history of problems with alcohol or drugs, be truthful about it, as you would any other chronic disease, such as heart disease, diabetes or cancer.   It is important for your child to grow up knowing if there is a potential for addictive behaviors due to family health history.

underage drinking

Is Saliva Based Drug Testing Right For Your Business?

Drug testing is common among employers today. Over half of United States employers require a drug test prior to employment, and many employers conduct drug testing after the initial hire as well. There are many ways to test an employee for drugs, including blood, oral fluid (saliva), urine and hair follicle testing. Many employers are moving toward saliva based drug testing as the benefits of this type of testing become more widely known. Here are some pros and cons to weigh when considering saliva-based drug testing for your company.

PROS:

Saliva based drug testing allows for fast, clean and easy administration and collection.

A saliva test collection includes inserting a swab in the donor’s mouth to collect saliva that is pooled and created in the mouth. Typical collection time take approximately 5 minutes, does not require a restroom and the specimen can be easily collected anywhere.

Oral fluid testing minimizes the opportunity to cheat the test.

While there are some mouth rinses that claim to be able to cheat a saliva base drug test, a properly administrated and collected saliva drug test cannot be cheated. The collection of the specimen is done while being directly observed by the collector and only after the collector has made sure that no food, drink, smoking or tobacco use has occurred in the prior ten minutes to the collection being conducted.

Affordability increasing as acceptance and adoption among employers grows.

The cost of saliva testing is significantly cheaper than hair follicle testing and while slightly more expensive than urine specimen testing, saliva testing continues to become more affordable as more and more companies switch to it.

Detection and accuracy of testing is higher in saliva based specimens.

A comparative study demonstrating the accuracy and dependability of oral fluid drug testing versus urine testing was conducted. Findings from this study indicate that oral fluid positive rates are higher in most categories, with significantly more positives detected and reported in THC, Cocaine, and Amphetamines when compared to similar testing conducted on the same subject using urine testing.

 

Saliva provides an earlier detection time similar to blood.

Oral fluid allows for the earliest detection of drug use starting within minutes of the drug use in most instances. Urine specimen testing requires at least four to six hours for the body to process and metabolize the drug being used before it can be detected. For this reason, oral fluid testing is a great choice for post accident, reasonable suspicion or random testing.

 

CONS:

Saliva-based drug testing has a much shorter window in which drugs can be detected than compared to hair or even urine testing.

Oral fluid drug tests have a maximum detection window of up to 3 days or less depending on the drug being tested. Urine can detect for up to 5 days (30 days for chronic marijuana users) and hair can detect for up to 90 days.

Oral fluid testing is limited in the number of drugs that can be tested.

There are a limited number of drug panels available for oral fluid drug testing, but new panels are being added on an ongoing basis. The most frequently abused drugs such as marijuana, opiates, amphetamines, cocaine, meth, PCP, barbiturates and benzodiazepines are available for testing through saliva.

 

Oral fluid is not approved for federal testing of drugs in system.

For federally regulated positions, such as the Department of Transportation, drug testing is mandatory – however oral fluid testing is not allowed to be used. While SAMHSA is working toward allowing saliva testing for federally regulated employees, current regulations limit federal testing to urine specimens only.

CONCLUSION:

In conclusion, oral fluid drug testing is fast becoming the specimen of choice when it comes to employment drug testing. It is important to note that proper collection procedures and laboratory testing of the specimen is required in order to establish the most accurate results. Instant oral fluid testing products are available and while they may be useful to provide faster negative results, non-negative results from an instant testing device must be sent to a certified laboratory to confirm a positive drug test. Employment decisions based on a non-negative result using an instant drug test without laboratory confirmation exposes you to major liability concerns.

 

Ultimately, deciding on what type of drug test a company should administer involves consideration of company goals, budgetary options, regulatory guidelines and personal preference. In any case, drug testing is a proven tool that contributes to the safety and efficiency of the workplace.

 

To learn more about oral fluid testing for your company, please contact the professionals at Carolina Testing.

 

 

Reasonable Suspicion Testing

Reasonable suspicion drug and/or alcohol testing is a tool found drink on jobin many drug policies that is employed by companies looking to establish a safe, secure and healthy environment for their employees, colleagues, customers and community. Reasonable suspicion simply means that there is reason to believe the employee is under the influence of drugs or alcohol while on the job. This belief or suspicion must be based on objective factors, such as the direct observation of an employee’s appearance, speech, behavior, odor or other conduct. Reasonable suspicion should not be based on hearsay or rumors and should not include behavior or conduct that is simply attributable to some type of common error. For example, dropping something on the floor, being late to work or being in a bad mood could have many explanations. While these actions may cause a good supervisor to pay closer attention to this particular employee, they do not rise to level of reasonable suspicion of drug or alcohol use. Closer observation may lead to other observations such as slurred speech, unsteady balance, dilated pupils, excessive perspiration, etc – all of which could lead to reasonable suspicion testing.

Supervisor Training

team meetingProfessional training of supervisory staff is the best way to learn about reasonable suspicion testing. In some industries, such as DOT regulated companies, supervisor training is required. Training should teach supervisors about the types of drugs that are tested for as well as the signs and symptoms indicating possible use of these substances.   For instance, cocaine is a stimulant and makes everything in the body speed up. Those under the influence of cocaine may be hyper, have rapid movements, be talkative and have dilated or enlarged pupils. These are the types of signs a supervisor should be trained to look for as reasonable suspicion of the use of cocaine, or any other stimulant like meth or crack. In addition to learning more about the drugs and what to look for in the use of such drugs, supervisors should also be trained in what constitutes reasonable suspicion and how to properly identify and document direct observations. Supervisors who are not trained to identify and observe the signs of use associated with drug and alcohol may expose the company up to significant liability, discrimination claims and other legal issues.

Addressing a Situation

A good supervisor training program will also provide instruction on the best ways to approach an employee in a reasonable suspicion situation. Maintaining privacy and properly documenting the incident are critical to handling a reasonable suspicion incident. Once a supervisor has determined reasonable suspicion exists through their direct observation, they should follow the steps outlined by the company. Getting a second supervisor to observe the employee in question and completing an incident report or other paperwork documenting the observations are good ways of preparing to address the employee and the situation. The employee should be escorted to an area where personnel matters can be discussed privately. The employee should be advised of the supervisor’s observations and that they are being referred for reasonable suspicion testing. The employee should then be escorted to the collection site for the drug and/or alcohol testing to be completed and arrangements should be made for the employee to get home safely. At no time should an employee suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol be allowed to operate a motor vehicle. If you are sending them for reasonable suspicion testing, by default, you are suspecting that they are currently under the influence.

Testing & Results

Testing is recommended to be done by a trained and certified collector – preferably by a third party lab or clinic
results4 – either at the clinic location or having the collector come to the company site. In the case of drug tests, laboratory confirmation and medical review of the test results should be an absolute requirement to avoid any mistakes or erroneous results. For alcohol tests, a confirmation test of alcohol levels should be conducted by a certified Breath Alcohol Technician for complete and accurate results. All positive results should be submitted to the employee in writing within 24 hours of receiving the results. A reasonable suspicion situation requires careful handling of documentation, personnel records and potentially sensitive test results. All employees having access to this information have a legal responsibility to maintain the strictest and highest standards of confidentiality throughout the entire process.