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I just failed a drug test at my prospective new employer

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adg1034

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Adderall. Chemically, it's an amphetamine. With drug tests being able to detect traces of drugs you ingested even 30 days ago, there's no way I could have passed the test (without an Original Whizzinator at my disposal). I do have a legitimate prescription for the stuff (I've got ADHD), but it's become a real nuisance since I now might have to wait a week to get the results back, a week that I could have spent earning money. Rant rant rant rant rant rant words words words words words words words words words.

Also, another sign my mind is going- as I was realizing that my test would come up positive, I immediately thought "Oh, I can go post this on GAF when I get home!" So much for my sanity.
 
adg1034 said:
I do have a legitimate prescription for the stuff (I've got ADHD)
Surely you can prove this to the employer?

Oh wait, ADHD, the magic fairy-land "disease". Right.

Nevermind.
 
Sounds like you should've been prepared, son. Maybe you wouldn't have been delayed if you went in there with the physician's note and other supporting documentation. At any rate, it doesn't seem to have cost you the job, so things could be worse.
 
perryfarrell said:
Wow lots of ADD hate in this thread. What's the deal with that?
Maybe a handful of people who claim to have it actually have a real problem and the rest just have a magic fairy disease that their doctors pulled from their asses?
 
adg1034 said:
So much for my sanity.
psyduck.gif
 
First of all, I'm pretty sure these tests cannot detect Adderall after 30 days (unless you're applying for NSA or a super heavy user).
And if you do come positive, I think your best option is to say you took some Ritalin (I don't think those tests can differentiates between the two, but you better do some research to be sure) from a friend with a prescription to help you study for a test or prepare for job interview.
 
Chichikov said:
First of all, I'm pretty sure these tests cannot detect Adderall after 30 days (unless you're applying for NSA or a super heavy user).
And if you do come positive, I think your best option is to say you took some Ritalin (I don't think those tests can differentiates between the two, but you better do some research to be sure) from a friend with a prescription to help you study for a test or prepare for job interview.

No, it's better to be honest than say you're taking drugs you weren't prescribed.
 
Yixian said:
It's overdiagnosed.

It exists, but it's overdiagnosed.

True, but some people are idiots about it (like the fake diseases comment above). Lots of people need help with legititment problems with paying attention, anxiety, and depression.
 
AdmiralViscen said:
No, it's better to be honest than say you're taking drugs you weren't prescribed.
How so?

I mean sure, drugs are bad, stay in school and respect your mother, but in his current situation, how admitting to taking recreational drugs after he got caught (assuming his test come positive) will help him?
 
Pimpbaa said:
True, but some people are idiots about it (like the fake diseases comment above). Lots of people need help with legititment problems with paying attention, anxiety, and depression.

This is true, but are drugs the way to go in order to help them?

I was diagnosed with ADD when I was younger also. Took ritalin for a couple of days before my mom pulled me off of it because I refused to take it.
 
To clarify, I legitimately have ADHD- I was diagnosed when I was in 3rd grade. I've learned to control my symptoms very well (even when I'm not on medication), but the main effect ADHD has currently is that I impulsively eat. I see a bag of Chex Mix in a drawer? It'll most likely be gone by the end of the day. If I'm on medication, it helps me really realize when I'm full, and lets me eat less. It actually works really well. As for "Oh, you should have brought a doctor's note in with you"- wouldn't have worked. The ironclad company procedure is to have any non-negative test results sent off to a lab for verification.

I don't feel a need to try and prove if I do/don't truly have a problem. The fact is that I do, and I get treatment for it. As for the job, I don't think it will be an issue, though this does give me time to go in for another interview at a local PC repair business, one that most likely pays far more than what I would be making at this job. It's a no-lose situation.
 
And this is why I love working in graphic design / advertising... They expect you to be high, or drunk.. It's the only way we can survive in a client-approval-based world.
 
BudokaiMR2 said:
This is true, but are drugs the way to go in order to help them?

I was diagnosed with ADD when I was younger also. Took ritalin for a couple of days before my mom pulled me off of it because I refused to take it.

Therapy usually goes along with it in regards to anxiety and depression disorders. Not sure if they do therapy for those with attention disorders (I'm sure there must be). Drugs only help some of the way, they are not a 1 time magic fix. Family doctors usually just throw random drugs at you and usually don't have a clue about what is right for the person (and part of the reason alot of this stuff is overdiagnosed). It's best to see a specialist about it (psychiatrist).
 
Chichikov said:
How so?

I mean sure, drugs are bad, stay in school and respect your mother, but in his current situation, how admitting to taking recreational drugs after he got caught (assuming his test come positive) will help him?

Well if you read the OP, you'd see has has a prescription
 
Chichikov said:
Ah, I miss read, I though he said he a legitimate reason to take it.
People still prescribe Adderall?

Adderall (at least as of a few years ago) was either overtaking or making serious gains on ritalin's prescribed popularity. I think time release versions of it work better, or some such. Adderall also has less side effects, but I think that's negligible since it is at least as addictive.
 
adg1034 said:
I've learned to control my symptoms very well (even when I'm not on medication), but the main effect ADHD has currently is that I impulsively eat. I see a bag of Chex Mix in a drawer? It'll most likely be gone by the end of the day.

Im sorry, but I wouldnt call that a symptom. I dont think its something that cant be solved with some willpower. I also love eating, especially snacking, but logically I cant for the life of me understand how one would require medication for what you just described.
 
in case anyone else has a a similar issue this may help

Pain relievers such as Advil, Nuprin, Motrin, Midol, Trendar and Ibuprofen are known to cause false positives for Marijuana use. Second hand smoke inhalation from a rock concert or from being with someone who is smoking marijuana could also cause a false positive for THC. Hemp seed products, such as hemp burgers or food products containing hemp oil will also cause false positives for THC. Twelve ounces of hemp seed products ingested before a test will cause you to fail your test and has held up as a defense in at least two federal court cases.

Dristan Nasal Spray, Neosynephren, Vicks Nasal Spray, Sudafed and other medications containing ephedrine or phenypropanolamine could cause a false positive reading for Amphetamines.

Vicks Formula 44M containing Dextromethorphan, and Primatene-M containing perylamine as well as the pain reliever Demerol, Quinine water, poppy seeds and prescription anti-depressant Elavil will cause a false positive for opiates.

Nyquil Nighttime Cold Medicine will cause a false positive for Methadone.

Antibiotics such as Ampicillin and Amoxicillin will cause a false positive for cocaine.

Diasepam as well as Dextromethorophan (an ingredient in some cough medicines) will cause a false positive for PCP.
 
Dali said:
Don't make inciteful remarks of total falsehood, if you don't like comments made about them.

What he said wasn't necessarily false. Whether or not what ADHD is *real* is still being debated. It's a vague list of symptoms that virtually everyone suffers from in some capacity which a bunch of Psychiatrists lumped together and called a disorder. They literally voted this disorder into medical journals with no sufficient biological evidence it actually exists.

I'm not making any judgements about the OPs condition here, some people honestly have issues and need medication, but I would like to point something out. He says he can control his symptoms without medication, but he's a binge eater. Adderall is an effective appetite suppressant, it's one of the many "disorders" Adderall is a cure for. Maybe try going off the Adderall and switch to diet pills or something. Adderall is an expensive and very dangerous way to keep your weight down.
 
I don't get this in many ways.

Amphetamine should only be traceable in urine or blood for a couple of days, 2-4, maybe a bit longer, but certainly not for 30 days. So you should've stopped taking the stuff a week prior to the interview, as these test seem to be common.

If you take it on prescription and not recreational use, what's there to fear? Are people with diseases not allowed to take jobs anymore?

If your sole problem is that you can't pass up on some food, don't take amphetamine! Of course you'll eat less, trying to ingest food is an intimidating task on speed. It was used as a weight loss aid for a reason. Do something else that tickles your pleasure centre instead, have a good wank, do some sports or whatever.

Last, why the **** is a severe invasion into privacy like a drug test without the slightest suspicion legal anywhere?
 
Pimpbaa said:
Therapy usually goes along with it in regards to anxiety and depression disorders. Not sure if they do therapy for those with attention disorders (I'm sure there must be). Drugs only help some of the way, they are not a 1 time magic fix. Family doctors usually just throw random drugs at you and usually don't have a clue about what is right for the person (and part of the reason alot of this stuff is overdiagnosed). It's best to see a specialist about it (psychiatrist).

Everybody gets depressed and anxiety-ridden in school. It's part of growing up. The sooner people realize this, the less ****ed up people will be later in life when they give up their meds for a normal, non-medicated life.

For example, controlling the urge to eat is something that a person should be able to handle themselves. Doctors prescribing medicine for something that should be a matter of willpower is ridiculous.
 
As someone from the UK I find this mental.

What in hell gives your employers the right to get your private medical info or subject you to tests like this?
 
emerge said:
Last, why the **** is a severe invasion into privacy like a drug test without the slightest suspicion legal anywhere?
Gowans007 said:
As someone from the UK I find this mental.

What in hell gives your employers the right to get your private medical info or subject you to tests like this?
Welcome to America. Please turn around, drop your pants and bend over for the man with the latex gloves...
 
Gowans007 said:
As someone from the UK I find this mental.

What in hell gives your employers the right to get your private medical info or subject you to tests like this?

Employers in the US do not have a right to your personal medical information. Certain employers in the US choose to screen applicants for drug use, same as certain employers do in Canada, Mexico and the UK (yes companies in the UK do drug screens as well).

If one tests positive, one's under no obligation to divulge personal medical information to explain the positive result. Also, even if one has a valid medical explanation for a positive drug screen, the employer has no obligation to accept an explanation. With some employers, if you test positive, the how and the why doesn't matter. Positive result, no job for you.
 
MikeOfTheLivingDead said:
Employers in the US do not have a right to your personal medical information. Certain employers in the US choose to screen applicants for drug use, same as certain employers do in Canada, Mexico and the UK (yes companies in the UK do drug screens as well)..


In the UK drug testing has been pretty much abandoned, it was brought in through "international" corporations business practice but I'm sure it was found to be in violation of a human rights act in the UK and EU.

I dont do drugs personally but if I was ever to be requested I would refuse 100% as this totally oversteps the rights of an employer.

I work for a global corporation & have also worked internationally for foreign governments and the UN, I can honestly say a drug test from my employer would be the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard (however heres the hypocrisy I can see sense in military service etc.)
 
MikeOfTheLivingDead said:
What he said wasn't necessarily false. Whether or not what ADHD is *real* is still being debated. It's a vague list of symptoms that virtually everyone suffers from in some capacity which a bunch of Psychiatrists lumped together and called a disorder. They literally voted this disorder into medical journals with no sufficient biological evidence it actually exists.

The APA recognizes ADHD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. So if the authority on such matters recognizes it then I think it is safe to say the majority of professionals accept it as "real".
 
Gowans007 said:
I work for a global corporation & have also worked internationally for foreign governments and the UN, I can honestly say a drug test from my employer would be the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard (however heres the hypocrisy I can see sense in military service etc.)


Well it really depends on the company and the position within the company. I've never had to take a drug test for any job in the US. At one point when I was out of work I applied for a PC tech job and they wanted me to take a drug test. I refused, not because I thought I would fail (I would have passed, no problem) but because I think it's an invasion of privacy. My father has random drug screens at his job, which I guess is understandable. He a commercial aircraft mechanic; people's lives depend on him being lucid.
 
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