I used to be a pinstriper at a major motorcycle mfr. Their policy was when you were taking pain meds you had to inform HR about it for safety reasons. I had my pain mgt. doc write a letter that I would function just fine on the meds and wouldn't be a safety hazard. It worked, in fact they joked at least you "confessed to drug usage. We have a factory full of people on drugs who hope we never find out". I'd do the test and inform the people giving it you are in pain mgt. They could put that in your report. I would definitely pursue them for an interview after you have the test and don't hear back if it's a job you really want. Seeing you defend yourself in person could go a long way. Who knows, the person making the hiring decision may know someone in pain mgt that functions just fine.

I think they are just looking for illegal drugs and if you have a prescription for something and let them know you have an RX, you should be fine. Like it was said before me, I would mention it at the time of the UA. And maybe call the HR dept, or whomever you interviewed with and let them know you go to a pain management clinic. You could even tell them its just for sleep or after work hours, etc, cuz it will show up in your UA but they cant tell what time of day you took it. I think, if the company thinks you are not taking it during work hours, there should not be a problem.

Bring in all your Rx bottles when you go to the lab. If you have a script for a drug that shows up, they can't tell the prospective employer about that drug. They can only disclose the drugs that came up in your drug screen that you don't have a script for. The drugs you take that are prescribed by your doc are confidential.

I got this info from the head of HR where I used to work.

I have- and I just had to bring my pain med bottles and write on a form what I take, why I take them and who is the prescribing physician.
Then it's up to HR to determine if you can do the job you're being hired for while using the meds. It shouldn't be a problem.

Let us know how this turns out.
Sandy

I wouldn't go so far as to bring your RX bottles to anyone, the lab included...it's non of their business what info is printed on those bottles. All you need is a letter from your prescribing Dr. stating your meds, what they are,not dosages, why you take them, and whether or not you'll be able to do the job in question while on those meds. It is discrimination and very illegal for an employer to discriminate against someone for a medical condition or medications. As a matter of fact, that's why it never comes up in an interview, it's illegal, they cannot ask about your personal health. But you do have to be able to pass that physical....and that may be a bigger hurdle than the drug use.

Hang in there,

kat

OH mY gosh Keeska... Thats incredible advice! Is there an actual law about this ( I know about hippa..paper work etc.. but not this one about privacy) or was it *that *companies policy only? It would be great to know where to find that information- I bet there are a heck of a lot of chronic pain patients that would find that invaluable!
That is some of the best advice I have heard in a very long time!

After doing online "research" it sounds like if it's a 5-panel drug test, the methadone wont show up, but if it's a 9 or 10-panel, it will. I'll bring my labeled bottle in case and will list it on the paperwork, but it sounds like the drug test might not be an issue. However, the physical exam might be an issue if I have to mention what medications I'm prescribed.

Anyone have any experience with an employer-required physical and if the medication info gets passed on to the company's HR? I'd rather my company not know my personal business because, as you all know, most people tend to label us people who need pain medicine as junkies. I made the mistake of telling a couple school "friends" that I need medicine to manage my pain, and they asked me if they could have some (to use without medical reasons). It's people like them why it's become so difficult for good honest people to get the pain management they need and why people who need medicine are thought of as junkies :(. Anyway, anyone had a physical for work?

Hon you get the "junkie" stuff harder than most because of the med your on, Methadone is a great Pain med, but it's also what's used to detox addicts....so it comes with a stigma automatically. The general public isn't really educated about Methadone's Pain Management role, they just know that it's used to fix Junkies and Addicts.

The physical will be done at a medical clinic or private Dr. office, I'm assuming? HEPPA laws prevent that clinic or Dr. from giving your personal information out to anyone, once again it is illegal. All they can tell the employer is whether you passed the test or not. Anything you disclose to a Dr. in any form of treatment, appointment, phone consultation is privileged information, that they cannot share with anyone without your written permission. You'd actually have to sign a waiver. I'm a Paralegal, I'm not making this stuff up. As I said earlier, your employer cannot ask you questions about your personal life/health accept are you able to do the job we are hiring you to do, that's why they request a physical and drug test, that's the only legal way to get that answer.

Yes you need to let the tech know about any and all meds you are on, herbals and vitamins included, when you do your urine drop.

Yes, the Dr. or P.A. will probably ask about your health, and medications at your physical appt. you need to be truthful and not lie. A letter from your Dr. or even a phone consult stating that your healthy and can do the job while on the meds is all you need.

Good Luck, this sounds like something you really want to do, and being able to work and have something to do each day is always better than your body forcing you into disability.

Take care,

Kat

Thanks, Kat. That made me feel less worried; that is helpful.

What does the job entail?

Keeska, it's just an office job, requiring no more than sitting (which admittedly is difficult for me, but the med helps a lot). I don't understand why just an inactive office job would require a physical. Maybe it's for insurance purposes.

Well, if you can, get a letter from your doc explaining what you take and why. Docs are happy to see patients go back to work. But also take all your Rx bottles with you.

Good luck. I think you'll do great.

As an RN, every hospital I ever worked in required a drug test. Whether prescribed or not, the standard is different for nurses due to the fact that we were in charge of patient care. I wouldn't want a nurse taking opiates while caring for my loved one. In some instances, it's not discrimination, just common sense.

Sad but true.

Thanks, Keeska, that's what Im going to do. I think I'll pass, but if they end up not hiring me, well I wouldnt want to work for a company like that anyway.

Just wanted to update everyone on the outcome of the drug test. The test didnt show the methadone because the usual drug tests don't pick it up because it is a synthetic opiate. Unless they test specifically for methadone in addition to opioids, it won't show up.