Most prescription medicine will not
cause a positive test. For example, use of AZT, lithium, anti-depressants,
antibiotics, tranquilizers/sleeping pills, medicine for diabetes and epilepsy
will not show up. Legitimate explanations for positive results, according
to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, include the following:
Marijuana: THC can be used
as an antiemetic for cancer chemotherapy patients with intractable vomiting.
Passive inhalation of marijuana will not explain a positive test because
the cut off for the first test is 100 ng? ml. Only prescription use is
acceptable.
Cocaine: It is useful as an
anesthetic and vasoconstrictor for certain types of surgery involving the
nose, throat, larynx, and lower respiratory passages. Only dosages administered
by doctors or dentists are acceptable.
Amphetamines: Although they
can be used to treat narcolepsy, attention deficit disorder, depression
that has not responded to other treatments, their use is controversial
because of the risk of abuse. Amphetamine-related drugs, e.g. asthma medication
with ephedrine, over-the-counter cold and hayfever medications with phenylpropanolamine
and some vasodilators are not expected to produce a confirmed positive
test; however, the Medical Relief Officer (MRO) is advised to carefully
question individuals testing positive for amphetamines about their prescribed
medications.
Opiates: Many prescription
drug contain codeine or morphine and will thus produce a "true" positive
opiate result. A legitimate prescription which explains the test results
means the MORO must report the test as a negative. Some caught suppressing
and antidiarrheal preparations contain paregoric with sufficient anhydrous
morphine to produce a morphine/codeine positive test. Recent ingestion
of poppy seeds may be a cause of opiate positive urine. Therefore, before
the MRO can verify a confirmed positive test for opiates, ( which does
not indicate heroin use) the MRO must find other signs of drug abuse,
like needle tracks or signs of intoxication or withdrawal, or report the
test as negative.
Consequences Under the FAA Regulations
The regulations require that any
covered employee who has a verified positive drug test or who refuses to
be drug tested must immediately be removed from a safety-sensitive position
and be referred to a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) for evaluation
and treatment as necessary. You can be permanently barred from performing
your safety-sensitive function at any employer if you:
1. Engage in prohibited
drug use during the performance of your safety-sensitive function; or
2. Have a verified positive
drug test results on two drug tests conducted after September 19, 1994.
BOTTOM LINE: YOU WILL LOSE
YOUR JOB AND THE ODDS OF WINNING IT BACK ARE SLIM TO NONE.
If
you are in need of help and struggling with a substance abuse problem,
contact one of your local EAP representatives.
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