do pharmacists get drug tested?

[iwhjdijs]

i know most places have an initial drug test but what about random periodic drug tests? More specifically in retail pharmacies like wags, cvs, etc. thanks.

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[type b pharmD]

Rofl

just wait for it to become legal , MAN

 

[KCflacpht]

i know most places have an initial drug test but what about random periodic drug tests? More specifically in retail pharmacies like wags, cvs, etc. thanks.

Wags does random drug testing, as well as new hire initial drug tests. I don't know about the other chains.

However, having said that- I was "random" tested twice in the 14 years I worked there that the policy was in effect. YMMV of course.

 

[doministic]

I work for Safeway for 6 years and have never been randomly screened. Only as an initial hire

 

[Ackj]

Rofl

just wait for it to become legal , MAN

If you come in with pupils the size of quarters and a haze following you, you MIGHT have a "random" screening.

 

[PharmDstudent]

Yes. And they test for everything, too... even aspirin use... j/k.

 

[J ROD]

early and often......

 

[bigpharma]

Sure they can get drug tested, but unless the company has a random test policy, it would only happen if there are mysterious goings-on (e.g., missing C2s, lots of errors, erratic behavior, etc).

Stay clean, buddy.

 

[SomeGuy]

Employer drug testing, especially random, is pretty much illegal in Canada, except for very specific and rare circumstances.

Substance dependence/abuse is a disease, and it's quite illegal to discriminate against someone due to their disease state.

There are plenty of privacy implications as well: Does the employer know that you're abusing a drug, or are you managing chronic-pain? How much should you have to disclose of your medical record to an employer, and what if you were treating chronic pain and you don't get hired? Now the employer could have a lawsuit on their hands.

Employers here do have a duty to accommodate employees with diseases, and therefore have some incentive to NOT test.

 

[KCflacpht]

Sure they can get drug tested, but unless the company has a random test policy, it would only happen if there are mysterious goings-on (e.g., missing C2s, lots of errors, erratic behavior, etc).

Stay clean, buddy.

I agree. While I posted above that *I* was rarely tested, it seemed ( at times) to me that some others I worked with was tested more often. It just seemed to me that they did it when I wasn't there. I joked about that once, and my PIC said it was because of my time in (20+ years) and my record- they knew that if there was a problem- it wasn't me.
They really only used the "random" option when there was a suspicion of theft, abuse, etc. Probably because it costs $$$, and they don't want to spend it if it's not necessary.

The easiest thing is to just keep your nose clean- and not give them a reason!

And as for finding anything on the tests- so long as you have a valid RX for a drug ( like a pain med, or anything else for that matter) then you're fine. I worked with a guy who was on Xanax ( had anxiety attacks- legit reason) and he had no problems because of the tests.

 

[KCflacpht]

Substance dependence/abuse is a disease, and it's quite illegal to discriminate against someone due to their disease state.

At Wags- I know what they do/did is if you're found to have an addiction, you have 2 options. Admit to it- and go to a company-paid rehab, or termination. I've know of 2 people that have taken that option. It was, at least when I worked with them ( may have changed- I left July 2009) part of their benefit plans. Drugs, alcohol, whatever.

 

[Ackj]

The easiest thing is to just keep your nose clean

I see what you did there...

 

[Jabberwocky12]

yeah just be careful with that though for admitting there is a problem. At CVS a floater told me how he had a partner who admitted he had a drug problem from taking CIIs before he could get fired. He said the process wasn't just some "quick fix" way of getting out of trouble.

He said that for a few years he had to go to rehab sessions that he was paying for himself. And he had to pay for drug tests, which were spontaneous. They called the guy in the morning (days off included) and if he didn't show up and take them it was an admission of guilt. This went on for a few years and it's really tedious and messes with a lot of stuff.

Not only that but then you have to mention something like that in interviews as well (from what I've heard) or else it's considered omitting details.

I don't know how much of this is true but it sure would keep me away from the CII safe...

 

[owlegrad]

yeah just be careful with that though for admitting there is a problem. At CVS a floater told me how he had a partner who admitted he had a drug problem from taking CIIs before he could get fired. He said the process wasn't just some "quick fix" way of getting out of trouble.

He said that for a few years he had to go to rehab sessions that he was paying for himself. And he had to pay for drug tests, which were spontaneous. They called the guy in the morning (days off included) and if he didn't show up and take them it was an admission of guilt. This went on for a few years and it's really tedious and messes with a lot of stuff.

Not only that but then you have to mention something like that in interviews as well (from what I've heard) or else it's considered omitting details.

I don't know how much of this is true but it sure would keep me away from the CII safe...

Here in FL we have a professional organization that helps professionals overcome addiction (maybe they are nation-wide, not sure). Any pharmacist who is reported to the board about any kind of drug abuse problem (Alcohol, etc.) have to go through the program (at their own expense) in order to maintain their license. I assume other states work in much the same way.

 

[type b pharmD]

Here in FL we have a professional organization that helps professionals overcome addiction (maybe they are nation-wide, not sure). Any pharmacist who is reported to the board about any kind of drug abuse problem (Alcohol, etc.) have to go through the program (at their own expense) in order to maintain their license. I assume other states work in much the same way.

this exists in a lot of states. in ours, the board will look the other way for pretty much any offense if you agree to enter treatment voluntarily. personally I think what people do on their off time is none of a company's business, but people who steal from pharmacies really really piss me off. you should NOT be given a free pass for stealing. plenty of drug addicts have 'diseases' aka problems with willpower/cognition being compromised by their substance use , but honestly one would think people would be able to differentiate between the victimless crime of recreational drug use and the fact that taking medication from a pharmacy is ROBBING YOUR EMPLOYER. I am astonished at how many stories I hear of people taking narcs from their workplace. At that point , to me , it seems like if a person is messed up enough to make that choice, they probably are not cognitively functioning enough to remain a pharmacist.

Drug testing imho is an invasion of privacy -- it's a shame that some companies have to do random tests of their employees because people thought they could get away with theft of controlled substances. Drug testing should be 'for cause' only, which is how it has been at every employer (retail mostly) I worked for so far, with the exception of one which did an annual drug test on your date of hire (silly, right?)

another thing to think about is the legal ramifications of random testing. a random test itself is not going to discourage addicts, and if a random testing policy is in place , an employer is not allowed to 'random test' someone because they are under suspicion of stealing narcs, as this would not be a 'random' test. our unit on employment law taught us that 'random' policies for anything cannot hold up under the law unless it is truly randomized, otherwise a company opens themselves up to discrimination lawsuits/penalties. companies should be able to test people with reasonable documented suspicion and or cause , and that would straighten out a lot of narcotics thieves who get by because the frequency of 'random testing' is only once every few years

employee theft of controlled substances really gets under my skin, especially when it means an additional workload in the form of audits and investigations by the pharmacy staff, and invasions of privacy. at the hospital i worked for, any given week I would spend 2 hours or so trying to track down the discrepancies in the nursing counts to try fruitlessly to find the one or two nurses who were diverting and were probably not going to end up getting caught anyway.

To you crazies out there who are reading this - STOP STEALING FROM YOUR WORKPLACE!

 

[KCflacpht]

I see what you did there...

Well I hope what you meant was that I DID keep my nose clean! Look, I just know that for me- all those pills in that store are not worth my good name, or the risk to my family and health. I can feel a little for people that are (through no fault of their own ie: medical treatments gone wrong) addicts, but IMVHO you don't hire an alcoholic to work in a bar- why would you want a drug addict working in your pharmacy? Fox running the hen-house situation there!

Actually, I tend to think my PIC was telling me the truth. About 3 months before I "retired", our LP specialist had me actually helping her with a problem we were having with some missing lortabs. She felt that since everyone liked me- and I was around every day, that I could get a better handle on who may/may not be responsible.

And to Type b- I agree! I hate thieves in any way/shape/form. I was the first person to tape my receipts to my purchases at the store to prevent any questions about my honesty. But I understand in this day and age- this is just the way things are. Unfortunately. I guess I'm lucky- I had parents that brought me up right. I just hope I'm doing the same for my 3 kids.

As for whether the Florida program is self-paid or paid by the employer- I don't know. All I know is that the info given to us at the time I worked there was that Wags would pay for it if it became necessary. As I also said- that was pre-2009.

 

[Pharmavixen]

Employee theft of controlled substances really gets under my skin, especially when it means an additional workload in the form of audits and investigations by the pharmacy staff, and invasions of privacy. at the hospital i worked for, any given week I would spend 2 hours or so trying to track down the discrepancies in the nursing counts to try fruitlessly to find the one or two nurses who were diverting and were probably not going to end up getting caught anyway.

To you crazies out there who are reading this - STOP STEALING FROM YOUR WORKPLACE!

That said, I don't believe workplace drug testing is a useful strategy for combating drug abuse. More than anything, it disproportionately punishes cannabis users while people who abuse much more problematic drugs (cocaine, opioids) with a shorter t ½ can slip under the wire. And in terms of lost workplace productivity, EtOH is the biggest problem ...

If a person has a substance abuse problem, they shouldn't subject themselves to temptation by working in pharmacy IMO. Like, if you're an alcoholic, probably you shouldn't work in the ABC Liquor Barn.

 

[khydroxide]

Rofl

just wait for it to become legal , MAN

that was funny

 

[iwhjdijs]

Oh, I was just talking about marijuana, not like actual pharmaceutical drugs. I'm a senior in high school and I only do it about maybe ten times a year, give or take a few. It's just so I can relax and take some of the stress out of my life. I just wanted to know if I decide to pursue pharmacy as a career that I'm still able to do that every once in a while. Judging from the responses here, that answer is no I can't unless, hopefully, it becomes legal sometime in the future. Thanks though for the responses.

 

[type b pharmD]

Oh, I was just talking about marijuana, not like actual pharmaceutical drugs. I'm a senior in high school and I only do it about maybe ten times a year, give or take a few. It's just so I can relax and take some of the stress out of my life. I just wanted to know if I decide to pursue pharmacy as a career that I'm still able to do that every once in a while. Judging from the responses here, that answer is no I can't unless, hopefully, it becomes legal sometime in the future. Thanks though for the responses.

hey you're in high school, so you got 6-7 years left until youget your pharmD. a lot can change in that time.

meanwhile, random drug testing is illegal in vermont and rhode island

 

[Humble Sloth]

this exists in a lot of states. in ours, the board will look the other way for pretty much any offense if you agree to enter treatment voluntarily. personally I think what people do on their off time is none of a company's business, but people who steal from pharmacies really really piss me off. you should NOT be given a free pass for stealing. plenty of drug addicts have 'diseases' aka problems with willpower/cognition being compromised by their substance use , but honestly one would think people would be able to differentiate between the victimless crime of recreational drug use and the fact that taking medication from a pharmacy is ROBBING YOUR EMPLOYER. I am astonished at how many stories I hear of people taking narcs from their workplace. At that point , to me , it seems like if a person is messed up enough to make that choice, they probably are not cognitively functioning enough to remain a pharmacist.

Drug testing imho is an invasion of privacy -- it's a shame that some companies have to do random tests of their employees because people thought they could get away with theft of controlled substances. Drug testing should be 'for cause' only, which is how it has been at every employer (retail mostly) I worked for so far, with the exception of one which did an annual drug test on your date of hire (silly, right?)

another thing to think about is the legal ramifications of random testing. a random test itself is not going to discourage addicts, and if a random testing policy is in place , an employer is not allowed to 'random test' someone because they are under suspicion of stealing narcs, as this would not be a 'random' test. our unit on employment law taught us that 'random' policies for anything cannot hold up under the law unless it is truly randomized, otherwise a company opens themselves up to discrimination lawsuits/penalties. companies should be able to test people with reasonable documented suspicion and or cause , and that would straighten out a lot of narcotics thieves who get by because the frequency of 'random testing' is only once every few years

employee theft of controlled substances really gets under my skin, especially when it means an additional workload in the form of audits and investigations by the pharmacy staff, and invasions of privacy. at the hospital i worked for, any given week I would spend 2 hours or so trying to track down the discrepancies in the nursing counts to try fruitlessly to find the one or two nurses who were diverting and were probably not going to end up getting caught anyway.

To you crazies out there who are reading this - STOP STEALING FROM YOUR WORKPLACE!

stealing opiates is common in retail and hospitals. there is really nothing you can do about it. too hard to track. As long as it's a small amount it doesn't bother me.

 

[Humble Sloth]

Oh, I was just talking about marijuana, not like actual pharmaceutical drugs. I'm a senior in high school and I only do it about maybe ten times a year, give or take a few. It's just so I can relax and take some of the stress out of my life. I just wanted to know if I decide to pursue pharmacy as a career that I'm still able to do that every once in a while. Judging from the responses here, that answer is no I can't unless, hopefully, it becomes legal sometime in the future. Thanks though for the responses.

Marijuana stays in your system a lot longer than other drugs. That being said my friend told me piss tests can be faked easily with synthetic urine. Urine screening is really just an IQ test. Just don't use drugs while at work. What you do on your free time is your business. I don't care if my techs are shooting up heroin on the weekends as long as they arn't stealing from my store.

 

[bacillus1]

The VA has a random drug testing policy. This is not regarded as discriminatory, as there are rehab options offered if you test positive. I have never been tested other than during my initial hire, but I could be anytime.