Nicotine and APA

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Pear1405

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Hi all, I have a horrible cigarette habit that's been very difficult to break as I near the start of internship. Has anyone heard of APA sites that fire you for that in a drug test?

Follow up day 3 no ciggs and I want to scream. Don't start.

More follow up: nicotine in drug test didn't come up once. But don't risk it, just quit.
 
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I know of at least one hospital system in my state that includes nicotine (rather, cotinine) on their drug panels.
 
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From what I remember the placement would specifically state this in their policy. Typically I saw this at places that had certain religious affiliations
 
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I just wanted to wish you good luck in quitting and express hope that you don’t decide to not quit if you find out that nicotine isn’t tested for. Look after your health!
 
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EnPsychlopedia said:
I just wanted to wish you good luck in quitting and express hope that you don’t decide to not quit if you find out that nicotine isn’t tested for. Look after your health!
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Honestly thank you so much. I made it 24hrs so far, 9 more days till start of internship/ drug test and I definitely keep lying to myself or making deals that I can smoke immediately after. But my rational brain knows I'll feel stronger in a week from now to keep making the decision to not smoke. Nicotine addiction's no joke! Don't ever start y'all!
 
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Even though most sites probably don't have a policy against this (and you would be able to find in their policies ahead of time if they do I assume) -- many hospitals do highly restrict smoking (e.g., at the one near me, staff have to go off campus to a neighborhood across the street from the parking deck to smoke) and also may have policies about being able to smell smoke odor on clothing etc. (which makes a lot of sense in a healthcare setting). This is also often the case (at least in my current state) in outpatient and community clinics for behavioral health. (also, apparently, the hardware store that my neighbor works at, which was a bit more unexpected). So might at least be prudent to figure out some alternatives to smoking even if not kicking the nicotine habit.
 
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From the website of the system in question:

"As a healthcare system committed to improving the health of those we serve, we are asking our employees to model the same behaviors that we promote to our patients. As of January 1, 2012, Health no longer hires individuals who use nicotine products."

Again, rare, but part of their pre-hire is a urinalysis for tobacco ("Test for drugs and nicotine (urinalysis) and tuberculosis (blood) - Fasting is not required.").
 
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thebalmofhurtminds said:
From the website of the system in question:

"As a healthcare system committed to improving the health of those we serve, we are asking our employees to model the same behaviors that we promote to our patients. As of January 1, 2012, Baylor Scott & White Health no longer hires individuals who use nicotine products."

Again, rare, but part of their pre-hire is a urinalysis for tobacco ("Test for drugs and nicotine (urinalysis) and tuberculosis (blood) - Fasting is not required.").
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Congrats on them following what I'm sure is the best EBP in substance use, right?
 
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WisNeuro said:
Pretty much a cost saving mood when it comes to insurance. Personally, I'm ok with it, they just have to be fine with having a smaller potential hiring pool.
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Bit of a slippery slope, don't you think? Next step is that we don't hire people with pre-existing health conditions, women who could become pregnant, etc. because they'd cost more.
 
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bcliff said:
... by that standard they're discriminating against people with a pre-existing condition?
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I don't consider smoking a pre-existing condition anymore than I do drinking coffee in the morning. It's a choice. Still fine with it. If they have significant problems filling positions more than other hospital systems, they can revisit the issue at their convenience.
 
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thebalmofhurtminds said:
From the website of the system in question:

"As a healthcare system committed to improving the health of those we serve, we are asking our employees to model the same behaviors that we promote to our patients. As of January 1, 2012, Health no longer hires individuals who use nicotine products."

Again, rare, but part of their pre-hire is a urinalysis for tobacco ("Test for drugs and nicotine (urinalysis) and tuberculosis (blood) - Fasting is not required.").
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Holy **** thats insane. I don’t smoke but damn.
 
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thebalmofhurtminds said:
Bit of a slippery slope, don't you think? Next step is that we don't hire people with pre-existing health conditions, women who could become pregnant, etc. because they'd cost more.
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Smoking is a health choice with pretty much zero positives, not quite the same basket as pregnancy.
 
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WisNeuro said:
I don't consider smoking a pre-existing condition anymore than I do drinking coffee in the morning. It's a choice. Still fine with it. If they have significant problems filling positions more than other hospital systems, they can revisit the issue at their convenience.
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My thought is that it's a substance use disorder.

The substance in question is not illegal (e.g., marijuana). I'm not seeing a case made that it's psychoactive effects effect job performance (e.g., alcohol).

The case made is that discriminating against this class will yield cost savings...
 
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Switch to zyn, bro, if you can't make it. Then try to come down. I say this as someone who LOVES nicotine. I especially loved Zyn and dip ( got that redneck dawg in me). Zyn also has a fun meme culture.

Smoking is smelly. Plus you can ninja a zyn. You know, during a lull in testing, or during report writing, throw one in. Highly concealable. Don't have to spit because it's just nicotine salts. They have them metered by dose (6, 3, and 1.5mg).

I also write this as someone who has been nicotine free for about year - it's worth it. I made a promise to my wife that i'd never dip/zyn again.
 
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borne_before said:
Switch to zyn, bro, if you can't make it. Then try to come down. I say this as someone who LOVES nicotine. I especially loved Zyn and dip ( got that redneck dawg in me). Zyn also has a fun meme culture.

Smoking is smelly. Plus you can ninja a zyn. You know, during a lull in testing, or during report writing, throw one in. Highly concealable. Don't have to spit because it's just nicotine salts. They have them metered by dose (6, 3, and 1.5mg).

I also write this as someone who has been nicotine free for about year - it's worth it. I made a promise to my wife that i'd never dip/zyn again.
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You're reminding me of an old friend whom I haven't seen in years. A short time after we met, he and a few others were talking about smoking, using dip, etc. He mentioned how long he had been dipping and I was surprised, replying that I had no idea because I had never seen him spit before. He just smirked, nodded, and took a big swallow....
 
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psych.meout said:
You're reminding me of an old friend whom I haven't seen in years. A short time after we met, he and a few others were talking about smoking, using dip, etc. He mentioned how long he had been dipping and I was surprised, replying that I had no idea because I had never seen him spit before. He just smirked, nodded, and took a big swallow....
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Never been able to gut stuff like skoal, cope, etc. that's yucky.
 
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WisNeuro said:
Stuff is gross. People who vape just look like tools, people who chew just look super trashy.
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the sandlot chewing tobacco GIF
 
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Therapist4Chnge said:
This reminded me of the “smoke shack” at the VA hospital. It looked like a greenhouse, but they’d smoke so much it resembled a hot box attempt, prob some/a lot of cannabis in there now.
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Aren’t all VAs tobacco-free on campus now?
 
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