Pre-matriculant Hair Drug Test

[DrMono]

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Hi I am currently applying to medical school for this upcoming cycle and I have recently discontinued all drug use (cannabis and nicotine). I have likely a year until any sort of test would occur, but I am still a little paranoid about it. Hair drug tests can see far back and my roommate still smokes cannabis. In anyone's experience or the experience of people they know, have they ever had to submit to a hair drug test to matriculate into medical school? I will obviously not be doing any more drugs because this constant worry is not worth any high. Thanks in advance.

 

[Nontrad_FL_LGBT]

My school doesn't seem to drug test at all. They haven't asked me to take one and we start in a few weeks.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Welcome to the forums.

That is an issue where you should ask the current students. Drug testing through hair is not the norm as far as I know, but the schools should be disclosing what they are looking for in background checks. That said, some hospitals do test for evidence of prior tobacco use as a condition of employment or in offering benefits to help break nicotine addiction (nicotine-free campus).

Drug tests may be more common for pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary, or optometry programs since you will work with patients and regulated drugs sooner than medical students. But not as soon as orientation/matriculation. Each school may have a policy when it comes to prescriptive marijuana, so you would need to check there.

 

[Hollow Knight]

This is not common for medical school.

Now residency? That's a different story. I assume most just do urine though

 

[Robin-jay]

This is not common for medical school.

Now residency? That's a different story. I assume most just do urine though

Do any residencies do hair tests? Mine did a urine test.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Do any residencies do hair tests? Mine did a urine test.

I think I saw someone freaking out about it on Reddit one time. But I doubt it’s commonplace

 

[thumbz]

We don't drug test pre-residency (n=1). First time I took a UDS was to be pre-clinical faculty at a med school.