Prescription Medication and Drug Testing: How Employers Can Accommodate

How Prescription Medication Affects Drug Test Results

Prescription medications can sometimes cause unexpected results in drug tests. This happens when a legal drug someone might be taking is wrongly detected as an illegal drug in the test. To prevent any unfair treatment, additional checks are usually done if this occurs. Read on to learn how this can happen and what it means for employment drug testing.

Common Types of Medications That May Yield Positive Results

Employment drug testing is used to identify substances that can potentially cause harm in the workplace. In certain situations, employers can also drug test for prescription medications like marijuana. Following are some of the most common prescription drugs that show up on a drug test:

Best Practices for Accommodating Employees Using Prescription Medications

Develop Inclusive Workplace Policies and Procedures

When creating a drug-free workplace policy, employers should consider the use of prescription medications by employees. This includes understanding how certain legal prescriptions can result in positive drug tests.

In some safety-sensitive jobs, like industries under the Department of Transportation, some prescription drugs may be prohibited even with a prescription. For example, the DOT maintains strict regulations regarding the use of marijuana for employees, regardless of state laws on medical marijuana.

Educate Management and Employees on Drug Testing

Management and supervisors, often the first to spot potential employee substance abuse issues, should be well-versed in understanding how prescription medications can influence drug testing results. This knowledge is crucial for them to treat employees fairly and avoid discrimination.

Similarly, employees should be educated about the drug-free workplace policy, how prescription medications could affect results, and the implications of a failed drug test.

Create Fair and Effective Accommodation Processes

It's important to establish fair and effective accommodation processes. These might include flexible arrangements such as adjusting work duties, considering alternative job roles, and ensuring these adjustments comply with legal standards.

Balancing Workplace Safety and Employee Rights

In managing a workplace, one of the key challenges is finding the right balance between maintaining a safe environment and respecting the rights of employees. This involves carefully considering the impact of drug testing policies on individual rights while also ensuring that these practices contribute to overall workplace safety.

Health Street's Employment Drug Testing Can Help You Create a Safe Workplace

In the midst of the opioid epidemic, establishing a drug-free workplace that prioritizes safety has never been more important. Health Street offers comprehensive drug testing services that ensure both privacy and accuracy.