Substance Abuse Professional

Employers are responsible for conducting random, unannounced drug testing. The total number conducted each year must equal at least 50% of safety-sensitive drivers. Some drivers may be teted more than once each year, some may not be tested at all depending on the random selection. Random testing for drugs does not have to be conducted in immediate time proximity to performing safety-sensitive (driving) functions. The employer can notify the employee of the random selection for him/her to be tested at any time,in other words, the driver does not have to be on duty when notified he/she must take a test. Once notified of the selection for testing, however, the driver must proceed immediately to a collection site to accomplish the urine specimen collection.
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Category: General

In addition to positive and negative DOT drug/alcohol tests there is another test result: Negative-Dilute which is used to describe a result when no drug was found in the specimen. The rule requires the medicalreview officer (MRO) to interview those donors whose specimens are reported as substituted, adulterated or invalid. Validity testing is now mandatory for all specimens. Validity testing is a process used to detect attempts to change (adulterate) a urine sample to achieve a negative result.
Employers can retest all Negative-Dilutes Pre-Employment test results, but not retest all Negative-Dilute Random or other test types.
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Category: General

What drugs does DOT test for and their retention times:
Substance Approximate retention time

Amphetamines (speed,meth,uppers) 1-2 days

Cocaine Metabolite (crack,cocaine) 12 - 48 hours

Opiates (heroin,hash) 1-3 days

Phencyclidine (PCP) 1-8days occasionaluse/to 30 days chronic use

Cannabinoids (marijuana,hash) 1-7 days occasionaluse/1-4 weeks chronic use.

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Category: General

I have reatedly had clients that tell me the same story. "I was not told about having to see a SAP after I failed a DOT test."
The safety oficer, DER or someone in HR will give you a phone number to contact the Medical Review Oficer(a doctor)who will inform you that you tested positive for prohibited drugs (Reg. 283.215) and what substance you tested positive for. Your employer is responsible for giving you the phone numbers for 2 Substance Abuse Professionals (SAP's)so you can return to work by going thru the return-to-work process with the SAP. Whether you are terminated or not is the employers option according to the company policy. The cost ot the return-to-work process has to be paid by the employee. Sometimes the employer will advance you the money topay for this but they are not obligated to do so.
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Category: General