I have had some back problems in the past few years. I have been prescribed pain medicine and after a year of taking them, I told my Dr. that I would no longer take them due to the side effects. He has me on a prescription for Suboxone to help my pain as well as get off the pain meds with minimal withdrawals. I have been offered a new job and they have me scheduled for a hair folicle drug test. Will I fail the drug test even though I'm prescribed the Suboxone?

Present the prescription for Suboxone to the testing facility BEFORE your test.

If they can verify the validity of the prescription (and they will try)... they will note as such in the testing.

If it's a valid prescription... then you should pass the test.

That depends on the test used. Suboxone (buprenorphine) is a semi-synthetic compound and would not be detected on most drug screens. Even expanded panel tests usually don't include BUP.

Hair drug testing, like all drug tests, can detect only those drugs or metabolites specifically tested for.

What pain medication were you on and how long ago did you stop using it?

Also, have you been officially offered the position or is this a drug screen that all applicants must submit to. That determines what can be tested for.

I have been prescribed Percocet in the past. I stopped that prescription 5 months ago and the doctor then prescribed me Suboxone. My doctor told me to take my prescriptions with me so they know that a doctor has prescribed them to me. I have not taken or done anything other what I have been prescribed.

Im pretty sure that I will be fine as long as I show them my prescriptions, but I'm still a little nervous.

As far as the job, I am scheduled to begin training next week. I have already been offered the position, however its pending the results of the hair folicle drug test and DOT physical.

I have been prescribed Percocet in the past. I stopped that prescription 5 months ago and the doctor then prescribed me Suboxone. My doctor told me to take my prescriptions with me so they know that a doctor has prescribed them to me. I have not taken or done anything other what I have been prescribed.

Im pretty sure that I will be fine as long as I show them my prescriptions, but im still a little nervous.

As far as the job, I am scheduled to begin training next week. I have already been offered the position, however its pending the results of the hair folicle drug test and DOT physical.

It is a DOT test? If so, you can take a deep breath and relax.

The paperwork I have received from the company is for a DOT physical and a hair folicle drug test. They have scheduled me to start training next week so I am certain that I have the job as long as my tests are fine.

I have all of my medications prescribed to me with me at the lab to show them. The DOT physical is to show that I am capable of driving a company vehicle. I just wanted to be sure my prescribed meds will not hurt my drug tests.



That depends on the test used. Suboxone (buprenorphine) is a semi-synthetic compound and would not be detected on most drug screens. Even expanded panel tests usually don't include BUP.

Hair drug testing, like all drug tests, can detect only those drugs or metabolites specifically tested for.

What pain medication were you on and how long ago did you stop using it?

Also, have you been officially offered the position or is this a drug screen that all applicants must submit to. That determines what can be tested for.

The paperwork i have recieved from the company is for a DOT physical and a hair folicle drug test. They have scheduled me to start training next week so i am certain that i have the job as long as my tests are fine.

I have all of my medications prescribed to me with me at the lab to show them. The DOT physical is to show that I am capable of driving a company vehicle. I just wanted to be sure my prescribed meds will not hurt my drug tests.

The reason I asked about DOT is that it does not allow for hair testing. Only urine. So that is unusual as DOT regs are quite clear on that point.

However, if the testing is DOT regulated you can take your prescriptions with you as confirmation, if you choose, but should not provide them to the collection point personnel. In doing so you waive your privacy rights otherwise protected as medical records.

Since you are post-offer they can inquire about any medical conditions or medications and you can advise them accordingly. The only person that can confirm your prescription is the Medical Review Officer (MRO). If the test shows positive for any substance the MRO will call you within 24 hours and at that point you provide the prescription info and the MRO then verifies through your doctor. While it may seem a minor point whether the prescription info is provided to collection personnel or the MRO it is not. The records of the MRO require that the information be maintained in a medical record file separate from personnel records.

The fact that it is DOT regulated, if it is, means there is no possibility that the drug information can be mis-handled as every step of the process is outlined in federal regulation and prescriptions cannot be used as a basis for dismissal or rejection but would require accommodation in some instances. See Federal Workplace Testing (http://www.drugfreeworkplace.gov/Dtesting.html)

Thank you for your answer. That's the same thing my dr told me so hopefully it works out.


Present the prescription for Suboxone to the testing facility BEFORE your test.

If they can verify the validity of the prescription (and they will try)...they will note as such in the testing.

If its a valid prescription....then you should pass the test.