Why is Drug Testing So Bad?
- According to the Drug Policy Alliance, an organization promoting drug policies that are grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights, "drug testing has been instrumental in the drug war’s mission to identify people who use drugs and to strip them of rights, freedoms, opportunities and benefits. Drug testing policies were initially designed to protect worker safety in certain professions, but have now infiltrated almost every setting outside the home. Mandatory drug testing is routine in many schools, workplaces and hospitals, and people who test positive can be excluded from educational opportunities, fired, and denied public benefits. In recent years more than 20 states have proposed bills calling for drug testing of families receiving federal aid through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, despite the fact that this policy is fiscally, scientifically and constitutionally unsound."
- Ronald Siegel, a psychopharmacologist at UCLA said 'The widespread testing and reliance on tell-tale traces of drugs in the urine is simply a panic reaction invoked because the normal techniques for controlling drug use haven't worked very well. The next epidemic will be testing abuse."
Facts About Drugs and Substances and Conditions Which Can Cause a False Positive:
THC
- Dronabinol (Marinol)
- Ibuprofen; (Advil, Nuprin, Motrin, Excedrin IB etc)
- Ketoprofen (Orudis KT)
- Kidney infection (Kidney disease, diabetes) Liver Disease
- Naproxen (Aleve)
- Promethazine (Phenergan, Promethegan)
- Riboflavin (B2, Hempseed Oil)
- Ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, propylephedrine, phenylephrine, or desoxyephedrine
- (Nyquil, Contact, Sudafed, Allerest, Tavist-D, Dimetapp, etc)
- Phenegan-D, Robitussin Cold and Flu, Vicks Nyquil
- Over-the-counter diet aids with phenylpropanolamine (Dexatrim, Accutrim)
- Over-the-counter nasal sprays (Vicks inhaler, Afrin)
- Asthma medications (Marax, Bronkaid tablets, Primatine Tablets)
- Prescription medications (Amfepramone, Cathne, Etafediabe, Morazone,phendimetrazine, phenmetrazine, benzphetamine, fenfluramine, dexfenfluramine,dexdenfluramine,Redux, mephentermine, Mesocarb, methoxyphenamine, phentermine,amineptine, Pholedrine, hydroymethamphetamine, Dexedrine, amifepramone, clobenzorex,fenproyorex, mefenorex, fenelylline, Didrex, dextroamphetamine, methphenidate, Ritalin,pemoline, Cylert, selegiline, Deprenyl, Eldepryl, Famprofazone) Kidney infection, kidney disease, Liver disease, diabetes
- Poppy Seeds
- Tylenol with codeine
- Most prescription pain medications
- Cough suppressants with Dextromethorphan (DXM)
- Nyquil
- Kidney infection, Kidney Disease
- Diabetes, Liver Disease
- Ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, propylephedrine, phenylephrine, or desoxyephedrine
- (Nyquil, Contact, Sudafed, Allerest, Tavist-D, Dimetapp, etc)
- Phenegan-D, Robitussin Cold and Flu, Vicks Nyquil
- Over-the-counter diet aids with phenylpropanolamine (Dexatrim, Accutrim)
- Over-the-counter nasal sprays (Vicks inhaler, Afrin)
- Asthma medications (Marax, Bronkaid tablets, Primatine Tablets)
- Prescription medications (Amfepramone, Cathne, Etafediabe, Morazone,phendimetrazine, phenmetrazine, benzphetamine, fenfluramine, dexfenfluramine, dexdenfluramine,Redux, mephentermine, Mesocarb, methoxyphenamine, phentermine, amineptine, Pholedrine, hydroymethamphetamine, Dexedrine, amifepramone, clobenzorex, fenproyorex, mefenorex, fenelylline, Didrex, dextroamphetamine, methphenidate, Ritalin, pemoline, Cylert, selegiline, Deprenyl, Eldepryl, Famprofazone) Kidney infection, kidney disease
- Liver disease, diabetes
- Kidney infection (kidney disease)
- Liver infection (liver disease)
- Diabetes
- Amoxicillin, tonic water
Mathematics Behind it All
Based on both examples demonstrated above, it is clear that one sample of drug testing is not enough, regardless of how selective and accurate it is. In the second example, it is 95% accurate and still gives a 50% accuracy.
People are incarcerated and fired from their jobs constantly in the United States based on evidence retrieved from one sample of these tests. Can you imagine spending 3 years of your life in jail due to a test that was only 33% accurate?
People are incarcerated and fired from their jobs constantly in the United States based on evidence retrieved from one sample of these tests. Can you imagine spending 3 years of your life in jail due to a test that was only 33% accurate?
Lola Argiro, Dayva Frank, Son Huynh, Wilhelmina (Nanrui) Tan