Addiction to Drugs/meth

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Expert: - 12/26/2009


Question
will using meth one time, fifty days ago, show up positive on a hair folicle test.

Answer

President Obama
Hi Angel,

I get so many questions about drug testing from the US and it makes me really annoyed.  Not because people are asking ...  but because someone cares what you did one time fifty days ago!  

I guess there are a few answers and more questions for this question.  

Firstly, who are you being tested by.  AND are they going to care if they find that you used meth over a month ago?  If you are going for a job and they are testing you, you might like to remind them that the following US politicians who are on the record admitting to having used illegal drugs:

- George Bush (you mightn't want to dwell on that one though!)
- Arnold Schwarzebegger
- Sarah Palin
- Al Gore
- Dick Lamm (Governor of Colorado 1975-1983
- John Edwards
- Barack Obama (and he is on the record saying the following "Pot had helped, and booze; maybe a little blow when you could afford it ... I inhaled frequently.  That was the point"
- Clarence Thomas (Supreme Court Judge)
- Lincoln Chafee (US Senator)
- David A Paterson (Governor of New York State)
- Susan Molinari (House of Represenatives US in the 1990s)
- Bill Clinton
- Newt Gingrich
- John Kerry
- Michael Bloomberg
- Howard Dean

Also, the Prime MInister of Norway has indulged, as has Boris Johnson who is the Mayor London, David Cameron who is the opposition leader in the United Kingdom and likely to be the next British PM.

The reason I say this is because I believe that drug testing is ridiculous because all it does is says that something is/was in your system but says nothing about what kind of person you are.  In a perfect world, I would love for anyone who tested positive for a workplace drug test to present the above list to the employer.

Anyway, enough rambling!  It is difficult to say whether the meth will show up.  Human hair grows on average one inch in approx 60 days.  Unfortunately I don't know enough about hair testing to know if the substance stays in the hair, but technically, if it does, then it could still show up.  

Unfortunately I cannot give you a definitive yes or no.  If you do test positive, and there are negative repercussions, I would suggest contacting the ACLU for advice.  The statistics suggest that about one third of Americans have used an illegal or illicit drug.  If all of these people were told to leave their current employment the American economy would collapse (and you wouldn't have a president!)  Before worrying too much, I woul ask what they are looking for and try to be reasonable.  If it comes up positive, be honest.  Say you experimented once (Andre Agassi admitted it!)  Explain that you are a hard worker and that it was outside of your work life and would never impact on your work.  Present yourself as a responsible, employable American.

I guess I am making a huge assumption that this is for a workplace screen.  If not, then all of the same arguments apply, but you may be in a more disempowered position (i.e.: parole, etc).  

Please let me know if I can help in any other way.  However, I am about to go on vacation so may not be available for a little while.

Take care and remember, you are not a bad person because you have used drugs.  Millions of people use illegal drugs, and the vast majority of human beings use a drug of some kind (alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, etc).  Humans have used drugs for years and years and years and no "war on drugs" is going to stop it.

Whatever you do, do it safely,

Regards,

Jacqui

Jacqui

Experience

Currently a Harm Reduction Adviser for Salvation Centre Cambodia (www.scc.org.kh). Worked in harm reduction in Australia for 10 years. Studied extensively on the topic and have trained others. Psychologist with Clinical Masters. Two significant research projects on drug use (one on HIV risk and its link with trauma and one on drug related stigma).

Organizations
No current formal membership but consider myself a part of the harm reduction community.

Publications
Conference proceedings - IHRC 2004 (Chiang Mai), 2005 (Melbourne) & 2010 (Bangkok). Anex Conference 2005 (Melbourne) Stigma-Pleasure-Practice conference 2006 (Sydney).

Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Arts (Humanities), Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), Masters of Psychology (Clinical). And a multitude of training courses including advanced first aid, pre & post test counselling accreditation for HIV, significant amount of training on hepatitis C, etc.

Awards and Honors
Have presented at international conferences including the International Harm Reduction Conferences in Chiang Mai Thailand; Melbourne, Australia and Bangkok, Thailand. Also national conferences in Sydney and Melbourne Australia.

Past/Present Clients
I maintain confidentiality about my clients.

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