Expert: Crystal - 12/24/2011

Question
I finally got this one particular job. I have been waiting for an opening for a year. I'm so sure I am clean I even started adding that on my resume. "able to pass pre-employment drug screen". I have taken several over the years and passed them all. Except this one and I tested positive for benzo's. The doctor is one of those "I'm a Doctor and your not! Your a drug abuser" types.
I do have a prescription for Zoloft I don't take them very often but sometimes. I was having trouble sleeping because I was try to change my sleep pattern to this new job so I was taking a bunch of those Diphenhydramine sleep aids that really didn't do nothing but make me sick. I also take a herbal supplement I came up with that contains; crushed velvet beans, Valerian root, babchi seed an St. John's wort. After researching on the internet I can't see how I could not test positive but I never did before. The problem is if you don't have an M.D. at the end of your name nobody pays you any attention. I guess my question is should I have tested positive and not be a benzoid addict? which I'm not.

Answer
Rick,

I am not sure why you would have tested positive for a benzodiazepine if you don't take them. Do you take valium, xanax, ativan or clonipin or have you taken anyone else's meds for sleep? You said you tae zoloft and this suppose to be an everyday medication, were told by your doctorto only take when needed? This would not however show up as a benzio either because it is not in tat class of medication.
What is te company asking of you? Are you able to retest and insist that you do not use and see if that comes out different? I would offer them a retest and insist you do not use that medication. Also, for the future, sometimes less is more. A company that is going ti hire you is alredy assuming you will pass a pre-employment drug screen and maybe don't put out there that you may or may not have used unless you are required to do so. Make sense?
Have you been to treatment and if so what for?

Crystal