A question about random drug testing

[JesterCS]

A friend of mine ( no not me lol ) Recently visited her Psych in Ohio. The psych told her that they would be performing random drug tests on patients and if they fail the drug test they would be removed from medication prescribed there.

My friend is disabled from depression, anxiety, and Bi polar disorder, Very severe all of them. She smokes marijuana to help cope with the emotional suffering and pain she has from her ailments.

My question is. Is it illegal, in Ohio, for a doctor/psych to random drug test with the threat of taking away much needed medication, without any laws saying so.

[texastoast]

1. I would tell your friend to move to a state that allows medical marijuana

Colorado comes to mind.

I don't know about Ohio's laws, but it should be in the state's statutes.

[JesterCS]

2. Yeah

I sent a message to the ACLU asking their advice. So hopefully that turns something up soon.

Ohio doesnt have any drug test enforcement laws, unless you're getting a job.

They sound like they are trying to do that crazy thing they are doing in Florida, requiring drug tests for disability and such

[Vincardog]

3. Why doesn't your friend tell her Psych about their MM use maybe even get it approved?

[Gman2]

4. Pot likely doesnt interfere., but some might. I would tell, and see

If NO, then time for a new shrink.

[JesterCS]

5. Well

the psych already knows about the M use. Apparently thats why.

[Gman2]

6. He likely is a chickenshit. This is his giving you tests you dont need, to

cover HIS ass. Maybe his ins. requires him to. Maybe he has been flagged before for being slack on it.

[TawanaNBD]

8. the psych already knows about the M use. Apparently thats why.

Apparently that's why he's now ordering "random" drug testing, because he knows this ONE person is using marijuana? That doesn't sound random, that sounds discriminatory...like if he just found out she was also smoking pot and then all of a sudden "random" drug testing is being instituted? Is that what happened or am I misreading this?

As a medical transcriptionist, I can tell you that the medical establishment is VERY squirrelly about drugs. For instance, if you are in horrible back pain and go somewhere asking for a specific drug, like codeine for example, you are very likely to get flagged as a "drug-seeker." When in reality you just might have been having this pain your entire life and know what works for it.

But back to the subject, I'd be VERY curious as to whether this <cough> "random" testing was only initiated after your friend spilled the beans. Or rather, the leaves. :) If so, I'd pursue legal action or just find a new, and hopefully better, doctor. I myself would probably just switch doctors...NOT give my new doctor any info about or from the old one (avoiding any risk that doc #1 would blab to doc #2 about this marijuana "problem" of mine)...and learn my lesson and keep my mouth shut about any other drugs I was taking for all the rest of eternity.

Incidentally, a friend of mine has ADD. Pot and Prozac were the only two things she found that kept her somewhat calm--and the pot had a LOT fewer side effects than the Prozac...but she made the same mistake as your friend and got the same answer. Nonono, don't ask/don't tell...unless you really know and trust that s/he is cool. Doctors are understandably worried about drug interactions and one drug masking another, etc., but they also aren't living inside YOUR brain and having to cope with your daily life and/or misery.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

7. Yes...

A family member of mine was on drugs for pain (he got hit by a moving vehicle and was disabled temporarily).
He was concerned about taking them as regularly as prescribed and becoming addicted - so he only took them sparingly and only when he was in alot of pain. As a consequence, his refill would be made before he was out - this was to make sure he had future refills he would get the refills before the scripts expired.

Basically, long story short... the doctor piss-tested him and didn't find enough of the drug in his system. Thought he might be scalping them (he certianly isn't). Instead of reducing his perscription to the amount actually taken it was cut off completely. Now, today, he is still in pain but cannot get a prescription for it.

Evidently, if you are prescribed drugs you'd better damn well be eating them. I'd imagine if they can take drugs away for not testing high enough for it... they can take drugs away for testing positive for other narcotics.

[BlueInMass]

9. Self medicating

I feel for your friend, but she is not a physician (is she?). If her doctor does not want her self medicating then she has two choices, really. Stop self-medicating or find a new doctor. In today's climate, Dr.s are paranoid about being sued, and if your friend's doctor believes there may be a drug interaction issue, then he/she could be doing your friend a really big favor by trying to get her to stop.

Pot is, in general, a harmless drug, but if it could potentially interact with other drugs to become harmful, then she needs to choose between the pot or the doctor.

[rusty_rebar]

10. This friend should

go find another Psych. I would not submit to this, but if he/she is running a private practice they should be able to require their patients to do whatever they like. Who is making your friend stay?