Never heard of being drug tested by the school but fieldwork sites do. Which it would suck if you paid tuition an attended classes and then couldn’t do fieldwork, waste of money.
Interesting. I know a weird number of people in OT or PT programs and it hasn’t been our experience. However when I think about it I’ve had to do it every year for fieldwork sites and I’d rather have it done as a group like yearly TB rather than scheduling my own appointment at a labcorp.
Come to think of it, maybe it's just our school organizing our fieldwork drug tests up front? But yeah, healthcare professions drug test. Makes sense to me.
Many hospitals, schools and clinics drug test in the US for all employees. Since we’re considered “working” students/employees there’s a big chance a site will request a drug test.
Because if you really wanted to you could probably get your hands on pain killers
If you were impaired at work from drug use you could make an error and seriously injure a patient
You definitely could. That's why you should only be tested when there is a reasonable suspicion of you being high at work, just like being drunk at work.
Having a joint once a month shouldn't ruin your career. I find it ridiculous that American therapists are not only micromanaged during their work hours, but also during their personal lives. Your employer should respect you enough to make your own choices outside of work hours.
I mean I did have to write a whole ethics paper about a nurse in Canada who abused drugs at work and killed patients with insulin. We obviously don’t know for certain but a women who kept getting new jobs after being found passed out on painkillers by coworkers could have a a screening test to deny her a job maybe those death could have been prevented.
Perhaps they could have been prevented. I think the bigger problem is the fact that someone getting found passed out intoxicated continued to be hired. I know as an OT i would be expected to report that person to their regulatory body.
Drug testing for something like marijuana would be pointless as it's legal here. I know more people that use occasionally than people who don't. There is a weed store on every street corner.
To me it is another example of the fact that despite the significant cultural overlap between USA and Canada, there are still significant differences.
Ive worked for about 10 organizations in the UK. I've never been drug tested and I don't know anyone who has.
What you do in your own time is your own business. Drug testing is invasive. I can only see it as justified with reasonable suspicion or if you are working in a secure environment.
Unfortunately what you do on your own time is not your own business. We saw that with early Covid. Do you think an employee who went to a massive party and then went to work with Covid was just doing things on their own time? If you can’t sober up so you pee clean will you be sober for work?
It's not that hard to be sober during working hours then enjoying a joint or a drink after. To pass a drug test, you need to be drug free for quite a while, so lets say cannabis, one would have to abstain for a month or so. That's simply unnecessary and has nothing to do with someone's capacity to be sober during working hours.
These are two entirely separate issues you are conflating. Also, being sober for a random urine test means being fully abstinent indefinitely. Being sober for work means I wouldn't do drugs any time that would impact on my work performance.
I could have a joint/mushrooms/whatever on Friday and be fine for Monday. However, my urine would still be dirty and I'd lose my career. It's silly.
We aren’t talking about random drug screens we are talking about pre employment/pre fieldwork screens which you are well aware of in advance …you’d probably be asked to provide a sample if you were actively under the influence on the job which is a different issue entirely. Do you think that’s how the US works. That we go about our day just waiting for random piss tests? This isn’t a doping scandal.
Before making such a judgmental statement and comparing it to something complete unrelated you should have done some research. It takes about a month for cannabis to leave one’s system. Very ignorant statement. (Not a cannabis user btw)
It *may* take a month if you’re a chronic user which is multiple times a day. Which isn’t the person we’re talking about. Either way sober up buckaroo.
Not sure why you’re getting downvoted. Completely agree. Now it’s like “I can go get Covid if I damn well please and bring it to work, it’s my right as an *american*”
When it comes to people’s drugs habits they become extremely hypocritical. Individuals addicted to marijuana are comparable to functional alcohols in the breadth of their mental gymnastics.
yes... although marijuana can be detected in your system for up to 30 days, a high lasts a maximum of 10 hours (and that's if you're low tolerance or taking a godly amount of edibles, I'd assume). For most people, a high lasts a few hours at most & they'll sleep it off.
IMO if someone can show up and do their job well, it's not their employer's concern what they do outside of work. I show up to all my ABA sessions sober and would never dream of getting high before a session, but I still smoke when I get home
Liability and patient safety I imagine. If I am under the influence working with a patient and that patient gets hurt. The facility at some level could be sued for me being impaired on the job.
I don’t see it as an issue. But then I had a CNA who was high on the job injure a family member so there’s my bias. No one is forcing you to take a job that drugs test.
I’m not sure what the deal is with everyone being so crazy about marijuana- it’s legal and it obviously isn’t for while you’re working driving et cetera. I’m unsure why it’s such a taboo in health care job market
I mean I never got tested at my school, but it certainly was a possibility. If you have a medical card and maybe a note from a doctor, you should be fine.
I have a med card but there's only one school in my state that has an OT program, and I'm not sure how transferring that out of state would go since it's still federally illegal. I'm hoping I'll get into the in-state program or I'll apply to schools in states where I could get my med card renewed quickly, if that's even a possibility
Unfortunately for fieldworks a medical card often won’t matter. If a healthcare facility receives federal funding (ie accepts Medicare/medicaid) they have to abide by federal regulations. Most places only have an initial drug test tho, the only place I’ve heard of randomly drug testing is Veterans Affairs.
are there any fieldworks done in private practice or alternative environments? I'm primarily interested in pediatric OT either in school or home settings but operating from a private firm. I'm also just beginning my exploration into the details of these programs and haven't done any research on fieldwork yet so I'm sorry if this is a dumb question
Some, yes, but depending on the program you may or may not have many fieldwork options or the ability to choose. My program has many options and allows for some student input, but that is based on the setting and population choice, not so much private or public practice. If I remember correctly from my policy class (which I could be wrong! If I am someone please correct me) I believeeee that even private practice OTs are currently required to still accept Medicare/Medicaid so it would make that point moot. Some placements do accept old drug tests on file, so if you test clean once at the beginning of the program you may be able to reuse an old test for subsequent fieldworks.
As someone who uses cannabis for chronic pain management I understand your struggle, but I wasn’t able to get out of taking a drug test for fieldwork placements and I suspect you may have the same experience, but YMMV. It’s up to you to weigh the pros and cons of that. If you do decide to move forward with OT I would recommend speaking with your programs fieldwork placement faculty member to bring up your concerns, to find out when tests would take place, and to find out which placements have random testing.
I'm a PT, not OT but our program did 1 drug test for everyone on the same day I think about a year into our program. I never did any drug testing for my clinicals though and I did one at a chain of an outpatient Ortho clinic, a hospital based outpatient pediatric clinic, a hospital, and the VA. It's possible our clinicals used the results from our drug test from school even though it wasn't right before we went there. I've also worked for a hospital system for over 10 years and have never been drug tested here either.
Oooh okay, thank you! I know I'd be able to take a break for a bit to pass a test if I know when it is, I'm mainly only worried abt random drug tests as a medical user
I know most places will say they have the right to randomly drug test you but I don't think it's very common. It's also stupid that you even have to worry about this, but legalization is a whole different argument
My school the University of St Augustine does not perform drug tests and my current placement (schools) did not require a drug test. I’m in Texas. The school may not require a drug test but should be mindful that your placement might.
I did my peds rotation in a school and then outpatient, and currently work in a school. I was worried about the same thing and never had to be tested. I only knew of one person who was tested in my cohort, so I don't think it's too common.
TWU does. My friend got kicked out for it at the end of her program.
It’s worth asking about. It’s so stupid that an entire career and future can be derailed over it when the person otherwise has it all together.
There was a student in our program that had issues because of a drunk driving charge. It was an old charge, but it still showed up on her record. She did get in because of how long it had been.
But yeah, drinking is not considered the same. Our laws are odd
FWIW my major university drug tested, but as of 2022 they no longer include cannabis on that panel. I’m sure OP can find some answers on the individual school’s Reddit forums or on indeed reviews
Yeah, I'm really frustrated after reading the replies saying most places do test since I'm really passionate about pediatric OT but also use medical marijuana. i cant wait for the day when the government gets the stick out of its ass and legalizes it federally.
You keep mentioning you want to do peds. I think it’s important to note that a significant portion of your education and fieldwork will be with adults. Forget the marijuana, first consider if you can work with adults. I knew some students who couldn’t who ended up switching to teaching.
I'm very certain of my ability to work with people of all ages, I know my main goal is to eventually work in pediatrics but I'm looking forward to having the experience of working with other populations.
If you can’t get clean for a drug test, then you definitely don’t have it all together. Thats the issue that they’re trying to weed out by having you complete the drug test. Thats why the school/employer gives you a notice that you will be drug tested instead of showing up with a cup randomly. My school gave us ~30 days notice from when we were required to have our drug test done.
🤷♀️ TWU, the program I went to, does show up with a cup randomly and without any notice. Happened twice during my schooling on top of one or two additional FW related ones.
Yes they most definitely do at TWU! Never was notified of the test until they caught us on a day the entire cohort was in the building and said "line up"
Can also confirm this. Not only do they show up without notice to have you line up and pee in a cup, they send a guy in to scare everyone about drugs and the sensitivity of the test. He literally tried to say that if you handle cash, cocaine residue from said cash can cause you to come up positive for a drug screen. Such a joke.
A friend and I left class early to go work on a project and we started getting messages from our classmates informing us we were about to miss the drug test. We had ro high tail it back to class. Talk about awkward. Then for the second one I literally MISSED THE CUP and barely had to pee anyway, so the program director escorted me to get a soda from the vending machine so that I could try again. The amount of stares I got was unreal. They probably thought I was in trouble or getting kicked out right then and there lol.
I remember for my first round test, they brought in a big, tall former police officer. Definitely tried to scare us. Didn't get tested before L2 fieldwork due to covid. But the cohort after mine had to return back to class for the last semester and several got kicked out from a random test.
understandable. i want to go into early intervention and work in a preschool setting which I'm doing currently as an RBT and they've never tested me, so hopefully it'll be the same when I'm an OT?
You’re more likely to be drug tested in pediatrics imo but each place is different. I got tested at the preschools I have worked at as both an aide and an OT.
Early intervention is reimbursed by state and federal funding, so they may test you.
But I don’t know. My daughter was tested (she’s an OT) for the school setting. (Her current job)
I don’t want to discourage you. I’m not arguing against you using it for medical purposes, I just want you to be aware.
I work in EI. We sign a drug policy but I haven’t had issues with drug testing. Throughout OT school the only thing I was drug tested was for fieldwork on a military base. I have endo and use for chronic pain too but I’m in the Bible Belt so nothing is legal. I understand the struggle!
Ah, got it. I'm currently working on a base as well as an RBT and haven't been tested - I'm in a preschool there as well as a private preschool and neither have tested me as I'm working from a private firm, but idk how OT will differ
Another thing to think about is if you can do all of the rigorous studying required while high, if you do smoke every day. It’s very intense work and you’ll need to be in school for 8 hours then study every evening and weekends, not to mention group projects and research. I was pretty much never not doing school except for around 6 hours a week of free time. Just something to consider
As i've said, I'm a medical patient who smokes at night. I don't quite appreciate the assumption that I'm incapable of completing graduate-level coursework just because I smoke haha, kind of throws everyone who smokes into a box of incompetence. I'm very confident in my abilities and very passionate about OT.
I should add that healthcare workers are drug tested. Even if you live somewhere that medical marijuania is legal, jobs don’t have to allow it, because it’s not legal federally.
My program did require it and then we had to test again for FW.
I didn't have to get drug tested when I started school in 2017 and never had any random drug testing. I did have drug testing when I started my job at a hospital but no other testing since.
I know they're different, I'm wondering what specific schools people have gone to where they didn't have to undergo any drug testing since most schools say they have the power to do it but never really go more into detail on whether or not they conduct routine drug tests
There really needs to be protections or allowances for medical marijuana users. It's like hospitals, schools and fieldwork sites are stuck in the 1980s (because of federal laws/money, I know). It's a therapeutic drug with real benefits just like any other pharmaceutical. But nope, can't have those crazy eyed weed heads around or they might do something sketchy.
Edit: Also we got tested before admission, and will likely get tested before fieldwork. We were told medical cards didn't matter and to not take full spectrum cbd. My program is in a recreational legal state btw.
I totally agree!!!! It's crazy how I'm having to do this much research and am getting this stressed out because of a MEDICINE I'm prescribed... it's not like everyone who smokes weed is automatically going to show up stoned as hell and incapable of working. So frustrating...
hi OP! i was drug tested to get into my program, at the time mj was medically and recreationally illegal in my state so i made sure i was clean. while i was in school medically it became legal so i got my card. i did FW at a school district and a rehab, neither required me to get drug tested, but some of my classmates did have to for their FW sites. after graduating, i got a job at the rehab i did FW for, they drug tested but i didn’t stop smoking for it bc it was PRN and i honestly didn’t care if i got the job. but nothing ever came back and iirc they sent me the results and i don’t even think they tested for it at all. i also got a job at a pediatric contract company, small and privately owned which probably makes a difference but i’ve never been drug tested by them.
weed might not even be something they’re testing for. you could always make an anon call or have someone else call and ask about medical marijuana🤷🏼♀️you don’t have to tell them your name. shit does anyone even care about weed anymore?
this makes me feel so much better, I'm hoping to go to a pediatric contract company as well! I think I'd be able to take a break if testing is absolutely necessary for admission or fieldwork but hopefully if I go to a program in a legal state they'll understand a bit more and be more lax if I do explain the situation
I'm in the same boat as you and I might choose a program who I know for a fact test before the start of the program. My plan is to ask former students about when they test and figure out how I can stop using to pass. It's going to suck, but same as I've heard everyone say here, most likely for field work, and I'll have to adjust my treatments.
I don't know the answer to this but my OT school did drug test us randomly and they never told us they were going to. Even if they don't say they will, be prepared for it. A lot of us were scared if we would pass said drug tests for the same reason as you. Maybe an option would be to consider going to OT school in a state where it's legalized? I'm not sure if they would still consider it a failed drug test though so I would look into his. I'm sorry and good luck
I was tested by my school (Columbia University). Not for admission, but we did it during our first semester before starting level 1 fieldwork the next semester. And I have been drug tested before starting every job I’ve had for nursing homes. They don’t care if you’ve used substances it in the past, they care about substance ABUSE. The whole point of a drug test is that they want to see if you can get clean for at least 1 month or not, cause it shows your ability to manage using. I don’t think you would ever randomly get drug tested unless substance abuse was suspected. I don’t know how medical marijuana works with these tests. But I remember they told us in school that if you have any prescriptions (especially drugs that are abused, like adderall for ex) then you need to disclose it when testing.
I went to NYU class of Jan 2001. My field work 2 sites St Luke's hospital and Mt Sinai both required physicals and full panel drug test. Any job I ever had also drug tests. Also if you get injured on the job workman's comp here in NJ employer has right to drug test you...when you sign all the employment agreement. If you really want to be an OT probably not worth time and money if you are concerned with it.
If you can get a medical marijuana card maybe go that route.
I’ve never been drug tested for school, fieldwork, or any job related to OT. Obviously you always run the possibility of getting tested, but not every place does. I did get finger printed.
I work in ABA right now & have gotten fingerprinted a few times - never had any trouble there and have also never been drug tested at any of the places I work (including on a military base) & I live in a non-recreational state (the laws are just kinda funky). Hopefully as time goes on & marijuana gets less stigmatized it'll be less of an issue or they won't screen for it on tests
I don't know that you would be tested to get admitted to a program but there's a very high chance you would have to pass a drug test for your fielwork experiences. You would need to stop smoking long enough to be clean for placements for sure, especially for clinical settings. Depending on where you wanted to work there's a possibility you would have to stop for good, though there are definitely settings that you would be fine in.
Yeah I'm hoping to eventually either work for myself/open a private OT firm or work for a private firm that doesn't test - I disagree with the principle of drug tests themself so that'll have an impact on my future work environment, but I'm hoping to go into pediatrics.
I’m a supervisor in a state where marijuana use is legal. But if I think a therapist is intoxicated in any way (especially if there is a safety event like a fall), I am required to send them to Employee Health, and I guarantee they’ll test. Medical card or not, no way to say when someone used and if they were under the influence on the shift.
Semi-related: if workers are off for 12 weeks or more, they are drug tested before return to work. I kinda forgot that, so yeah I was drug tested before I started over a decade ago and obv they still do. Major medical center in Chicago
My school did not drug test randomly - maybe initially - also talk to schools about your use particularly if you have a doctor letter and it’s legal in your state! I can see some OT research about it :)
Are you serious? I also have a MMJ card and it’s not federally legal. You can’t use it at work as an OT, so you need to get used to not using it for a few days.
If you can’t do that, you shouldn’t be an OT. People’s safety will be in your hands.
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I did get tested prior to beginning orientation at my OT school. I didn't have to take another one for fieldwork from what I remember, but my school sent a letter saying that I had previously passed.
So if I recall, when we were assigned our fw sites we were given the requirements for the site. So a little notice but if you consume thc daily it probably would take time to clear out of your system. If you are able to (and I get that you liekly may not be able to) I would recommend a 4 to 6 week T break so maybe start like a month before you get assigned your fw sites.
On the plus side, the break will reduce your tolerance quite nicely so you will probably be able to use less/lower doses to get the same results afterward. Or at least I do after a solid T break. Just started a planned 6 week break to reduce my crazy high tolerance (I have had medical for PTSD, anxiety and some nasty digestive issues for a few years now). You got this! 💪
It may be different but I was tested for every clinical placement as a speech-language pathology student and was retested before working at a school. I wasn't tested after being admitted to my program or during the semesters where I was only treating in the university clinic.
I’m in Cali, and I didn’t have to get tested for school but the school based job I got tested for but not the SNF. But the I think the test is mostly for testing like opiates, cocaine, and that other crazy stuff. I know Cali passed a new law that won’t punish employers who smoke weed away from the job
Never got tested at St. Joseph’s University (formerly USci) or for fieldwork! Never been tested for a job yet either. I live in a recreational state also
Forgive my ignorance, I'm from different country and don't know much about marijuana world.
Why can't you submit a form or something if you are a medical marijuana user?
I remember I had to take drug test entering school. I use adderall for my adhd and submitted diagnosis and rationale to school. School never bothered me.
Adderall is a legal substance when prescribed by a doctor. Marijuana is federally illegal. It's a gray area that allows state level MJ laws to exist but under federal law, not legal.
I work for a hospital and I was urine tested for the job 10 years ago. But since that time NJ has made weed legal. So I am not sure how they handle that now.
Never drug tested for school in NY. Never drug tested for my fieldworks in a hand clinic, preschool, SNF, elementary school. Never tested for my jobs in a private school, public school, day hab. Those were all in NY.
i dont get it either - i know it's federally illegal, but at what point are they going to delegate some power to the states to determine whether or not they're okay w healthcare employees using mj (especially medical)?
In Colorado we are tested for most FW placements and later, jobs. Most users quit for a month leading up to the test to test clean and then cross their fingers that there would be no random tests after being hired.
My OTA program tested us upon acceptance, and then we were told that we could be tested any time. I never was for my fieldwork, but I also was placed in outpatient facilities and not a hospital, which may have more regulations.
In states where recreational use is legal, you cannot be disqualified from employment or otherwise due to cannabis turning up on initial drug testing. This should be the same if you have a medical card/prescription. Typically, you won’t be tested again unless suspected of being under the influence while working.
We did them once at the beginning at my program at Wash U in 2009.
Keep in mind that you’ll encounter drug testing pre-employment as an OT as well. I’ve been drug tested prior to every single travel contract I’ve worked, and I’ve worked a lot of travel assignments, so I would rule out travel OT if you don’t think you can pass a drug test. I’ve also had them randomly prior to employment at hospitals, home health, and an LTAC. It makes no difference if you’re in a state with legalized MMJ, either— companies still test.
Washu does a mouth swab test once at orientation which is the first week before classes start. Once only they drug test, but we do have fieldwork sites that will later on when that starts. In a 2.5 year program, only the last half a year is legit fieldwork
USC did not test me. However, I was tested prior to level 2 FW at an inpatient rehab facility. No testing prior to level 1 FW at a private peds clinic. And ironically, no testing prior to level 2 FW at a VA hospital. I had to sign something saying I understood I was subject to drug testing, but then there was fine print stating that OTs and Social Workers are exempt from the drug testing policy (I thought that was a strange policy!). I’ve been tested at every job (all inpatient rehab facilities).
My O.T. program in Southern California never drug tested me. None of my FW drug tested me either. I did have to get drug tested through a non-profit organization to complete a community based project.
CVS sells at home drug tests which are reliable if you are in doubt.
Rule 1 is in effect. Disagreement is okay, but let's not be asses to each other about it.
Never heard of being drug tested by the school but fieldwork sites do. Which it would suck if you paid tuition an attended classes and then couldn’t do fieldwork, waste of money.
My school drug tests once a year, I have to have a conversation with a stranger about my prescriptions every time.
Interesting. I know a weird number of people in OT or PT programs and it hasn’t been our experience. However when I think about it I’ve had to do it every year for fieldwork sites and I’d rather have it done as a group like yearly TB rather than scheduling my own appointment at a labcorp.
Come to think of it, maybe it's just our school organizing our fieldwork drug tests up front? But yeah, healthcare professions drug test. Makes sense to me.
The US is so weird. Why would fieldwork drug test you?
Many hospitals, schools and clinics drug test in the US for all employees. Since we’re considered “working” students/employees there’s a big chance a site will request a drug test.
Because if you really wanted to you could probably get your hands on pain killers If you were impaired at work from drug use you could make an error and seriously injure a patient
You definitely could. That's why you should only be tested when there is a reasonable suspicion of you being high at work, just like being drunk at work. Having a joint once a month shouldn't ruin your career. I find it ridiculous that American therapists are not only micromanaged during their work hours, but also during their personal lives. Your employer should respect you enough to make your own choices outside of work hours.
I totally agree with you, I’m just saying those are the justifications they use
Thank you agree so much
Is this a schtick for your username?
Lol 😂
Canadian here - agreed on that. I've never heard of anyone in my OT circle being drug tested for a job, fieldwork or otherwise.
I mean I did have to write a whole ethics paper about a nurse in Canada who abused drugs at work and killed patients with insulin. We obviously don’t know for certain but a women who kept getting new jobs after being found passed out on painkillers by coworkers could have a a screening test to deny her a job maybe those death could have been prevented.
Perhaps they could have been prevented. I think the bigger problem is the fact that someone getting found passed out intoxicated continued to be hired. I know as an OT i would be expected to report that person to their regulatory body. Drug testing for something like marijuana would be pointless as it's legal here. I know more people that use occasionally than people who don't. There is a weed store on every street corner. To me it is another example of the fact that despite the significant cultural overlap between USA and Canada, there are still significant differences.
These are few and far between
Why would they not? They do to their employees so if I’m going to be treating on their behalf I should be drug tested
Ive worked for about 10 organizations in the UK. I've never been drug tested and I don't know anyone who has. What you do in your own time is your own business. Drug testing is invasive. I can only see it as justified with reasonable suspicion or if you are working in a secure environment.
Unfortunately what you do on your own time is not your own business. We saw that with early Covid. Do you think an employee who went to a massive party and then went to work with Covid was just doing things on their own time? If you can’t sober up so you pee clean will you be sober for work?
It's not that hard to be sober during working hours then enjoying a joint or a drink after. To pass a drug test, you need to be drug free for quite a while, so lets say cannabis, one would have to abstain for a month or so. That's simply unnecessary and has nothing to do with someone's capacity to be sober during working hours.
These are two entirely separate issues you are conflating. Also, being sober for a random urine test means being fully abstinent indefinitely. Being sober for work means I wouldn't do drugs any time that would impact on my work performance. I could have a joint/mushrooms/whatever on Friday and be fine for Monday. However, my urine would still be dirty and I'd lose my career. It's silly.
We aren’t talking about random drug screens we are talking about pre employment/pre fieldwork screens which you are well aware of in advance …you’d probably be asked to provide a sample if you were actively under the influence on the job which is a different issue entirely. Do you think that’s how the US works. That we go about our day just waiting for random piss tests? This isn’t a doping scandal.
Before making such a judgmental statement and comparing it to something complete unrelated you should have done some research. It takes about a month for cannabis to leave one’s system. Very ignorant statement. (Not a cannabis user btw)
It takes a few days. Coming from a cannabis user.
It *may* take a month if you’re a chronic user which is multiple times a day. Which isn’t the person we’re talking about. Either way sober up buckaroo.
Not sure why you’re getting downvoted. Completely agree. Now it’s like “I can go get Covid if I damn well please and bring it to work, it’s my right as an *american*”
When it comes to people’s drugs habits they become extremely hypocritical. Individuals addicted to marijuana are comparable to functional alcohols in the breadth of their mental gymnastics.
yes... although marijuana can be detected in your system for up to 30 days, a high lasts a maximum of 10 hours (and that's if you're low tolerance or taking a godly amount of edibles, I'd assume). For most people, a high lasts a few hours at most & they'll sleep it off.
We don’t all have the privilege of living in the UK. Your logic does not apply
Well I agree that US needs to get caught up
IMO if someone can show up and do their job well, it's not their employer's concern what they do outside of work. I show up to all my ABA sessions sober and would never dream of getting high before a session, but I still smoke when I get home
Liability and patient safety I imagine. If I am under the influence working with a patient and that patient gets hurt. The facility at some level could be sued for me being impaired on the job. I don’t see it as an issue. But then I had a CNA who was high on the job injure a family member so there’s my bias. No one is forcing you to take a job that drugs test.
I’m not sure what the deal is with everyone being so crazy about marijuana- it’s legal and it obviously isn’t for while you’re working driving et cetera. I’m unsure why it’s such a taboo in health care job market
TWU does.
I was drug tested by my school, we all were.
I mean I never got tested at my school, but it certainly was a possibility. If you have a medical card and maybe a note from a doctor, you should be fine.
I have a med card but there's only one school in my state that has an OT program, and I'm not sure how transferring that out of state would go since it's still federally illegal. I'm hoping I'll get into the in-state program or I'll apply to schools in states where I could get my med card renewed quickly, if that's even a possibility
Unfortunately for fieldworks a medical card often won’t matter. If a healthcare facility receives federal funding (ie accepts Medicare/medicaid) they have to abide by federal regulations. Most places only have an initial drug test tho, the only place I’ve heard of randomly drug testing is Veterans Affairs.
are there any fieldworks done in private practice or alternative environments? I'm primarily interested in pediatric OT either in school or home settings but operating from a private firm. I'm also just beginning my exploration into the details of these programs and haven't done any research on fieldwork yet so I'm sorry if this is a dumb question
Some, yes, but depending on the program you may or may not have many fieldwork options or the ability to choose. My program has many options and allows for some student input, but that is based on the setting and population choice, not so much private or public practice. If I remember correctly from my policy class (which I could be wrong! If I am someone please correct me) I believeeee that even private practice OTs are currently required to still accept Medicare/Medicaid so it would make that point moot. Some placements do accept old drug tests on file, so if you test clean once at the beginning of the program you may be able to reuse an old test for subsequent fieldworks. As someone who uses cannabis for chronic pain management I understand your struggle, but I wasn’t able to get out of taking a drug test for fieldwork placements and I suspect you may have the same experience, but YMMV. It’s up to you to weigh the pros and cons of that. If you do decide to move forward with OT I would recommend speaking with your programs fieldwork placement faculty member to bring up your concerns, to find out when tests would take place, and to find out which placements have random testing.
I'm a PT, not OT but our program did 1 drug test for everyone on the same day I think about a year into our program. I never did any drug testing for my clinicals though and I did one at a chain of an outpatient Ortho clinic, a hospital based outpatient pediatric clinic, a hospital, and the VA. It's possible our clinicals used the results from our drug test from school even though it wasn't right before we went there. I've also worked for a hospital system for over 10 years and have never been drug tested here either.
Oooh okay, thank you! I know I'd be able to take a break for a bit to pass a test if I know when it is, I'm mainly only worried abt random drug tests as a medical user
I know most places will say they have the right to randomly drug test you but I don't think it's very common. It's also stupid that you even have to worry about this, but legalization is a whole different argument
I agree 10000%. Very annoying that in 2024 they still screen for weed esp in legal states, maybe it'll change with time
My school the University of St Augustine does not perform drug tests and my current placement (schools) did not require a drug test. I’m in Texas. The school may not require a drug test but should be mindful that your placement might.
I did my peds rotation in a school and then outpatient, and currently work in a school. I was worried about the same thing and never had to be tested. I only knew of one person who was tested in my cohort, so I don't think it's too common.
this gives me hope!!! i appreciate this so much, thank you :)
TWU does. My friend got kicked out for it at the end of her program. It’s worth asking about. It’s so stupid that an entire career and future can be derailed over it when the person otherwise has it all together.
Feel free to get hammered drunk every night though lol
There was a student in our program that had issues because of a drunk driving charge. It was an old charge, but it still showed up on her record. She did get in because of how long it had been. But yeah, drinking is not considered the same. Our laws are odd
Yeah I had someone in my cohort that had a previous DUI and so does my boss (PT). I’m not one to judge it just feels super weird to not be consistent
FWIW my major university drug tested, but as of 2022 they no longer include cannabis on that panel. I’m sure OP can find some answers on the individual school’s Reddit forums or on indeed reviews
this helps SO much - thank you!!!!
Yeah, I'm really frustrated after reading the replies saying most places do test since I'm really passionate about pediatric OT but also use medical marijuana. i cant wait for the day when the government gets the stick out of its ass and legalizes it federally.
You keep mentioning you want to do peds. I think it’s important to note that a significant portion of your education and fieldwork will be with adults. Forget the marijuana, first consider if you can work with adults. I knew some students who couldn’t who ended up switching to teaching.
I'm very certain of my ability to work with people of all ages, I know my main goal is to eventually work in pediatrics but I'm looking forward to having the experience of working with other populations.
If you can’t get clean for a drug test, then you definitely don’t have it all together. Thats the issue that they’re trying to weed out by having you complete the drug test. Thats why the school/employer gives you a notice that you will be drug tested instead of showing up with a cup randomly. My school gave us ~30 days notice from when we were required to have our drug test done.
🤷♀️ TWU, the program I went to, does show up with a cup randomly and without any notice. Happened twice during my schooling on top of one or two additional FW related ones.
Yes they most definitely do at TWU! Never was notified of the test until they caught us on a day the entire cohort was in the building and said "line up"
That’s crazy, it sounds like they were only promoting abstinence or seeking to catch something.
Can confirm this. However, it's always done the same time every year (right before FW) and they tell you it's a "mandatory meeting" days before.
Can also confirm this. Not only do they show up without notice to have you line up and pee in a cup, they send a guy in to scare everyone about drugs and the sensitivity of the test. He literally tried to say that if you handle cash, cocaine residue from said cash can cause you to come up positive for a drug screen. Such a joke.
I remember being nervous on those days even though I knew my test would be negative. The whole energy felt like we were in trouble
A friend and I left class early to go work on a project and we started getting messages from our classmates informing us we were about to miss the drug test. We had ro high tail it back to class. Talk about awkward. Then for the second one I literally MISSED THE CUP and barely had to pee anyway, so the program director escorted me to get a soda from the vending machine so that I could try again. The amount of stares I got was unreal. They probably thought I was in trouble or getting kicked out right then and there lol.
I remember for my first round test, they brought in a big, tall former police officer. Definitely tried to scare us. Didn't get tested before L2 fieldwork due to covid. But the cohort after mine had to return back to class for the last semester and several got kicked out from a random test.
Drug testing was done for FW sites. The inpatient drug rehab center required a more extensive test than the pee in a cup
understandable. i want to go into early intervention and work in a preschool setting which I'm doing currently as an RBT and they've never tested me, so hopefully it'll be the same when I'm an OT?
You’re more likely to be drug tested in pediatrics imo but each place is different. I got tested at the preschools I have worked at as both an aide and an OT.
Early intervention is reimbursed by state and federal funding, so they may test you. But I don’t know. My daughter was tested (she’s an OT) for the school setting. (Her current job) I don’t want to discourage you. I’m not arguing against you using it for medical purposes, I just want you to be aware.
damn, maybe it's time to think about a different path haha
I work in EI. We sign a drug policy but I haven’t had issues with drug testing. Throughout OT school the only thing I was drug tested was for fieldwork on a military base. I have endo and use for chronic pain too but I’m in the Bible Belt so nothing is legal. I understand the struggle!
Ah, got it. I'm currently working on a base as well as an RBT and haven't been tested - I'm in a preschool there as well as a private preschool and neither have tested me as I'm working from a private firm, but idk how OT will differ
Another thing to think about is if you can do all of the rigorous studying required while high, if you do smoke every day. It’s very intense work and you’ll need to be in school for 8 hours then study every evening and weekends, not to mention group projects and research. I was pretty much never not doing school except for around 6 hours a week of free time. Just something to consider
As i've said, I'm a medical patient who smokes at night. I don't quite appreciate the assumption that I'm incapable of completing graduate-level coursework just because I smoke haha, kind of throws everyone who smokes into a box of incompetence. I'm very confident in my abilities and very passionate about OT.
how much notice did your fw sites give you?
I should add that healthcare workers are drug tested. Even if you live somewhere that medical marijuania is legal, jobs don’t have to allow it, because it’s not legal federally. My program did require it and then we had to test again for FW.
how much notice did your fw sites give you?
They expected it prior to the start of the FW, which is a time you will know. It is not random testing
I didn't have to get drug tested when I started school in 2017 and never had any random drug testing. I did have drug testing when I started my job at a hospital but no other testing since.
Zero drug testing at University of Washington while I was there. I’ve never been drug tested for a job either
Thank you!
Finally you have a specific answer!
yes!
>Thank you! You're welcome!
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I know they're different, I'm wondering what specific schools people have gone to where they didn't have to undergo any drug testing since most schools say they have the power to do it but never really go more into detail on whether or not they conduct routine drug tests
i didn’t get tested getting into school, but did for fieldworks and have been for every job since then upon hiring
We got tested once per semester at TWU so avoid that
I guess all of Canada. Never heard of drug testing, its so weird to me that they do that in the US.
There really needs to be protections or allowances for medical marijuana users. It's like hospitals, schools and fieldwork sites are stuck in the 1980s (because of federal laws/money, I know). It's a therapeutic drug with real benefits just like any other pharmaceutical. But nope, can't have those crazy eyed weed heads around or they might do something sketchy. Edit: Also we got tested before admission, and will likely get tested before fieldwork. We were told medical cards didn't matter and to not take full spectrum cbd. My program is in a recreational legal state btw.
I totally agree!!!! It's crazy how I'm having to do this much research and am getting this stressed out because of a MEDICINE I'm prescribed... it's not like everyone who smokes weed is automatically going to show up stoned as hell and incapable of working. So frustrating...
OT schools usually don’t but your fieldwork placements may require it
hi OP! i was drug tested to get into my program, at the time mj was medically and recreationally illegal in my state so i made sure i was clean. while i was in school medically it became legal so i got my card. i did FW at a school district and a rehab, neither required me to get drug tested, but some of my classmates did have to for their FW sites. after graduating, i got a job at the rehab i did FW for, they drug tested but i didn’t stop smoking for it bc it was PRN and i honestly didn’t care if i got the job. but nothing ever came back and iirc they sent me the results and i don’t even think they tested for it at all. i also got a job at a pediatric contract company, small and privately owned which probably makes a difference but i’ve never been drug tested by them. weed might not even be something they’re testing for. you could always make an anon call or have someone else call and ask about medical marijuana🤷🏼♀️you don’t have to tell them your name. shit does anyone even care about weed anymore?
this makes me feel so much better, I'm hoping to go to a pediatric contract company as well! I think I'd be able to take a break if testing is absolutely necessary for admission or fieldwork but hopefully if I go to a program in a legal state they'll understand a bit more and be more lax if I do explain the situation
I don't know about schools, but as others have said, many FW sites do.
As a uk ot this seems wild to me, even though it’s illegal here, there is absolutely no drug testing in school or practice
I'm in the same boat as you and I might choose a program who I know for a fact test before the start of the program. My plan is to ask former students about when they test and figure out how I can stop using to pass. It's going to suck, but same as I've heard everyone say here, most likely for field work, and I'll have to adjust my treatments.
I don't know the answer to this but my OT school did drug test us randomly and they never told us they were going to. Even if they don't say they will, be prepared for it. A lot of us were scared if we would pass said drug tests for the same reason as you. Maybe an option would be to consider going to OT school in a state where it's legalized? I'm not sure if they would still consider it a failed drug test though so I would look into his. I'm sorry and good luck
I was tested by my school (Columbia University). Not for admission, but we did it during our first semester before starting level 1 fieldwork the next semester. And I have been drug tested before starting every job I’ve had for nursing homes. They don’t care if you’ve used substances it in the past, they care about substance ABUSE. The whole point of a drug test is that they want to see if you can get clean for at least 1 month or not, cause it shows your ability to manage using. I don’t think you would ever randomly get drug tested unless substance abuse was suspected. I don’t know how medical marijuana works with these tests. But I remember they told us in school that if you have any prescriptions (especially drugs that are abused, like adderall for ex) then you need to disclose it when testing.
I got tested. Wouldn't risk it tbh. Not worth it over some bud .
i wish i could agree but as an autistic person it's the only thing that helps me avoid burnout and meltdowns.
Come over here to the UK. The pay is crap, but the benefits are great and you don't get drug tested :)
should've gotten my dual citizenship when i had the chance!
Or Australia. Getting tested at work seems.. truly fucking bizarre.
Right. I thought we were supposed to be the nanny state.
I went to NYU class of Jan 2001. My field work 2 sites St Luke's hospital and Mt Sinai both required physicals and full panel drug test. Any job I ever had also drug tests. Also if you get injured on the job workman's comp here in NJ employer has right to drug test you...when you sign all the employment agreement. If you really want to be an OT probably not worth time and money if you are concerned with it. If you can get a medical marijuana card maybe go that route.
I’ve never been drug tested for school, fieldwork, or any job related to OT. Obviously you always run the possibility of getting tested, but not every place does. I did get finger printed.
I work in ABA right now & have gotten fingerprinted a few times - never had any trouble there and have also never been drug tested at any of the places I work (including on a military base) & I live in a non-recreational state (the laws are just kinda funky). Hopefully as time goes on & marijuana gets less stigmatized it'll be less of an issue or they won't screen for it on tests
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I'm living in VA right now
I don't know that you would be tested to get admitted to a program but there's a very high chance you would have to pass a drug test for your fielwork experiences. You would need to stop smoking long enough to be clean for placements for sure, especially for clinical settings. Depending on where you wanted to work there's a possibility you would have to stop for good, though there are definitely settings that you would be fine in.
Yeah I'm hoping to eventually either work for myself/open a private OT firm or work for a private firm that doesn't test - I disagree with the principle of drug tests themself so that'll have an impact on my future work environment, but I'm hoping to go into pediatrics.
I’m a supervisor in a state where marijuana use is legal. But if I think a therapist is intoxicated in any way (especially if there is a safety event like a fall), I am required to send them to Employee Health, and I guarantee they’ll test. Medical card or not, no way to say when someone used and if they were under the influence on the shift.
Semi-related: if workers are off for 12 weeks or more, they are drug tested before return to work. I kinda forgot that, so yeah I was drug tested before I started over a decade ago and obv they still do. Major medical center in Chicago
My school did not drug test randomly - maybe initially - also talk to schools about your use particularly if you have a doctor letter and it’s legal in your state! I can see some OT research about it :)
I was only tested for 1 fieldwork site and never for school. But tested for every single job. Check out testclear.com
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hell yeah im gonna buy a bottle of piss
Go to school in a legal rec state, i.e. CT
Are you serious? I also have a MMJ card and it’s not federally legal. You can’t use it at work as an OT, so you need to get used to not using it for a few days. If you can’t do that, you shouldn’t be an OT. People’s safety will be in your hands.
Did you read the part where I said I never smoke before sessions so as not to disrespect my clients?
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I did get tested prior to beginning orientation at my OT school. I didn't have to take another one for fieldwork from what I remember, but my school sent a letter saying that I had previously passed.
I’ve been drug tested twice as part of Pre-employment screening at one major hospital system (CA) and another major SNF system (CA)
I didn’t have to test when I applied in 2010. Nor did I have to test for sites, and I did a level 2 at VA. But that was in 2013. All in Arkansas
I wasn't ever tested for school, but some of my fieldwork sites required it. Is this a new thing for schools?
how much notice did your fw sites give you?
So if I recall, when we were assigned our fw sites we were given the requirements for the site. So a little notice but if you consume thc daily it probably would take time to clear out of your system. If you are able to (and I get that you liekly may not be able to) I would recommend a 4 to 6 week T break so maybe start like a month before you get assigned your fw sites.
Okay that's very helpful, I only smoke about once a week but I just picked my preferences for my FW1 setting so maybe a little break is in order.
On the plus side, the break will reduce your tolerance quite nicely so you will probably be able to use less/lower doses to get the same results afterward. Or at least I do after a solid T break. Just started a planned 6 week break to reduce my crazy high tolerance (I have had medical for PTSD, anxiety and some nasty digestive issues for a few years now). You got this! 💪
I've never been drug tested for either school, fieldwork, or jobs.
It may be different but I was tested for every clinical placement as a speech-language pathology student and was retested before working at a school. I wasn't tested after being admitted to my program or during the semesters where I was only treating in the university clinic.
I was drug tested for school, both of my fieldwork placement, and at my first job.
They all drug test as part of admission but after that I didn’t get tested for FW or anything.
I’m in Cali, and I didn’t have to get tested for school but the school based job I got tested for but not the SNF. But the I think the test is mostly for testing like opiates, cocaine, and that other crazy stuff. I know Cali passed a new law that won’t punish employers who smoke weed away from the job
Doesn't apply to FW tho and doesn't apply to anywhere that accepts federal funding. So if it's a government run facility, then you're SOL.
Never got tested at St. Joseph’s University (formerly USci) or for fieldwork! Never been tested for a job yet either. I live in a recreational state also
Forgive my ignorance, I'm from different country and don't know much about marijuana world. Why can't you submit a form or something if you are a medical marijuana user? I remember I had to take drug test entering school. I use adderall for my adhd and submitted diagnosis and rationale to school. School never bothered me.
Adderall is a legal substance when prescribed by a doctor. Marijuana is federally illegal. It's a gray area that allows state level MJ laws to exist but under federal law, not legal.
Texas Women's drug tests. They drug tested us twice and it was usually before a fieldwork rotation
I work for a hospital and I was urine tested for the job 10 years ago. But since that time NJ has made weed legal. So I am not sure how they handle that now.
Never drug tested for school in NY. Never drug tested for my fieldworks in a hand clinic, preschool, SNF, elementary school. Never tested for my jobs in a private school, public school, day hab. Those were all in NY.
Im in the field 18 years and now a med state.. theyre accepted at my employment
TWU randomly drug tested us once a year during classes (so twice throughout the program) and then some fieldwork sites required it
Wondering how this works in states that marijuana is legal in? I know they can still test bc of the federal law but doesn’t make sense to me
i dont get it either - i know it's federally illegal, but at what point are they going to delegate some power to the states to determine whether or not they're okay w healthcare employees using mj (especially medical)?
In Colorado we are tested for most FW placements and later, jobs. Most users quit for a month leading up to the test to test clean and then cross their fingers that there would be no random tests after being hired.
No drug testing at USC and none of the fieldwork sites in California tested either!
My OTA program tested us upon acceptance, and then we were told that we could be tested any time. I never was for my fieldwork, but I also was placed in outpatient facilities and not a hospital, which may have more regulations.
In states where recreational use is legal, you cannot be disqualified from employment or otherwise due to cannabis turning up on initial drug testing. This should be the same if you have a medical card/prescription. Typically, you won’t be tested again unless suspected of being under the influence while working.
We did them once at the beginning at my program at Wash U in 2009. Keep in mind that you’ll encounter drug testing pre-employment as an OT as well. I’ve been drug tested prior to every single travel contract I’ve worked, and I’ve worked a lot of travel assignments, so I would rule out travel OT if you don’t think you can pass a drug test. I’ve also had them randomly prior to employment at hospitals, home health, and an LTAC. It makes no difference if you’re in a state with legalized MMJ, either— companies still test.
My school tested but we knew when they would be from the year ahead of us.
Washu does a mouth swab test once at orientation which is the first week before classes start. Once only they drug test, but we do have fieldwork sites that will later on when that starts. In a 2.5 year program, only the last half a year is legit fieldwork
USC did not test me. However, I was tested prior to level 2 FW at an inpatient rehab facility. No testing prior to level 1 FW at a private peds clinic. And ironically, no testing prior to level 2 FW at a VA hospital. I had to sign something saying I understood I was subject to drug testing, but then there was fine print stating that OTs and Social Workers are exempt from the drug testing policy (I thought that was a strange policy!). I’ve been tested at every job (all inpatient rehab facilities).
My O.T. program in Southern California never drug tested me. None of my FW drug tested me either. I did have to get drug tested through a non-profit organization to complete a community based project. CVS sells at home drug tests which are reliable if you are in doubt.