Drug Test at Med Exam and Legal Prescription Drugs

[Al422 221]

This is an academic question to me, but maybe to others it is real.

This past January, I had bronchitis and was prescribed a cough syrup containing morphine. This was a 100% legal, medically necessary use of a controlled substance on a doctor's prescription.

Now what if I were an applicant and had to take a drug test at that time? I would not have been breaking the rules since it only proscribes non-medical use of controlled substances. When they found the morphine in my urine, would they deny me and tell me to ask the petitioner what went wrong? Or would they give me a chance to show that the morphine was used legally and under medical supervision?

Edited April 26, 2014 by Al422

[Tahoma 2,292]

To the best of my knowledge, St. Lukes doesn't perform drug tests.

However, St. Lukes asks clients whether they have ever used illegal drugs. If the client admits to having used illegal drugs, it can result in a visa denial.

[christeen 966]

If he was prescribed a medication by a doctor (with the exception of drugs classified as class A, having no medical value aka. Cocaine, heroin, marajuana etc..) then no issue, they are testing for substances illegal

[Al422 221]

Morphine is in the same class as heroin and is abused frequenly by drug addicts, much in the same way that prescription oxycodone is abused by drug addicts. So if they find drugs than have legitimate medical use, they don't say anything about it even though you may be a drug addict and abusing it?

As for marijuana, many states have legalized it for medical use to treat some specified illnesses. What if you smoked legally prescribed marijuana?

Does St. Luke's really not test for drugs? They already have the blood and urine and can easily test those.

[christeen 966]

Marajuana is NOT legal according to the federal govt.. It is a class A drug and NOT legal (even though state law contradicts this, it is something that will eventually need to be rectified in the legal system, but until that time, per the US govt it is not legal to smoke pot.. Period) . So it would not be recognized as a prescription drug, regardless of the state laws...

Morphine has a different chemical,signature than heroin... The responsibility for determining the abuse of such drug lies with the prescribing doctor, not the US govt. if they find morphine, hydro condone, oxycodone etc... In the system and the person has a valid prescription for this medication, then of course the govt will not question it's presence in the system. However, it will be brought up,the underlying condition which dictates its use.

[Tahoma 2,292]

What if you smoked legally prescribed marijuana?

Your original post referred to the intending immigrant. There's no legally prescribed pot in the Philippines, so that issue wouldn't come up.

[Al422 221]

Marajuana is NOT legal according to the federal govt.. It is a class A drug and NOT legal (even though state law contradicts this, it is something that will eventually need to be rectified in the legal system, but until that time, per the US govt it is not legal to smoke pot.. Period) . So it would not be recognized as a prescription drug, regardless of the state laws...

Morphine has a different chemical,signature than heroin... The responsibility for determining the abuse of such drug lies with the prescribing doctor, not the US govt. if they find morphine, hydro condone, oxycodone etc... In the system and the person has a valid prescription for this medication, then of course the govt will not question it's presence in the system. However, it will be brought up,the underlying condition which dictates its use.

So the examinee should bring prescriptions in for all the legally prescribed drugs he is taking to explain the presence of them in his body?

[christeen 966]

If the drugs he is currently taking fall under controlled substances in the USA.. Yes. He should be prepared with prescriptions. Although others have mentioned in Phil they don't usually test? Besides, You said he was on a cough medicine in January with morphine ... If it was back in January there should be no issue... Unless there is other drug use you are specifically concerned with.

[lil2be 11]

Controlled substance schedule 1 is legal when it is prescribed by a board certified medical doctor.

As long as you have a prescription for it, you will be fine. Just bring it when you do drug test.

Edited April 26, 2014 by lil2be

[Tahoma 2,292]

Does St. Luke's really not test for drugs? They already have the blood and urine and can easily test those.

I have never heard of anyone who was tested for drugs at St. Lukes.

Also, I have never heard of St. Lukes taking a blood sample.

[Al422 221]

I have never heard of anyone who was tested for drugs at St. Lukes.

Also, I have never heard of St. Lukes taking a blood sample.

Here is a quote directly frmothe author of the St. Luke's Medical Exam walkthrough posted in tins board:

------------------------------

Before the nurse started to collect blood sample from my arm, she asked me my name, my age and again, my first and last day of period… This procedure is to assess you of any drug use and of course, HIV.

-----------------------------------

Here is where it is found: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/221658-st-lukes-medical-exam-walkthrough/

[Tahoma 2,292]

Here is a quote directly frmothe author of the St. Luke's Medical Exam walkthrough posted in tins board:

------------------------------

Before the nurse started to collect blood sample from my arm, she asked me my name, my age and again, my first and last day of period This procedure is to assess you of any drug use and of course, HIV.

-----------------------------------

Here is where it is found: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/221658-st-lukes-medical-exam-walkthrough/

That's outdated information. At that time, they tested for HIV, not drugs.