What Happens if You Fail a Drug Test?

Know the Consequences for Failed Tests in a Variety of Situations

When an employee or job applicant fails drug tests, the positive result can be devastating to one’s career. Often, company policy requires drug testing as part of potential employees’ hiring process or after a workplace accident. They may also perform ongoing random drug tests.

If you’re considering using (or are already using) illicit drugs but fear a drug test, you may ask: What happens if you fail a drug test?

Changes Healing Center often treats clients who have found themselves in this very same situation. They need to get a job to support their children but can’t pass a pre-employment drug test. Others have had a failed test while already employed and need a rehabilitation program.

We are a Joint Commission-accredited substance abuse and mental health treatment center. You can get sober at our Phoenix, Arizona facility and put worries about drug testing results safely in the past.

If you want to weigh the consequences of using drugs while testing is on the horizon, please read to learn more about what happens if you fail.

Employment Impacts of a Failed Drug Test

What are some possible scenarios where people face career setbacks after failed drug tests? Consider these consequences if an employee fails the test:

Prospective Employees Failing Pre-Employment Drug Testing

Failing a pre-employment drug test could lead to an unfruitful job search. Many Arizona employers require a clean drug test during the hiring process.

A prospective employee failing the pre-employment drug screening could result in a lost opportunity or losing a job offer.

A pre-employment drug test is especially common for new hires for operating machinery, driving, or in other safety-sensitive positions. However, an employer can test those and other employees in any job category before hiring them.

A Drug Screening Test Can Mean Job Loss

Drug use can also negatively impact existing employees. An employer can make mandatory drug tests part of their company culture. This practice is common when the employer must ensure compliance with state or federal contracts.

With most companies, a failed drug test can mean suspension until they can pass a second test or get help with any substance use disorders. But for employees under DOT or similar guidelines, a positive drug test can be career-ending.

Drug Tests Can Impact Workers’ Compensation Claims

If you had an accident on the job followed by a positive drug test, the company’s workers’ compensation benefits program has grounds to deny your claim. The employer will likely use the failed test to claim the injury was a result of negligence due to drug abuse.

That determination could force the employee to bear all the medical costs of treatment.

Military Members and Positive Drug Tests

United States military branches all have zero-tolerance policies regarding illegal drugs or alcohol abuse. According to their testing policies, a failed drug test can result in immediate termination without an honorable discharge.

It may also mean the enlisted member could be ordered to seek treatment for substance abuse issues with regular drug testing for at least a year upon return to duty.

A Positive Test Can Mean Parole or Probation Revocation

A failed drug test can be a double whammy for people on parole or probation. Release terms often include requirements, such as performing community service, maintaining employment, and zero drug use.

If a drug test ordered by the employer returns positive results, the job loss and the positive drug testing counts as a violation of their terms of release.

Arizona law allows specific remedies for these violations. Penalties for failed tests can range from increased supervision to re-incarceration.

Types of Drug Testing to Expect

We started with the question: What happens if you fail a drug test? That begs another question regarding what types of drug testing can be expected. Here are some possibilities:

Urine Tests: The Most Common Pre-employment Drug Test

Urine testing is the most often used pre-employment drug test. They are cost-effective, non-invasive, and easy to offer. They detect most recreational drugs, test for alcohol in some cases, and detect prescribed medications by testing for metabolites, the byproducts left behind during metabolism.

They can detect drug use within 1 to 4 hours after consumption. The detection window closes depending on the last use. These are general guidelines, but various factors can affect these windows, such as metabolism, frequency of usage, and overall health:

• THC/Marijuana: 3-30+ days, or two weeks on average.
• Cocaine: 2-4 days.
• Opioids: 2-3 days.
• Alcohol: 12-24 hours.

Besides an employer-favorite pre-employment drug test, the urine test is a go-to for random drug testing, post-accident testing, and when enforcing reasonable suspicion testing policies.

Blood Testing (Usually After an Accident at the Job)

Employers rely on blood tests less often due to the cost. They detect the active presence of illicit substances and prescriptions, looking at current impairment.

They’re most often used for post-accident investigations to determine liability for an accident.

The blood test can detect drug use shortly after consumption. However, the detection window is relatively short:

• Alcohol: 12 hours.
• Cocaine: 12-48 hours.
• THC/Marijuana: 2-12 hours for infrequent users, longer for regular users.
• Opioids: 24-48 hours.

They reveal current intoxication, not a history of past drug abuse.

Hair Testing: Positive Drug Test for Months

Hair testing is worth mentioning, although less common. This drug testing method can return a positive drug test result for several weeks or months. This drug test looks not at recent drug use but at someone’s long-term history and ensures no chronic use of drugs.

These drug tests are most frequently used in safety-sensitive roles, such as law enforcement or healthcare careers.

It detects drug use in the hair shaft starting 5-7 days after consumption. This drug test detects substance abuse for up to 90 days.

Frequently Asked Questions about Drug Tests

Let’s see what happens with a failed drug test. Below are some frequently asked questions that we have fielded often at Changes Healing Center.

What Is a False Positive Result?

A false positive is when you fail a drug test, even though you did not use drugs. For example, false positives can happen due to eating certain foods. Or, a failure could happen as a result of contamination or improper testing.

Is a Confirmatory Test an Employee’s Legal Right in Arizona?

Arizona does not mandate that employers must offer confirmation tests if you fail a drug test. However, some will re-test to verify prior positive results upon request.

That’s usually because Substance Use Disorder is a disability under Federal law. If you believe you were unfairly terminated or lost a job offer, seek legal counsel.

What if I Have a Medical Condition That Requires a Prescription Drug?

Disclose your prescriptions to the test administrator before submitting to pre-employment drug tests or random workplace drug tests. Provide documentation from your doctor to prove that you are not abusing drugs.

What About Legal Recreational or Medical Marijuana?

This question is tricky since Arizona law allows adult marijuana use. However, employers can still enforce zero-tolerance drug use policies.

An employer will not allow you to work intoxicated after drinking, and most apply this same rule to marijuana.

What’s the Turnaround Time for Pre-employment Drug Test Results When a Job Offer Is Pending?

There’s no set period for results, but urine or blood test results are usually available within a day, and hair follicle tests within 3 or 4 days. There are a few exceptions. For example, confirmation tests checked by a medical review officer could take up to a week.

Changes Healing Center Offers Effective Support for Recovery

A drug test failure can have dire consequences for your future. If you know deep inside that you need help and cannot quit using drugs without support, Changes Healing Center is here to help.

Changes accepts most major insurance plans as in-network providers, including Arizona Medicaid (AHCCCS) and TRICARE for military members stationed near Phoenix.

Are you ready to start a new life, full of new changes and sobriety? Reach out Changes Healing Center today