Flight Physical Drug Tests

[mrzippo]

During a normal flight physical to get my student license (Class 2 maybe?) do they screen your urine for drugs?

 

[Gulfstream 200]

yes.

....just kidding...

but ya might wanna ween yourself off the Marley Bong as that stuff really has no place in aviation. Just about every job - from rampers to CFIs and on up drug tests these days....

 

[mrzippo]

I appreciate the non-aggressive. Most people would have just gone off and told me to too go die in a gutter if I was on drugs. I just got my wisdom teeth out and was thinking the medication might show up. I'm not even sure if it would, Hydrocodone probably doesn't show up on a urine screen.

So your positive they don't drug test? That's good news... that means I can go ahead and get that physical tommorow! I appreciate it

I'm a future student of Embry-Riddle (next semester)

 

[Gulfstream 200]

well, Mr Zippo, Im known around here as a sensitive person..

but if you have any questions.....ask the AME yourself!

Good Luck at ERAU.


P.S.

Wisdom teeth my butt.....lay off that reefer punk. All it does is make you fat dumb and lazy - and you will never meet a fat dumb and lazy pilot.....

 

[moving2vegas]

meds

No drug check, however I've had a few that took a urine sample for visual analysis. Not sure what this is for, they seem to check for cloudiness, temp, color, ???Not a big deal. As for the hydrocodone, it will defiantly show in a drug test. When you start regular tests in the future declare everything you've taken in the recent past, even if you "think" it won't show or doesn't matter. I recently did a random check for my employer and they did a hair follicle test. They say some drugs show up for years and the clinic I used said the FAA likes these tests. Wasn't really worried about it but I declared every aspirin I took and passed.

 

[pilotman2105]

Each physical I've gone through I had to pee in the cup. I was told that this was for both a drug check and sugar check (diabetes I would assume... I'm definitely not a doc though).

If you're on a prescription of some sort, ask your doctor, pharmacist or AME what the halflife of the drug is in the body. Wait for four halflifes and the drug should be pretty much out of your system.

As an example, I was on Claritin-D for a little while for a severe sinus infection and ear infection. The halflife of the drug was 40 hours. I had to wait a week after I took the last pill before I could fly again, as Claritin-D was not on the "approved" list of medications to fly with.

Hope this helps.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

Nope. This is still America. Nobody can give you a drug test without your consent.

Thank God.

 

[rumpletumbler]

Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life son.

--Animal House

Harrrrrrrrr......

 

[mrzippo]

so is there drug tests or not?

if i fail do i get another chance?

 

[Vladimir Lenin]

no, there's no drug test
no consent, no facilities, no worries
puff away

 

[FSB99]

the consent thing is the kicker, as stated, no consent, no forms to sign or fill out at the ame's office, i.e., no drug test. the drug tests usually come in to play when you use your certificates to get a job. every aviation-related (even non-flying) jobs i've had or even applied for had a drug test as part of the application process. however, i do believe one of the questions on the medical's application involves using narcotics or other illegal drugs. if you say no on that, and somewhere down the road, even unrelated to flying, if you are found to have used them, could rear its ugly head when it finds its way to oklahoma city.

if you're worried about the prescrption drugs showing up, that's something to disclose when/if you have to take a drug test. make sure they know about it before you pee in the cup so there's no surprises.

but since you said you're applying for your student medical, don't think you'll be looking for flying jobs any time soon.

good luck.

 

[ShawnC]

No drug tests on the First class. Though at Riddle they said that they do random drug tests of flight students. But I never heard of it happening to anyone that I know.

 

[Axel]

As for a routine physical; no, there is no drug test associated with it.

Nobody can give you a drug test without your consent.

True. To a point. I sat in on an aircraft accident investigation seminar at a police training academy. One of the presentations regarded how to obtain a search warrant in order to get a drug test without consent. With probable cause, you can be compelled to submit a sample.

Also, let us not forget "implied consent."

Tangentally, I learned this at the seminar as well- If you are ever involved in an accident, the authorities are your friends and saviors only to the point at which all lives are either lost or safe. Once the fire is out, they go into "cop mode" and are doing their level best to, and I quote, "hammer the a$$hole flying the plane." They are looking for evidence in an active and aggressive, even predatory INTENT to prosecute the pilot/crew under state and local criminal law. Once they have gathered all their evidence, it is handed over to the DA and the FAA.

I heard a detective say once that cops divide the world into 2 kinds of people: cops an a$$holes. If you aren't a cop, you are the other. The search warrant for body fluids is but one aspect of a criminal investigation of which you, assuming you have survived the crash, are the target.
FYI

 

[Typhoon1244]

Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life son..

You'll end up living in a vaaaaaan, down by the river.

 

[LewisU_Pilot]

Ok.. I am confused! Every medical I have ever done I had to pee in a cup. And was told it was a drug test. So you guys are saying it is not? Am I just going to a sick doctor who likes to see my urine in a cup?

 

[Typhoon1244]

Every medical I have ever done I had to pee in a cup.

They're checking for sugar (diabetes) and protein (infection).

 

[Axel]

Sugar levels. Hypo/hyperglycemia is disqualifying.

Lewis- If you got a "Chain of custody" form when you submitted the sample, along with consent paperwork and a list of the drugs for which you are being screened and later, the results of the drug test, you were drug tested. Otherwise they were checking to see how well your body metabolizes sugar.

 

[flx757]

if you're worried about the prescrption drugs showing up, that's something to disclose when/if you have to take a drug test. make sure they know about it before you pee in the cup so there's no surprises.

.

This is absolutely false. The people conducting the test CANNOT even ask, much less have you disclose any information about any drugs you are taking. The only time it would come up is if anything shows AFTER the test, the MRO (Medical Review Officer) will contact you and discuss the possible reasons for a positive result. If it is because of a legal prescription, the test is confirmed negative, and no one ever hears about it. If there is no legitimate reason for the positive test, then they go from there.

This is "Step 5" of the DOT testing program. If you completely read the "chain of custody and consent" form, it gives you all this information, and the steps that are taken.

But again, it is not legal for the drug testing facility to know anything more about you than to veryify your identity. So you DO NOT disclose ANYTHING to the testing facility. ONLY if required to the MRO.

The best way to keep from worrying about all this is to educate yourself on the program. Call the FAA Aeromedical office, or the ALPA or AOPA Aeromedical people. Or your company's drug and alcohol compliance officer. They will give you the FACTS regarding the program....and not just rumors from other pilots on a message board, or crew room talk. Again, educate yourself. That's the best advice anyone can give about ANY subject. Drug testing included.

 

[avbug]

During an exam for an FAA medical certificate, no drug testing is performed. Urinalisis is checked by testing with strips dipped in the urine, for glucose. albumin, proteinurea. As others have indicated, you're being checked for sugar and protein. Protein will typically indicate potential kidney disfunction, and sugar may indicate diabetes, or other related conditions.

 

[LewisU_Pilot]

I guess i can wipe the dust off the bong now...HAHA JK I have all I can do to keep up with things sober...I couldn't imagine what it would be like high..