The states of Missouri and Mississippi have proposed legislation to join 18 other states who have banned the sale and use of fake urine samples. As Katie Zezema reports in the Washington Post, synthetic urine samples have become an increasing and problematic way for individuals to circumvent urine drug testing used by the courts, police and employers. The U.S. Supreme Court first upheld the use of drug testing in the workplace in 1989. Recently, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) added ecstasy as a sixth substance testing for those in safety sensitive positions with the others being amphetamines, cocaine, marijuana, PCP and opioids. SAMSHA also added four prescription pain killers (Oxycontin, Vicodin, Percocet and Dilaudid) to the list of tests run on federal employees.
Synthetic or fake urine samples can be easily obtained online or in head shops. Costs can vary with the average range from $17-40. One major problem with urine drug testing is that sample collection is not observed making it easy for some to sneak in fake samples which can be transferred to collection bottles. There is also a push to expand hair and saliva testing which would eliminate this problem.
For the original article, please visit:
https://www.washingtonpost.com
For the original article, please visit:
https://www.washingtonpost.com
