GUIDELINES FOR DRUG TESTING OF HEALTH PROFESSION STUDENTS
I. NOTIFICATION OF DRUG TESTING
At the time of application to any Health Program, students applying to the health program will be provided a copy of the drug testing policy and procedure and will be required to sign a form acknowledging receipt of the policy and procedure. This acknowledgment form will be a part of the required admission procedure. Applications for admission cannot be processed without the signed acknowledgment form.
II. PERSONS TO BE TESTED
Any student who is accepted into any Health Program at Wallace State College-Hanceville will be required to submit to drug testing.
III. TYPES OF TESTS TO BE PERFORMED
A. An initial drug test will be required prior to attending the initial clinical experience. The student will be required to authorize a drug test with results to be provided to the program director. The student's specimen must have been collected and tested within a thirty day period prior to attending the initial clinical experience. The student will be responsible for the cost of initial drug testing.
B. After the initial drug test, further testing may be required of the student for cause or at random intervals and may be either announced or unannounced. This testing will be required at the discretion of the college or the clinical agency. The student will be responsible for the cost of any additional drug testing.
IV. DRUGS TO BE TESTED
The following six (6) drugs shall be tested for: amphetamines, cocaine, THC, opiates, PCP, alcohol.
V. CONSENT TO DRUG TESTING
A. A consent to drug testing form will be mailed to the student with their letter of acceptance from the college. The student must consent to provide urine and breath specimens for the purpose of analysis. If the student is under eighteen (18) years of age, the student's parent or legal guardian must sign the drug testing consent form in addition to the student. The signed consent must be returned to the college with the student's confirmation of acceptance into the program.
B. The Admission Office shall maintain the original of the signed consent form and may provide a copy of the consent form to the student upon request. A copy of the consent form will be maintained with the program director.
C. Students have the right to refuse to consent to drug testing. However, students who decline will be refused access to clinical education facilities and will be unable to achieve the required clinical experiences and objectives of the program.
VI. SPECIMEN COLLECTION
A copy of the guidelines is available at the approved collection site to ensure that all specimens are collected and tested within these requirements. A specimen collection should not be initiated until the collection site is aware of the requirements.
1. The collector shall be a licensed medical professional or technician who has been trained and certified for collection in accordance with chain of custody and control procedures. This person cannot be a college employee.
2. The designated collection site and specimen collection procedures must be secured in accordance with chain of custody and control procedures. Security during collection may be maintained by effective restriction of access to the collection materials and specimens.
3. When the student arrives at the collection site, the collector shall ensure that the student is positively identified as the individual selected for testing. This identification will be done through the presentation of photo identification (driver's license with picture). If the student's identity cannot be established, the collector shall not proceed with the collection until such identification can be made.
4. The student will complete and sign the chain of custody/consent form for the urine collection. The student will then be asked to select a urine specimen kit.
5. The student will be escorted to a controlled area where the student will provide the specimen. The student must comply with the collection site's rules to maintain control in the collection area. These rules can require the removal of outer garments such as a coat or jacket and leaving all personal belongings such as bags, backpacks, purses, etc. with the outer garments. Through a visual check, the collection site person will make an effort to ensure that no concealed containers are on the student's person. The student will provide his/her specimen in the privacy of a stall or otherwise partitioned area that allows for individual privacy. Specimen will be provided according to the directions provided with the urine specimen kit.
6. Once the specimen has been collected, the student brings the specimen to the collector. Urine temperature will be taken and recorded. The student and the collector shall keep the specimen in view at all times until it is sealed and labeled. The collector and the student will complete the necessary information on the custody/consent form. The student will initial the security seals then place them over the cap of the urine specimen bottle. The specimen shall then be sealed in the tamper proof side of a plastic bag. The sealed bag must be dated and initialed by the student. The student's participation in the urine specimen collection process is complete. The collector then places copies of the chain of custody/consent form in the rear pouch of the bag and seals that pouch.
7. The student will then breathe into a breath analyzer for the purpose of breath alcohol analysis. Any alcohol analysis result of .02 or greater will be considered positive. The breath analyzer will print out the results of analysis.
8. If the student is unable to provide an adequate urine specimen during the collection process, another collection time will be scheduled. Students will not be allowed into the clinical setting until negative results are received by the program director.
9. Students may be excused from announced or unannounced drug testing only under the most extreme circumstances (e.g., illness, family emergency). The student will be required to provide written verification for such absences. Approval of a verifiable absence is the responsibility of the program director. Students will have to complete the drug testing and provide negative findings before being allowed to attend or return to the clinical agency.
VII. DRUG TESTING LABORATORY
Only laboratories certified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), can be used to perform urine drug testing analysis. These laboratories have met the minimum criteria established in the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs. Woodland Occupational Health is the only collection site approved for Wallace State Health Program students. The lab used for testing is certified by SAMHSA. Woodland Occupational Health will provide Medical Review Officer services as a part of the drug screening service.
VIII. MEDICAL REVIEW OF POSITIVE DRUG TEST RESULTS
A. All specimens identified as positive on the initial test shall be confirmed by the testing laboratory. Any positive test result will be reviewed by the Medical Review Officer.
B. A Medical Review Officer (MRO), who shall be a licensed physician with knowledge of substance abuse disorders, shall review and interpret positive test results. The MRO shall:
1. Examine alternate medical explanations for any positive test results. This action may include conducting a medical interview and review of the student's medical history or review of any other relevant biomedical factors.
2. Review all medical records made available by the tested student when a confirmed positive test could have resulted from legally prescribed medication. Prior to making a final decision on the results of the confirmed positive test, the MRO shall give the student an opportunity to discuss the results. The MRO shall contact the student directly to discuss the results of the test.
IX. REPORTING OF DRUG TEST RESULTS
A. Written notification indicating either a positive or negative drug screen shall be provided to the program director. Test results will not be released to any individual who has not been authorized to receive such results. The test results shall not be received from any student or any person who is not a designated representative of the service provider. Students shall not be allowed to hand deliver any test results to college representatives. Drug test results can be received by U.S. Mail, if sent directly from the service provider. The envelope should be marked "CONFIDENTIAL" and should not be opened by any person not authorized by the college to receive such results. Drug test results cannot be sent by facsimile (fax) machine. Wallace State College may refuse to accept any test result that does not meet the requirements of the policy and guidelines.
B. The clinical agency will be notified that "all students attending their institution for clinical education have been tested and no evidence of illegal drugs or alcohol were found on the date tested". Copies of individual student results will not be sent to the clinical agency.
C. Negative test results must be kept on file for one year after the student's last date of attendance at the college. Positive test results must be maintained on file for five years after the student's last date of attendance at the college.
X. PENALTIES FOR A CONFIRMED POSITIVE DRUG TEST OR REFUSAL TO BE TESTED
A. First Positive Test
1. Suspension from the clinical component of the health program for a minimum of two (2) weeks. Students will be required to participate in a substance abuse treatment program during this suspension period. The length of the substance abuse treatment program will be determined by the treatment program counselor. The Health Program Director should be informed of the expected completion date of the substance abuse treatment program and whether or not the student successfully completes the substance abuse treatment program. The student will be responsible for any costs associated with the counseling and treatment in the substance abuse treatment program. Referral to the substance abuse treatment program shall be confidential.
Progression in the health program will be determined by the amount of clinical time missed and the ability of the student to achieve the clinical objectives of the course.
A negative follow-up drug test will be required before students are permitted to return to participation in the clinical component of the health program. Students who are suspended for a positive drug test and successfully complete a substance abuse treatment program will be required to submit to follow-up drug testing for up to twelve (12) months. A refusal to participate in a substance abuse treatment program and/or follow-up drug testing will require immediate permanent suspension from the health program.
B. Second Positive Test:
Permanent suspension from the health program, ineligibility for admission to other health programs and forfeiture of any allied health scholarship.
C. Refusal to be Tested
A student who refuses to be tested for drugs, after initially consenting to be tested shall be considered to have made a decision not to participate in the clinical education component of the health program. A refusal to cooperate in testing will result in permanent suspension from the health program and forfeiture of any health scholarship. The program director shall be notified of any refusal to be tested.
D. Failure to Appear
A student who fails to appear for drug testing will be given an opportunity to explain the failure to appear. If the student agrees to be tested, another collection will be scheduled. If the student fails to appear for the second time, the failure to appear shall be treated as if a positive test result had occurred. The program director shall be notified of any failure to appear.
XI. EDUCATION PROGRAM
A program of education on drug use and abuse shall be provided to all health students. This program should include, at a minimum, the following:
1. Discussion of drug testing policy for health profession students.
2. Distribution of education materials concerning the abuse of illegal drugs or alcohol.
XII. PUBLICATION OF POLICY
The college shall include the policy and procedure for Drug Testing of Health Profession Students in the college catalog and the student handbook for each program, and other appropriate college publications to ensure adequate notice and distribution. A copy of the policy and procedure will be mailed to each applicant to a health program at the college at the time of their application.
