Transcript Document
USADAOA UADC TRAINING PURPOSE This training module will provide you with a better understanding of the drug testing process. ARMY DRUG TESTING POLICY The Army drug testing program is based on a “use standard,” not impairment. You will be in violation of Army Regulation 600-85 if the presence of drugs is detected in your system. The amount of drugs or its current effect on your system is not important when determining if a drug test is positive. Drug tests can identify drug use that occurs several days, and sometimes weeks, prior to the time of giving a specimen. SAFEGUARDS Drug testing is reliable. Over five million tests have been completed without one case of false identification by laboratory error. Drug and alcohol testing process used by the Army protects the rights both of the soldier and the nation. SAFEGUARDS (cont.) There are four safeguards to protect soldiers and the Army: clear rules for the collection of specimens only specifically certified laboratories are used for testing physician’s review to determine of there is a medical reason for a positive test option for a second laboratory evaluation The entire drug testing process is designed to ensure that you have a fair and reliable COLLECTION PROCEDURES Drug testing begins at the collection site. A specially trained individual will give you instructions for providing a specimen. The Unit Alcohol and Drug Coordinator, UADC, is the unit collection expert. The UADC will assist you in completing the required paperwork. This process is designed to ensure that nobody spoils or switches your sample. COLLECTION PROCEDURES This process is called chain of custody. Chain of custody at the collection site means: FORENSIC LABORATORY Department of Defense laboratory tests are accurate and reliable. Chain of custody continues at the laboratory. Specimens and their chain custody documents arrive at the laboratory in sealed packages. Before a specimen can be tested, its package, sample container, and chain of custody document are inspected thoroughly for signs of tampering. The laboratory will not test samples that do LABORATORY TESTING Before testing, the laboratory also checks for evidence of deliberate tampering not detected at the collection site. The laboratory uses a two test system: If the first is negative and conforms to quality control standards, the laboratory releases the result. If the test is positive for one or more drugs, a second, more specific test must LABORATORY TESTING (cont.) The second test is performed by a process called gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). GC/MS looks for molecular “fingerprints” of drugs. Because GC/MS is virtually error proof, it is called the “goldstandard” of drug testing. The testing process identifies only controlled substances. It does not identify over the counter medication, birth control LABORATORY TESTING (cont.) Your drug testing laboratory is certified by the Department of Defense. Certification requires specially trained personnel and quarterly DA inspections, in addition to continuous quality control. Drug testing laboratories are held to the highest standards of forensic science. The laboratory will not release a result that cannot be defended in court. REPORTING PROCEDURES Only illegal drug abuse is actionable by your commander. All positive drug tests for opiates, amphetamines, and barbiturates must be reviewed by a physician before they are actionable by your commander. This physician, called a Medical Review Officer (MRO), determines if there are legitimate reasons for the positive test. If there are legitimate reasons why you tested positive, then the MRO would report to your commander “no urinary conformation of drug abuse.” REPORTING PROCEDURES (cont.) An individual with a prescription for Tylenol with codeine will test positive for opiates. If the MRO finds that the use was according to doctor’s or dentist’s orders, the MRO will report “no urinary conformation of drug abuse” to your commander. Soldiers who are currently taking prescribed drugs under medical orders will not be reported as positive for drug tests. The drug testing process always allows for a second opinion. Soldiers may also request a second GC/MS from the laboratory. CONCLUSION An individual always has the opportunity to have a small portion of the original sample sent to another laboratory for independent evaluation. The President of the United States directed your drug testing program for your safety an the benefit of the defense of our nation. The military Court of Appeals has upheld your drug testing process. And so have thousands of other courts and commanders. The drug testing process has been legally reviewed at every Army and federal level and has been found to be accurate and reliable.