Testing Positive on A Follow-Up Drug and/or Alcohol Test: DOT Drug Testing Rules

If you’re familiar with the DOT drug testing rules, you’ll know that the return to duty process occurs when a DOT regulated, safety-sensitive employee fails a drug and/or alcohol test. It begins with the employee being removed from their safety-sensitive duties, finding a SAP in their area, undergoing an initial evaluation, receiving recommendations for treatment and/or education, a follow-up evaluation to confirm compliance, and, if compliance has been met, a referral to submit to a follow-up drug and/or alcohol test.

Understanding Substance Misuse and Finding an Alternative Approach

The return to duty process is helpful not only so that you can return to your safety-sensitive duties but because it allows you to understand your relationship with drugs and/or alcohol. Substance misuses does not only affect your career, it can affect your personal life as well. During the return to duty process you might learn more about why you use drugs and/or alcohol and what you can do instead to find relief.

DOT Drug Testing Rules and the Follow-up Drug and/or Alcohol Test

If your SAP has determined compliance with their outlined recommendations you will be referred to submit to a drug and/or alcohol test to determine that you are abstaining from misusing substances. The DOT drug testing rules for the follow-up test are the same as the original test (such as reasonable suspicion, random, etc) – you must provide a negative result in order to be able to perform safety-sensitive job functions. What happens if your test comes back positive?

Unfortunately, if an employee tests positive for drugs and/or alcohol they must complete the process again. This also means they will be out of safety-sensitive work until they successfully comply and provide a negative result.

SAP Referral Services Can Help!

SAP Referral Services a leading facilitator for mandated substance abuse evaluations within North America. If you failed a follow-up drug and/or alcohol test, or any federally-mandated drug or alcohol test, we can help. We can schedule you with a SAP in your area typically within 72 business hours. Get in touch with us today to learn more.