attn: ALL PROFESSIONALS - (working in the drug & alcohol sector)

[B]

Hi All,

If at a job interview you was up front/100% truthful and declared your current medical history & past life experiences of Class-A drug addiction.  Due to your past experience/knowledge of drugs, you were then to be offered a job whilst on prescribed Subutex or Methadone.  Is it acceptable & fare to be pressured by the employer to detoxed off this medication, even if you do not feel ready to go through a detox at this stage?  You are also told, that if you do not accept to detox then you will loose your job? 

During the interview, there was no mention of having to undergo a detoxification at a later stage!!

I look forward to you reply/replies.

B

[OP8S]

I'm not altogether sure, but if you have already signed the contract & the job is yours then I wouldn't think that they could force a reduction on you unless it is stated in the contract. My advice if you are already working for them would be to join a union pretty damn fast!

[simon]

Is there an occupational health Doctor or Nurse you can get help from? I don't think it is fair and I have known many professionals on prescriptions. If you are a Doctor and have been in trouble with the GMC then they tend to be very abstinance based - detox or get out.
I can't really see the problem personally as long as your performance is acceptable.

[derek d j]

Do the erstwhile employers think you'll be better at the job if you were detoxified? Would you? If not, correct their impression.

If there's another reason for the demand, and it stays non-negotiable, it's up to you to decide which you want more, the job or your script.

Try talking to them, explain where they go wrong. As you detail the situation, it's all you can do, really.