School of Health Sciences Drug Testing Policy

PURPOSE  

Greenville Technical College is committed to providing a drug-free workplace and workforce pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988. This policy serves to safeguard the workplace/school environment from the consequences of alcohol and drug use in order to provide a safe, productive, and healthy environment that is consistent with providing the highest quality service to patients and the most effective learning and work environment for the college community. These requirements also ensure compliance with clinical/externship affiliation agreements.

POLICY

Students enrolled in programs in the School of Health Sciences are prohibited from being under the influence of, or impaired by the use of alcohol or any drug/medication which alters behaviors or capabilities while engaged in any portion of the educational experience. All students who have been accepted into and/or are enrolled in a program must successfully pass a 10-panel urine drug test as a condition of admission/participation in the program.  An approved state vendor will be employed by the college to conduct the drug testing. Students are responsible for the cost of pre-admission drug testing. Only drug testing conducted though the college-approved agency will be accepted.

Following the initial drug test, students may be subject to random drug testing and testing for reasonable suspicion. Students who display reasonable suspicion will immediately be removed from the education experience and required to submit to immediate drug testing. The college will be responsible for the expense of random drug tests. 

Factors which may indicate reasonable suspicion for drug testing include but are not limited to:

  • Contributing to a clinical or lab accident
  • Possession of drug paraphernalia
  • Unexplained abnormal or erratic behavior
  • Arrest or conviction for drug related offenses
  • Observance of drug or alcohol use
  • Odor of alcohol
  • Other behavior that gives reasonable suspicion

PROCEDURE

  1. Students will receive a link through their college email account to set up drug testing through the required state vendor. The test date and collection of specimens must be within five business days of the email being sent. Students will receive an order confirmation page (Donor pass) to provide to the collector by either printed copy or via smart phone. Missing or overlooking the email notice and resultant failure to test will be considered as a refusal to test and be treated as if the test were positive.
  2. Tests will be conducted in accordance with established methods and procedures. The 10-panel drug test shall screen for the use of drugs whose use is either illegal, or which are prone to abuse. A Medical Review Officer will review all positive findings.
  3. Initial drug tests must be completed prior to the first day of class in a student’s respective program and by the specified deadline given.
  4. The Dean’s office for the school receives results for all drug tests.
  5. Students receiving negative drug tests or positive drug tests as a result of prescribed medications taken in accordance with prescription guidelines will be permitted.
  6. Students testing positive for illegal substances or non-prescribed legal substances will be dismissed from the program. Specimen validity testing (SVT) is also performed to detect abnormal temperature, substitution, adulteration, and dilution and may result in a positive test result. There are no appeals for positive tests results beyond confirmation of test results (occurs automatically) and review by the Medical Review Officer (MRO) described below.
  7. A refusal to test or to produce the requested sample will be treated as if the test result was positive and the student will be dismissed from the program. Students should be aware that once they enter the testing facility, they must provide a suitable specimen prior to leaving the testing facility. If a student leaves the site without providing a suitable specimen, the test results will be refusal to test and treated as if the test result was positive.
  8. Failure to show to scheduled appointment is considered a failure of the drug test and student will be dismissed from the program.

Medical Review Officer and the Verification Process

The Medical Review Officer (MRO) is a licensed physician responsible for receiving laboratory results, who has knowledge of substance abuse disorders and has appropriate medical training to interpret and evaluate an individual’s positive test result together with that individual’s medical history and any other relevant biomedical information. The MRO’s evaluation and determination of all drug test results will be accepted by the school as the definitive result. There is no appeal process for positive drug test results beyond the MRO’s evaluation and determination.

If the drug test result is positive, the MRO will attempt to reach the student three times regarding the medical explanation for the positive test result, such as prescribed medications, over-the-counter drugs, etc. If the student does not respond, the MRO notifies the school who will then attempt to contact the student to provide contact information for the MRO.  If there is no contact back to the MRO by the student, the determination will be “positive-no contact” and the student will be dismissed from the program.

If the student does not provide proof of a legitimate medical explanation for the positive test to the MRO, the determination will be positive, and the student will be dismissed from the program.

If the MRO validates a medical explanation for the result, the determination will be “negative”.

Reapplication after Removal from Program

Students removed from any program for drug related issues are not eligible to recycle and may not reapply to any program for 6 months. If the student desires/plans to return to any program, the student must meet with the Assistant Dean of Compliance for the school to obtain information on receiving an Alcohol/Drug Assessment to determine the most appropriate level of care needed. The student must also comply with an individualized treatment plan based upon the assessment prior to reapplication. These services must be provided through a state-licensed and nationally accredited alcohol and drug abuse service provider approved by the Dean’s office. To be eligible to apply for any program, documentation of the above must be provided to the Assistant Dean of Compliance for the school.

Confidentiality of Records

All drug testing results will be received in confidence and shall not be disclosed to third parties unless law requires disclosure, the information is needed by appropriate school officials to perform their job functions, disclosure is needed to override public health and safety concerns, or the student has consented in writing to the release of information. The school and the college shall have the right to use and disclose the results of drug testing required by this policy in connection with internal academic purposes and in connection with the defense of any student grievance and any claims filed by a student, or by his/her representative, in any court of law or with any state or federal administrative agency.