Drug & Alcohol Testing - New Job

[darkglobe]

SWIM has just applied for a position in a warehouse with a major online retailer. The vacancy was through an employment agencty.

When SWIM called the agency he registered his interest, and was told that there will be drug and alcohol tests. The tests will commence "soon", so really as of now these questions apply.

#1 - What kind of testing is likely to take place as far as drugs are concerned?
SWIM has smoked cannabis fairly regularly until the beginning of August (for a period of 5 months, didn't smoke before), including joints and bong use. By regularly he means about 3-4 days a week, with fairly heavy bong use on "smoking days". He has smoked cannabis (on a bong) during the second half of August, twice if he remembers correctly. Since then he has not smoked any.

SWIM thinks he knows roughly that Cannabis is detectable in the urine for a number of weeks, and knows that it is detectable via a hair test for an even longer period. SWIM wonders if the period of occasional use and the recent period of non-use would help his chances of passing a urine test. Also SWIM believe that blood tests aren't as common as other methods, due to cost - but still, SWIM would like someone to confirm that the blood shows Cannabis for a shorter time than urine/hair.

SWIM wonders if anyone knows the likelihood of a hair test being conducted, and if so - what are his chances?

#2 - Other Drugs
SWIM has not used any other illegal substances in the last 12 months, so this doesn't have to be brought into consideration.

#3 - Alcohol Test
SWIM has never heard of an Alcohol test before. He assumes it is to detect if excessive regular alcohol consumption is happening. Could someone shed some more light on this? SWIM has not consumed Alcohol regularly in over a month and a half, and can count on one hand the number of drinks he has had in the last month and a half. Would this be a problem?

The Situation...
SWIM currently works in a job where he is extremely unhappy (McDonald's - don't do it, it sucks!) and really needs this opportunity to better himself and his potentially bleak future. Short of shaving his hair off and getting a blood transfusion - what can SWIM realistically do to maybe enhance his chances? (No, SWIM will not "cheat", so don't suggest it).

SWIM realises this has been posted before, but usually members tend to ask simple, unrealistic questions such as "how long does weed stay in ur blood??". SWIM realises it's based on a number of factors, and wonders if someone could help him out, as this (he feels) is very important.

Thanks.

[fnord]

Id call your employment agency and ask more questions about there policy on alcohol. Just tell them you have a drink every week or so and are curius about how your new employer will feel about this and if it will be a problem witht here alcohol test.

Might be there just checking for people who are drunk on the job.

[darkglobe]

SWIM hasn't had a drink in a few weeks so should be fine. It's the Cannabis test he's worried about!

[darkglobe]

EDIT: Say SWIM was to fail the drugs test - could any action be taken against him? By action I mean legal action.

Also, are the drugs test people/potential employers allowed to share SWIM's drugs test results with other future employers or the law enforcement authorities? SWIM doesn't know his right, here.