Odd Legal/Medical Question

[riotmod]

I moved here from Michigan about a year ago. A couple of comments my new local doctor made made me think. The doctor implied to in order to receive a prescription for certain drugs (xanax was mentioned specifically) I would have to take (and pass) regular drug tests, and that this was a requirement of Massachusetts state law. Something about

Comments

[tigerbright]

I have been prescribed anxiety drugs and no-one EVER said that.

I recommend Cambridge Health Alliance.

[secretlyironic]

Some places will require that, but I doubt it's a law, or if it is it's a new one. It's an anti-drug-seeking thing.

Xanax in particular has been the subject of some news coverage, and a lot of orgs are trying to move away from it-- it's faster-acting and more addictive than others in the benzo family.

My guess would be that they want to test you to make sure that a) you're taking the drugs you've been prescribed instead of selling them, and b) you're not combining them with something else (notably, Xanax and methadone are an alarmingly fatal mix).

You may want to ask your previous doctor to send you (or your new doctor, or both) your medical records, both to establish a history of being a legit patient and not a drug-abuser, and also to ensure greater continuity of care.

[riotmod]

The doctor mentioned that a positive result for marijuana would preclude me being prescribed the "protected" drugs, so I don't think that cross-medication or pharmacological management was the intent of the drug test.

[turil]

Actually, that sounds totally reasonable for a doctor to not want you messing with their drug management when it comes to psychoactive drugs. Cross medicating anti-depressants with other prescription-type drugs (marijuana) is probably not something the doctor wants you to do. Doctors like to work with reasonably stable systems, so that they can be somewhat in control.

[rufinia]

This is the first I've heard of anything like that. A quick Google search indicates nothing of the kind, but I'll kick WestLaw and see if anything comes up.

[lillibet]

Interesting. I actually read a news story this morning about various states considering passing laws to require regular drug tests for the recipients of government benefits.

But no, there is no such law in Massachusetts. Either your doctor is seriously confused, or there was a miscommunication.

[riotmod]

Yeah, Michigan tried drug testing welfare recipients a few years back...it didn't work out well.

[mindstalk]

"Governor Scott issued an executive order right when he took office. to force state workers to undergo drug tests"

I bet that didn't extend to himself or cabinet Secretaries.

If we're going to go this route, I fully support random drug testing of legislators and CEOs. *cough*

[miss_jett]

Ditto, between me and my partner. The only drug tests I've been subjected to have been to make sure that I have the correct levels of meds in my system, and they started specifically because I'm prescribed painkillers. When I was doing very well in regards to panic attacks at one point and they didn't show up on the blood test, I was asked why that happened. When I told the doctor that I had been having less panic attacks and hadn't needed to take them for a few days (I take them as needed), that was the end of the issue. That was like 6 months ago and it hasn't come up again.

[plumtreeblossom]

I had a nurse practitioner practically shove Lexapro down my throat when I didn't even ask for it. I know I wasn't drug tested beforehand.

I've never heard of such a law. Something is rotten in Denmark Greater Boston.