In an industry as dynamic as background screening, consistency is highly valued. Laws and regulations continue to change, audit requirements evolve, and the technological systems used to support this work are always advancing. Company policies and procedures must constantly adapt alongside governmental bureaucracy, legislation, and lawsuits.
One thing, however, remains consistent: applicants will always come up with creative excuses for adverse information appearing on their background checks. From claiming they did not know there were drugs in a friend’s car to insisting they were actually the victim in an assault case, Justifacts has heard it all. The same is true for failed drug screens. Here are seven of the most common excuses.
1. The Medical Review Officer Did Not Reach Out to Me for Proof of Prescription
When a positive result is detected, the Medical Review Officer (MRO) will typically contact the donor to request proof of any valid prescription that may explain the result. If the donor does not respond within the required timeframe, the test may be reported as positive. In some cases, the donor may miss the call or fail to have a working voicemail, making it difficult to resolve the issue in time.
2. I Am Taking Something, but I Have a Prescription
Some donors claim to have a prescription but never provide proof. Others may submit documentation that is expired, falsified, or unrelated to the substance detected. The MRO must verify the prescription with the listed pharmacy or prescribing physician before it can be accepted as legitimate.
3. I Used the Pills of a Friend or Family Member
A donor may claim that the medication belonged to a friend or relative and was taken for pain or another temporary issue. In some cases, this may be used as an attempt to minimize the seriousness of a positive result, whether or not the explanation is true.
4. I Ate Poppy Seeds
This excuse is most often associated with opium-positive results. While it is true that consuming unwashed poppy seeds can potentially affect a drug screen, the situation is uncommon. Even so, the topic has been serious enough that the U.S. Department of Defense has warned service members about eating foods containing poppy seeds prior to drug testing.
5. I Ate a Cookie and Did Not Realize It Had Marijuana in It
This excuse usually involves a person innocently eating a cookie or other edible without realizing it contained marijuana. While the story may sound far-fetched, it remains one of the more familiar explanations given after a positive drug test result.
6. I Take CBD Oil
CBD itself is non-impairing, but some CBD products may contain trace amounts of THC. In certain cases, that can be enough to trigger a positive drug screen. Although many manufacturers claim their products contain no detectable THC, research has shown that some CBD products still have the potential to affect results.
7. I Was at a Party and Other People Were Using Drugs
This explanation is similar to the classic “I was just holding it for a friend” excuse. A donor may suggest that secondhand exposure caused the positive result. However, standard drug tests are designed with screening thresholds intended to account for environmental exposure, such as secondhand smoke.
Conclusion
Justifacts has heard countless stories throughout more than 40 years in business, and many of them fall into these seven categories. Whether a positive result has a legitimate explanation or not, these cases show how real-life situations and scientific testing can intersect in unexpected ways. In the background screening industry, accuracy is essential, so while explanations may be heard, the process must always trust but verify.
Sources
- Concentra – Medical Review Officer process
- CNS Occupational Medicine – MRO review and drug testing reporting
- The New York Times – Poppy seeds and drug tests
- Pain News Network – FDA urged to regulate poppy seeds
- Johns Hopkins Medicine – CBD products and positive urine drug tests
- Dominion Diagnostics – Secondhand marijuana smoke and drug testing