Would you quit drugs or quit your job?

[losthippy]

Has the threat or reality of workplace drug tests caused you to consider quitting your drug use altogether? Or, do you feel so strongly about your personal choices that you would rather quit your job or get busted first to keep on using? We already have to think twice about what's in our systems before getting behind the wheel, so how does the spectre of failing a workplace drug-test(s), potentially losing your job and the knock-on effect to the rest of your life sit with you? I know some previously very long-term users in mining and the military who had to make the choice and they all opted to get clean and stay working. Interesting to note that most have increased their alcohol consumption and a few really give it a hammering now, more than they ever did when using their preferred recreational substances. It has been a real struggle for some who felt painted into a corner and forced to make life-changing decisions they didn't want to have to confront. Tonics, cleansers, evasive tactics and sheer good luck have run their course and testing time is nigh, so what will you do when it comes to you? Sorry for the ramble but there's a lot to be said.

 

[itsok]

Unfortunately, i have to choose my job over my drug use. however, i am open to doing drugs that aren't tested for like mxe and k, and obtaining legit scripts, and psychedelics that arent commonly tested for. and of course, i wouldnt go to work high on some of the aforementioned substances bc they jsut arent things i can function on professionally.

 

[mister]

I sometimes combine both and do drugs at work, makes the day pass quicker

 

[Mysterie]

mxe + workin = bad combo imho

i think id quit my job but i dont get drug tested so who knows

dont plan on working with heavy machinery either really so i dont think ill have any issues

 

[jaurk]

I would keep the job, I cannot survive with a decent quality of life without it.
I would get into lucid dreaming, and meditation.

These are only recreational drugs/illicit/RC?
Not including caffeine right?

I could live without it honestly..

 

[footscrazy]

Depends on the job. I recently had a shitty bar job in which they explicity told me not to drink (most bars I've worked at let you have a couple of drinks while you work) but I still had some, because it didn't overly bother me if I was fired.

Next year I'm hoping to go back to uni to do my masters in an area I'm really passionate about - if for some reason I was drug tested during this I would stop using drugs. Likewise during a career in this field. It's just something more important to me than a momentary high - this is a lifelong goal and something that feels worthwhile and meaningful to me.

Realistically though, I would try and combine the two. I think I could find a way to use drugs in all but the most extreme cases, whether through timing or drugs that can't be tested for or whatever.

 

[what drugs????////]

Would you quit drugs or quit your job?

Thats waaay too broad man! I mean; if I HAD to choose? My career over drugs, obviously...
This question should read 'Do you hate your job, junkie?'

Quitting your only steady paycheck will, inevitably make you quit drugs. Or, at least quit doing them the way ya reeeally wanna
For the last 3 years though, ive been very fortunate to have a job that i enjoy getting up early to go to either sober or twisted

I think it helps too though, if you can maintain looking 'normal' or at least playing the role the way you normally would, on the days that you actually aren't sneaking off to bathroom cubicles or the car every 30 minutes for crackies just to function =)

 

[Mr Blonde]

Luckily I'm not drug tested (yet) in my job. I love the career I'm in and where it's taking me... then again I do love drug use. Tough call. I'd probably keep using and be careful, keep plenty of clean samples on me.

 

[What was it?]

Quit drugs and get into other weird stuff like vipassana and meditation, base jumping, rock climbing...

 

[Juvenile]

Lived with the spectre of work place testing for a while in 2007, nearly all of 2008, and from the end of 2009 to present.

Only drug I had to quite was cannabis.

If I'm having it large on a Saturday night or Sunday, I tend to take annual leave on the Monday just in case.

I like my job and it pays well so not smoking pot is a no brainer really.

 

[thescarecrow]

Worked in mining for most of my adult life and have been regularly drug tested during this period but doesn't mean you need to quit drugs altogether, just means you need to be smarter about your use. A lot of mining jobs offer good shift rosters which allow you to indulge on your time off and be clean by the time you return to work. There's no way I'd work under the influence, my job (and my life) is far too valuable to me. If I ever had a massive bender on amphetamines during my time off a sick day (or two) would usually get me in the clear before I go back to work.

To answer your question though, if I had to choose, my job would come first. I agree with the points outlined by footscrazy, it's more important to me than a momentary high, but it is possible to combine the two.

 

[bustabraincell]

I think the issue of drug testing in the workplace has contributed to people exchanging shorter term metabolite acting drugs for ones that flush out of their system more rapidly, in a nutshell, people who work in areas such as mining etc are able to go home for however many days or weeks they have off, smoke up the crackie, and as long as they leave it alone for a few days beforehand, they should test clean... however a long term stoner will test positive for months, I have known of people applying for jobs that have had their application rejected for several months, even though they havent smoked dak, but it has shown up in their system.

 

[spacejunk]

well, i think the answer to this is obviously for most of us - in regard to (at least try to convince ourselves) that our career is more valuable to us than our drug use...but i've always followed a career path that keeps me out of harm's way in regard to drug testing.
i think the fact that it's increasingly acceptable for organisations to demand their workers' urine (thanks mining industry) is really quite sad. i know for many professions it is a safety issue, but i take my privacy in regard to my personal habits rather seriously. and i don't work with heavy machinery.

for me it is more a matter of "would you apply for a job in an industry or company that does drug testing?" and the answer is a resounding "fuck no".

 

[Jakeperson]

I wouldn't work for any company willing to intrude on my privacy like that so I don't think I'll have this problem.

Jake encountered an evil company! Drugs, I choose you! Drugs use feel-good. Jake feels really good! An evil company used drug-testing. It wasn't very effective.. Jake ran away! Got away safely.

 

[pisspotnrock]

for me it is more a matter of "would you apply for a job in an industry or company that does drug testing?" and the answer is a resounding "fuck no".

cha-ching!

but at the end of the day, career is deffently a priority over drugs... more specifically if it involved six figure digits..

 

[hyroller]

If requisite testing were introduced, I'd of course choose my job, only because I know I could pass the tests these days. There certainly was a time where I'd have given the job the arse, no questions.

 

[whiteduck]

im currently working in a club/pub and studying, all though they threaten that they can test us in the contract at any time it definitely doesn't stop me. were not allowed to drink while working, but everyone does. i suppose at this age it isn't something i will really have to worry about, im definitely not keen to spend the rest of my years working in a club anyway.

 

[Busty St Clare]

Just choose the same drugs as your boss uses and you should be fine

 

[monkeyemergency]

In a tight space i would probably end up rationalising why its okay to keep using and get fired. But hopefully if it comes down to that i'll choose my job 'cause drugs shouldn't shape your daily life and routine, you should.

 

[SpiritFolk]

I just use and hide it it from work, exceptionally well actually, but if I had to choose due to soemthing like daily drug tests then I choose my job..

However even with this mindset I have lost maybe 3-4 jobs over drug use in one way or another over the last ten years.

*reaches into work desk draw for the vodka*