Anyone here heard of the new drug testing - retinal scans?

[Taverner]

(more info: http://www.physorg.com/news6134.html )

Basically The test works like this:

"...first you must be 'baselined' into the machine 3 times. You look into the machine and there is a green dot at the end of a short tube. You line up your eye with the green dot, then you press a green button to begin the test. The machine will make a high-pitched sound letting you know it's found your retina. Then the green light moves back and forth from right to left 6-8 times (this is to track eye movement as well as scan the retina). The dot then returns to the middle for 8 seconds giving you time to blink and relubricate your eye (you cannot blink from the time of the sound to this time or you will fault the test and have to retake it). After the 8 seconds the small dot is in the center again and 4 large green dots flash around it. The large dots are 1/2 second flashes and they flash another 6-8 times (this checks for pupil dilation). If you did the test correctly the machine will make another high-pitched sound telling you that you took the test correctly (doesn't mean you passed....). If at any time you move or blink during the test the machine will make an error sound and you will have to retest.

After you get through the test then your results are printed. The results either say low-risk (your eye tested close enough to your baseline so you are at 'low risk' of being negative aka you passed) or high-risk (your eye was not close enough to your baseline). If you low-risk, you have passed an you are done. If you are high-risk then you must wait 5 minutes and retest. If after you retest you get high risk for the 2nd time, you fail the retinal scan and then they cross reference it with a lab-urine test (very strict urine test the also tests for dilutes, additives, adulterants, etc.)."

Now here is the really bad part about it - its not testing for substances, but if you've ever been "high" lately. So if you take something as innocuous as Cough Syrup or Tylenol PM you could fail the test.

How can something like this be legal?

They are standardizing on these in Florida (at the cost of $25K per machine) and I can't see how this isn't a massive invasion of privacy as well as putting thousands at risk of false positives.

[tridim]

1. So wait.. Drugs alter your retina in some way?

That's a new one to me.

[Taverner]

3. They make your eye follow a dot

The theory goes that your eye won't follow the dot quick enough if you've taken anything

If you ask me, however, I smell a big ass unconstitutional rat.

Ever pumped weights? You get the same effect if you shred yourself weightlifting as you would by shooting heroin. Why do you think Iggy Pop is such a weightlifter these days - now that he's off H.

That could result in a false positive.

[blue neen]

2. I have had a torn retina and hemmorhage in one eye, and a hole in the retina in the other eye.

There's no way in heck I'd be able to stand this test. I have permanent (dots) floaters from the scar tissue...how would my eyes be able to detect just one dot in the middle?

There must be a lot of people who have the same issue...torn retinas occur a lot more as people age.

[Taverner]

5. Knowing the ganja grabbers they wouldn't care

They'd rather screen out thousands of retina torn individuals than hire ONE SINGLE POTSMOKER!!!!

[kentuck]

4. I don't do drugs but..

I would refuse to take such a test.

[tavalon]

29. I used to say that but then all hospitals started testing all new employees

I wouldn't have been able to continue my career if I didn't submit to urine testing. I did draw another line in the sand, though. I will not pay for an obligatory urine (or retinal) scan. One of my travel companies tried that and it was one step too far.

[jimshoes]

6. What utter shit

Get the fuck out of peoples lives already.

[Taverner]

8. Exactly

[ixion]

7. drug testing is an invasion of privacy

and should be outlawed, in my opinion.

[Taverner]

10. Yes. Totally. I refuse to apply for any job that I have to test for.

I walked out on an interview at a certain 3-letter acronym company you all know because that was the next stage of the interview.

The hiring manager was like "Seriously? I shouldn't say this but you did a great job in the tech screen and interview - - and we can compensate with salary - I have that leverage."

[ixion]

12. yep, I had something similar happen to me

went as far as an offer from a large ins co, but the drug test was the deal breaker. I didn't tell them why, just that I couldn't accept the offer.

[napi21]

16. How do you ever find a job? Every job I applied for in the last 20 years had a drug test

requirement. All they tested for was MJ but if you didn't take the piss test you just weren't considered. They tested everyone, even the guy they hored as VP of finance. I honestly don't know of any company that doesn't do that.

[Taverner]

17. Most tech companies in the Silicon Valley don't test

The company I work for, and its pretty big - you'd know it, doesn't. I've worked for 5 other tech companies, and none of them tested.

[napi21]

19. It's sure not the same in the east! My husband is retired not but

7 years ago when he went to work for a supermarket as a meat cutter he had to take a piss test. You can't imagine how many people who were supposed to start working there and were declined because they failed the damn test. Same thing at the co where I worked. The last job I had was in Tx. I was Dir. of Finance. We had several mfg. plants and an office. MANY people would get hired because they had the right experience and background, but failed the damn test and were gone!

[Taverner]

20. To the birfers and teabaggers who decry fascism : THIS IS FASCISM

Drug tests

Such an invasion into your life - its completely immoral, unethical and illegal.

[Indenturedebtor]

26. Yeah tech companies tend not to test from what I've heard and seen

In my opinion it's because they know that smart people tend to experiment ;)

[Taverner]

27. That, and techs are definitely social libertarians

Whether they're Republican or Democrat, most are "just leave me the FUCK ALONE!"

:)

[imdjh]

9. refuse to be tested, no matter who is asking

My lawyer for my DUI (decades ago) said I blew it when I backed down and finally agreed to be tested at the police station. Prior to that, I had refused to protect my rights under the Fourth Amendment. I was fucked up, but I remembered my Amendments. Anyway, they basically made it sound like it was a certainty I would lose my license (and therefore my livelihood) if I refused so I took it. Stupid me. It worked out OK but my lawyer said it would have been easier, cheaper, and shorter if I had stood my ground. I maintained that I had been coerced, lawyer said, "Tough shit on that one."

[Taverner]

11. Is this in CA? Over here you get an automatic "guilty" on DUI's if you refuse

And I'm dead serious on that

And yes, its totally screwed up, as are most "Feel Good/ Anti something" legislation

[imdjh]

13. You get guilty of DUI? How is that possible? Or do you get guilty of refusal?

[Taverner]

14. Not sure how, but this happened to two friends of mine

Both thought they were constitutionally protected, and when they went to court, they were slapped with DUIs in both cases.

[michreject]

22. Implied consent

is how they do it.

[vadawg]

25. in VA you lose your licence for a year automatically if you refuse to submit to the tests

[Christa]

15. FFS

Someone somewhere is making a lot of money with this BS


:grr:




:grr:

[Taverner]

18. Yes indeed

Fear Sells, and everyone's buying

[lib2DaBone]

21. The War On Drugs is a Carte Blanc Card to Invade privacy..

it allows the "nose of the Camel under the tent". Once the drug dog barks an "alert", it allows them to rip your car apart and take anything you have.. no questions asked.

I know I will get flamed here on DU as being a crack dealer Meth addict... but I hope some of the flamers here on DU get stopped in a traffic checkpoint and get hauled away for having a glass of wine on their breath. Serves you right for drinking wine at dinner... jerks...

[Taverner]

28. Exactly - and it's too often used as an excuse to do all kinds of unconstitutional things

Like take away property, for example

[Name removed]

23. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[anigbrowl]

24. "standardizing on these in Florida" link for this please? nt

[Motown_Johnny]

30. so you just need to make sure you are high for your baseline tests.... who cares?