Weed, apprenticeship, drugs test

[BG2015]

My DS18 has just secured a fabulous 4 year apprenticeship with a multi-national company.

When he went for the aptitude test back in April, they were told that if they were successful they would have to take a urine drugs sample before taking the role.

He smokes weed, he uses it a few times a week. He knows I don't agree with it but he's an adult so what can I do. I don't fund him (apart from a driving lesson once a fortnight) so also out of my control.

When he got the email 2 weeks ago about the interview (which was on Friday) he stopped smoking it.

I've bought some tests and he's done one today - positivebut we knew that would be the case.

Anyone have an experience with this. We're not exactly sure when the apprenticeship will start, his dad thinks September which will be ok if they don't call him in soon.

This is a big wake up call for him and I think he's realised that a fantastic opportunity could slip through his fingers through recreational drug use!

I've googled how long it stays in your system but it seems to vary so much!

I couldn't sleep last night for worrying

I would of thought September would be ok . If sooner i'm on the fence but could use covid isolation to buy a couple of weeks .

The absolute winner in this is he's learnt a very big lesson about how a "harmless joint " can fuck up your life

He's knows someone who was going for his medical yesterday so he could ask him what the medical involves.

This is the type of thing that annoys me. You can lose opportunities for weed, even if you just have a smoke a few times a week in the evening and don't have a problem. Functioning alcoholics don't lose these types of opportunities despite having issues, as long as they don't take an illegal drug that would show on a urine test, and can carry out their duties at work, it's all fine. A joint shouldn't "fuck your life up" in this way. Perhaps they should test for alcohol users in these screens too.

He really should have stopped smoking way before he did, as he knew it was coming.

@rwalker

I would of thought September would be ok . If sooner i'm on the fence but could use covid isolation to buy a couple of weeks .

The absolute winner in this is he's learnt a very big lesson about how a "harmless joint " can fuck up your life

His start date is 5th July and medical on 4th June.

He's testing himself again this weekend and then wed/thurs so maybe he could test Tuesday instead and if still showing up say he's got to isolate.

@Owlina

This is the type of thing that annoys me. You can lose opportunities for weed, even if you just have a smoke a few times a week in the evening and don't have a problem. Functioning alcoholics don't lose these types of opportunities despite having issues, as long as they don't take an illegal drug that would show on a urine test, and can carry out their duties at work, it's all fine. A joint shouldn't "fuck your life up" in this way. Perhaps they should test for alcohol users in these screens too.

I totally agree with this, having spoken to a few people who have said they've worked with people who've turned up either drunk for work or still badly hungover. My DP knows a few functioning alcoholics too!

My elder son worked nights as an electrical engineer in a big factory and says drug taking (mainly cocaine) was rife with some of the men he worked with - they used it to stay awake. No drug testing there.

He's since changed jobs thank goodness.

You say you don't fund him, but does he live with you? If so, you may not directly be funding him, but you're providing him with cheap/free board, which certainly enables him. If DSS (very very nearly 18) decided he was going to start smoking weed, he wouldn't be doing so under this roof - and my partner agrees completely.

Hopefully this will be the wakeup call he needs, and he'll be able to stay off it long enough to give a negative test, and keep off it.

I misunderstood the title as weed apprenticeship (ie. an apprenticeship in weed) and thought that sounds fun!

@LindaEllen

You say you don't fund him, but does he live with you? If so, you may not directly be funding him, but you're providing him with cheap/free board, which certainly enables him. If DSS (very very nearly 18) decided he was going to start smoking weed, he wouldn't be doing so under this roof - and my partner agrees completely.

Hopefully this will be the wakeup call he needs, and he'll be able to stay off it long enough to give a negative test, and keep off it.

He's my son trying to make his way in the world - I don't charge him board (yet). Of course I support him with food and accommodation.

I certainly wouldn't kick him out for smoking a bit of weed. He doesn't smoke it in the house or garden! He also drinks beer and sometimes comes home a bit worse for wear. He's a normal 18 yr old whose been in lockdown for a chunk of his later teenage years.

He's a good kid, helpful, considerate, polite, empties the dishwasher, will do his own washing and we have no issues with him. He's good company. His friends are also lovely.

I can think of much worse situations for a teenager to be in than to smoke weed.

I also think there are a hell of a lot of kids who smoke it and their parents don't have a clue.

He needs to not try to lie or cheat. Past drug use may be tolerated, dishonesty won't be.

It's really common in engineering firms to have a blanket policy that covers 100% of employees, whether they sit behind a desk all the time or work on the railways.

Most of the online info says ‘moderate-heavy usage’ which is what you described (2x a week but maybe sometimes more or less?) reckons a month. If it’s been 21 days and a 10-day isolation would get him over a month I’d be very tempted. It’s not like they could ask him to break it. OTOH they might ask for ‘proof’ that he needed to isolate or ask him to go for a Covid test etc.

Fingers crossed it stops showing up soon on your tests. He sounds like a good lad.

He's found out from another candidate that it's a hair sample so he's failed straight away.

He was told at the aptitude test it was a urine test and like he's just said to me he wouldn't have bothered applying in March if he'd known that as there was no way he'd pass.

He's going to email and ask them what they advise as there's no point wasting their time if it's a hair test.

He says a couple of his friends (who work in other engineering firms) have had the option of a urine test now and a hair sample in 8 months.

Oh no!

Yes, he needs to email now and see what they say. I hope they’ll still consider him. Gosh, what a worry. Perhaps there is a later in the year application run?

His urine test is negative today which is even more frustrating.

it will be at the end of the hair so would a very very short hair cut solve it

@Owlina

This is the type of thing that annoys me. You can lose opportunities for weed, even if you just have a smoke a few times a week in the evening and don't have a problem. Functioning alcoholics don't lose these types of opportunities despite having issues, as long as they don't take an illegal drug that would show on a urine test, and can carry out their duties at work, it's all fine. A joint shouldn't "fuck your life up" in this way. Perhaps they should test for alcohol users in these screens too.

It'd be pointless testing for alcohol during the recruitment process as it leaves your system a lot quicker. If someone is a functioning alcoholic there are procedures within organisations that use heavy machinery to see them on their way.

Could he shave his head?

@TeacupDrama

it will be at the end of the hair so would a very very short hair cut solve it

It stays in your hair for months so I imagine it will still show up.

They take quite a large chunk of hair apparently.

even at a No1 cut?

@DamnShesaSexyChick

Could he shave his head?

Ive read if the hair is too short they take it from other hairs on the body! Not sure if this company would do that! It's a third company doing the testing.

The HR lady told them all explicitly that they would have a urine test if successful. My DS said she said it numerous times. She's the woman who offered him the job and who he's been communicating with.

Chances are they will do a couple of random checks a year.
It happened at a place where I worked once.
Even the non drivers were tested to make it fair to all employees.
One guy just got up and walked out when his name was called. He took it for back pain, was a lovely lad, but he was sacked.

It doesn't really give these kids a chance to turn their lives around and realise what's a stake does it?

My ex husband (his dad) thinks he should just go for the medical and hope for the best but I think he should email and plead his case.

If it's a hair sample then there's a simple solution involving a buzz cut and razors for is legs and chest. He can then offer a urine sample

@BG2015

It doesn't really give these kids a chance to turn their lives around and realise what's a stake does it?

My ex husband (his dad) thinks he should just go for the medical and hope for the best but I think he should email and plead his case.

How long ago did he do the initial application? Was there mention that there would be a drugs test at this stage? Online I expect there was. I get what you are saying, but it's not out of the blue, most if not all candidates will have time to cut it out.