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zerosummer
Joined: 01 Feb 2008
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 Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 2:19 am Post subject: DRUG TEST WARNING |
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I'm an American teacher currently working in South Korea under the new requirements, and I have a warning for all potential teachers:
CERTAIN PRESCRIPTION DRUGS WILL CAUSE YOU TO FAIL YOUR DRUG TEST.
Yes, it's scary. Trust me, it's even scarier when you're IN South Korea and about to be deported because of documented prescription medication.
If you are on anticonvulsant medications, there is a chance that you will fail the required drug test. The embassy cannot help you. The Korean government requires you to pass the test, with no exceptions.
I've been presented with the option of stopping medically necessary medication for 1.5 weeks or being shipped back to the US with all of the debt inherent in taking a new teacher position (about 2.5k, including airfare both ways, which will not be refunded). Because I'm poor as hell and haven't had a seizure in half a decade, I've taken the previous option, and my second drug test is tomorrow. Wish me luck.
This is just a caution to potential teachers. Hopefully, it will come to nothing, but it's worth being aware of. I know there are other people out there who DON'T have the option of stopping their medication. Please, keep this in mind if you plan to accept a job in South Korea. |
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anyway
Joined: 22 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 3:42 am Post subject: |
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| Good luck!! |
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Tokki1
Joined: 14 May 2007
Location: The gap between the Korean superiority and inferiority complex
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| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 4:00 am Post subject: Re: DRUG TEST WARNING |
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| zerosummer wrote: |
I'm an American teacher currently working in South Korea under the new requirements, and I have a warning for all potential teachers:
CERTAIN PRESCRIPTION DRUGS WILL CAUSE YOU TO FAIL YOUR DRUG TEST.
Yes, it's scary. Trust me, it's even scarier when you're IN South Korea and about to be deported because of documented prescription medication.
If you are on anticonvulsant medications, there is a chance that you will fail the required drug test. The embassy cannot help you. The Korean government requires you to pass the test, with no exceptions.
I've been presented with the option of stopping medically necessary medication for 1.5 weeks or being shipped back to the US with all of the debt inherent in taking a new teacher position (about 2.5k, including airfare both ways, which will not be refunded). Because I'm poor as hell and haven't had a seizure in half a decade, I've taken the previous option, and my second drug test is tomorrow. Wish me luck.
This is just a caution to potential teachers. Hopefully, it will come to nothing, but it's worth being aware of. I know there are other people out there who DON'T have the option of stopping their medication. Please, keep this in mind if you plan to accept a job in South Korea. |
Yeah whatever. Unless you have HIV/THC or AMPHETAMINES in your system you are good to go. I have no idea what cloak and dagger lab you got dragged to for your test but it sounds like a bad one.
The drug tests are on litmus paper (with urine), and only for the major ones.
You may have considered simply not telling them about your prescription drugs on the application. May have saved you all this headache. Live and learn.
And good luck. |
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Join Me
Joined: 14 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 4:01 am Post subject: |
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| Wow�this is brilliant. Now Koreans are bringing people over here and giving them the option of quitting medication prescribed by a doctor or paying 2.5 million for immigration�s stupidity. Anybody recall the guy they let die at the airport while arguing about which door the paramedics should be allowed to use. How long is it going to be until someone not taking his or her medication runs into serious problems? Just brilliant. |
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Tokki1
Joined: 14 May 2007
Location: The gap between the Korean superiority and inferiority complex
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| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 4:05 am Post subject: |
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| Join Me wrote: |
| Wow�this is brilliant. Now Koreans are bringing people over here and giving them the option of quitting medication prescribed by a doctor or paying 2.5 million for immigration�s stupidity. Anybody recall the guy they let die at the airport while arguing about which door the paramedics should be allowed to use. How long is it going to be until someone not taking his or her medication runs into serious problems? Just brilliant. |
Perhaps he shouldn't have documented his meds on his app. They weren't looking for them in the first place. |
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Tokki1
Joined: 14 May 2007
Location: The gap between the Korean superiority and inferiority complex
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| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 4:07 am Post subject: Re: DRUG TEST WARNING |
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| zerosummer wrote: |
I'm an American teacher currently working in South Korea under the new requirements, and I have a warning for all potential teachers:
CERTAIN PRESCRIPTION DRUGS WILL CAUSE YOU TO FAIL YOUR DRUG TEST.
Yes, it's scary. Trust me, it's even scarier when you're IN South Korea and about to be deported because of documented prescription medication.
If you are on anticonvulsant medications, there is a chance that you will fail the required drug test. The embassy cannot help you. The Korean government requires you to pass the test, with no exceptions.
I've been presented with the option of stopping medically necessary medication for 1.5 weeks or being shipped back to the US with all of the debt inherent in taking a new teacher position (about 2.5k, including airfare both ways, which will not be refunded). Because I'm poor as hell and haven't had a seizure in half a decade, I've taken the previous option, and my second drug test is tomorrow. Wish me luck.
This is just a caution to potential teachers. Hopefully, it will come to nothing, but it's worth being aware of. I know there are other people out there who DON'T have the option of stopping their medication. Please, keep this in mind if you plan to accept a job in South Korea. |
Which anticonvulsant drug has a half life of 1.5 weeks? Just curious. |
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RACETRAITOR
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 4:22 am Post subject: |
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| And let's not forget poppy seeds. |
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SHANE02
Joined: 04 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 4:45 am Post subject: |
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| RACETRAITOR wrote: |
| And let's not forget poppy seeds. |
What about them? |
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Benicio
Joined: 25 May 2006
Location: Down South- where it's hot & wet
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| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 5:04 am Post subject: |
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Poppy seeds- opium!
Didn't you watch Seinfeld? |
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RACETRAITOR
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 5:08 am Post subject: |
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| Benicio wrote: |
Poppy seeds- opium!
Didn't you watch Seinfeld? |
Or Mythbusters?
It's actually a lot more powerful than they predicted. |
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Corky
Joined: 06 Jan 2004
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Oreovictim
Joined: 23 Aug 2006
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| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 9:38 am Post subject: |
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| I'm curious if Xanax would show up on a drug test? If so, I'm screwed. |
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Tokki1
Joined: 14 May 2007
Location: The gap between the Korean superiority and inferiority complex
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| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 11:17 am Post subject: |
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They aren't looking for it.
But if we keep talking about it on these forums, they probably will be--since this site is being monitored by every racist agency, anti-waeguk force and disgruntled ajoshi and gyopo in the country.
I'm sure that if you checked yes to xanax on your app and said that you have an anxiety disorder your app would have been rejected. But let's face it, tests cost money. If they were really looking they'd be doing DNA testing, but that would bankrupt the entire peninsula.
You obviously (I'm assuming you're either a public teacher or have done the test before) lied on your app like you're supposed to. Most teachers I know are benzo fiends. Only way to survive if you're the kind of guy who wakes up on the floor covered in oreos even some of the time like your avatar suggests.
You're in Rome, man. Lie. My test was done in about an hour (sort of like those ads you see on tv for glasses or contacts). I don't even think they did anything. I suggest you get an EPIK or GEPIK or whatever agent to take you to a doctor. Wink wink nudge nudge. You could probably have track marks up your neck and pass.
Worst case scenario: you fail the test and have to leave the country and go someplace where you're treated like some semblance of a human being and not a drug-addled, child-molesting womanizing unemployable reject.
Thoughts?  |
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captain kirk
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 4:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Tokki1 wrote: |
Worst case scenario: you fail the test and have to leave the country and go someplace where you're treated like some semblance of a human being and not a drug-addled, child-molesting womanizing unemployable reject.
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 Thanks, I spit out my coffee laughing. |
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Kevin3701
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 4:08 pm Post subject: |
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lol at this thread..  |
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