Korean Job Discussion Forums

Dazed and Confused · Joined: 10 Jan 2003

I agree with anyone who has mentioned painkillers. However, those would be Codiene and Morphine and you'd have to get the by prescription. At least in the US you would.

deanjcrawford · Joined: 25 Jul 2005

Just so you all know, i think there was a bit of a communication breakdown with my boss. I think she was trying to say "Opiates" not "opium". Either way though...

Chokse · Joined: 22 May 2009

Yes, you need a prescription for pain killers in Korea, but it is apparently not difficult to get.

I have a sinus infection right now, and rather than give me antibiotics, the doctor gave me Codiene!

Korean doctors are a piece of work.

D.D. · Joined: 29 May 2008

i think they said you tested positive for opiates not opium. find out what you have been taking that contains opiates and prove it to the testers.

andersondm4 · Joined: 01 Feb 2011

winterfall · Joined: 21 May 2009

Sample could be contaminated. Have you seen how they do collection at major hospitals? You pee in a paper cup with your name on it and leave it on a tray with other open cups of piss. It isn't until the tray's full that someone comes along to collect.

Take it again or take a blood test instead. Blood's more expensive but the vials are sealed.

deanjcrawford · Joined: 25 Jul 2005

*****update******

So i went back to the hospital this morning with a co-worker and here is what happened. Give me strength....

When i met my co-worker, i told her that all i needed to know were three things.

1. How long does it take for the things that might be in my system to leave?
2. What is the name of the new drug test (urine) that they want me to take and what does this one test for?
3. How do they differentiate between "good drugs" and "bad drugs"?

2 hours later, i couldn't get a straight answer to any of these...

I ended up refusing to take the test until some more information is given and now i am actually fuming. Between my co-worker, a doctor, and 2 other nurses who decided to join in, they ended up arguing between themselves...literally arguing, the nurses were so unprofessional....while not telling me a single thing that was being said. It was 20 minutes before they even referred back to me. I kept trying to ask what was being said but they just kept telling me to "wait a minute" in korean. I got the impression that they were arguing about something completely different to the information i actually wanted.

The first thing they were arguing about was "why wasn't i asked what medication i was taking" beforehand. They said it's not up to them to ask. They finally brought down what we thought was an English Speaking doctor, but he was more of a liaison for the hospital. He said it's the korean way not to ask, because the drug test is similar to that of sportsmen and women in that it is a random drugs test. I pointed out that it isn't a random test as i chose when to come in to do the test. This got no response.

I gave them a list of medical ingredients that i had taken in the last two weeks, but the doctor couldn't be sure if these had any effects. We left this list with him and he is going to research it and get back to my co-worker, because if any of them did, he suggested waiting 15 days "clean", then taking the test again. The english speaking guy contradicted him by saying it's supposed to be random so you can't choose when you take it again.

With regards to how this new urine test differs from the first urine test, they could not tell us except for "more detail". When i asked what happens in the case of false positives, they had no answer. When i asked does the new test tell the difference between "good opiates" and "bad opiates", as it were, i got no answer.

I tried getting my co-worker to ask several times what happens if any of the medication i have already taken is still in my system when i take this new test and it comes up positive again? They didn't know.

I asked what happens if i fail this test? The first doctor said we'll do another test in more details again. However, the second guy that came down said that if this second test comes in positive again, then they have to report it as positive.

I asked them what about a blood test or a GC-MS test. They did not know about this. This second urine test would have cost me 50,000 won, but the main thing i took from this morning, was that they don't know how to tell what kind of opiates are in your system.

I cannot stress how frustrating this was. All i wanted were 3 simple questions answered but i could not get a straight answer out of anyone. I also felt like shaking my co-worker as all i wanted were translations but they just kept on going on and on and on and having arguments between themselves which i'm sure didn't really have anything to do with my immediate situation. Like i said, all i wanted were 3 questions answered but i know for a fact she didn't ask those questions until at least 45 minutes in.

So, it ended up with me saying i'm not going to take another test until they can tell us what exactly it tests and how it tests me. If it's just another urine test similar to the last one, there's no point and i will demand a blood test. My co-worker seemed to think that this new test can determine what is "good" and what is "bad" as it were, but when we were talking as a group, i didn't get that impression from the doctors. The worst thing is that this makes me look guilty. My co-worker couldn't get her head round why i would want confirmation of what the tests are. She just said "you haven't taken any drugs so there will be no problem". And in a way she's right, but she didn't understand what i was trying to get across about false positives.

I haven't taken any form of medication since monday morning - when i took the test. I called a local chemist back home, and he reckons that it takes about 5-7 days to cleanse your system, so i think i should be ok taking any kind of test on Monday. If it comes back positive again, then that would suggest that i have some other problems that i should probably go home to sort out anyway. The problem is, and i hate to say this, but i just don't trust the korean system. In two hours today, i wasn't filled with an ounce of confidence. I've lived in Korea for 4 years previously, i last left in 2008, i have got an opportunity now for a really good job and i couldn't face getting deported for taking medication.

Sorry for the long winded nature of this post, but i thought i would put everything in in case anyone is interested or has any advice.

decolyon · Joined: 24 Jul 2010

Man, that sounds like hell. I can't imagine how you felt. All I can say is that hope your health is okay and everything gets worked out for the best, one way or the other.

But I'm with you on not trusting the Korean medical system. There have beens threads done before about how many teachers knew more about what was going on with our health than the doctors we went to see. They certainly have to get their act together about this. It's inexcusable for a first world country like this to have a questionable medical system.

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

deanjcrawford · Joined: 25 Jul 2005

I was calmer than a hindu cow. For some reason my co-worker was stressing out at them. They could have been sharing pleasantries for all i know...but i doubt it. I always appreciate i am in another country so i always smile and try to be polite, but inside i am angry as hell.

I can see where you're coming from, but at the same time, if there are procedures to follow and more advanced testing to be done, surely performing the same test twice defeats the whole purpose and shows a lack of medical knowledge? That's what stresses me out the most.