Our department performs random drug testing on all employees twice a year or if they are involved in an accident. Do you have an issue with submitting to drug tests when asked?
Every fire department has different policies and procedures regarding drug testing. Most departments will require a pre-employment drug test to screen their applicants before offering them a position and perform drug tests at the employees' annual physical. Other departments may perform random drug tests, or they may test if an employee has been involved in an accident or is injured to rule out being under the influence.
The interviewer wants to ensure you will not have an issue with their policy if hired. If this is a requirement for the job, most departments will have the employee sign and acknowledge they accept this term in their contract.
The interviewer wants to hear that having random drug testing will not be an issue for you before offering you the position. They need to ensure their employees are drug-free since the Firefighter position involves working with the public and being around patients' prescription medications, illicit drugs and paraphernalia, and narcotics on Advanced Life Support units.
If you do not take drugs and having random testing performed will not be an issue, tell the interviewer precisely that. If you have an issue with drug testing, be honest and tell the interviewer why. However, if you do have a problem with being tested, the interviewer will most likely conclude the interview without a possibility of offering you the job.
When responding to this question, avoid telling the interviewer that you do not have an issue with drug testing and that nothing will show up in your test if you take drugs. The interviewer will find out if you have a drug problem, and you will be fired from the department.
If you have a drug problem, you should seek help before applying to any department. Since this position involves the safety of the public, yourself, and your crew, the interviewer will not want to hire someone who will be a liability to the department.
Since marijuana is legal in many jurisdictions with a medicinal marijuana prescription from a doctor, some departments may choose to overlook an employee who tests positive for marijuana. If you use marijuana for medicinal purposes, be honest with the interviewer, and assure them that you only use it off-duty. The interviewer can then decide if that will be an issue for their department.
"No, I do not have an issue with random drug testing. I do not take drugs or prescription medicine, so nothing will show up during a drug test."
"No, I do not have a problem submitting to random drug tests. I do need to tell you, though, that I have a prescription for a medicinal marijuana tincture. My doctor prescribed this to help me sleep since I have insomnia. I only use it as needed, about three or four times a month. I do not like taking sleep medication and have found the tincture works quite well. If hired, I will not use it when I am on duty, and it will not affect my ability to perform my job. If the department has a problem with me using the tincture, I can consult with my doctor and see if she can provide an alternative."
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Anonymous Answer
I do not have any issue with submitting a drug test of any sort. I take prescription medication for my ADHD, but that's all.
Amanda's Feedback
Confirming that you are ready and willing to comply with drug testing is the best way to answer this question whenever possible. You wouldn't be required to disclose the information about your ADHD medication in order to honestly answer this question. An employer can ask you about prescription medication use only if the inquiry is job-related and consistent with business necessity because it's considered a medical inquiry under the ADA.
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