What Happens if You Fail a Drug Test in California?

Get Answers on the Consequences of a Failed Drug Test in California on Probation or When Tested at the Workplace

Do you know what happens if you fail a drug test in California? This can be an important question, whether you are worried about the results of random drug testing at work, or as part of your probation.

A positive drug test is obviously a worrisome outcome, but the result might not be as disastrous as you think. This page will take a closer look at what is likely to happen and what the next steps could be after the positive result is recorded.

In addition to the immediate consequences of testing positive, there is also the big picture concern over where your life is headed and what addiction can do to you and your family. Using illegal drugs is inherently dangerous and the cycle of addiction is likely to pull you further and further down as time passes.

Getting professional treatment for substance abuse is the best way to turn your life in a new direction. If concerns around drugs and testing have become a regular part of life for you (or someone you care about), consider calling South Shores Recovery to talk about the situation confidentially while you read and learn more about the consequences of failed testing in the Golden State.

What Are the Circumstances of Your Drug Test in California?

Before you can consider the consequences that you might face after a failed drug test, you need to think about the circumstances of that test and why you were taking it in the first place.

There are a few different reasons why you might be tested for drugs, but most of them come back to either legal issues or workplace testing. Let’s take a moment to look at each of those two categories below.

What Happens if You Fail Workplace Drug Testing in California?

It’s common for California employers to require periodic drug testing as part of the conditions of employment. Sometimes, you’ll only have to go through pre-employment testing, while in other cases, companies will be drug testing employees regularly.

This is particularly common in safety-sensitive industries or for employees in safety-sensitive positions. A drug-free workplace policy is likely in place, and it’s legal to perform employee drug testing, as long as it is done appropriately under California’s labor code.

If you fail a pre-employment test, there likely won’t be any consequences other than not getting the job.

However, if you are already employed and then fail, a variety of outcomes are possible. It’s possible that you agreed to a zero-tolerance policy when you were first hired, and a single failed drug test might lead to your immediate termination. In other cases, when an employee tests positive, there might just be a warning or probationary period. Then, if that employee fails again, they’ll likely be dismissed.

What Happens if You Fail Drug Testing on Probation in California?

For those on probation, drug testing is a regular part of keeping up with probation requirements. Courts often use these tests to make sure rules are being followed and changes are being made.

If you are on probation and are required to take drug tests, staying away from all illegal drugs is certainly in your best interest.

If you fail a drug test on probation, serious consequences are possible. You could be assigned additional requirements, such as going to counseling or having your probation extended. In some cases, you may even be put in jail. The severity of the punishment will typically depend on whether this is a first-time offense or a repeat violation.

Your punishment will be dictated by California law, but no matter what the outcome may be, you’ll very likely be in a worse position as a result of having failed the test and not being prepared with proactive measures (such as the desire and planning to attend treatment).

What Steps Should You Take After a Failed Drug Test in California?

So, in the case that you are informed of a failed drug test, what do you do next? There are a few steps you can work through in the face of test results that don’t come out in your favor.

Check out the process below to understand how you may want to approach the situation.

Stay Calm and Assess the Situation

It’s certainly upsetting to fail a drug test, and you may feel angry, frustrated, or even confused. So, the first thing to do is take a deep breath, slow down, and think through everything clearly. You don’t want to make any rash decisions or lash out inappropriately at this time. To the greatest extent possible, be calm and level-headed while you review your options and figure out where to go from here.

Request Documentation and Verification

As a starting point, it’s a good idea to request documentation and verification for the test. False positives do happen, although they are somewhat rare overall. If your test was a false positive, you may have a case for unlawful termination, and could get your job back or be compensated in some way.

Of course, even before asking for documentation, you should have a good idea of whether it was wrongful termination or whether you deserved to fail the test. You know what your actions were in advance of the test, after all.

Communicate Honestly

Transparency is beneficial in these situations. Imagine you did slip up and use a drug at some point prior to your test, and that was caught on the test results. All may not be lost.

If you are open and honest about what happened, explain why it happened, and provide reasons why it won’t happen again, this test result might not prove to be a big deal. As mentioned above, for someone on probation, failing a drug test for the first time may only result in a warning.

Seek Professional Support

This is the biggest point to take away from this section. If you’ve failed a drug test, you should strongly consider a rehabilitation program to move away from drug use and get your life on track. This is bigger than just dealing with a job that prohibits marijuana use, or trying not to get caught under the terms of the employee handbook when you have partied the night before.

It’s about getting into a drug rehabilitation program that will give you the tools and skills necessary to look forward to a life that is free from addiction.

What Are the Legal Consequences of Failing a Drug Test in California?

There may not be any notable legal consequences of failing a drug test, whether it’s for marijuana use or another drug. Disciplinary actions will only come into play if you have broken a law or the terms of your probation, and even then, the punishment can be mild for a first-time offender.

Of course, if you are on probation and you fail a couple of tests or more, the situation can turn quite serious in a hurry. Your parole officer will certainly be taking action on your case, with the potential outcome of revoking your parole and putting you in jail.

Everything will depend on the terms of your case and what the judge sets out for you at the start. Pay close attention to the drug policies in your probation terms and avoid violating them at all costs.

Health Implications and the Role of Addiction

Throughout this page, we have been talking about the consequences of failing a drug test from a practical perspective. You could miss out on a job offer, have adverse employment action taken against you, or deal with problems related to your probation. Those are all negative outcomes, to be sure, but they aren’t the only things you need to worry about here.

There are also the very real health implications of addiction to consider. There are physical health risks, like heart problems, liver damage, and neurological effects. The specifics will depend on what drugs you are using and in what quantities, but illegal drugs are always bad for your health. Likewise, drug use takes a toll on your mental health.

You might quickly find that you are struggling with issues like anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions. Finding a way to get off drugs is important for all areas of your life, and health is at the top of the list.

Are There Benefits to Early Intervention and Treatment?

Your best bet is to be as proactive as possible with intervention moving forward. Seeking treatment as soon as you are notified of failing a drug test is a smart step to take. In fact, that step could prove to be one of the most important things you do in your entire life.

Entering a treatment program will allow you to finally break the cycle of addiction. Treatment programs offer structure, education, coping skills, and support networks. You’ll be able to focus on improving both your physical and mental health while under professional supervision along the way.

Look Beyond the Test and Get Proactive Support at South Shores

It’s easy to understand why you’d be worried about failing a drug test. It might count as a probation violation, or it may violate the rules at your drug-free workplace. While those are problems that you will have to deal with in the short term, there is also the bigger matter of your ongoing drug use to consider.

Getting away from substance abuse and entering recovery is the ideal way to put your life on a healthy track and leave concerns over drug testing behind once and for all.

To make a big move toward sobriety, pick up the phone and call South Shores Recovery today. We have an expert team of professionals waiting to serve you, and we will craft a customized treatment plan that is precisely suited to your needs. Reach out confidentially now to learn more.