Marijuana.com

PotShot

Arrest of Lab Screener Highlights Lack of Oversight
Associated Press | TheState.com | Sun, Feb. 26, 2006

CHARLESTON, S.C. - A lab assistant charged with taking money to cover up urine test results has highlighted the state's lack of oversight of drug-test screeners.

Neal Lamar Holmes, 41, of Charleston, was arrested last month on a charge of obstructing justice. He is accused of taking $90 total from two undercover agents to give clean test results.

Authorities say it was not the first time Holmes had asked for money to alter tests. They believe he conducted at least hundreds of drug tests for the U.S. Probation Office and the U.S. District Court in Charleston during his three years as a drug screener. Authorities concede they have no way of knowing how many of those results are potentially tainted.

If convicted, he faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He has not yet entered a plea.

If his employer at a North Charleston drug screening lab had been required to conduct a thorough background check, Holmes might never have gotten the job. His employer did not, partly because he also worked for North Charleston's Municipal Court.

"One would think that if someone would be a constable of the court, that someone would be trustworthy," said Heather Harrington, president of the Alternatives Life Improvement Center, where Holmes used to work.

But Holmes' arrest record between 1981 and 1996 shows he was convicted twice for shoplifting and once for writing a bad check, according to State Law Enforcement Division records.

While some believe the arrest should send employers a wake-up call to be more vigilant, others say the state might need to get involved.

"Drug testing is a serious business," said Jean Hamon, manager of Low Country Drug Screening in North Charleston. "People's lives are determined by the outcome of a drug test."

The outcomes can determine whether people go to jail, get employed or get their children back in a legal fight, Hamon said.

The state should at least require that anyone who collects urine specimens in South Carolina be certified by a nationally recognized clinical organization, said Ruth DeHaven, director of St. Andrew Medical Center, which conducts urine screens.

She said attempts to pass dirty urine are common.

She recently rejected a sample that a client laced with bleach in an attempt to cover up his marijuana use. Others have tried passing off watered-down Mountain Dew as a urine sample, or bought urine substitutes on the Internet, she said.

__________________

Carl Sagan Goodness Richard Dawkins Goodness

 

Dennis

I love it when people who work for drug prohibition go to jail. It's the most sincerest form of poetic justice.

dedbr

Tinkle-Tommy, that sounds better than piss boy, huh?

Poetic justice? Another family destroyed and more resources wasted so they can double jeopardy someone for a tinkle in a cup that may not even test right?

Am I the only one who think's this crap sound's like a bad nightmare that you just can't wake up from?

My son work's at a temp place that uses pre-packaged cup's for urine screen's. He said that one in twenty-five won't work at all.
Some work too well, if ya know what I mean....

Don't worry sport's fan's, it's not a nightmare, it's just a movie, and the good guy's alway's win, right?

( Dedbr comes out of the bushes, fastening the front of his clown suit...)

Oh, hey, there ya are. Anyway, if they want some Deddy tinkle they'll have to go over there and get it. I give at the office...Ded

__________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."

Abraham Lincoln
Happy New Year.......

Tokamak

Dennis: I love it when people who work for drug prohibition go to jail. It's the most sincerest form of poetic justice.

Uh, incase you didn't notice, the guy that got arrested was helping people with "dirty pee" pass their drug tests, for a nominal fee. He was trying to help people who were victims of prohibition. Sure, if he would have done it for free, it would've been more righteous, but, hey, a guy's gotta make a living, right? I only hope that any drug screener I may have to submit to is as laid back as this man.

Peace.

__________________
"He who knows does not speak. He who speaks does not know."
- Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

Wordless Nature

Dennis:I love it when people who work for drug prohibition go to jail. It's the most sincerest form of poetic justice.

I really have no desire to be snide, but there is something about "most sincerest" that makes me want to snort milk out of my nostrils. Although I don't wish to pick on anyone in particular, it is reasonable, in any thoughtful discourse, to expect a certain degree of precision when it comes to using the english language... In any case, the arrest speaks of nothing but the ridiculous state of affairs we are all confronted with these days. Since the very concept of drug testing is obviously anathema to any sort of progressive mentality (read: it's fascist), there isn't much to say. Of course, it is very possible that the poor bastard was using the testing procedure as a means to extort people, a great many of them probably verging on poverty... So who knows. Either way, it's a waste of space~

 

Dennis

I see him as another perversion of the marijuana war. He chose this occupation and is therefore complicit in the perpetuation of the institutionalized hate which preys on the lower class. Poetic justice served.

dedbr

Howdy Wordless nature, Welcome to the board's....

Allow me to introduce myself.... I is the Dedbr, better known as Ded, or Deddy if you prefer. My bud Buzzby is in charge of spellchek and I usually do the moronic, clownish commentary.

All new comer's get a nice, shiny ,new balloon and yu get a blu one. Her ya go. ( Dedbr turn's around and sit's back down in front of the bunker. )

Now, just a thought or two on the degree of precision during our thoughtful discourse.... ( Dedbr raises an ass cheek and toot's...)

Oooop's...Well anyway...I just wanted to say that anyone who can shoot milk from out yon nostril's should fit right in around here.....

By the way, can that little trick be taught...... Ded

Wordless Nature

Hi Dedbr. Thank you kindly for the welcome. My criticism was put forward in some jest. When it comes down to it, as long as I can understand what you are saying, the quality of your diction is irrelevent. Quite simply, it can be fun to feign intellectual snobbery, just as it can be fun to feign purile stupidity. Take care~ I look forward to future discussions with you.

By the way~ I think it's a natural ability. Either you have it or you don't. Never know, though...

Bravo, Dennis. A most excellent riposte. Nevertheless, despite your impressive grammar (don't take umbrage; this is all very lighthearted), isn't it possible that he may have chosen his position to fight the drug testing program insidiously, from within the institution itself? The only thing we actually know is that we do not have any real telling information regarding the personal ethics of the man. Therefore, I suspect that you have been over-using your "jump to conclusions" mat. Neutrality is still the victor here.

walstmonky

Umm, he was taking bribes...that's telling information.

Dennis

I'm not sure how you can "jump to the conclusion" that we know nothing of his ethics; He accepted bribes to alter tests.

I'm not into the judgment of limited perceptions, but this little act alone speaks quantifiable volumes of to me.

Welcome to the board. Maybe you'll learn something about yourself.