MDA Drug Policy

MD Anderson Cancer Center Drug Detection and Deterrence Policy (will include Tobacco testing effective January 1, 2015)

• GSBS-funded students whose graduate research assistantship (GRA) funding will be transferred to an MD Anderson faculty advisor, department, or program. 
• All GSBS students who are initially funded by an MD Anderson faculty advisor, department, or program. This includes all M.S. or Ph.D. students who will become appointed as a GRA at MD Anderson.
• Any reappointments as a GRA after a break in service of 30 days or more. A break in service is defined as a period of time when a student does not have an appointment at MD Anderson (this includes paid or without compensation appointments). Examples include GSBS students who return from an academic Leave of Absence (LOA) who wish to be reappointed at MD Anderson as a GRA.

• Students who hold an existing MD Anderson-funded GRA (unless there is a break in service of 30 days or more). 
• Students who hold a without-compensation appointment at MD Anderson and whose GRA is funded by UTHealth/GSBS due to a fellowship or training grant.

• Students must sign a release form to consent to drug testing.
• Two days after providing a signed appointment form and drug testing and release form, the student will receive an email that lab test screening orders have been created. 
• The student will be required to choose a testing site to schedule an appointment.
• The screening orders will expire within five (5) days of the date on the lab test email.
• All GRA appointments/reappointments are contingent upon completion of a negative drug test result.
• Drug screenings can be rescheduled no more than two times. If by the 3rd scheduled drug screening, the student/applicant fails to appear, the consequences are the same as a positive drug test result.
• A positive drug test is defined as test results on a urine sample that are is above the federal government’s cut-off levels: marijuana (THC), 50 ng/ml; cocaine, 300 ng/ml; amphetamines, 1,000 ng/ml; opiates, 2000 ng/ml; and PCP, 25 ng/ml. Alcohol levels above 0.024 are positive under the DOT rules. 
• Effective January 1, 2015, tobacco will be included in the drug screening.

• Removal of the offer of GRA with ineligibility to work at MD Anderson (with or without pay) for six (6) months.

• Fitness for Duty/Fitness Participation – Policy Number 163
• Substance Abuse – Policy Number 173

• Drug Detection and Deterrence Policy – ADM0309
• Drug-Free Campus & Workplace Policy – ACA0093
• Employee Assistance Program Policy – ADM0275
• Fitness for Duty Policy – ADM0274
• New Employee Orientation Policy – ADM0269
• Tobacco Free Policy – ADM0258