Dr. Robert DuPont has recently proposed that all doctors test patients for drugs during routine visits and checkups. When a doctor finds that a patient has been using illegal substances, he wants the doctor to force patients to attend an addiction treatment facility. This move is not DuPont’s first attempt to regulate drug use and impose mandatory drug testing.
In 2010, he introduced a bill mandating law enforcement officers to test DUI suspects for all controlled substances that could impair their ability to operate a vehicle. Current laws require suspects to be in possession of a controlled substance before law enforcement can press charges. The proposed bill, however, aimed to criminalize internal possession of any controlled substance. In simple terms, the police could arrest and prosecute anyone who had detectable levels of a controlled substance in their blood.
Possible Consequences of a Failed Test
If DuPont can influence the way doctors and police address possible issues with addiction, doctors could force people to seek treatment, but that is only the start. After the treatment process, former drug users could face up to five years of monitoring. They would need to submit to random drug tests anytime during the monitoring period, and failed tests could have harsh legal consequences.
DuPont’s Reasoning
If you want to get a clear picture of why DuPont wants to mandate drug testing, looking at the reason behind his decision can point you in the right direction. Whether or not you agree with his motives, you will gain a better understanding of his perspective and what he hopes to gain.
From his point of view, mandatory drug testing and substantial treatment would combat the drug abuse problem by discouraging people from going back to old habits. He views drug abuse as an issue that impacts society, not just addicts. Because he believes the choices of drug addicts can affect everyone else, he wants to hold them to strict standards and make them take accountability for their actions.
Possible Bias
Opponents of DuPont’s views often cite a possible bias as his main motivation to impose forced drug testing. DuPont is the co-founder of an organization that provides drug testing services to major companies across the nation, so he has a financial incentive to introduce bills requiring health care experts to test patients. Some people say that it would be hard for DuPont to maintain a neutral stance on the issue when he has a lot to gain by pushing his agenda.
Getting Help
No matter where you stand on mandatory drug testing in California, most people can agree that addiction is a threat that society must address if it does not want the problem to get any worse than it already is. Getting into a treatment center is the best way to defeat addiction and to get your life moving in the right direction. When you go to a treatment center that cares about your future, you will have access to doctors, support groups, supervised detox programs and other tools that will keep you on track.
If you are addicted to drugs or alcohol and want to get your life under control, you are not alone. Many people battle addiction and don’t know what to do about it. Although facing the truth is not always easy, admitting that you have a problem and that you can’t solve it alone is a huge step toward recovery, and you will know that you have done the right thing. Facing addiction can make your situation seem hopeless, but you always have a way to escape from the trap when you use a proven plan and enlist the help of a rehabilitation facility.
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