Drug Testing

[Couttsy]

I last used anabolic steriods about 8 weeks ago. Would this stop me becoming an on board CSA. If I've declared it.

I assumed with steriods being legal for personal use in the UK using them would not effect employment.

 

[hughavinalaf]

I would imagine it would arose suspicion concerning your personality/character and mental health if nothing else.
Steroids get a bad press mainly because of abuse,and a concern for unpredictable behaviour,unfortunately,you will probably be bracketed.

All my own opinions of course

 

[455driver]

Just because something is legal doesnt mean it is acceptable to an employer.

 

[carriageline]

Honesty is the best policy. If you don't own up, and then it flags up (which i think is quite likely) in the drug test, then you will be up "**** creek without a paddle", as you have lied when they asked if you have anything to declare.

 

[Kenni]

Yes, I would assume the TOC in question would want it's staff to be able to fit through the Train door's...

 

[hughavinalaf]

Yes, I would assume the TOC in question would want it's staff to be able to fit through the Train door's...

While not punching everyone's head in who might be a tad impolite or abusive

 

[DarloRich]

I last used anabolic steriods about 8 weeks ago. Would this stop me becoming an on board CSA. If I've declared it.

I assumed with steriods being legal for personal use in the UK using them would not effect employment.

If you have a bona fide, properly certified medical condition that requires steroids as part of your treatment ( and many conditions do require treatment with steroids) you will be in a much better position than a gym based roid head.

You will, of course, be able to provide your potential employers with documentation from your doctors showing the medical requirements for such substances. Anabolic steroids are, after all, a Class C drugs which should be sold only by pharmacists with a doctor's prescription.

 

[hughavinalaf]

If you have a bona fide, properly certified medical condition that requires steroids as part of your treatment ( and many conditions do require treatment with steroids)

Other than low Test,i'm struggling to think of many?

 

[Couttsy]

Ok guys. I thank you for your all your replies, I guess I'm going to wait until the steroids are out of my system before applying.

By the way I can say that steriods have never made me snap on anyone, and I'm a project worker, supporting 16-25yr old in supported housing and believe me I've been spat on occasions and never responded in any over way than the way my employers expect!

You need the patience of a saint to do that job and very rare do you get thanked for the hard work and effort put in!

I'm also not some meathead of 15st plus! I'm 12st at the most!

I guess I use steriods but don't abuse them! And I also guess steriods are now in my past and I'm looking forward to joining my wife on the trains sometime in the near future!

She's a Virgin girl! So to speak

Thanks again guys for your advice
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

If you have a bona fide, properly certified medical condition that requires steroids as part of your treatment ( and many conditions do require treatment with steroids) you will be in a much better position than a gym based roid head.

You will, of course, be able to provide your potential employers with documentation from your doctors showing the medical requirements for such substances. Anabolic steroids are, after all, a Class C drugs which should be sold only by pharmacists with a doctor's prescription.

Just a quick reply! Class C drug does not make them illegal and I have never at any stage broke the law in buying them. The law breaker in this country would be the seller. I declared mine at customs at Manchester Airport stating they come from a legal selling country!

They allowed me through with them for my own use and also confirmed to me I had broke no laws?

In the UK Steroids are legal to take for own use but I understand they get bad press and so the moral side is what people see first.

Although I can definitely say working as a door supervisor and at one time running my own pub, alcohol make so so many people turn violent far more than steroids do, and I guess most of us drink with a smile!

I say most of us not meaning me as I don't drink!

Well cleared that up I hope! Just didn't want anyone thinking I was a law breaking so and so

 

[redbutton]

You may not have broken any laws, but that doesn't mean you exercised the kind of judgment the railways are looking for when you decided to inject yourself with dangerous drugs without medical advice.

You may think it's not right, but it's the hiring manager's opinion that matters and at the end of the day there will be other equally-qualified candidates who don't have that problem.

 

[455driver]

Silly question if I may-

If you were not taking these steroids to build up

I'm also not some meathead of 15st plus! I'm 12st at the most!

Why were you taking them?

Aside-
I need to lose weight as I am nearly a meathead!

 

[IKBrunel]

Although I can definitely say working as a door supervisor and at one time running my own pub, alcohol make so so many people turn violent far more than steroids do, and I guess most of us drink with a smile!

I think Couttsy makes a good point here. Public perceptions of what is and isn't morally acceptable is fairly blinkered in this country.

It seems to be quite normal to brag about how drunk you were last weekend in many sub-sections of society in the UK. Meanwhile police & NHS have to pick up the pieces (not to mention railway staff). Out town and city centres have become too boistrous on friday & saturday nights.

After experiencing some fairly messy football trains recently, I wouldn't complain if there was a weekend alcohol ban on trains.

 

[455driver]

Re alcohol-

As long as somebody else is responsible for their (the p1ssheads) safety and somebody else is picking up the tab for the clean up then nothing will change.

Start charging p1ssheads for the hospital time, prosecuting them for being Drunk & Disorderly etc and peoples attitudes will change, if these things dont change then neither will the problem!

 

[wanabedriver]

Re alcohol-

As long as somebody else is responsible for their (the p1ssheads) safety and somebody else is picking up the tab for the clean up then nothing will change.

Start charging p1ssheads for the hospital time, prosecuting them for being Drunk & Disorderly etc and peoples attitudes will change, if these things dont change then neither will the problem!

Here, here. I agree totally with that statement

 

[Couttsy]

You may not have broken any laws, but that doesn't mean you exercised the kind of judgment the railways are looking for when you decided to inject yourself with dangerous drugs without medical advice.

You may think it's not right, but it's the hiring manager's opinion that matters and at the end of the day there will be other equally-qualified candidates who don't have that problem.

Ian I sincerely hope that all rail workers are not as judgemental as you are!

Bad judgment I decided to inject myself, only you don't inject tablets my friend and bad judgment to inject without medical advice well again wrong my friend as my doctor and I have sat and spoke about steriods!

I can only assume when you were hired that you hid your bad judgment side from the hiring managers.

Dangerous drugs they may well be and if I took them then that's my cheese! I'm actually a really nice chap who didn't come on here for you to patronise, I come here for some advise to which most have given me!

Like I say next time you have a few pints call in your local A&E dept and see where the danger lies!

iKBrunel thanks for a great reply
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Silly question if I may-

If you were not taking these steroids to build up

Why were you taking them?

Aside-
I need to lose weight as I am nearly a meathead!

455Driver No it's not a silly question for you to ask, but the the sarcastic way it's been asked is wrong. Maybe you too are jumping in and being a tad judgmental!

There are other reasons as to why Steroids can be taken but then with your vast knowledge of the subject I would expect either you or Ian to have know this!

I apologise as I don't normally respond to sarcasm with sarcasm!!

My wife has just saved the day and told me that not everyone in the rail industry gives advice in this manner.

Have a great weekend guys

 

[455driver]

Rather short tempered arent we?

That is one of the side effects of steroid abuse I believe?

455Driver No it's not a silly question for you to ask, but the the sarcastic way it's been asked is wrong. Maybe you too are jumping in and being a tad judgmental!

There are other reasons as to why Steroids can be taken but then with your vast knowledge of the subject I would expect either you or Ian to have know this!

I apologise as I don't normally respond to sarcasm with sarcasm!!

My wife has just saved the day and told me that not everyone in the rail industry gives advice in this manner.

Have a great weekend guys

I wasnt being judgemental just curious, my knowledge of steroids is very limited hence the question, you know if you are unsure of something then ask!
All the times (not many I admit) I hear about young people taking steroids is to build their bodies up, it was a genuine question but dont bother as a proper answer is obviously beyond your capabilities, a side effect of taking steroids I believe!

The meathead comment was because I had just weighed myself that morning and I am just under 15st and seeing your comment above about 15st meatheads I thought it was funny, obviously I am wrong on that as well!:roll:

There are many reasons steroids can be taken by young people but not so many that they need to be taken which is a very different thing!

Enjoy your weekend as well, even though its only Thursday which doesnt really make it the weekend at all!

 

[Clip]

My wife has just saved the day and told me that not everyone in the rail industry gives advice in this manner.

Have a great weekend guys

Why couldnt she have told you about the testing then and whether steroid use would show up?

 

[hughavinalaf]

Performance enhancing drugs receive a very bad press,and in the majority of cases,rightly so,however........

Used responsibly,and with much research and understanding,which includes everything from diet and training to lifestyle and personality,they are an aid to an end result and certainly,imo,alot less of a risk to ones health than(tax earning) drugs such as alcohol and tobacco.

Now I am certainly not supporting their use,as I have trained 'naturally' all my life,however,to provide some balance......they are,without doubt,demonised by rumour,myth and misinformation,the negative stories that are often attributed to their use are mostly speculative and assumptious at best,with hard facts with regard to their side effects being sketchy to say the least.

In regards to the OP,at 12 stone,i'm sure he could have achieved his goals without their use,as,i would guess..... there is much room for unassisted growth.
In his 'defence' though,he does come across as being responsible and sensible and has answered himself well in regards to his personal choices.

I think he should be cut a little slack

 

[Red18]

I think any TOC would be crazy to employ anyone with any trace of any' lifestyle' / non-prescribed drugs.
In the event of any incident, however minor, where the judgement of the driver (or other member of staff) was called into question, even the tiniest suggestion of drugs/steroids/alcohol etc is going to create a s***storm of legal and moral questions about the employee and the TOC itself. Even if the drugs/steroids can be proved to have had no influence on the events at all the media would just go to town on a story like that.
Imagine someone jumping in front of the train. Although the inquest states that the levels of steroids or even alcohol shown up in the drivers blood tests were small it still plants the seed of doubt in the minds of the general public and media.

 

[hughavinalaf]

I think any TOC would be crazy to employ anyone with any trace of any' lifestyle' / non-prescribed drugs.
In the event of any incident, however minor, where the judgement of the driver (or other member of staff) was called into question, even the tiniest suggestion of drugs/steroids/alcohol etc is going to create a s***storm of legal and moral questions about the employee and the TOC itself. Even if the drugs/steroids can be proved to have had no influence on the events at all the media would just go to town on a story like that.
Imagine someone jumping in front of the train. Although the inquest states that the levels of steroids or even alcohol shown up in the drivers blood tests were small it still plants the seed of doubt in the minds of the general public and media.

Although still having traces in your system is a totally different debate......You make a great point,while,to some degree,reinforcing mine.

 

[Couttsy]

Rather short tempered arent we?

That is one of the side effects of steroid abuse I believe?

I wasnt being judgemental just curious, my knowledge of steroids is very limited hence the question, you know if you are unsure of something then ask!
All the times (not many I admit) I hear about young people taking steroids is to build their bodies up, it was a genuine question but dont bother as a proper answer is obviously beyond your capabilities, a side effect of taking steroids I believe!

The meathead comment was because I had just weighed myself that morning and I am just under 15st and seeing your comment above about 15st meatheads I thought it was funny, obviously I am wrong on that as well!:roll:

There are many reasons steroids can be taken by young people but not so many that they need to be taken which is a very different thing!

Enjoy your weekend as well, even though its only Thursday which doesnt really make it the weekend at all!

Your just full of sarcasm! And by the way the steriods I used my friend are well out of my system but can show tracies in a test I believe for upto 3 months. So short tempered not really just not used to being around such sarcasm! So just playing around with different methods of how to handle you with offending you as I wish not to offend sir.

Just happened to have weighed yourself that morning so let's put a sarcastic comment in here shall we, instead of not leaving another comment because the question had already been answered!

Study - 75% of steroid users are said to over 25yr old so again lack of research before making a comment on a subject that you know nothing about but will take a swipe by saying "I hear about young people taking steriods". You here from who? Media maybe but then hand on heart I can say I've never seen or heard in the media about young people taking steriods, although every couple of years we do hear of a case of someone using them to cheat in sports!

Now let's not keep taking this back and forward, because that will just show signs of immaturity on both side and I don't think we can be considered to be young people haha!

Now one more thing! Sarcasm again on your end Yes indeed you are quite right it is Thursday, and so the week is so nearly over so I guess I was wishing you a jolly good weekend ahead, sorry I must have forgot to put ahead, but then I wrongly assumed you would know when the weekend was!!

So we can try this one again.. 455Driver have a fantastic weekend ahead! Hope the sun shines for you mate

Welcome to the Rail forum for me my first post seems to have gone well!! NOT

 

[Erniescooper]

I work on the railways as a technician in a safety critical role, I started suffering with Asthma of the winter and have been prescribed steroids a couple of times in a attempt to control it . After checking with Bupa I was not allowed into work until a day after I had taken the last tablet of my course.

 

[hughavinalaf]

I work on the railways as a technician in a safety critical role, I started suffering with Asthma of the winter and have been prescribed steroids a couple of times in a attempt to control it . After checking with Bupa I was not allowed into work until a day after I had taken the last tablet of my course.

That is a drug that comes under the banner of a corticosteroid,they act on the immune system and are quite different to the hormonal androgens of which this thread is dedicated.

 

[Couttsy]

Performance enhancing drugs receive a very bad press,and in the majority of cases,rightly so,however........

Used responsibly,and with much research and understanding,which includes everything from diet and training to lifestyle and personality,they are an aid to an end result and certainly,imo,alot less of a risk to ones health than(tax earning) drugs such as alcohol and tobacco.

Now I am certainly not supporting their use,as I have trained 'naturally' all my life,however,to provide some balance......they are,without doubt,demonised by rumour,myth and misinformation,the negative stories that are often attributed to their use are mostly speculative and assumptious at best,with hard facts with regard to their side effects being sketchy to say the least.

In regards to the OP,at 12 stone,i'm sure he could have achieved his goals without their use,as,i would guess..... there is much room for unassisted growth.
In his 'defence' though,he does come across as being responsible and sensible and has answered himself well in regards to his personal choices.

I think he should be cut a little slack

Thank you Hughavinalaf for your kind words! Your a credit to your industry!

The steriods were taken for a personal reason and I should not really have to explaine to a forum as to what that reason was!!

I kind of regret asking the question as I have been made to feel a slightly attacked! Which feels strange coming from an industry which in most corners is regarded as friendly.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I think any TOC would be crazy to employ anyone with any trace of any' lifestyle' / non-prescribed drugs.
In the event of any incident, however minor, where the judgement of the driver (or other member of staff) was called into question, even the tiniest suggestion of drugs/steroids/alcohol etc is going to create a s***storm of legal and moral questions about the employee and the TOC itself. Even if the drugs/steroids can be proved to have had no influence on the events at all the media would just go to town on a story like that.
Imagine someone jumping in front of the train. Although the inquest states that the levels of steroids or even alcohol shown up in the drivers blood tests were small it still plants the seed of doubt in the minds of the general public and media.

This I regard has a great point and a fair point
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Why couldnt she have told you about the testing then and whether steroid use would show up?

Because my wife was not to sure on the subject so I decided what better place to ask a Rail career question than a Rail forum!

Quite simple really my friend! Do you not agree?

I prefere you would say your wife than "SHE" It just sounds a bit more friendly

 

[hughavinalaf]

Youre wecome Coutssy and don't be too dis-heartened,this forum,like anywhere else......represents a section of society who have perceptions of life based on both fact and hearsay,its good to get an overview.......and remember,every story has two sides

What you have 'done' is seen to be wrong in the eyes of many,however,show me a man who has never made a mistake,or a poor choice, and i'll show you a liar.

Your honesty,and frankness,is to be applauded imo.

Good luck.

 

[455driver]

So we can try this one again.. 455Driver have a fantastic weekend ahead! Hope the sun shines for you mate

I am working all weekend so I dont care if it pees it down , but thanks for the consideration.

Oh and for fear of repeating myself, I wasnt being sarcastic, just curious but please ignore that fact again, if you dont believe me about weighing myself that morning then fine suit yourself but it is the truth.

Try reading the 2 posts of mine with an open mind (the important bit in the middle, not the first and last bits ), I am still curious why a young man would chose to take recreational steroids if it wasnt to build up!

 

[ComUtoR]

I am working all weekend so I dont care if it pees it down , but thanks for the consideration.

I'm curious. Why don't you care about the rain when bad weather is notoriously bad for train running and can cause aditional delays as well as adhesion related incidents ? Surely having clement weather is prefferential.

ps.
I care I wanna take the kiddywinkles to Legoland (currently showing showers in windsor on saturday)

pps.
I actually know the answer to the op but cant abide rudenes and lack of respect for other peoples posting style so I shall refrain from posting a clear, concise and coherent answer to his quandary.

 

[455driver]

I just prefer a bit of a challenge thats all, it can get a bit boring when nothing much is happening.

Okay I hope it is nice on Saturday so you can have a good day at Legoland, apart from the queues it is an excellent day out.

Is that last bit aimed at me (as the OP in your post) or the OP at the start of the thread?

 

[ComUtoR]

Aimed squarely at the thread starter.

Good to see that a Driver wants a "bit of a challenge" I wish you the "right kind of rain" I think the tedium of driving trains is often the unheard of side of the job.

I must admit that when I am working the weather is less of a concern than my free time. On a side note I read that Legoland ave a rainy day guarantee and If it rains you get a free ticket for another day. I have a Merlin pass so not that fussed.

 

[redbutton]

I'm sorry if I came across as patronizing; I was just trying to explain how a hiring manager would see it.

The fact is that many if not most people who take prescription drugs without a prescription, be it recreational, performance-enhancing, or otherwise, do so against medical advice assuming such advice is sought. That's an indicator of bad judgement.

Keep in mind that you probably wouldn't even be given the opportunity to explain any of this; they would simply move on to the next qualified candidate. There's just too much liability involved in safety-critical roles.

Also, keep in mind that should you take your medical between cycles, not declare it, then get hired into a safety-critical role, you'll still be subject to random testing throughout your career.