Does NYC Probation routinely test for benzos?

September 18, 2009 2:37 PM

I have a drug test scheduled with the NYC Probation Dept. on Thurs. September 24. I have been taking Xanax every night without a prescription for months. Can anyone tell me with 100% certainty whether they will be testing for benzos or not?

If it matters - I am on the NYC Probation Dept. ARMS system, which is an automated check in, but got a letter in the mail telling me to report for a random drug test. My crime was misdemeanor possession of marijuana.
I should be clean for weed, but am very concerned about the benzos. Does anyone know for sure if they screen for that? Please help. Scared here.

posted by anonymous to Law & Government (10 answers total)

A good number of the standard drug test screens include benzos so you have good reason to be concerned. Given that the test is in a week, you ought to stop taking them now, but benzodiazepine withdrawal can be a serious condition, especially if you've been taking large doses or have been doing so for some time, so this very much ought to be done under the care of a professional.

Going far beyond answering your question, here's the unsolicited advice portion of this comment: this pattern of replacing one drug with another when you knew that you would be subject to random drug tests is certainly concerning. I'm all down with recreational use, but not being able to stop your nightly drug use in the face of pretty clear and obvious consequences is a sign that you're rather beyond that point. I highly suggest that you find a doctor right away and discuss this. A good addiction specialist can get you off the Xanax in a way that minimizes withdrawal symptoms, even potentially writing you a prescription for small doses to taper down and off, which will handle your drug test problem, and then address the real issues that are going on here that are causing this behavior. This isn't something you can necessarily fix by yourself, and you're just going to make yourself even more anxious and nuts worrying about it. Get thee to a specialist right away and start working it out.

You will feel far better when you have an actual plan with a specialist for addressing the root causes of your anxiety and for managing it in the most appropriate way for you. The self-medication may help, but it's nowhere near real treatment. Good luck!

I am, of course, neither a doctor nor a lawyer, and you ought to be talking to both, especially the doctor, and soon.
posted by zachlipton at 2:51 PM on September 18, 2009 [13 favorites]

In all likelihood, yes, since it's on a standard screen. See a physician, admit that you've been abusing it and ask for a prescription for a step-down dosage. Presumably if you have a legitimate prescription they can't hold it against you.
posted by a robot made out of meat at 3:07 PM on September 18, 2009 [2 favorites]

Apparently benzos can be detected in your system for up to 1-6 weeks after you stop taking them.

So, do no stop taking them until your drug test. If they do screen for it, in all probability they will find it and you will have just spent a week putting your body through very cruel withdrawal. I'll second a robot's suggestion of talking to a physician and getting a prescription for a lower dosage. That way you have: a) a legit prescription, and b) help in getting off the benzos.

Disclaimer: IANAD/L/anyone else with actual knowledge in this field. Just someone with an opinion.
posted by alon at 3:39 PM on September 18, 2009

Do NOT stop taking benzos abruptly. Benzo withdrawal is vicious and you would need to taper off. It's too late to avoid being detected in any case so there is no conceivable benefit to stopping at this time.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 4:07 PM on September 18, 2009

I just want to weigh in and say that I've seen a woman suffer a very severe seizure after quitting xanax cold turkey, it's pretty serious business.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 4:48 PM on September 18, 2009

follow-up from teh OP

Thank you for the answers so far. I understand I have a problem with addiction, as well as an anxiety problem that I've been trying to self-medicate for a long time, and now an additional big problem of a an impending drug test which I have to solve by this coming Thursday. I've never seen a psychiatrist or addiction specialist, but I am willing to. I left marijuana behind when it became a legal problem, and now I've got to deal with this addiction and my anxiety and violating my probation would really suck. I can not leave the 5 boroughs of NYC as a term of my probation, so can anyone recommend a doctor who can help me, hopefully asap?

A step-down prescription sounds like the best course of action for my addiction, and walking in to my drug test on Thursday with that prescription would make it so that I am not in violation of my probation.

If anyone here is an NYC doctor, or can recommend the right one, I would really appreciate it. I am panicking and feel like my world is about to cave in.

posted by jessamyn at 5:46 PM on September 18, 2009

I can't recommend a doctor in NYC, but I just wanted to thank you for your reply and say how glad I am you want to get better here. I can't really imagine how much the stress from this has to be exacerbating your anxiety, which I'm sure was painful enough to bear on its own. I hope you get the help you need and get better soon and that everything works out ok with your drug test next week.

If you don't get a direct referral from someone here to a specialist, you can always see your primary care physician about this too. While he or she may not be the right person to provide you with long-term care to work on your anxiety, he/she ought to be able to refer you to someone and may be able to help you taper off the benzos in the short-term .

Best of luck to you with everything!
posted by zachlipton at 7:04 PM on September 18, 2009 [1 favorite]

I asked your question of my WA-state PO friend, her response,


"1. Get a scrip for 10, or at most 20, pills from your doctor. Anything more will be seen as drug-seeking behavior.

2. Tell your PO before the UA.
"

While she says that obviously she can't guarantee what your PO would do, if you were one of her clients, and you were up front about it, AND have been off the MJ since arrest, she would only give you a written warning, not an arrest. If you tried to lie to her, or came in without a prescription, all bets are off...
posted by nomisxid at 7:36 PM on September 18, 2009 [1 favorite]

Getting just a few is probably a good idea. But depending on the dose and duration, a reasonable benzo taper can take as long as 2 months. Sometimes even more.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 9:15 PM on September 18, 2009

anon, if you just want a recommendation for a decent psychiatrist in NYC, email me (see profile). I don't know what mine would have to say about your specific situation, but I have substance abuse problems myself, and have found my doctor to be very understanding.
posted by torticat at 11:30 PM on September 19, 2009