Drug test mistakes indigestion tablets for the class A drug crystal meth

A man from Scone found himself facing disciplinary action after routine drugs test gave a positive result for the class A drug crystal meth. Steve Clark works for an offshore drilling company that has a strict anti-drug policy.

He was facing the sack from his job after a drugs test mistook an over-the-counter medicine for the treatment of indigestion as methamphetamine. Mr Clark was given a second test by his employer and this too proved positive.

Mr Clark was on the brink of losing his job; however, thanks to some research by his wife Carol, a connection was found.

Mrs Clark, who is a dental hygienist, discovered information online linking an ingredient in the indigestion pill, ranitidine, with false positives for methamphetamine.

Mr Clark passed this information on to his employer and a third test was carried out. The final test proved negative. Mr Clark did not usually take the over-the-counter medication, but his prescription had run out so he had no choice but to try something new.

He said: “I usually take lansoprazole on prescription from the doctors, but had run out. Normally I don’t need to take the medication too often when I am at home, because we eat quite healthily, but when I work away it’s not so easy to control what I eat as there is less choice.”

Mr Clark had declared his medication before the first test was carried out, which allowed the company to return a negative result for the final test.

Without his wife’s research, Mr Clark would have lost his job.