Poppy seeds popping false positives on military drug tests
Although concerns about poppy seeds and drug testing are not new, recent data suggest that the seeds may be more contaminated with codeine than previously reported.
WASHINGTON — Lemon poppy seed muffins and all sorts of bagels are off the table for military personnel, at least for the foreseeable future.
According to a February 17 memo from a senior Pentagon official, all military personnel should avoid poppy seeds or risk a false-positive result on drug testing.
Poppy seeds are harvested from the poppy plant, a commercial crop grown by the food and pharmaceutical industries for the production of opium, which the pharmaceutical industry refines into morphine and codeine, powerful drugs. Although the seeds of the plant do not normally contain these substances naturally, they can be contaminated in small amounts when harvested.
While concerns about the effects of poppy seeds on drug testing are not new, according to a memo from Gil Cisneros, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, new data suggests a Some poppy seeds contain higher levels of codeine contamination than previously thought. report.
“Consumption of poppy seed products may cause a positive urine test result for codeine and impair the ability of the Department to identify illicit drug use,” the memo reads. . “Out of an abundance of caution, I find that protecting Service members and the integrity of the drug testing program requires a warning to avoid poppy seeds.”
The Department of Defense did not say if any troops were affected by the false-positive test results from eating poppy seeds. The Pentagon said the policy could be revised as new information becomes available. According to the memo, service members with concerns about drug test results should work with their local legal office.
https://www.king5.com/article/news/nation-world/pentagon-military-members-avoid-poppy-seeds/507-e07d7cb7-b165-49c0-aba6-31ea87eae1e4 Poppy seeds popping false positives on military drug tests
