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Ombudsman urges Health Ministry to make a list of medicines affecting drug test results

Diana Kovacheva
Photo: BGNES

Ombudsman Diana Kovacheva has submitted a recommendation to the Ministry of Health to publish a list of medications which give a false positive on drug tests for drivers.  

Prof. Kovacheva cites as her motive the fact that taking medicines from several pharmacological groups could affect the result of a drug test. The Ombudsman points out that even small concentrations of these medicines could bear a resemblance to banned narcotic substances, and that this is public knowledge. Analgesics, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic medicines, as well as anti-depressants and other over-the-counter medications are all medicines of this kind. Ombudsman Kovacheva says that when a driver is given a drug test on the road, this means equating someone who has taken cough medicine with someone who has deliberately taken a narcotic substance. 



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