Ky.gov
Effective: 7/29/2026

G1.27 Drug Testing

Legal Authority

Introduction

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Drug testing is a tool often used as a component of case management for families with a reasonable suspicion of substance misuse. The following procedure outlines the use of drug testing and the interpretation of results.

Practice Guidance

  • Requests for an individual to drug test should only be made when there is reasonable suspicion of substance misuse. This preserves the rights and dignity of the individual, as well as considers the cost to the individual or public funds for unnecessary testing. ​​
  • All court-ordered testing is self-pay unless the court order explicitly states the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (Cabinet/CHFS) is to pay for the test. 
  • The DCBS-1A Informed Consent and Release of Information and Records Supplement is used for the release of drug testing results to the court, substance abuse treatment centers, and other related stakeholders as necessary to meet the case plan requirements. 
  • Upon knowledge of a positive response to naloxone, also known as Narcan, by a child or caregiver, a comprehensive drug screen of caregivers, which includes synthetic opioids, should be requested through consultation with FSOS.  
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Procedure

The FSOS:
  1. Reviews the request for testing to ensure that there is a reasonable suspicion of substance misuse that requires testing such as:
    1. ​(DUI charges;
    2. Charges related to possession or trafficking;
    3. Direct observation of paraphernalia;
    4. Strong collateral information from professionals; or
    5. Reported or observed responses to naloxone.
 The SSW:
  1. Upon FSOS approval for testing, but prior to actual testing, obtains a: 
    1. Court order; or
    2. DCBS-1A Informed Consent and Release of Information and Records Supplement; 
  2. ​​​Documents the request for drug testing in the case plan along with specific discussion regarding the possible consequences should the client test positive for substances; 
  3. Does not request or offer for the Cabinet to pay for drug testing and contacts the service region administrator (SRA) and regional attorney within twenty-four (24) hours if a court order is issued requiring the Cabinet to pay for drug testing; 
  4. Provides the following information to the adult to be tested: 
    1. Location of testing site; 
    2. Date and approximate testing time; and 
    3. Requirement that they produce a legally valid picture identification at the time of testing.
  5. Notifies the adult to be tested that failure to provide a legally valid picture identification to the testing site will result in a “Failure to Test” result; 
  6. Provides a copy of the results to the court when the drug testing is court-ordered; 
  7. Does not release the results of drug testing to other providers, community partners, or other individuals without a signed DCBS-1A or court order authorizing such disclosure; and 
  8. Uploads a copy of the testing results into the electronic case file.

Documents

Revisions

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