Ky.gov
Effective: 3/12/2025

G1.27 Drug Testing

Legal Authority

Introduction

​​​​​​​​​​​​​Drug testing is an integral part of case management for families with a reasonable suspicion of substance abuse. The following procedure outlines details for the utilization of drug testing and results.

Practice Guidance

  • ​​Drug testing requests are documented in the case plan along with specific discussion regarding the possible consequences should the client test positive for substances. 
  • All court-ordered testing is self-pay unless the court order explicitly states the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS/Cabinet) is to pay for the test. 
  • Cabinet staff do not make requests to any agency, including the court, for the Cabinet to pay for testing. 
  • 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. 
  • ​Testing results may not be released to any community partner without a DCBS-1A or a court order.​
  • 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 to ensure that there is a reasonable suspicion of substance misuse that requires testing (e.g., DUI, charges related to possession or trafficking, direct observation of paraphernalia, strong collateral information from professionals, reported or observed responses to naloxone, etc.). Due to the costs associated with testing, there must be a reasonable suspicion for the need to drug test.
The SSW:
  1. Upon FSOS approval for testing, obtains prior to testing a: 
    1. Court order; or
    2. DCBS-1A Informed Consent and Release of Information and Records Supplement; 
  2. 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; 
  3. 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.
  4. 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; 
  5. Provides a copy of the results to the court when the drug testing is court-ordered; and
  6. Places a copy of the testing results in the case file.

Documents

Revisions

​2/25/2025

Reviews the request to ensure that there is a reasonable suspicion of substance abuse that requires testing (e.g. DUI, charges related to possession or trafficking, direct observation of paraphernalia, strong collateral information from professionals, reported or observed responses to naloxone, etc.). Due to the costs associated with testing there must be a reasonable suspicion for the need to drug test.​​

3/12/2025

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.