Positive urinalysis for Codeine caused by poppy seed bread.

I recently, and successfully, defended a service member who tested positive on a military urinalysis for codeine.  The immediate reaction to such a urinalysis is to screen the member’s medical record for prescription medication that contains codeine.  If the record contains no such prescriptions, the command interprets the results to be evidence indicating the member is abusing prescription drugs.

 

The command reaction is in line with a trend to abuse cough syrup with codeine in a concoction called Sizzurp.

 

In the case I successfully defended, we were able to identify what we believed was the source of the positive urinalysis – a baked good that contained poppy seeds.  Unfortunately, the command and the drug lab were loath to believe our position because codeine is normally not found in such large amounts in poppy seeds; generally, a much higher level of codeine than morphine in urine is indicative of recent codeine ingestion .  So, we had to obtain proof.  We obtained witness statements from individuals who had observed our client eating the baked goods the day prior to the drug testing.  Our investigators took custody of the baked good product and shipped it to an out-of-state, accredited laboratory who ran a series of tests on the item.  The laboratory determined that the baked good had five times the amount of codeine as morphine, which was consistent with the positive urinalysis result.

 

Using the laboratory report, pictures, and the witness statements, we convinced command that the urinalysis was not the result of drug abuse.  The command closed the case.  The client did not go to NJP or face an administrative separation board.

 

Korody Law is based in Jacksonville, FL.  Mr. Korody is a former Navy JAG who was designated as a Specialist in military justice by the Judge Advocate General.  He defends service members worldwide who have tested positive on a military urinalysis.  Call now for a free consultation: 904-383-7261.