The Failure of Drug Testing Procedures in the Legal System

Anthony Bing, a 64-year-old Navy veteran, found himself in a precarious situation when his urine tests for alcohol came back positive despite the fact that he had not consumed alcohol in almost a year. This led to his probation being put in jeopardy, potentially resulting in him going to jail. The issue stemmed from the testing procedure, as it was discovered that the diabetes medication Bing was taking caused sugar to ferment into alcohol in his urine sample, leading to the false-positive results.

Bing’s case highlights the flaws in diversionary programs such as Veterans’ Treatment Court, which aim to help individuals with addiction or mental illness. These programs have the power to “violate” participants and send them to prison without concrete proof of wrongdoing. In Bing’s case, the false-positive tests threatened to undo all the progress he had made since his arrest, including his marriage to a licensed practical nurse named Priscilla.

One of the key issues identified in Bing’s case is the lack of medical expertise in the administration of drug tests within the criminal justice system. Substances as common as hand sanitizer can trigger false-positive results for alcohol, while prescribed medications can lead to false-positive results for drugs or alcohol. This lack of expertise, combined with inconsistencies across agencies, labs, and contractors, further complicates the issue.

Bing’s case serves as a cautionary tale about the need for improved drug testing procedures in the legal system. The widespread use of medications like empagliflozin, which can lead to false-positive results if not handled properly, underscores the importance of implementing standardized protocols for drug testing. Without these improvements, more cases like Bing’s are likely to occur, potentially resulting in innocent individuals losing their freedom due to inadequate scientific standards.

The case of Anthony Bing sheds light on the failures of drug testing procedures in the legal system, particularly when it comes to individuals participating in diversionary programs. The lack of medical expertise, combined with inconsistencies in testing protocols, poses a significant risk to innocent individuals like Bing. Moving forward, it is crucial to establish standardized procedures for drug testing to prevent similar injustices from occurring in the future.