New job: HR guy administered my drug screening. Privacy invasion?

My new job is a tight-knit smaller facility (50 people.) After I accepted the offer, they sent me to the one HR person. I signed background check papers and he had me do a saliva drug screening right there, then they send if off for testing.

I don't do drugs, but one of my prescriptions is an anti-anxiety pill, the other is an anti-depressant. I didn't know what they screen for, so I asked the HR guy about prescriptions. He said he would need to see all prescriptions and note them before sending them off.

So, I had to pull out the bottles and show him, not a medical person, just an HR person. Now I feel like the whole office is going to know I have depression/anxiety issues, which are under control, with meds. Past jobs have sent me to a lab for drug tests & a nurse sees the prescriptions I take. I feel like this is a privacy invasion. These are not meds that keep me from performing my job. Why does HR need to know?

What do you think of this practice?

It is controlled because it is self administered. I held it in my mouth for 2 minutes and stuck it in a container, which he sealed, signed and then sealed it in an envelope to be mailed. I signed a paper stating he did this. I'm sure the test is legit, but I didn't exactly want the management knowing I take anti-depressant/anxiety meds. I feel it is none of their business and could affect how they think of me. My condition is completely controlled with medication.

I would say that is not the proper environment for drug screening to take place and if he's not certified or authorized to handle the test samples, it means the samples could be compromised. Also, your personal medical information is not any business of your employer and should not be recorded within their records.

Most companies I've had experience with sent their new-hires to a third party to handle the drug-screening, with whom they worked on a contract basis.

I guess in the end it depends on how much you like this job and whether you want to raise a stink or let it slide. I don't believe anyone would be particularly offended if you brought up the situation to your management, but that's a sticky situation if they aren't very understanding. Your judgement will get you through!

That sounds rather sketchy to me, unless the person is also a certified lab tech! Which I doubt. It certainly seems like the company isn't applying the appropriate protocol & that is not a controlled situatuation, which would invalidate any results. I would think.