Posted on 07/30/2018 7:36:30 AM PDT by bananaman22
The fastest-growing oil region in the U.S. is fueling not only the second American shale revolution—it’s fueling a subculture of drug and alcohol abuse among oil field workers.
Drugs are easily accessible in the Permian, which is close to highways and to Mexico. For oil field workers making six-figure salaries, money is not a problem to buy all kinds of illegal substances to shoot, snort and swallow to get through 24-hour-plus shifts
(Excerpt) Read more at oilprice.com ...
I forgot all about that song, thank you for dragging it out of the cobwebs of my mind! I probably haven't heard it since Reagan was still president.
The bar at Outback in Midland was filled with what-had-to-be-hookers last night.
Hard-looking women, pretty, but looked older than they were, very fit, and over-the-top provocatively dressed.
All Anglo, but accompanied by fat black guy with absurd gold chains.
My wife and I were laughing at how obvious it was.
As opposed to how hard it is to get your hands on drugs everywhere else in the United States? I don’t think so. When I met him in 1988 my half-brother was a weed dealer. I didn’t know they made zip-lock bags the size of large pillow cases.
That’s weird. Back in the day when we (me anyway) worked 7/12s for months on end, there wasn’t any time for that crap. Not to mention putting others lives at risk. These days, playing at jam sessions around town, it’s hard to believe how many folks still drive drunk/high like there’s no tomorrow. And, there might not be for someone.
They had the same problem up in North Dakota during the Bakken oil boom in the last decade.
Believe it or not, the Al Jazeera USA TV network did a very interesting special on it.
Back when I was working in the oil fields and chemical refineries, we had random drug screens EVERY DANG month! And when I say “random,” I mean we had a monthly drug screen on random days throughout the month.
It was 100% participation - reminded me of my Marine Corps days.
Do they not do this anymore?!?
Those who are subject to random urinalysis don’t usually mess with weed.
It sticks around too long.
If they’re going to use drugs it will be whiskey and white powders and pills.
I suspect if they did they wouldn’t have any workers the next month.
“Back when I was working in the oil fields and chemical refineries, we had random drug screens EVERY DANG month! And when I say “random,” I mean we had a monthly drug screen on random days throughout the month. It was 100% participation - reminded me of my Marine Corps days. Do they not do this anymore?!?”
Yes, it’s done regularly. But people known when they are going to flunk, so they just quit instead of taking the test.
A positive test gets flagged on the registry.
The labor market is so tight they easily get a new job.
They are tested before going to work -— and all it takes is about a week to be clean — but a full 1/3 still flunk the test.
Working on an oil field is already one of the most dangerous jobs you can have in America. Having your co-workers on meth doesn’t help.
More than once the article references “24 hour shifts.” Doesn’t seem likely. Maybe 7x12, but not 24 hours.
Doing that job drunk is a death sentence for the drunkard...or his teammates.
Again, back when I was working there, a refusal to take or quitting instead of taking a piss test was also flagged as a “positive” in the registry.
You couldn’t get a new job in the oil fields or refineries for at least 12 months. Some places even blackballed you longer.
I just drove through West Texas on the way to our new home in Phoenix, AZ. When it was time to look for a hotel, I pulled off in Big Spring, Texas. I wanted to be extra careful as the gate lock on my 1994 Buick Roadmaster station wagon doesn’t lock, and the wagon was fully loaded for the move.
The whole area was seedy. I tried the Best Western lot, figuring it would be more upscale. Right by the front door, a young man in a muscle shirt (and plenty of muscles) was hanging out by the front door, smoking a cigarette. I circled around, only to find him on the other side of the same door, just hangin’ out, and looking around. I felt uneasy and moved on to Midland. I could sense just looking at the streets of Big Spring that something wasn’t right.
I’ve been in oilfield 25 years, straight out of the Army, and a quit pre-test was seldom flagged, the exceptions I know about being Exxon and Chevron.
They have since abandoned the policy due to (I believe) federal regulations.
Offshore was distinct, but then you had nowhere to go, except a 75 mile swim in shark infested waters.
You should have gone to the Hotel Settles. It’s a 5 star hotel in Big Spring. It’s the giant, tall, building. Restored in all its 1920s granduer.
The wife and I go eat there a couple times a month, great food. Brent did a great job with the restoration.
***Working on an oil field is already one of the most dangerous jobs you can have in America.***
I still remember people being injured in the oil an gas fields of Northern New Mexico back in 1955.
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