hi all. do you know if drug testing is done for contestants on reality tv and if so, what type of testing is done?
blood or urine? is there any type of medical/physical tests
that must be passed as well?

where could i find more info on the policies?

thanks.

• RE: drug testing in reality tv,Estee, 10:51 AM, 01-15-08
  • RE: drug testing in reality tv,Snidget, 12:25 PM, 01-15-08

It depends on the show. We know that a medical exam is conducted for Survivor contestants who reach a certain stage in the application process: this includes drug tests of unknown type and a physical fitness check which Courtney supposedly passed. Basically, the more the series is based in physical competition, the more likely you are to get a battery of medical checks before you can get into the cast. (Biggest Loser contestants must be able to survive the workouts, which means it's possible to be too out of shape to get on the show.)

On the other hand, some series visibly don't care what their cast may be on: The Real World doesn't exactly screen addicts out, and VH1 likes to get the deep alcoholics whenever possible -- then throw a select few onto a rehab show.

Your best bet for getting specific drug policy information would be to contact the producers of a given series and ask what they require in the way of testing. But there's no universal system in place.

And we all know they don't do a lot of screening for personality disorders... at least, not to keep them out...

AI can be presumed to do some testing: it would be too much of a scandal if a contestant was caught buying drugs.

Since this is in the AI forum we do know that American Idol does do background checks. A few peeps got in trouble for something showing up on a background check that they didn't tell the producers about ahead of time.

I imagine they keep the exact tests a secret as if you knew exactly what they would do then people would try to beat the test.

If you go to most of the on-line documentation for applying to any show on the website for the network there is usually some mention of physical and mental evaluations. I'd expect that as I'm sure the shows have to carry some sort of insurance and the insurance company would want to reduce risk by making sure that your impending death or breakdown can't be blamed on them so they don't have to pay out.

Although based on what has happened on a few shows I do wonder just how good those evaluations were.