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Employee Drug Testing
No one can deny that there is a drug problem in the
United States. The United States government reported that in a one
month period, 9.7 million Americans used marijuana and 1.9 million used
cocaine. Today marijuana and other illicit drugs are stronger, less
expensive, and far more lethal than ever (How big is America’s Drug
Problem).
More than seven out of ten Americans who engage in
illicit drug use are employed. Employee drug testing is probably the
single most effective weapon we have against employee substance abuse.
It has been proven that identifying those employees who use drugs cuts
down on work related accidents, reduces absenteeism and sick leave, and
increases productivity.
U.S. studies show that substance abusers (including
alcohol) are 33 percent less productive, four times as likely to hurt
themselves or others at work, three times as likely to be late, and ten
times as likely to miss work.
In the past, employee drug testing was highly
controversial. Many felt that drug testing penalized employees with
positive drug tests, and that there was little bearing on performance,
that drug testing encouraged dismissals, and invaded employee privacy
(Drug Testing at Work).
Today, a vast majority of businesses – large and
small – are implementing company wide anti-drug abuse policies, drug
testing for all potential employees, drug awareness programs, and drug
testing policies. More than fifty-five million drug tests were
performed on employees and potential employees in 2003.
Questions have been brought up as to whether drug
testing is legal. There are some restrictions on drug testing in a few
states. But, for the most part, employers have a right to establish a
written drug test company policy that requires employees to be drug
free and implement a drug testing program as part of their policies and
procedures.
Employee drug testing is accurate when done
properly. The typical procedure is a two-step process where a urine
sample is divided in half; the first half is tested using a relatively
inexpensive, simple, and highly accurate “screen.” If the initial
screen is positive, then a second test is conducted on the second half
of the original sample using a different testing process that will
confirm whether or not the first analysis was accurate.
Employee drug testing is much more common and
accepted today, especially in transportation, airline, hospital,
construction, and other high risk categories. Employee drug testing is
being implemented by more and more employers because of safety and
economic factors.
Random drug testing of employees is not acceptable
unless implemented company wide and as part of a comprehensive package
of education and access to confidential treatment. The primary aim
should not be to terminate the employee, but to discourage abuse, and
offer help to employees that are at risk. The most effective programs
are those where the employer implements a humane and compassionate
anti-drug policy (Drug Testing Boom at Work).
One thing is clear: employee drug testing will
continue to grow quickly regardless of government support. It is the
most practical and cost effective way to strengthen existing drug
policies in the workplace.
Works Cited
“Drug Testing Boom at Work” Random Drug and Alcohol Testing
for the Workplace. May 2004. 26 Apr. 2005
http://www.globalchange.com/drugtest.htm
“How
big is America’s Drug Problem?” What every employer should know about
drug abuse in the workplace. 2004. 26 Apr. 2005
http://wwws.ohsinc.com/
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