Drug Abuse And Drug Testing In The Workplace

In recognition of Drug-Free Work Week, which begins on October 16th, HR Web Cafe has posted an excellent article about drugs in the workplace referencing some advice offered by the DOL regarding workplace drug-free programs.

The negative effects of drug abuse on the workplace are well documented and include lost productivity, increased absenteeism, increased on-the-job accidents, increased medical insurance costs and increased employee theft.

Perhaps drug abusers themselves tell the story most clearly.

Mr. Lou DiLorenzo, an employment law attorney with over 30 years of business counseling, reports that a study of drug abusers in rehabilitation resulted in admissions that:

• 75 % had used drugs on the job,
• 64 % had experienced adverse job performance as a result of drug use,
• 44 % had sold drugs to co-workers and
• 18 % had stolen on the job to support their drug habit.

Drug testing may not be appropriate for many employers, but when necessary and used correctly, they can be an effective an integral part of an employer's drug abuse prevention program. The simple rule? Drug testing should be performed as accurately and fairly as is reasonably possible - or it should not be performed at all. Otherwise, an employer may wind up creating a bigger liability than the one he or she was trying to eliminate.

Here are some appropriate steps employers can take to minimize the legal risks of drug testing.

1. Contract with a reliable, professional drug testing service. Contracting companies should be staffed with well-trained and certified personnel, provide references and have qualified professionals available to serve as expert witnesses if necessary.
2. Assure that chain-of-custody is maintained for specimens. Human error is the most common reason for inaccuracies in testing today.
3. Confirm "positive" tests before taking action. Specimens should be split into two samples, so that a second test can be performed should the first test be positive.
4. Enforce the company policy consistently.
5. Maintain thorough, secure and confidential records. This is true for both drug test results and reports on drug-related incidents.
6. Make sure reliable witnesses are present. When confronting a suspected employee, supervisors should be trained in what to do and say and be not acting alone.
7. Document declining performance. Accurate and complete documentation is critical.

Of course, the first step for employers is to develop a formal written company drug policy and to effectively and repeatedly communicate that policy to all employees.

Comments

[Terry]

drug testing is the best way to detect, deter and reduce drug use in the family or workplace. Many employers do randon, pre-employment and post accident tests. Many families use them to keep tjeir children on the straight and narrow.

These tests or screens come in the form of instant tests that are less expensive than a lab, giving quicker results. They come in Oral and urine screens and are simple to administer.

[jimmy]

From the above analysis it is known that , the people who is working are using more drugs. This means that at work area more pressure is given. The particular concern have to treat their employees with care, and pressure given to them should be reduced. They should also include yoga and meditation classes to employees to reduce their pressure.

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jimmy

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[Terry]

Drug abuse in the workplace can be combated with 2 types of tests equally as well. Yes, you can send your employees and prospects to a certified lab and spend $30 to $60 a test. But you also have the option of in-house testing using instant screens. These screens can be purchased on the internet. You can purchase the standard urine tests for a little as $2 or as much as $10 depending on how many drugs you want to test for. In addition for just a couple of dollars more you can purchase saliva tests. Both are just as accurate as a lab and are equally accepted by most state and federal agencies.

You do need to find a company that will work with you to teach you the proper way to administer the tests as well as the proper protocol for chain of custody and other important facts.

A small company doing 200 screens per year can save over $3,000 in screening costs by using the instant tests. In fact these tests can be used in the home as well. Nothing like a drug screen box hanging around the house for the teenagers to see. Powerful stuff when they know you will test them if you suspect drug use.

[Shanon]

Drug testing of the American public has been steadily broadening over the past 20 years, from soldiers to grocery baggers to high-school and middle-school students. In its 2007 budget, the Bush administration asks for $15 million to fund random drug testing of students—if approved, a 50 percent increase over 2006. Officials from the federal drug czar's office are crisscrossing the country to sell the testing to school districts.Yet, according to the two major studies that have been conducted on student testing, it doesn't actually reduce drug use.Drug testing still is found not to be associated with students' reported illicit drug use—even random testing that potentially subjects the entire student body,determined the authors of the most recent study.
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Shanon

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[residential drug program]

I firmly believe that all employers should demand a drug test of prospective employees. Not only would it reduce accidents on the job and increase productivity, it most likely would reduce insurance rates and consumer costs in the long run.

[teenage drug rehab]

I agree that all employees will undergo such drug testing before they hire by their employer or company where they work for. But of course drug testing should be performed in a right way. Do this as a requirement for their application.

-mj-