Drug Testing

Drug Test is a procedure conducted in some schools, hospitals, and places of employment. There are a number of ways this can be done, including pre-employment testing, random testing, reasonable suspicion/cause testing, post-accident testing, return to duty testing and follow-up testing. This usually involves collecting urine samples to test for drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, PCP, and opiates.

According to recent data, 67.9 percent of all adult illegal drug users are employed full or part-time, as are most binge and heavy alcohol users. Studies show that when compared with non-substance users, substance using employees are more likely to:

• Change jobs frequently
• Be late to or absent from work
• Be less productive
• Be involved in a workplace accident and potentially harm others
• File a workers’ compensation claim.

Employers who have implemented drug-free workplace programs have important experiences to share.

• Employers with successful drug-free workplace programs report improvements in morale and productivity and a decrease in absenteeism, accidents, downtime, turnover, and theft.
• Employers with long-standing programs report better health status among employees and family members and decreased use of medical benefits by these same groups.
• Some organizations with drug-free workplace programs qualify for incentives, such as decreased costs for workers’ compensation and other kinds of insurance.

If you are an employer and would like information about creating and implementing a prevention and treatment program for your employees, call the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention’s Workplace Helpline at 1-800-967-5752. The following resources provide more information about drug-testing in the workplace, including drug-free requirements for Federal contractors and grantees and for certain transportation employees.

Following models established in the workplace, some schools have started random drug testing or testing students suspected of drug use (called reasonable suspicion/cause testing). The goal of testing is to deter drug use and identify students who use drugs so they can be helped.

Other Sources

Drug Identification Guide

CDC Facts

CDC Addiction Info

CDC Substance Treatment

Samhsa Workplace Programs

Drug-Free

Federal Register Codification