Drug Testing: A Workforce In Dilemma

began my working career, drug testing was notrelated crime is the second largest expense to an
even a word combination. I had never beenemployer. Lost productivity for victims and lost
exposed to drugs beyond the point of alcoholicemployees due to incarceration for drug crimes
beverages, and then only on special occasions andaccounts for the bulk of the drug related
holidays. To contemplate daily usage of someexpense.
foreign substance was beyond my realm ofThanks to the advent of drug testing in the
possibilities. I was not alone. That was twenty-fiveworkplace, drug use rates have continued to
years and many drug issues ago.decline since 1992, and remain stabilized today
Today, if you apply for a job, of any kind, you willaround 7%. Implementing a drug testing program
be drug tested. Why? Because a lot has changedin your place of business has never been easier,
in twenty-five years. Today, the prevalence ofand the cost is minimal. Businesses have access
drug abuse in every level of our society hasto many hundreds of companies that are drug
grown beyond anyone’s belief. Drugs havetesting administrators. These companies will
infected our teens, our adults, the rich, the poor;provide your business with everything you need
even the sanctuaries of our churches are noto drug test all employees, or randomly test a
longer exempted. If you can manage to reach thefew employees. You simply notify the
age of thirteen, without exposure to marijuana,administrating company when you’re ready
hallucinogenic substances, or the common placeto test, and they handle the rest. The
alcoholic beverage, you are an exception. With soadministrator performs onsite interviewing and
many opportunities for experimentation,testing, proceeds to having the tests processed
it’s no wonder that we have a problemand providing you with the results.
with drug addiction in our workplace. Once aDrug testing for the most common illegal drugs is
young person becomes addicted to a drug, thereadily available, and some of the more difficult
chances of abstinence are low, until it begins totesting options can be incorporated at the
affect their ability to generate an income, orcustomer’s request. Drug test kits for the
interact in relationships.most common tests require the individual being
The point of intervention for most employers istested to supply a certain amount of urine, in a
to simply prohibit the employment of an individualtube, vial, or small cup. Introduction of a fairly new
that tests positive for drug use. The cost totest strip further ensure the laboratory that the
employers for employees with drug or substanceurine provided is not “borrowed” and brought
abuse problems is staggering. Employees will costinto the testing facility. Other common forms of
their twice as much in medical bills andtest methods are saliva, hair and blood.
workmen’s compensation claims. Drug