| The United States is probably one of the | | | | testing process on federal employees. There has |
| countries where addiction to drug and alcohol is | | | | been no turning back from this point on. The drug |
| one of the highest in the world. It is also probably | | | | test industry and the practice exploded and a |
| one of the biggest problems that the country | | | | workplace drug testing as a practice is extremely |
| faces. Testing for drugs in the United States goes | | | | common today. |
| back almost 50 years. Let's have a look at this | | | | The present day |
| journey. | | | | Drug testing is a very large business today. There |
| The roots - 1960's | | | | are about 15 large corporations in the Untied |
| It all began in the latter part of the 1960s, post | | | | States alone that supply laboratory tests for drug |
| the Vietnam War. Soldiers and military personnel | | | | testing. This translates into there always being a |
| made using drugs a habit in Vietnam. The army | | | | drug testing facility in your vicinity. The idea is to |
| could not have this culture spread through the | | | | make testing and accessing a testing facility |
| rest of the military personnel back home as they | | | | convenient to people. Many of the employers |
| worried over operations hazards like safety and | | | | today look at drug test as a pre employment |
| readiness of their troops. So, this is where it all | | | | requisite for its employees to safeguard the |
| started. Soldiers and all other military personnel | | | | interests of the company and of their existing |
| returning from Vietnam were tested for drug | | | | employees. |
| abuse. Almost simultaneously there were other | | | | How it's done |
| fields that were performing drug test, one of | | | | The process of drug testing is a fairly simple one. |
| them being the sports industry where drug usage | | | | Depending on the kind of tests that are required, |
| amongst athletes was becoming a growing | | | | there are different specimen requirements. |
| problem. The prisoners in many penitentiaries | | | | Testing can either be done with a sample of hair, |
| across America were also subjected to drug | | | | urine, mouth swab or blood. All of these will reveal |
| testing. | | | | whether or not the person is an abuser. Today, |
| Newer developments - 1970's | | | | testing facilities are extremely advanced and very |
| Testing turn a turn for the better in the 1970's | | | | efficient and more often than not accurate results |
| with the development of newer techniques and | | | | are available in about 24 hours to 2 days. Drug |
| technology. These allowed for more efficient drug | | | | test has also become common and necessary for |
| testing allowing more number of specimens to be | | | | professional athletes today because of the |
| tested and delivering quicker and more reliable | | | | growing use of substances like steroids in the |
| results. | | | | sports industry. Usage of drug by an athlete can |
| Drugs in the workplace - 1980's | | | | at the very least cost him severe penalties, if not |
| By the 1980's, the then President of the United | | | | his entire career. |
| States, President Ronald Regan permitted the | | | | |