Drug Testing

Drug Testing

Although many people think that drug testing is a nuscience, it is essential

to improve the workplace. Seventy-four percent of all drug users are employed,

and one out of every six has a serious drug problem! Would you want them

working for you? Plus, the financial impact on business is severely staggering

because of drug using employees (Psychemedics, 1).

According to federal experts, ten to twenty-three percent of Americans

have used or currently using dangerous drugs while on the job, and forty-four

percent of drug users even admit to selling drugs on the job. Drug abusers cost an

employer on average $7,000 to $10,000 per employee annually (Jussim, 14)

(Psychemedics,1). Today, millions of workplaces have begun giving test, hoping

to eliminate drugs from the employees and the workplace. The majority of drug

testing is done in large factories and offices or on people who transport goods ,

such as by truck or plane (Jussim, 11). The large companies that use testing today

is Exxon, IBM, Federal Express, United Airlines, AT&T and the New York Times

(Jussim, 12). The tests usually look for drugs such as cocaine, marijuana, heroin,

PCP, barbiturates and amphetamines (Jussim, 11). In most companies applicants

applying for new jobs that test positive are given a second chance to apply (Jussim,

13). About sixty-eight percent of companies do mandatory screenings before they

hire a person, such as if they were a candidate for the job, rather than part of their

application. A variety of test can be given. About eighty-two percent of

companies use urine test, the most popular because they are inexpensive. Twelve

percent use the blood test for an even more accurate reading. Hair testing is used

by about one percent of companies. This method is one of the most accurate tests

because it can detect any drug used in the past ninety days (1994, 1), this test is

used by about 1,700 corporations alone (Psychemedics, 5). Only about one

percent use performance testing, such as walking in a straight line or having a

person touch his nose with his finger (1994, 1).

Employers claim that workers who use drugs have lower productivity rates

and an increased number of days missed, sixteen times more to be exact. As well,

they are at a greater risk of getting themselves injured or injuring a co-worker

(Jussim, 13). When this happens it is bad for the company because it may have a

lawsuit filed against them, costing the company even more money (Jussim, 14).

Furthermore, lost productivity by drug users costs business an estimated

one-hundred billion dollars each year, because they are one-third less productive

that other workers (Hospitals,1) (Psychemedics, 1). Workers who use drugs also

make more medical claims than others (Jussim, 13). In fact, they cost their

employer 300 percent more in medical costs and benefits than non drug using

employees (Psychemedics, 1). Thus, they drive up the premiums of health

insurance paid for by the company (Jussim, 13). In addition, it is a proven fact that

drug addicts are more likely to cheat their companies or even steal from them,

which eighteen percent admitted doing (Jussim, 14) (Psychemedics, 1).

The percentage of workplaces that give drug tests rose from about

eighty-five percent to eighty-eight percent in just one year alone.