The document discusses drug testing in the workplace. It provides background on the rise of drug testing programs in American firms since the 1980s as a way to detect and address substance abuse issues. It then covers various aspects of drug testing including definitions of drugs, trends in drug testing, the perceived pros and cons of workplace drug testing programs, specifics of drug testing methods and what can be tested, factors that can impact drug test results, and common drug detection periods. It also briefly outlines drug testing practices by different industries.

1. Drug Testing in the
Workplace
Judith Soto – Group Leader, Mitchell
Bragg, Reyes Gutierrez, & Brandon
Edwards
PSY 103
Summer 2013

2. Introduction
Substance abuse has made it necessary for many American
firms to create strategies that would help keep it out of the
workplace. Employment drug testing is a powerful risk tool
that provides far-reaching organizational benefits. Some firms
have sponsored extravagant programs to control alcohol and
drug abuse. However, these programs have tended to rely on a
supervisor's, a coworker's, or an employee's judgment about
the presence of substance abuse in another individual or
themselves. In the 1980s, some firms began to adopt drug and
alcohol testing as an fair strategy to detect and control
substance abuse. Supporters of this approach claim that an
employee's positive test results can be linked to impairments
in job performance, safety risks, and absenteeism. The drug
testing industry was born 30 years ago, after the launch of
federal drug testing requirements in the 1980s.

3. What is the Definition of drugs?
• Any substance that when taken into the living
organism may modify one or more of its functions.
• This definition includes aspirin, milk of magnesia,
penicillin, caffeine, alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine.

4. Drug Testing Trends
• There has been a
growing trend of drug
testing from the mid-
1980’s to the present.
• One study shows that
18% of Fortune 500
companies tested
employees in 1985, and
1991 the proportion
double to more than
40%.

5. Drug Testing Trends Cont.
• A survey in 1988
indicated increases in
the testing of both
applicants and current
employees for drugs.
• 38% of organizations
tested job applicants, to
28% in 1987.
• 36% tested current
employees, to 28%
1986.

6. Drug Testing Trends Cont.
• By 1991, 48% of
Fortune 1000 firms
engaged in some type
of drug testing.
• Recent studies have
shown about 42% get
pre-employment
tested.
• About 29% already
employed get tested.

7. Drug Testing Pros
• Pre-employment testing
can identify users and
prevent cost of
recruitment and
training.
• Random-testing can
help raise awareness
and deter illegal drug
use.

8. Drug Testing Pros Cont.
• Testing can prevent
accidents
• It can reduce
compensation cost
• Prevent abusers from
taking away from the
company’s competitive
edge.
• Testing programs have
been shown to improve
employee morale and
productivity

9. Drug Testing Pros Cont.
• Testing can reduce
absenteeism.
• Reduce turnover and
theft rates.
• Vacant positions, as
they become available,
will attract mature,
responsible, drug-free
applicants.

10. Drug Testing Pros Cont.
• Drug addicts will soon be
eliminated from the
workplace.
• Improved efficiency and
heightened public
confidence in the product
and/or services of the
company may cover and
even exceed the cost of
testing.

11. Drug Testing Cons Cont.
• Management won't win any
workplace popularity contests.
• Management may be accused of
invading employees' privacy. A
written agreement of compliance
with the drug-testing policy must be
signed by each employee prior to its
implementation. Signing the same
agreement will be a condition of
employment for future recruits to the
organization.

12. Drug Testing Cons Cont.
• Management may wish to
offer a signing bonus to
help retain reliable, long-
term employees.
• Testing equipment and
personnel may be
expensive. However, bulk
rates are often available for
large companies.

13. Drug Testing Cons Cont.
• Although drug testing detects
recent drug use, it does not show
if an employee is presently
impaired and unable to perform
job functions.
• Drug users work only two thirds
as efficiently ad nonusers
• Companies pay up to 300 percent
more for medical cost for drug
users that for nonusers.

14. Drug Testing Cons Cont.
• The cost of worker’s
compensation claims tend
to be about five times
higher for users than
nonusers.

15. Facts:
• In 1997, two states – Arizona
and California – adopted laws
that permit the use of
marijuana for certain specific
medical purposes.
• Americans concerned about the
“drug problem” has two parts:
o One involves the misuse of legal
and potentially helpful drugs such
as codeine and morphine.
o Two involves illegal drugs with no
medical value such as LSD and
heroin.

16. More Facts:
• Research indicates that 74
percent of illicit drug
users are employed in
full-time positions.
• One out of four hospital
admissions is from drug
use.
• Forty percent of all
accidents that result in
hospitalization are
because of drugs.

17. More Facts:
• The national cost of all accidents
from drug abuse is $41 billion per
year.
• The Drug-Free Act of 1988
requires Federal grantees and
contractors having a contract for
property or services of $25,000
or more to provide a drug free
workplace.

18. More Facts:
• While marijuana is still the number one most-abused drug
globally, prescription drugs have moved into second place,
overshadowing cocaine. Technology has played a big role in these
changes. For example, the street distributor has morphed into the
Internet distributor, making it easier than ever to access
prescription medication without ever visiting a doctor.
• The use of pill mills, which are clinics, doctors, or pharmacies that
are prescribing large amounts of prescription medication for non-
medical use, is also becoming prominent in the United States,
prompting abusers to travel across state lines to access these mills
• Drug Identification Kits: Law enforcement and school officials now
have the ability to instantly test substances found while out in the
field or on school premises. It is a very cost-effective method of
substance testing, and eliminates the need for lab analysis which
can cost up to $200-300.

19. What Can Be Tested?
• Metabolites and Metabolism
• Urine
• Drug Urinalysis
• Breath
• Saliva
• Blood
• Hair
• Sweat

20. Testing Methods Confirmatory Tests
• Immunoassays
• Enzyme Immunoassays
• Radioimmunoassay
• Gas Chromatography
• Mass Spectrometry
• Thin-Layer
Chromatography

21. What to Avoid Before A Drug Test
• Alka-Seltzer Plus
• Allerest
• Bronkaid
• Contac
• Donnagel
• Nyquil
• Primatene
• Sinutab
• Sudafed
• Triaminic
• Poppy seeds

22. Drug Detection Periods For Urine

23. Initial Test
Confirmation Test

24. Drug Testing by Industry

25. Conclusion
• There are many pros and cons to drug testing but there is
one thing that no one can dispute and that is the fact that
drugs do impair a person as long as the drugs are in their
system.
• Consequences of drug use are NOT restricted to a minority
of heavy users or “addicts” who are easily identified.
• Often problems can arise from occasional use/intoxication.
• Most workplaces are concerned about the impact alcohol
and other drugs may have in their workplace.
• Most workplaces have at least one response in place to
address alcohol and other drug related harm.
• Most workplaces are not considering doing anything further
to address alcohol and other drug issues.

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