Fostering a drug-free workplace

Drug abuse costs American industry and the public an estimated $100 billion a year. As a result, workplace drug testing programs have become a serious option for many companies. Federal guidelines regarding testing and laboratories are in place. An overview of the current components necessary in designing a corporate drug testing program that complies with these guidelines is presented. Essential features of a corporate workplace drug testing program, that is, the policy, the testing process, and the laboratory contracted to test employees, are detailed from designs suggested in the current literature and in compliance with federal guidelines. Developing a cost-effective corporate program that meets federal guidelines, stands up to court scrutiny, and is universally accepted by employees is the objective of a drug testing program. The challenge can be met by building consensus, spelling out policy, maintaining high testing standards, and above all making rehabilitation of employees who test positive the ultimate goal of a drug-free workforce/workplace.