Drug testing in the workplace

It is estimated that on any one day, 8.9 million to 16 million employees will be working under the influence of drugs, and thus performing at only 67% of capacity. There are three possible phases of a drug testing program: pre-employment drug screening; testing for probable cause following unexplained behavior or events; and random sample testing to detect use of controlled substances by employees on the job. With the high cost and potential for error involved, it is imperative to have a strategy or set of guidelines for instituting a drug testing program so that it protects the employee's rights and company's liability concerns. Employers need to make confidential Employee Assistance Programs available to all employees.