Employment drug testing is a policy that many companies implement because there’s a common belief that substance abuse causes various dysfunction, lessens productivity, and is related to antisocial behavior.
However, if you’re an employer and haven’t implemented drug tests, you can’t just take a drug testing kit and start testing today. Arrange a company meeting to state the goals of drug testing. For that, you need to understand if employee drug testing is necessary, which drugs to test for, and if it’s possible to beat a drug test.
Is Employee Drug Testing Necessary?
Some states mandate employment drug testing, and some states don’t. But, if you’re an employer, you should eliminate any risks based on substance abuse. Also, all workers should have an obligation to take care of their health.
That’s why to ensure the mutual benefit of employees and employers. It’s probably better to do drug testing in the workplace. If not, any misconduct caused by drug abuse might make the employer liable.
What Is Random Drug Testing?
There’s a difference between random drug testing and random workplace drug tests. Random drug testing means you’re testing, or you’ll be tested for a random drug in your system. It doesn’t matter which drug it is. Businesses typically perform a 10 panel urine drug test which includes cocaine, marijuana, PCP, amphetamines, opiates, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, methadone, propoxyphene, & Quaaludes. Some will even test for alcohol.
On the other hand, random workplace drug tests are performed at non-specific times, on random days, on employees at the workplace. So, companies should try to create fair workplace drug policies.
There’s a chance that the employer hires someone to conduct random drug tests, and they combine that with random drug testing. There are specific tests for specific drugs, so random drug testing ensures that all the drugs are tested for in your system.
Is Workplace Drug Testing a Wise Corporate Policy?
There are many harmful effects of drug abuse, and they can be detrimental not only to the health and well-being of the user but also to the well-being of the environment surrounding that user. That’s why workplace drug testing is a practical corporate policy.
Testing employees for drug abuse help prevent mishaps in the workplace, and possibly further spreads the using culture among coworkers. It prevents decreases in motivation and productivity and maintains a healthy work environment.
Which Drugs are Tested For?
It’s not about most companies and what they test for, but about what drugs you’re going to be tested for and which drugs you test for when you’re the employer. So, to maintain a higher level of safety, a more productive workplace, and less absence use tests that test for:
- Hallucinogens: They cause hallucinations, and it’s obvious how they can be dangerous in the workplace. The most widespread hallucinogens are probably LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) and Ecstasy (MDMA).
- CNS (Central Nervous System) stimulants: These speed up our heart rate and increase blood pressure. That’s why users usually feel like they can do anything. They include cocaine, methamphetamine, and amphetamines.
- Narcotic analgesics: It’s easy to get addicted to these because they relieve pain, and they provide a euphoric feeling followed by mood swings. These include different opioids, like heroin, codeine, morphine, oxycontin, etc.
- Cannabis: Marijuana is probably the most widespread recreational drug out there, and there’s not much to say here. It can have some lousy effects on the user, and it can decrease productivity.
Obstacles When Doing Drug Tests
Of course, there will be some elementary obstacles when you’re testing your employees, or you’re the one doing the test. These happen more often than not, and it’s not a cause for suspicion, because common reasons are:
- False positives: There might be some false positive tests, and it’s very difficult for employees to defend themselves against false positives.
- Wrong temperature: The collected samples need to be at a certain temperature to maintain their integrity, and to be ready for analysis. If the samples get overheated, something is probably going to be wrong during analysis.
- Absence during the test: There’s a huge possibility that some employees are absent during the time of testing. However, there’s also a possibility that some employees refuse to get tested. Be prepared for such situations.
- Shyness: If the company is conducting urine drug tests, some people will likely experience issues because of a shy bladder. There’s not much we can do in this case.
Is It Possible to Beat a Drug Test?
Some employees often wonder about the possibility of “beating” a drug test. Beating a drug test is a myth, and there are so many possibilities in drug testing. Some tests can detect drug use even if they haven’t been used in a long time, as much as six months. These tests usually use nail clippings or hair. It’s not likely that anyone beats a test unless they substitute the sample.
Author bio:
Alison Pearson is an interior design student. She is a writer and designer, but her ultimate passion is fashion and beauty. She is also a bibliophile and her favorite book is “The Sound and the Fury” by William Faulkner. Follow her on Twitter.