Drug Testing Information

Widespread workplace drug testing in the United States began in the late 1980s. Workplace drug testing guidelines and processes were first established in the usage by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), formerly under the direction of the National Institute on Drug Abuse(NIDA).

The initial regulations were aimed at professional drivers, specified safety sensitive transportation and/or oil and gas related occupations, and certain federal employers. Workplace drug testing has now considerably expanded to include many other categories of workers, often testing all employees at random.

The regulations target five specific drug groups known as the "NIDA 5":

Cannabinoids (marijuana, hashish)
Cocaine (cocaine, benzoylecognine, cocaethylene)
Amphetamines (amphetamine, methamphetamine)
Opiates (heroin, opium, codeine, morphine)
Phencyclidine (PCP)

Since these were estabished three decades ago, they no longer match current drug usage patterns. The target list of drugs do not include semi-synthetic opioids, such as oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, or hydromorphone, all of which are commonly abused in the USA and elsewhere.

The two weakest aspects of taking the NIDA 5 approach to workplace drug testing is that it ignores two important drug testing facts: prescription drug abuse is increasingly becoming a problem and alcohol intoxication is still probably the most likely cause of a workplace accident.

The US National Institute of Health has reported (Personnel Today, 25 January 2006) that 44 percent of workplace drug abusers have sold drugs to other employees and 18 percent have stolen from co-workers to support their drug habit.

In 2005, the level of drug testing in the workplace in Ireland was about 5%, with an additional 10% indicated that they were expecting to introduce drug testing in the workplace soon (Irish Independent, 28 June 2005).

Drug testing in the workplace has increased 1,200% since the Federal Drug-Free Workplace Act was introduced in 1987. The Act requires companies receiving federal contracts or grants to conduct drug testing in the workplace and encourages employers to create substance abuse policies and provide training.

In the UK, between 11 and 17 million working days are lost yearly due to excessive drinking. A Portman Group survey has found that 63% of employees call in sick as a result of excessive alcohol consumption the previous night.

The Alberta Alcohol and Drug Addictions Commission has found that alcohol and drug misuse costs Alberta business more that US$400 million every year in lost productivity.

One of the best known studies of worker substance abuse, which was conducted at General Motors in the 1980s, revealed that drug dependant workers had two times as many occupational injuries, 15 times more medical department visits, and 25 times more disability leave days than non-drug dependent workers. The same study found that alcoholics had 16 times the absences and 5 times time compensation claims as other workers.

A US Postal Service review of pre-employment drug tests, attendance, and work performance found that applicants testing positive were 66 percent more likely to be absent and 77 percent more likely to be discharged within 3 years of hire that applicants with negative drug tests.