Random Workplace Drug Testing Definition
Random workplace drug testing is the practice of selecting an employee for workplace drug testing without prior notification and for no particular reason. Random workplace drug testing is widely used in the workplace, drug rehabilitation, prisons, the military, government organizations and agencies, sports, and most recently, in schools. The primary objective of random testing is to discourage drug use by not informing the subjects in advance of when they will be tested.
Depending on the testing method used, random workplace drug testing is generally more likely to identify cannabis users than most other drugs because THC metabolites are soluble in fat and therefore stay longer in the body. One of the most important aspects of implementing random drug testing is to ensure that there is to avoid violation of privacy and to avoid the appearance of a presumption of guilt. This is particularly important if the drug testing policy also includes with cause or post-incident drug testing.
The random selection methodology must be legally defensible. It must be possible to prove that the tested persons were not targeted. This means, for example, a human can not be involved in the selection. US Government-mandated testing such as DOT drug testing requires a scientifically provable randomization method. It is also essential to be able to prove that the selection method is tamper proof.
Random Drug Testing Benefits
Random drug testing is considered one of the most effective ways of discouraging abusers from taking drugs before or during work hours.
The need for random drug testing is illustrated by the 2005 Annual Report of the United National Office of Drugs and Crime, which indicates that 200 million working-age people between the age of 15 and 64 (about 5% of the global population) used illicit drugs at least once during 2005. This does not include people who use or abuse prescription drugs. It is estimated that drug abuse costs the US economy over $250 billion each year, including 500 million lost working days. However, of even more concern that then cost and lost working days is the potential problems of drug taking while in work, particularly in relation to safety.
Random Drug Testing Questions
Random drug testing raises ethical considerations regarding issues such as the confidentiality of the personal information.
An employer needs to be able to prove that the mathematical algorithm used to select employees for random drug testing is statistically correct. An employer also must prove that an employee was actually chosen at random rather than targeted. This means that the system used to select employees for random drug testing must have an audit trail and be tamper proof.