The Cost of Hiring Drug Users
Pervasive in American culture today is the use of illicit drugs in the workplace. This insidious national epidemic robs employers of millions of productive work-hours each year and disrupts employee morale. There can be no upside to illegal drug use by employees.
Poor quality workmanship, increased accidents and absenteeism are only the tip of the iceberg. Even the recreational use of illegal drugs presents a problem, as the effects don’t necessarily wear off by Monday morning. Regular drug users are two-and-a-half times more likely to be absent from work, are one-third less productive and are 50 percent more likely to steal from their company. Nearly half of all workers' compensation claims involve substance abuse. Companies regularly use the pre employment drug testing process to detect drug problems in employees and help keep the work environment safe.
It has been proven that a drug-free atmosphere can significantly improve employee productivity and quality of work. Also, companies stand to lose out on both time and money if they employ people who use drugs or are into any kind of substance abuse. Although there is an expense associated with drug tests, it is seen as a one-time investment which pays off in the future. Companies will, in the long run, save hundreds of dollars on time spent, health care and compensation.
So what are the different kinds of drugs that are detectable in a regular pre employment drug test? A laboratory analysis of urine is likely to be able to determine usage of commonly available drugs including marijuana or THC, PCP, amphetamines and methamphetamines, and opiates such as cocaine, morphine, and codeine, and many, many more.
Methods of pre employment drug screening:
- Laboratory test – This requires employees to visit a clinic to get their urine collected and send to a certified laboratory to get their sample tested. It is one of the most basic methods of drug testing and can be completed in as little as 24-48 hours for negative results. In cases where drugs are detected at the laboratory, the urine is put through further analysis to determine a quantitative level of the specific kinds of drug(s) that particular individual has used, and additional time is needed for the final results.
- Instant Saliva Drug test kits – These tests can be used as "screening" test, meaning that if this screening test indicates drugs in the system, the sample needs to be sent to a certified laboratory for further analysis to determine a quantitative level of the specific kinds of drug(s) that particular individual has used.
The law regarding drug testing varies from one state to the other. While the federal law does not prohibit any kind of drug screening, many States have restrictions on random drug testing. Drug testing in California is more restrictive than most other states. It is crucial for a CA employer to retain a vendor knowledgeable in CA drug testing and background screening laws.
The HireSafe pre-employment drug screening program maintains a network of 10,000 nationwide SAMHSA-certified drug testing collection sites with GC/MS confirmation testing facilities staffed with professional technicians. We are available for Hair, Breath and Urine Testing (Pre-Employment, Post-Accident, Random and Reasonable Suspicion). We also provide Supervisor Drug Awareness Training and consolidated invoicing with all of our background check and screening services. An employer has the option to utilize an offsite drug testing collection site, or the new instant saliva drug testing devices.