Pre Employment Drug Testing

Employee Drug Testing

Employee drug testing can be an essential part of the employment background check process assisting hiring managers and business owners in determining the most worthy candidates for the position available. Being able to identify drug users before hiring can reduce resources spend on training new employees that may pose a risk to their business. Continuous drug testing during an employee's tenure can also help maintain a drug-free workplace environment.

Your company could be losing money if you have employed a drug abuser

• Employees that use drugs incur on average 300% more in medical costs, increasing employer's insurance rates. (US Chamber of Commerce)
• Drug users are 5 times more likely to file workers compensation claims (US Dept of Labor)
• About 30% - 50% of workers compensation claims are related to drug abuse at work. (US Dept of Labor)
• The average performance of drug abusing employees is only 67% of his or her capacity. (National Institute on Drug Addiction)
• Drug abusing employees are 3 times more likely to be tardy and have an absentee rate of 30-35 days per year (US Dept of Labor)

Incidents leading to the "Drug Free Workplace" Campaign

The two incidents that started the drug free workplace campaign was the USS Nimitz crash in 1981 and the Maryland train accident in 1987. Both of these incidents caused millions of dollars in damages with many fatalities & injuries. Upon the completion of investigating both incidents, drugs were found to be a contributing factor that caused these deadly accidents leading to new regulations and mandatory testing for federally regulated employees.

After many years of studying the issue, researchers concluded that workplace drug abuse was an existing problem, which caused private companies to follow suit by drug testing their employees.

Cost was a huge factor in employee drug testing. Urine is easy to collect, transport, and test & is also cost efficient at the time. Over the years, people have devised many ways to alter or dilute their specimens, causing a need for other testing methods which are now readily available.

Different Employee Drug Testing Options

If you are considering employee drug testing, whether for new hires, for cause or post-accident, keep the following in mind:

• Urine

  This is still the most efficient and commonly used method of drug testing. It can detect drugs in the system up to 7 days prior to testing. Testers have the ability to get instant results, but those results will still need to be reviewed by a certified lab. Specimens can be altered in a variety of ways, which could lead to "fake" results.

• Saliva

  This method is a great "on-the-spot" testing method that can be used for pre employment background checks, after an accident or for cause. Saliva tests may only detect the past 24 hours of alcohol/drug consumption. The plus is that it is very difficult to alter the results.

• Hair

  . This is a great test as part of the pre employment background check process and can show results between 7-90 days after consumption. This is not a good test to use post accident or for cause & is also the most expensive form of employee drug testing. It is almost impossible to alter the specimen.

AAA Credit Screening Services offers employee drug testing to assist clients in achieving a Drug-Free Workplace and are happy to discuss testing options & help determine the best testing procedures for your company.

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