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Dope on Drugs in the Workplace

NCJ Number
126126
Journal
Bobbin Volume: 31 Issue: 1 Dated: (September 1989) Pages: 100-106
Author(s)
S L Smarr
Date Published
1989
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Drug abuse is costing U.S. businesses $60 billion a year in lost productivity, absenteeism, workplace accidents, damaged equipment, insurance claims, and theft.
Abstract
When middle and top management abuse drugs, the expenses mount in a variety of categories. Not only does the company lose money in the obvious sense, but it also loses out on its investment in a particular employee. Drugs impair not only productivity, but creativity and decisionmaking as well. An example of one company's response to this is a total substance abuse program for both drugs and alcohol. The program is nonpunitive and includes an employee assistance program. Employee insurance covers needed treatment. The program includes drug testing as part of its pre-employment physical. Periodic testing is also conducted for safety-sensitive jobs - it is not random testing, rather, everyone in a particular job category will be tested at one time. Another company has a similar program, but performs urinalysis drug screening on employees who are involved in workplace accidents that require medical attention or when there is "reasonable cause based on fact and substance." Important considerations in implementing a company drug program are changing legislation, vendor quality in the testing process, and confidentiality of results.