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Assessment of Drug-Free Workplace Programs in State and Local Governments

NCJ Number
155864
Author(s)
R H Milkman; R Feldman; E McDevitt; N Landson
Date Published
1991
Length
35 pages
Annotation
This survey of the 50 States and 200 cities and counties revealed that drug testing in the public sector workplace has become widespread.
Abstract
Of all jurisdictions surveyed, 53 percent reported conducting some form of applicant/employee drug testing, while 26 percent of all jurisdictions were contemplating the creation of a drug testing program within 12 months. Jurisdictions were more likely to test police officers, whether applicants or employees, than other public sector employees. Employees testing positive for drug use were generally given at least a second chance before being terminated. Almost 75 percent of jurisdictions offered employee assistance programs to which first-time abusers were referred. Although some public employers criticized drug testing, the overwhelming trend to establish drug testing programs served to demonstrate their value. The prevalence of drug use varied by jurisdiction, although there was some evidence that drug use was higher among city employees than among State and county employees. Given the relatively low positive rate for employee drug tests and the apparently widespread practice of testing primarily on the basis of reasonable suspicion, the accuracy of certain drug testing procedures is questioned. The authors recommend that a cost-benefit analysis of drug testing programs be conducted, that criteria used to determine reasonable suspicion be refined, and that the impact of drug-free workplace and employee assistance programs be documented. The questionnaire used to survey drug-free workplace programs is appended. 24 footnotes, 1 table, and 9 figures