PRE-EMPLOYMENT DRUG TESTING SAVES SMALL BUSINESSES MONEY, TIME AND PRODUCTIVITY

Drug testing is the evaluation of urine, saliva, hair, blood or other types of biological sample to determine if someone has been using drugs. Drug testing is frequently done when applying for employment, especially for positions that may involve federal transportation, airline industries, railways, hospitals, and other workplaces where public safety is of the utmost importance. However, workplace drug testing is now standard in general for many U.S. employers to reduce drug abuse, safety concerns, and low productivity in the workplace.

Why should small businesses drug test?

Studies have shown that drug use creates an unsafe work environment. Alcohol and drugs are the cause of one in six on-the-job fatalities. The National Safety Council reports that 80% of those injured in “serious” drug-related accidents at work are innocent co-workers. Employees who use drugs are 3.5 times more likely to be involved in a workplace accident than other workers.

Drug abuse creates safety and health hazards in the workplace and results in decreased productivity as well as poor employee morale. It also leads to additional health care costs.

Employers implement drug testing to:

• Prevent employees from abusing drugs
• Prevent hiring individuals who already use drugs
• Be able to detect early and appropriately refer employees who have a drug problem
• Ensure a safe workplace
• Comply with State laws or Federal regulations
• Benefit from Workers’ Compensation Premium Discount programs

How drugs affect an employee’s abilities

Marijuana can produce a dream-like state of mind and create the illusion that senses are sharper than ever. They can alter your sense of time and space, make it difficult to make quick decisions, judge distances and speed, and cause slow, disconnected thoughts, poor memory, and paranoia.

Sedatives are the "downer" drugs, like barbiturates and tranquilizers used to treat depression and anxiety, numbing the central nervous system and relaxing muscles. Tension and anxiety are suppressed and the user becomes drowsy resulting in deteriorated reflexes and coordination.

Over-The-Counter Drugs contain antihistamines, which have many of the same effects as sedatives.

Narcotics are controlled substance prescription drugs that can be addictive. These drugs are used to relieve pain, depress mental functions and produce euphoria in the user. The eye's ability to react to light is reduced, and motor skills are impaired.

How is drug testing conducted?

The most commonly used drug test is a urinalysis, which can be done at the workplace or at any other location of the employer’s choosing. An employee or the applicant provides a sample to be tested. Once the sample is provided, it is sent to an accredited laboratory.

American Drug Test offers many products to support pre-employment drug testing such as drug testing panels and dip cards, hair drug tests, saliva drug tests, and urine collection specimen cups.

We are an FDA approved manufacturer of rapid drug testing supplies in the U.S. American Drug Test has over 30 years of drug testing, medical sales experience, and the knowledge and resources necessary to support any industry.