• Drug use in the workplace costs employers $75 to $100 billion dollars annually in lost time, accidents, health care, and workers compensation costs, according to estimates from the U.S. Department of Labor.

• Sixty-five percent of all accidents on the job are related to alcohol or drug use.

• Substance abusers use 16 times as many health insurance benefits and are six times more likely to file workers compensation claims than are non-abusers.

Types of Drug Testing Programs

The easiest and most common type of drug testing program is a pre-employment drug test as a condition of employment. Pre-employment testing weeds out applicants who may have drug abuse problems and such a program can be set up with minimal effort. Before testing someone though, make sure you obtain consent and clearly indicate that drug testing is mandatory for employment.

There are also a variety of types of post-hiring drug tests you can conduct on your current employees, including:

• Random testing
• Testing due to suspicion
• Testing after an accident occurs
• Testing that is legally required in certain industries

For post-hiring testing, be sure to develop training and education for supervisors and employees, as well as guidelines for discipline in the event of a positive test.

Also, keep in mind that although the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and similar state laws provides protection for people who are in rehab for drug problems, it does not provide protection for people currently using illegal drugs, nor does it impact drug testing.

If you’re looking to implement a drug testing program at your company, contact Northwest Staffing. Our experience with our own temporary employees gives us in-depth expertise on this complicated issue. We can also help ensure you comply with appropriate employment laws and regulations.