1. Drug and Alcohol testing in the workplace
By: Renee Snell, Katherine Steele, Tom Daly, Ryan Heraty, RJ Quillinan

2. DRUG TESTING: BASIC FACTS

3. Drug offenders in the Workforce
An estimated 6.5 percent of full-time and 8.6 percent of part-time workers are current illicit drug users.
Alcohol is the most widely abused drug among working adults. An estimated 6.2 percent of adults working full time are heavy drinkers.
77% of all drug users are employed
More than one in three (38 percent) workers between the ages of 18 and 25 are binge drinkers.

4. Who Uses?
Among employed adults, the highest rates of heavy drinking and current illicit drug use are reported by white, non-Hispanic males who are between the ages of 18 and 25 and have less than a high school education.

5. Highest rate of use by occupation
Waitresses and Bartenders (19%)
Construction Workers (14%)
Transportation and material movers (10%)

6. Pros to drug testing Reduce amount of on the job injuries
Increase attendance
Increase Productivity
Give employees incentive to stop abuse

7. Cons to drug testing Invade Privacy of employees
Tests can identify certain diseases that can lead to discrimination
Expensive
False positives

8. The Effects of Drug Abuse
One in five workers report that they have had to work harder, redo work, cover for a co-worker or been put in danger or injured as a result of a fellow employee’s drinking.
Up to 40 percent of industrial fatalities and 47 percent of industrial injuries can be linked to alcohol consumption and drug use.

9. Alcoholism is estimated to cause 500 million lost workdays annually.
Results from a US Postal Service study revealed that employees who tested positive in a pre-employment drug test are 66 percent more likely to be absent and 77 percent more likely to be discharged within three years than those who tested negative.

10. Costs of Drug testing Individual tests that measure for five drugs
Marijuana, Amphetamines, Cocaine, Opiates, PCP (Five most common types of drugs)
Average costs = $8-$15
Some individual tests can cost as low as $2, but are not as reliable.
Initial confirmation = $35/ea
Confirmation by a Medical Review Officer = $50/ea

11. American Law of Drug testing Is it Constitutional?
4th Amendment
Protect citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures
Protect against “invasion of privacy”
Supreme Court:
Each test depends on the “reasonableness” of the test. Each case is different than another.
14th Amendment
States that states have to follow the same protocol as the Federal government

12. More information on the Public Sector
Some states laws on drug testing include only allowing testing for certain drugs.
Department of Transportation, Military, Commerce Department, Nuclear Regulatory Department and the Justice Department all administer drug tests
Mandatory guidelines must be followed: developed after Executive Order by President Reagan (1986).

13. Boulder City Law Drug testing in Boulder
Drug testing is allowed when considering hiring employee.
Not allowed when considering advancement, promotion, compensation, transfer or disciplinary reasons, unless these conditions are met: (Ordinance No. 5688)
reasonable suspicion
Performance is adversely affected by drug use
Employer has a written test policy posted freely in workplace
No portion tested for pregnancy
Positive test results are confirmed by a reliable source
Test results can not be released, except to authorized personnel

14. Private Sector Employers are not affected by the 4th or 14th amendment
Employee’s have state as an “invasion of privacy”
Can be held civilly liable for unlawful drug testing
90% of Fortune 200 drug test

15. Federal Costs for fighting drug abuse
More sections of the Federal government are affected by the fight against drugs than most anticipate.
Department of Defense, Department of Education, Department of Justice, and others.
All total $11.5 Billion spent in 2002

16. COMMON QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Question: I smoke marijuana once or twice a day. A friend told me that if I stopped smoking today I might still test positive two weeks from now. Is this true?
Answer: Marijuana metabolites are stored in the body's fat cells. "Chronic" users may test positive for several weeks after stopping use of marijuana.  "Casual" users may test positive for one to three days from the day of last use.
Question: We were talking at lunch the other day and the question came up about our drug-testing program. What prevents someone from bringing another persons urine to a collection facility in order to pass a test?
Answer: Outside of directly observed collections, there is no way to assure that specimens are that of the person acting as the donor. However several steps are routinely taken at collection facilities to significantly reduce the chance of this happening. Mainly, the temperature of the sample may be tested to ensure it is recent.

17. Question: My doctor told me that a Vicks Inhaler can cause a positive drug test.  Is this true?
Answer: One specific type of the Vicks Inhaler can cause an initial positive result. A positive test can be confirmed by a medical review officer to determine the actual cause.
Question: My sister says that there are almost 100 legitimate prescription drugs that can cause a positive drug test. Is this true?
Answer: There are more than 100 prescription medications that can cause an initial positive drug result.  Therefore, it is essential that all drug-screening programs include the services of a qualified Medical Review Officer to confirm the legitimate use of prescription drugs and to protect the individual rights of the donor.

18. References
High Impact hiring
Rosse, Levin, High-Impact Hiring, (San Francisco: Jossey-Bash Publishers, 1997)
Department of Labor