Drug tests determine if someone has drugs or alcohol in their system. It can be done using sweat, hair follicles, urine, or oral fluids. While it may be hard to believe, there are benefits of drug testing. Drug tests are necessary to ensure the safety of yourself and others.
Benefits of Drug Testing in the Workplace
Doing mandatory drug tests in the workplace will provide a safer environment when you work with hazardous chemicals, operate heavy machinery, and driving. If an accident occurs at work, the chances will be extremely high that you can lead to injury or death to yourself or others. If that happens, employers will face liability. With drug testing, an employer can save the lives of the user and others from a foreseeable accident. Drug testing can also avoid problems down the road like showing up late or not focusing on your work because you are under the influence. Drug tests can also save the company a lot of money in having to rehire anyone or compensate an injured employee.
There are companies that have Employee Assistance Programs to help troubled employees, including those that test positive for drugs. These programs can even help the families of those employees who are under the influence. If drug testing is covered by the United States Department of Transportation, it is a requirement for companies to hold them for their employees. This can apply to public transportation agencies, airlines, and railroads.
Why Workplace Drug Testing is Important
The Drug-free Workplace Act of 1988 can test employees if the employee obtains a contract with the federal government. Conflicts and violence can also be avoided by screening employees as people under the influence can make impulsive decisions and get into fights at work. By knowing there will be a mandatory drug test either before you are hired or during your time with the company, this will give you something to think about as for caring for your job or your career. While many people with drug addiction will only think about their cravings and acquiring more drugs to relieve their withdrawal symptoms, they need to think about what is important for their future.
Drug testing will look good for your employee. It shows how much you care about the safety and health of the company. It means that they are not willing to endanger the lives of others despite their experience and work performance. Drug tests will also reduce stealing in the workplace as those with a drug addiction will do anything they can to get the money to acquire more drugs even if it means stealing from their employees or the company itself.
Benefits of Drug Testing at School
Schools also benefit with the use of drug testing as teens are at the age where they like to experiment and give in to peer pressure. Originally in June 2002, drug tests were only mandatory for extracurricular activities participation but has since expanded. They cannot make the distinction between the pleasure they feel from the drug to the future damage it can cause. Schools can collect urine samples to check if students are using marijuana, cocaine, PCP, amphetamines, and opioids. Schools run random drug tests, despite the student’s history. If you are participating in an extracurricular activity like a competitive sports team, it will be mandatory to do a drug testing.
A student can be asked for a drug test if it is based on what someone on staff has observed and/or physical symptoms and abnormal or erratic behavior. If students know they have drug testing, they could resist giving into peer pressure in fear of getting caught. If a student’s test turns out to be positive, they will benefit from early intervention or you can get them treatment. More students will be able to learn and be free from distractions. They will get access to counseling, follow-up testing, and given rehab options. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, mandatory student drug testing in 2013 provided fewer students who substance abused than those without testing.
Disadvantages of Drug Testing
The disadvantage of drug testing is the high cost to the employer. It can be even higher during pre-employment when there is no certainty the one taking the test will be hired. Another disadvantage is employees can feel like you’re violating their privacy. They may feel like they have the right to do whatever they want when their shift is over. It can bring resentment among its employees which can lead to low productivity. The same can go with schools if students feel like drug testing is unfair.
Lawsuits can occur if an employee tests positive on a drug test and you fire them afterward. This can lead to suing the company for wrongful termination. Not only will this be costly for the company to hire a lawyer but it will be time-consuming in preparing for the case. By communicating with your employees before being hired or after about the company’s drug testing policy, there will be no means of miscommunication. Employees will know in advance that they go through drug testing if they want to be in good standing with the company. You don’t need to look at drug testing as a punishment but as a way to make sure everyone is safe and to find the best help possible for a successful recovery.
If You Need Help with Addiction, Contact Bayview Recovery.
At Bayview Recovery Center, we commit ourselves to getting you clean so you can pass your drug tests. Our facility is located in Tacoma, Washington. Our mission is to offer clinically-driven programs and services to treat a number of substance abuse disorders. Additionally, we treat anxiety and depression. Through cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, trauma therapy, and yoga therapy. Through these treatments, we ensure a successful recovery. For more information on the benefits of drug testing, please call us at 855.478.3650. We are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
