| Drugs affect individuals in different ways and | | | | Rationale for Drug Testing : |
| varying degrees. Little drug and alcohol use also | | | | The main argument given for drug testing is to |
| can cause performance impairment. This is why | | | | ensure work safety, security and productivity. |
| employers need to be aware of potential impacts | | | | Proponents believe testing is necessary to protect |
| and set clear standards and expectations to | | | | the health and safety of workers and the public |
| minimize the risk. Drug and Alcohol use will put | | | | from errors made by impaired workers. Drug |
| individuals at risk – for themselves, | | | | testing is known as a restraint, since a positive |
| co-workers and the general public. | | | | test can result in loss of employment. It is also |
| Impact on Performance : | | | | argued that testing is useful rehabilitation tool |
| Psychoactive drugs alter a person's personal and | | | | when used to monitor compliance with treatment |
| professional work performance. Drugs and alcohol | | | | program. In addition, some employers implement |
| act on the central nervous system altering the | | | | testing programs to reduce their legal liability for |
| way a person behaves. The basic functions of a | | | | any harm caused to the public as a result of an |
| person affect and results in the person’s | | | | employee-caused accident. |
| performance. According to the National Highway | | | | The American Management Association surveys |
| Traffic Safety Administration, there were 17,941 | | | | US employers on various policies including testing |
| alcohol related traffic fatalities in 2006, a 2.4% | | | | for illegal substance use. According to their 2004 |
| increase from 2005. More workplace accidents are | | | | survey, 62% of companies did some sort of |
| the result of human error. When drugs, alcohol, | | | | testing for illegal drugs, with 55% of companies |
| stress or fatigue-impair an employee, the potential | | | | testing applicants and 44% testing current |
| for error increases tenfold. . Government studies | | | | employees. |
| reveal that 1 out of 6 workers have a drug | | | | Drug addiction and alcoholism are diseases that |
| problem and show that drug abusers on average | | | | not only affect the addicted but also their families, |
| cost an employer $7,000 - $10,000 per employee | | | | communities. Drug and alcohol addiction is a |
| annually. They also reveal these employees are | | | | progressive and insidious disease that creeps up |
| absent up to 16 times more often and are 1/3 | | | | on individuals, and most don’t recognize the |
| less productive. | | | | problem until addiction has completely taken over. |