National Study Finds 60% of Marijuana Users Abstain Less Than 30 Days Before Employment Drug Testing

Pre-employment drug testing is a requirement for many employers. However, studies have found that over sixty percent of marijuana users continued using drugs during the month before their drug tests. About 70% of users admitted that within a month of having a drug test for work, they started using marijuana again.

So what’s the point? Drug testing performed prior to employment does not seem to have much of an effect on keeping employees from using drugs. In fact, approximately 75% of drug users are employed, according to a study performed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

This research shows that habitual use of drugs is prevalent throughout the workforce and is one reason employers may want to perform random drug testing rather than relying only on pre-planned testing.

Drug use within the workplace creates greater risks, including accidents and injuries, increased insurance and workers’ compensation claims, and a tarnished reputation among consumers and communities.

For companies that want to create a drug-free workplace, pre-employment testing is only one of the steps they should take. It is necessary for companies to be consistent with their approach to drugs and use random testing to help strengthen their drug-free efforts.

Workplace Drug Testing Procedures

As companies’ tolerance for drug use decreases, their prevention efforts should increase. Below are a few ways employers work to prevent drug use among their employees.

Pre-Employment Testing

To start things off, employers often do testing prior to employment to help them screen prospective employees for drug use. Although urine tests are common and simple to use, these pre-employment urinalysis tests are an inadequate way to measure habitual use.

Urine drug tests are also easy to tamper with, so many companies are switching to hair follicle drug tests, which are extremely accurate and more difficult to alter at the time of testing.

Random Drug Testing

Random tests at work are set up to provide employers with a way to keep an eye on their employees’ habits of drug use. Random testing can deter use because anyone can be selected at any time, which may encourage employees to refrain from drug use. Many places use urine tests, but random urine test results will give a brief look into drug use.

However, the detection period for urinalysis is quite short, so random urine screening alone may not provide an effective view of employees’ overall drug-use patterns.

Quarterly Drug Testing

Hair drug tests performed quarterly are one of the surest ways for employers to capture habits of their employees’ drug use. Hair drug tests can detect use for up to 90 days; therefore, quarterly testing is a better way to encourage employees to remain drug-free.

Hair-follicle tests are more difficult to beat because they cannot be altered at the time of testing, so some employers choose this type of test. During a hair test, the inside layers of the hair strands are tested for drugs, as the metabolites bind to the hair and remain on the inner layers of the follicles.

This makes working on how to pass a hair follicle drug test more difficult. Hair on any part of the body can be tested, so this is another way it can be tougher to cheat on this kind of test.

Reasonable-Suspicion Testing

If an employer has reason to suspect an employee of drug use, the employer may require a test. The use of reasonable suspicion drug testing allows employers an objective way to test their employees if the employees’ actions demonstrate possible drug use.

Promotional Testing

With this type of testing, drug tests are performed when considering someone for a promotion. This type of drug testing gives an incentive to employees to refrain from drug use so they do not limit their opportunities for advancement.

Hair testing, random testing, and quarterly testing can all be part of promotional drug testing, so employers can help ensure the employees they are promoting are upholding the company’s drug-free policy. Because promotions are often random, the use of drug tests to get promoted can help deter employees from habitual drug use.

Employer Drug-Testing Policy Effectiveness

Drug tests are not required by law for all employers, but many take advantage of such programs to help keep their workforce safer and decrease costs.

Drug-free workplace policy benefits can be numerous if the program is consistent and includes effective testing. Fewer missed days of work, increased attention and production, and lower workplace volatility and liability are results employers and employees can benefit from with effective drug test policies.

Testing for drugs can be a beneficial procedure for employers, but it must include more than simply pre-employment testing. Employers must set expectations for their drug policies and then work to meet those expectations. The more drug testing employers perform, the more they can work toward their goal of a drug-free workforce.

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