Overview of Drug and Alcohol Screening

Overview of Drug and Alcohol Screening

Overview of Drug and Alcohol Screening

Employers make use of drug and alcohol screening to ensure that its employees and workplace remain safe and free of drugs. By drug testing, an organization can ensure that they do not hire people who abuse drugs. This also makes existing employees think twice about using illegal substances. In addition, testing is done to meet the terms of state and federal laws. This proves to consumers and the general public that employees are working in a safe environment.

Urinalysis is one of the most widely-used methods of testing. This test will detect and measure drug residues that are leftover in the body. The job applicant or employee submits a urine sample that is sent to a lab to be tested. The sample is handled and tested under strict guidelines. Tests are used to check for drugs such as amphetamines, THC, cocaine, opiates and phencyclidine. Employers can also test for additional substances including barbiturates, methadone and hallucinogens.

Besides urinalysis, screening is conducted in a variety of other ways. A breath-alcohol test is used to measure the amount of alcohol that is present in the blood. The employee blows into the testing device, and a number is given that represents the person's blood alcohol concentration. If the reading is high enough, the employee may be suspended from his or her job duties. Blood tests are very accurate and will reveal the exact amount of substances in a person's blood. A hair analysis is used to obtain a person's history of drug use. If a person has abused an illegal substance within the past 90 days, this test will identify the substance. Oral fluids can also be collected and used for testing. This type of test is generally used to determine if an employee is currently impaired. The skin patch test, which is typically used for parolees and those on probation, measures the amount of drugs in a person's sweat.

Any of these tests may be issued for different reasons. Pre-employment testing is the most common. If an applicant fails the test, he or she will not be hired in most cases. If a company's supervisor has reasonable suspicion that an employee is working while under the influence of drugs, a test can be issued. Likewise, if an accident occurs where property is damaged or a person is injured, a test will determine whether or not drugs were to blame. Random testing is done when a computer selects a person from a pool of employees. These tests are done without advance notice. In addition, scheduled or periodic testing is very common, and an employee is usually tested when he or she returns to work after a leave of absence.

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