subject: Drug And Alcohol Tests In The Workplace [print this page] People are increasingly concerned with having to submit themselves to drug and alcohol tests. Most people think that these tests are merely ways to discriminate them. What most people fail to understand is that a drug and alcohol test can help society. These days however, such tests are conducted more commonly in the corporate sector. Most employers have certain policies on drug and alcohol testing as part of their effort to keep the workplace a safe environment where their employees can deliver what is expected of them to the best of their abilities.
Having a drug and alcohol test policy in the workplace is no longer unusual. More and more employers are starting to realise the range of benefits that such policies can bring. Such tests are not only used to test for the presence of alcohol but they can also be used to test steroids, cannabis, methamphetamine, amphetamine, opiates and cocaine. These are the most commonly controlled substances that have been found to be misused.
These tests are not meant to discriminate against those who are found positive nor be a malicious way to identify those who abuse such substances so they can be penalised. What employers believe is that through such tests and policies, they will be able to keep the workplace a safe environment where workers feel security and remain productive.
It is widely known that the use of illegal substances has negative effects on a person's health, mental capacity and judgment skills. These effects include not being able to function in their normal capacity which can cause disruptions to the people in their environment - this, being what employers are trying to avoid with drug and alcohol testing.
Increasingly more employers are implementing drug and alcohol testing policies within their companies, placing the safety of their employees and the environment they work in at the forefront.
