NCJ Number
101840
Date Published
1986
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This booklet answers the most frequently asked questions about the detection of employee drug use through urine screening by employers.
Abstract
Recent reports indicate that the number of Fortune 500 companies screening employees for drug use has risen from 3 percent to nearly 30 percent in the last 3 years. These programs are intended to protect the health and safety of all employees through the early identification, referral, and treatment of employees with drug and alcohol abuse problems. Currently, no Federal or State law specifically prohibits drug screening programs, but employers should ensure the confidentiality of employee medical records. The frequency of employee drug screening depends on job risk factors. Employers considering the development of a drug screening program should first determine whether such a program is needed and then decide how identified drug users will be managed. Urine screening technology is reliable in detecting previous drug use, but a positive test does not prove intoxication or impaired job performance; moreover, urinalysis cannot identify the precise time of previous drug use. Test reliability depends on the use of proper laboratory quality assurance procedures.