Drug testing is becoming increasingly common to prevent substance addiction in the workplace. The incidence of drug testing varies depending on the type of workplace, personnel characteristics, and corporate regulations. The most recent statistics reveal that around 63% of companies administer alcohol or drug tests.
Employers can effectively prevent substance abuse in the workplace by establishing and implementing drug testing programs. While random drug screening procedures only cover a “random group” of employees, periodic drug testing programs cover the entire workforce. In either scenario, employees are aware that using illicit drugs or prescription pharmaceuticals will result in their arrest.
The US Department of Labor estimates drug usage costs American businesses $250 billion annually. High turnover rates for employees who abuse methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and ecstasy are included in this expense.
Drug testing can improve the well-being and safety of workers. Most businesses use a drug screening program since it can lower healthcare costs for the employer, boost worker productivity, and reduce absenteeism. In this article, we will go into detail as to why these companies are opting for pre employment drug screening:
Why is Drug Testing Cost-Effective?
- Avoid Job Accidents
It’s no secret that using drugs can make judgment and reaction times slower.
11% of all workplace accidents are caused by employee drug and alcohol use, according to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation of Australia.
Employees in the oil and gas, manufacturing, mining, building and construction, and transportation industries must be drug-free and fully alert to prevent severe mishaps that could result in significant injury or even death. Drug testing is not only strongly advised but also common practice for primarily this reason alone. It aids in ensuring the safety of coworkers and company property.
- Workplace Safety
Recreational drug users, who tend to make up the majority, are more likely than regular users to cause harm in the workplace. According to the National Safety Council, 31% of employees who abuse drugs such as opioids have had injuries, arrests or overdosed because of drug use.
This can be avoided with regular drug testing, which can also promote a secure workplace. It is particularly crucial for businesses whose staff engage in manual labor, drive, operate equipment, or deal directly with customers.
The manufacturing and construction industries, in particular, see higher than normal rates of on-the-job drug use, according to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence in the United States of America.
- Creates a Peaceful Workplace
Everybody wants to feel safe, but this can be challenging if a coworker misuses drugs or is intoxicated. A number of recent studies have found that workers under the influence of drugs or alcohol are more prone to bully their coworkers physically or verbally.
Employees who abstain from drugs may not only feel threatened by them, but they may also become irritated from having to shoulder their responsibilities. People may come together to help someone struggling with addiction, but for those just trying to do their jobs and have a productive workflow, covering shifts and doing their duties can rapidly lead to conflict and anger.
- Increase Work Duration
Numerous research studies have shown a link between using alcohol and illegal drugs and decreased productivity. Regular drug users frequently arrive late to work, struggle to focus, and struggle to complete various duties. A loss of focus, unfinished activities, general inefficiency, and the misinterpretation or neglect of extremely crucial details can all result from fatigue and poor cognitive performance.
People who use drugs and alcohol are likelier to be less productive than those who don’t. The longer a job takes to be completed, the more it costs the company.
Employees are inherently more productive in an environment free of drugs.
- 100% Work Quality
Pre-employment drug testing is beneficial for spotting any recent drug use before they damage your business and its reputation. Employing people can be dangerous because, more often than not, you’ll just get to know them for an hour or two before you have to decide whether to employ them.
Regular employee testing will reduce the likelihood of workplace accidents and spare human resources staff hours spent going through disciplinary measures. Knowing their bosses are taking every precaution to keep everyone safe while at work may only spur employees to work harder and more productively. Comprehensive workplace drug testing programs have been linked to improved job performance and employee satisfaction.
- Low Conflict in the Workplace
Addicts who use drugs act a little more violently, especially those who use stimulants like cocaine or ice. The company will identify and deal with drug-using staff by implementing a drug-testing program before conflicts or violent situations arise.
Mood swings, increased absenteeism, dishonesty, poorly done job, and increased accident risk. These are just a few potential problems that a drug and alcohol user who is not dealt with could cause an employer. However, covering shifts and completing someone else’s work can create conflict, pressure, and aggravation for employees who just want to get on with their duties and finish their day’s work.
- Low Absenteeism
According to a study, employees with alcohol problems were 2.7 times more likely to miss work due to injuries than those without such issues. As mentioned earlier in the article, businesses incur significant costs due to lost productivity and absenteeism caused by drugs and alcohol.
Almost three times as many employees with alcohol or drug problems missed work due to injury, according to one research, if that statistic wasn’t scary enough. These numbers demonstrate how much drugs and alcohol can cost businesses.
Drug use can result in absenteeism, unexplained or increased tardiness, excessive use of sick time, frequent requests for time off, disappearances from the workplace, and regular longer lunch breaks. Employers should implement workplace drug testing combined with the other typical drug-related workplace issues outlined above.
Drug testing improves employee performance and productivity, lowers absenteeism, and decreases healthcare expenses. Additionally, drug testing may help to protect everyone’s health and safety at work. Regular drug testing can reduce the risk of addiction, discourage employees from using drugs in the future, and reduce the chance that they will experience negative consequences from substance abuse.
