When an employer fires an employee because they’ve failed a company drug test, the employee may file for unemployment benefits. Hopefully, that’s only because they never bothered to read your drug-free workplace policy. It should clearly state that won’t be an option. If it doesn’t, revise it. Drug abuse falls under misconduct and is, therefore, Read more »
Employee Drug Testing vs Right to Privacy
The urine drug test is the go-to test for employee drug testing hands down. Over 90% of the specimens submitted by employers for testing are urine samples. Due to the nature of the test, it’s considered to be very invasive—some say that description includes invasion of privacy. At the heart of that issue—in states where Read more »
Fentanyl and Heroin Use Increasing by Double Digits
A Quest Diagnostics Health Trends study released this month in a publication by Population Health Management indicates the illicit use of fentanyl, heroin, and nonprescribed opiates is increasing by double digits. The unsettling discovery is likely related to the impact of COVID-19. This is despite the fact that employee drug testing declined rapidly during the Read more »
7 Drug Testing Tips HR Should Consider
According to an analysis of pre-employment drug testing completed by American Addiction Centers (AAC), less than 2% of employers listed a drug test as part of their hiring process. That figure seems a bit shocking, don’t you think? Granted, not all states require that employers make applicants aware that drug testing is a part of Read more »
Marijuana Won’t Ease the Opioid Crisis
The theory that marijuana can be used to treat opioid withdrawal symptoms is all over the internet. Once the news got out, some were certain that replacing opioids with marijuana could eventually bring an end to the opioid epidemic. There’s a hole in that theory from the start though. Many studies on the subject found Read more »
Is a Benzodiazepine Epidemic Looming?
It’s no secret that drug use has been on the rise since 2020 came screeching to a halt in March of this year due to the pandemic. Illicit drug use may spring to mind when the topic comes up but prescriptions for anxiety medications–like benzodiazepine for instance–are being filled in droves. In fact, an Express Read more »
Positive Drug Tests Reach 16 Year High
Positive drug tests are on the rise. If you doubt that drugs in the workplace remain a problem nationwide, you’re about to get an eye-opener. Quest Diagnostics released its annual report on August 25th. It shows that positive drug tests in the combined United States workforce climbed to its highest level since 2003. The numbers are Read more »
The Dangers of Designer Drugs
Designer drugs chemically resemble controlled or illegal substances. Manufacturers alter the ingredients but still obtain the desired effect of the drug that they’re imitating. They achieve it by changing up the chemical formula or composition so that existing drug regulations don’t apply to them. Drug users may think it’s trendy to use the latest designer Read more »