Lori Benson

As a business owner or manager, you give your company your one hundred percent top effort. If your industry is service oriented, you make sure that you are offering the finest services that you can provide to your clients. And if your business is manufacturing, you work hard to develop, engineer and execute the most innovative, durable and highest quality products that you can place on the market. Everyday, you work hard to see that your organization shines and is profitable.

To accomplish these goals, you invest money in the best infrastructure possible, which includes assets like supplies, equipment and machinery. Infrastructure, though, includes more than just machines. The people – the employees – who work for you are one of your entities’ biggest and greatest business assets. Without hardworking, loyal and dedicated employees, your company would never soar, and all those machines would come to a grinding halt.And just as you insure and protect your corporation or factory’s building, for example, you need to also protect the investment you have made in your employees. Hiring and training well-qualified workers is an investment in time and money, and this investment needs to be protected and insured like your building. One way to protect your workforce is to guarantee that you have a drug-free workforce.

Drugs and the workplace do not mix. Workers who use drugs, even on a recreational level, and those who are addicted to substances like marijuana, cocaine, pain pills and alcohol are mentally impaired due to the mind-altering effects of these chemicals. Even if they only use on their time off the job, these chemicals remain in the body, and they continue to impair the employee. That impairment then translates into how they perform their job.

Say, for example, you own a taxi company, and one of your drivers uses marijuana, cocaine, pain pills or alcohol. If, in the execution of his work, he has an accident and he injures or kills one of your clients, you, as the company owner, will be held responsible. Yes, the driver will probably be charged for operating a motor vehicle while impaired (under the influence), but the passenger/client’s family will hold you liable for their injuries or death. Liable means dire financial repercussions for your business. But more than money, how will you feel if one of your employees hurts or injures one of your clients? In addition to breaking the law and the financial fallout, there is a moral issue here as well. You want your business to be successful, and you want your company to be a shining star of wholesome corporate responsibility.

Instead of a taxi company, maybe your firm produces a certain kind of widget that needs to be produced on sophisticated machinery. As in the scenario with the taxi service, an employee is again using marijuana, cocaine, pain pills or alcohol. This time, though, instead of harming a customer, he, because he is impaired, makes a dangerous error operating the machinery, and he causes a fellow employee to be hurt or killed. Again, you, the corporation, are going to be held financially responsible by the injured party’s family.

So, how does your business entity prevent this moral, financial and legal nightmare? Obviously, the answer is to hire and retain a drug-free workforce. And when you use USA Mobile Drug Testing, you can be assured that the team you have assembled will also remain drug-free.

Americans are accustomed to hearing stories of drug abuse among celebrities. We read stories about actors such as Charlie Sheen, Lindsay Lohan and Amanda Bynes, with their patterns of disturbing behavior that are fueled by drug and alcohol abuse.

More disturbing are the news stories of the actors and athletes who lost control – and their lives – through drug overdoses. But do celebrities and their addictions really mirror the struggles with drugs faced by average Americans? The answer: Sometimes – if they choose to use prescription drugs, and in particular, prescription painkillers.

Today’s favorite recreational drugs aren’t even illegal when prescribed and used properly. The first worldwide study of illicit drug use recently revealed that, while marijuana remains the most-used illegal drug, addiction to prescription pain killers kill more people than the use of any other legal or illegal drugs.

This should make you consider: Should I be testing employees for the use of prescription painkillers, and especially prescription opiates?

Your first reaction may be, “I don’t have the resources, not to mention the time or money. And I don’t know the anything about setting up a system like that.”

Neither do most companies. That’s why they turn to USA Mobile Drug Testing. It’s estimated that more than 31 million Americans abuse illegal drugs. USA Mobile operates mobile vans that can come to your company or worksite and make sure your employees aren’t having problems with the abuse of prescription drugs such as painkillers.

USA Mobile operates franchises in various cities around the country. For example, in November, 2012, USA Mobile Drug Testing of South Milwaukee opened in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to provide services to the Milwaukee area and points south.

To learn more about USA Mobile Drug Testing, visit their website at http://usamdt.com/ .
Although such companies can help you discover employees who are abusing alcohol or drugs, if you’re trying to stop the abuse of prescription painkillers, it helps to know what you’re dealing with.

OPIOIDS

“Opioid” drugs relieve pain. They derive their name from the fact that originally, they were derivatives of opium, a powerful narcotic. Today, most of these drugs are synthetic.
They work by reducing the intensity of pain signals that reach the brain.

They include drugs with such familiar names as oxycodone (Percocet and Oxycontin); hydrocodone (Lortab and Vicodin); codeine; morphine (such as Kadian and others); and related and sometimes much stronger drugs.

These drugs are prescribed for a wide range of medical problems, from dental procedures to pain related to injury.

Unfortunately, many of us have a mental picture of the nation’s “drug problem” that’s been distorted by overblown media accounts of lavish drug parties. Worse, many of us are years – or even decades – behind the times when it comes to knowing which drugs are in vogue at any given time.

The fact is that the drug of choice in a community can change fairly quickly. And today, for many, the choice is prescription pain pills.

CELEBRITY DEATHS FROM PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

The list “death by overdose” celebrities reads like a litany of some of the most talented singers, actors and comedians in the world. Decades ago, the deaths included John Belushi, Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin.

Today’s fans are more familiar with the deaths of Amy Winehouse, Heath Ledger and Whitney Houston. The list grew, with Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, River Phoenix and Chris Farley. Many, if not most, of these deaths were caused by lethal doses of drug “cocktails” that often including alcohol. Cocaine, rack or heroin were usually involved.

The following celebrities, though, chose a lethal overdose of prescription drugs:

• Brittany Murphy (although her cause of death is still contested)
• Anna Nicole Smith
• Michael Jackson
• Whitney Houston

But the following four celebrities used a drug mixture that included at least one form of common prescription opioid painkiller:

• Heath Ledger
• Elvis Presley
• Dana Plato (former star of “Different Strokes”)
• American R & B singer Gerald Levert

Ledger’s death was exacerbated by oxycodone and hydrocodone. With Presley, it was morphine and codeine. Plato’s opiate of choice was hydrocodone, and Levert’s death mixture included Vicodin, Percocet and Darvocet.

Methamphetamines have gotten a lot of media attention lately due to the TV show Breaking Bad. Before knowledge of crystal meth became mainstream, though, the drug was already working its way insidiously through many communities. Methamphetamines were originally developed as a stimulant in the early 20th century, but they did not become popular for street use until 1990s, when drug dealers developed new methods of “cooking” meth to make it stronger.

The drug is made through a chemical process that often utilizes over-the-counter cold medicine as a base. Ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and anhydrous ammonia are all key ingredients that can be extracted from cough medicine.

Drug use is prevalent throughout the country, ranging from rural areas in the southwest to urban areas, including predominately white neighborhoods like those in South Milwaukee. This is a drug that knows no racial or class bounds, and it’s a danger to both users and their communities.

How This Drug Works

Crystal meth is sometimes called “speed,” and it’s classified as an “upper.” It produces feelings of euphoria by altering the body’s production of dopamine. The flood of dopamine leads to the user feeling energized and happy. Unfortunately for the user, these effects are temporary and can have far-reaching negative consequences.

Eventually, the body will stop being able to produce dopamine on its own. This makes it impossible for the user to feel pleasure naturally. Additionally, drug use alters neuropathways in the brain, which can affect a user’s mental health in the long term. Essentially, the drug actually rewires the user’s brain in such a way that he or she will never be exactly the same again, even if the drug is no longer used.

The Problems Users Face

Methamphetamine usage manifests itself in many physical and mental symptoms. The drug can also have long-term and damaging effects on the user’s body and mental well-being.

• The body loses its regenerative powers, leading to the appearance of premature aging
• Chronic dry mouth and tooth grinding behaviors lead to substantial tooth decay and oral infections
• Users have increased libido and are prone to reckless sexual behavior
• The user’s immune system is compromised by drug use
• Behavioral changes, including paranoia and irritability, are very common

Aside from the personal troubles caused by metamphetamine use, this drug can also damage communities. Drug deals encourage violent crime and prostitution. Crystal meth can also be physically dangerous to a neighborhood. When it’s cooked at home, the chemicals can be volatile and prone to catching fire or exploding. House and apartment fires caused by methamphetamine labs are a real threat for people living in these communities.

The Importance of Drug Testing

Drug use is a multi-headed opponent that must be dealt with on a legal and medical level. People need help with rehabilitation programs and counseling to aid the transition to a normal lifestyle.

Outside of this, though, one of the most important steps in putting an end to drug use is identifying users. Without drug testing, users can’t get the help they need. They can also pose a serious threat to their own safety and the safety of those around them through inattentiveness. Drug users hurt themselves and the companies they work for, and preventing that trouble before it starts is the main reason why it’s a great idea for organizations to implement mandatory drug testing.

Drug tests encourage users to get clean and stay clean in order to maintain their jobs. It protects the workers from being subjected to potentially dangerous or otherwise harmful coworkers, and it helps businesses choose the most productive employees. If you have not yet implemented a drug testing program for your business, you can contact us for more information on how to get started.

Most companies provide reasonable accommodations for employees who have medical conditions that require the use of prescription drugs. They encourage workers to have healthy lifestyles because employees deliver better results when they feel their best. Although long term use of prescription drugs can help manage pain and chronic illness, abuse of these medications has become a growing problem in South Milwaukee.

While many states across the nation have adopted standards for employer drug testing, Wisconsin is not one of these states. Though Wisconsin legislature may require that individuals working for state contractors or public works facilities undergo drug tests, there are no statutes in place demanding that private employers must test employees. While it is not required, the practice is also not prohibited.

The latest statistics released by the National Institute on Drug Abuse indicates that using prescription or illegal substances recreationally is on the rise in the United States. The levels of abuse documented from 2002 to 2011 show an ever increasing monthly use from people aged 12 to 59. These statistics mean that a good portion of working aged individuals regularly participate in the activity. South Milwaukee is not exempt from these findings.

Marijuana

Since 2007, Marijuana became the most widely used substance in the country. Users smoke the dried plant matter in many forms that includes the hand-rolled cigarettes known as joints, in makeshift pipes, water pipes or in emptied cigar casings filled with a combination of the substance and tobacco. Some mix the plant in foods or might brew marijuana into a tea. The chemical component THC targets cannabinoid receptors in the brain and overstimulates these regions. Taking in the substance commonly produces distorted perceptions, impaired coordination and difficulty with cognitive thinking and problem solving along with interfering with learning and memory. As the effects may last up to three hours, workers often exhibit tardiness, have workplace accidents and an increased number of absences.

Cocaine

Derived from the leaves of the coca plant, cocaine remains close to the top of list of abused substances. In powdered form, users often snort the drug. Some may dissolve the powder in water and administer the substance as an intravenous injection. In rock crystal form, commonly called crack, users burn the rock and inhale the fumes. The addictive stimulant increases dopamine production and inhibits the brain’s ability to break down or eliminate the neurotransmitter. Under the influence, abusers experience euphoria, have increased energy and exhibit and unusual need for chattiness. As the substance also constricts blood vessels, increases heart rate and blood pressure, users have an increased likelihood of suffering a heart attack or stroke.

Heroin

This drug is synthesized from morphine, which comes from the seed pod of opium poppy plants. Approximately 4.2 million people aged 12 and older reported having used the substance at least once. Around 23 percent of these become addicted. Users inject, inhale, sniff or snort the drug. Once taken, the substance converts back into morphine and binds to opioid receptors in the brain. As these receptors are in the brain stem, the drug affects blood pressure and heart rate along with respiration. Initially, users experience euphoria followed by alternating periods of alertness and drowsiness. Over time, tolerance occurs, which necessitates increased usage.

Ecstasy

Also known as MDMA, the popular synthetic formulation produces a combination of stimulant and hallucinogenic effects. While experiencing increased energy, ecstasy users also feel euphoric and empathetic but have distorted views of sensory and time perceptions. Taken in capsule or tablet from, the effects may last anywhere from three to six hours. Coming down commonly causes confusion, depression, anxiety and insomnia along with cravings for additional doses. Long-term abuse may lead to a permanence in after effect symptoms.

Amphetamines

Amphetamines increase the release and interfere with the break down of the neurotransmitter known as dopamine. During use, the stimulant typically increases alertness, physical activity and respirations along with heart rate and blood pressure. Long-term abuse contributes to weight loss, anxiety and confusion in addition to mood changes, audio/visual hallucinations or delusions.

Drug Testing

As part of pre-employment requirements, employers may insist that prospective employees undergo testing. Various facilities located around the state regularly perform hair follicle, saliva and urine tests using specially designed kits. If employers suspect that employees are working under the influence or suffer from the effects of drug abuse, these facilities might also be utilized. However, taking an employee to a testing facility often results in production loss as the employer loses the benefit of two employees simultaneously. Employers might contact local law enforcement agencies if the event involves a single employee. If a facility decides to perform randomized testing on all employees, obtaining the services of a mobile testing service is another option.

The foundational method of eliminating hazardous substance abuse in any organization is an effective drug testing regimen. Laboratory quality analysis is an immensely valuable tool that employers have at their disposal for targeting intoxicated workers. Substance use is an alarming danger that must be eradicated for a business to be successful. Instances of negligent behavior can be irresponsibly caused by drug users on a regular basis. As a result, they must be systematically targeted for removal from the work place.

Drug users have a tendency to obfuscate their bad habits, which makes it difficult to lawfully terminate their employment without a record of poor behavior. Managers should not have to wait for a liable mistake to occur before they can act on intoxication that takes place at work. Administering drug tests is a surefire way to acquire legitimate proof of these infractions while encouraging collective sobriety. By randomizing the distribution of these assessments, an employer can assure that their workers will automatically be more discerning about avoiding drug use.Before it is even fully implemented, a simple testing policy can have a pronounced impact as a deterrent. A failed drug test can be instantly used as grounds for dismissal; furthermore, an employee’s refusal to comply with the analysis can be interpreted as concealing intoxication, which also results in a contractually legal loss of their job. This allows for a replacement to be hired, and the position can be filled with a competently sober worker. Requiring clean test results before hiring is an excellent way to filter out potentially harmful applicants.

Modern workers have unprecedented access to an enormous variety of recreational substances. Each intoxicant has significantly different consequences that stem from ingestion. Tests that only target an individual drug fail to comprehensively tackle the problem. To avoid inadvertently accommodating the use of certain drugs, employers must be sure to utilize a drug test that can detect a wide array of intoxicated chemical compounds; otherwise, they inadvertently accommodate a certain type of substance by accidentally overlooking it during the assessment. The best testers notice everything.

Each kind of drug has the ability to detract from an office atmosphere in a unique manner. For example, marijuana users can make a worker sluggish and inattentive. Meanwhile, cocaine consumption promotes sudden aggression and unpredictability. Ecstasy can cause lethargy and inappropriate emotionality. Alcohol causes sloppy workmanship accompanied by incomprehensibly compromised communication skills. Heroin completely saps sociability and engagement. Amphetamines lead to a hyperactive propensity towards procrastination through distraction. Clearly, all of these states of being violate the ethical code of being in a professional arena.

It is crucially important for a city to have the esteem of offering drug-free environments to all of its working citizens. When a region instates universal drug testing regulations, the economy receive a boost from the increased reputations of local businesses; however, companies often have to act before the government does. If every employer in South Milwaukee strictly applied drug testing programs, the entire state would notice substantial increases in the efficiency of their entire economic sector. Consequently, legislators would follow suit by mandating city-wide testing ordinances, which would result in a streamlined process that is affordably subsidized. Incrementally, organized drug testing could improve the totality of South Milwaukee’s financial situation.

In only takes a concealed moment to ingest a mind-altering substance, but the negative effects publicly linger on for everyone to observe. These induced states of consciousness last for extended durations of time. The leftover evidence of drug use also varies by substance. Marijuana remains in the system for more than two weeks; meanwhile, it only takes three days for the body to eliminate traces of cocaine, heroin, amphetamines and ecstasy. Therefore, it is easier to catch to a cannabis smoker, but recording proof of other drugs necessitates diligent timing of administration. Additionally, exemptions for certified prescriptions must be provided; however, courts have ruled that this does not usually pertain to medical marijuana.

It is also important to prevent intoxicated users from occupying a work space because their illicit activities are often illegal. This directly represents a lack of respect for authority, and the person that displays this kind of behavior indicates someone that is likely to break rules in the office as well. To enforce a drug free workplace, business operators must utilize a well-rounded set of approaches to detect and deter substance use. Routine drug testing will eradicate the poor judgment that is incurred by recreational chemicals.

The benefits of implementing a drug free workplace environment are far reaching. From better employee safety on the job to reducing company expenses, this is a topic that business owners should review and consider closely so that their employees can benefit from a better work environment.

Creating a Drug-Free Workplace

One of the first things that most business owners want to know is what’s involved in creating a drug free workplace. Creating a drug free workplace does not have to be difficult since there are many companies that have them in place. However, one of the first and most essential parts of any drug-free workplace is developing and initiating the policies that govern how the program will be administered.

These policies must be explicit and not ambiguous so that can be implemented fairly across the company. For instance, if any employee is caught with marijuana, ecstasy or cocaine on the company’s property, the policy should state immediate termination. This type of policy will not only prevent the employee from further inappropriate actions but it will also keep others around them safe from harm, especially in cases where they are operating heavy equipment.

In addition to creating a policy that govern violations, the policies should also be proactive. When the policies are proactive, candidates for external job positions are normally tested before they receive a job offer. In some cases, the offer letter may also state that the new job position is contingent upon them passing a drug test.

Reduction in Absenteeism and Improved Employee Morale

Many times companies can experience very high absenteeism rates. In some of these situations, the absenteeism rates may due to various kinds of drugs and alcohol abuse. In fact, management may be able to track these high turnover rates to various kinds of substance abuse cases (i.e. taking drugs like cocaine, heroin, and amphetamines). However, with a drug-free workplace environment being implemented, the rates of these incidences can drop to very few to zero.

When absenteeism rates are high, it can also have a direct impact on employee morale. Unfortunately, people who have substance abuse problems can have a large impact on whole operations when they do not show up for work on time. In some cases, other employees are normally tasked with filling in for the abusers by staying after hours to meet hard deadlines. With a DFWP in place, these repeated occurrences can be completely eliminated. Thereby, having a positive ripple affect on the entire organization and their morale.

Improved Safety for All

Some businesses operate functions that have a higher risk of injuries and accidents. Even when a person is completely free of any type of substance, accidents and injuries can occur. On the other hand, when an employee is performing one of the riskier job functions in an compromised state, they are normally considered to be accidents waiting to happen. Therefore, when the management in the company has implemented drug-free workplace programs, these employees can be identified prior to the acceptance of the job offer. Also, if an employee is coming to work with drugs in their system on a continuous basis, the management will reserve the right to either test all employees randomly or they may choose to test the employee under reasonable suspicion guidelines.

Reduction in Costly Health Benefits

While safety for all employees is the primary concern, the company is also in the business of making money by maximizing their bottom line profits. When a company has a large problem with people who have drug concerns, the profits can quickly shrink. This is because alcohol and drug consumption will normally lead to a wide variety of other health concerns and they are also expensive. With a drug-free work place program implemented, these concerns can be minimized since the workplace will be free from this kind of abuse to the human body.

Implementing an alcohol or drug free work place in a business does not have to be difficult, especially when the company can network with other firms that already have a drug free workplace policy in place. Fortunately, there are numerous advantages to implementing these kinds of programs. From reduction in injuries and accidents to improving employee morale, drug free work place has a wide array of things that can offer virtually any company like those in South Milwaukee.

Substance abuse in the workplace is a serious issue that can affect any company regardless of its size. While many employers may feel that employees are free to do whatever they want outside of work, the NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) estimates that roughly 75% of all illicit drug abusers have full or part-time employment, as do most alcoholics and abusers of prescription medication. Even if an employee is only using drugs like marijuana, heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, or amphetamines outside of work hours, all studies strongly suggest that substance abusers are more likely to:

• Frequently Jump Jobs: Substance abusers are less committed to their employer and are more likely to jump from one job to another, which is important since replacing a salaried employee can cost a business up to $7,000.
• Be Consistently Late or Absent from Work: It is 2.5 times more probable that a substance abuser will miss work 8 or 9 times a year.
• Be Less Productive: Substance abusers have less daily productivity than non users and are estimated to be 1/3 less productive

To a South Milwaukee employer, hiring someone regularly under the influence of drugs means sacrificing dependability and competency, which severely compromises both service to your customers/clients and the workplace safety of all employees.

Although there is nothing wrong with being sympathetic to the sickness that is drug abuse, from a employer’s perspective gambling on someone with a substance abuse issue typically means lost productivity, smaller profits, and a greater chance for workplace mishaps and accidents.

Nearly half of all Worker’s Compensation claims are believed to derive from substance abuse at the workplace. Substance abusers are known to file three to five more Worker’s Compensation claims than non-users.

Medical claim expenses are also higher, with substance abusers incurring medical costs that are 300% higher than non-abusers.

The Benefits of a Drug Free Workplace

Drug screening protects businesses from the negative ramifications of employee drug or alcohol abuse. Small business owners in particular are especially at risk. These businesses employ up to 80% of the U.S. workforce and many neglect to implement drug testing policies and programs.

Considering that the absenteeism, decreased productivity, and higher healthcare costs associated with drug and alcohol abuse can cost a company up to $1000 per employee each year, the costs of not drug testing are significant enough to jeopardize the survival of an already struggling small-to-medium sized company or business.

Such issues can be avoided altogether by making your company or organization a drug free workplace. Not only will workplace drug screening minimize the likelihood of having to deal with the all-too-common job performance and absenteeism issues tied to drug abuse, but it also fosters a more positive workplace environment for employees. Outside of work, a drug free workplace program supports better lifestyle choices and a better quality of life for employees.

Business in America has been significantly impacted by illicit drug use. An estimated $160 billion each year is lost by U.S. businesses due to the implications of employee drug use. Business owners today are faced with the choice of risking the very stability of their business by employing people with substance abuse issues or ensuring themselves a drug free workplace.

What Does a Drug Free Work Program Involve

A drug free workplace program is a comprehensive approach that goes far beyond drug testing to include a written policy for employees, access to assistance, employee education, and supervisor training. It is an approach that has been adopted with success by varied business sectors ranging from the government to national franchises and local privately owned companies. Many unions have adopted the policy as well to identify themselves as “drug free.”

Employees may likely feel as if their freedoms are being imposed upon but the positives of a drug free workplace must be conveyed to them. Countless case studies have indicated that a well-planned drug free workplace program can boost productivity, reduce employee turnover, and limit the number of workplace accidents. Additionally, by avoiding investments in the wrong hires and no longer having to pay out the unnecessary costs associated with substance abusers – like more medical/insurance claims – companies can increase profit and cut losses, which often leads to increased wages and better employee morale.