Last updated : May 12, 2025
After leaving a job at Pfizer, Ilie Saracovan sought to start his own business. The East Lyme resident soon purchased the Eastern Connecticut franchise of USA Mobile Drug Testing. Saracovan was a chemist and supervisor with the drug giant for 9 ½ years. Leaving in 2010, he says he doesn’t regret his time there. It prepared him for what was ahead.
The Connecticut franchise’s clientele consists of companies with government contracts from the Department of Transportation and Health and Human Services. The region has also seen a rise in the abuse of prescription drugs. “We’re definitely seeing more cases in our ER involving prescription drugs. How much occurring in the workplace I couldn’t tell you. Drug abuse, in general, is a big problem,” says Shawn Mawhiney, spokesman of the William T. Backus Hospital. This is right up Saracovan’s alley. In his concern for the public health industry, he wants to balance the needs for safety with privacy of the people being tested. Specimens are sent to a lab in Louisiana and provided in 24 hours. Revealed substance abusers are sent to local agencies including the Stonington Institute and the Southeastern Council on Drugs and Alcohol Dependency.
Ilie plans to expand his reach as well as the services offered. He plans to teach classes about workplace drug abuse and hopes to bring in clients ranging from casino owners to family service providers. The Eastern Connecticut franchise covers all of New London County and portions of Windham and Hartford Counties. Saracovan is the only employee at the present, but he plans to add a salesperson along with specimen collectors in 2012.
Source: Norwich Bulletin
