According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), illegal drug use is on the rise. A national survey found a large increase in illicit drug users between 2013 and 2014. 27 million Americans aged 12 or older, a number that is surely still on the rise, identified themselves as illicit drug users last year. This number translates to about 1 in 10 Americans. This high number continues to be driven by marijuana use (22.2 million users) and the abuse of prescription drugs (4.3 million users).
The near 13% increase in illicit drug use in the span of a year can be mainly contributed to the legalization of marijuana use in Washington and Colorado. From 2012 to 2013, positive tests for marijuana increased 6.2 percent nationally. Positive drug test results for Colorado and Washington increased by 20 percent and 23 percent respectively. As a reminder to companies in either one of these states, the legalization of marijuana does not currently prohibit employers from testing for the substance.
The staggering numbers may have you believing that the numbers are skewed. You may think that surely a large proportion of illicit drug users are unemployed. However, of the more than 22 million illicit drug users aged 18 or older, just over 70 percent were employed either full or part time. That means your company may be susceptible to a loss caused by a workplace accident or lowered productivity.
Drug Abuse on the job can impact your company in the following ways:
• Erratic work quality
• Lack of focus
• Lowered productivity
• Increased absenteeism
• Unexplained disappearances from the job site
• Carelessness, resulting in errors
• Needless risk taking
• Disregard for safety, therefore increasing accidents
• Extended breaks and/or early departures
• Automobile accidents
What can I do to maintain a drug-free workplace?
Review your company’s drug testing policy. As an employer, you need to both understand the purpose of the substance abuse testing program and effectively communicate the policy to candidates and employees prior to the program start date. With medical marijuana legal in 23 states and recreational marijuana legal in 4 states, look over the section that addresses the use of marijuana. Make sure you have clarified your company’s stance on safety, marijuana use, and potential ramifications for violations of your company’s policy.
Continue or increase drug testing. There are many reasons for issuing a drug test. Many companies engage in pre-employment drug testing, hoping to deter users from applying for positions. Random drug testing is an option that promotes workplace safety and more effectively deters workplace drug use. Post-accident/reasonable suspicion testing also communicates a company’s stance on workplace safety. This method provides cause for termination and reduces workers compensation exposure. Return to duty/follow-up testing reduces risk while allowing trained employees to return to work. This method also deters relapse.
It might be time that you review your drug screening policy for the new year.
It might be time that you review your drug screening policy for the new year.
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