Workplace Drug Screening
Workplace Drug Screening
The drug testing that takes place in the United States can be separated into a couple of general groups, general workplace and federal consent. Federal consent drug testing began when President Ronald Reagan passed via executive order that federal workers cease from using illegal drugs (Wikipedia, 2010). The author will explain the different types of drug testing, the reliability of these tests, drug testing programs and the ethical and legal issues of workplace drug testing.
Types of Drug Test There are numerous methods of drug testing available today. Each drug testing method has its own advantage and disadvantage. The first type of drug testing is Urine test; this is the most common type of drug testing. Drug testing urine is to analyze a sample of urine for traces of drugs. When a positive result is found this positive result only indicates that a drug was used in the recent past; this test does not tell if the person is under the influence at the time of the test. A urine test is not used to detect alcohol because it correlates poorly with blood levels when the usual collection procedures are used (Wikipedia, 2010). The second type of drug testing is blood test, this type measures the actual amount of alcohol or drugs in the blood stream at the time the test is taken. Unlike the urine test, the results of the blood test will show if the person was under the influence at the time of the test (Wikipedia, 2010). Next is the hair and saliva testing, Researchers have begin studying the testing of hair and saliva to identify alcohol and drug use. Early results imply that testing saliva may be a suitable testing technique. The accuracy, reliability, and analysis of hair testing have been determined to be admissible in a court of law, even though the definite accuracy is still in debate. Lastly there is the breath test this is the most common test to test if a person is under the influence of alcohol. This test
The drug testing that takes place in the United States can be separated into a couple of general groups, general workplace and federal consent. Federal consent drug testing began when President Ronald Reagan passed via executive order that federal workers cease from using illegal drugs (Wikipedia, 2010). The author will explain the different types of drug testing, the reliability of these tests, drug testing programs and the ethical and legal issues of workplace drug testing.
Types of Drug Test There are numerous methods of drug testing available today. Each drug testing method has its own advantage and disadvantage. The first type of drug testing is Urine test; this is the most common type of drug testing. Drug testing urine is to analyze a sample of urine for traces of drugs. When a positive result is found this positive result only indicates that a drug was used in the recent past; this test does not tell if the person is under the influence at the time of the test. A urine test is not used to detect alcohol because it correlates poorly with blood levels when the usual collection procedures are used (Wikipedia, 2010). The second type of drug testing is blood test, this type measures the actual amount of alcohol or drugs in the blood stream at the time the test is taken. Unlike the urine test, the results of the blood test will show if the person was under the influence at the time of the test (Wikipedia, 2010). Next is the hair and saliva testing, Researchers have begin studying the testing of hair and saliva to identify alcohol and drug use. Early results imply that testing saliva may be a suitable testing technique. The accuracy, reliability, and analysis of hair testing have been determined to be admissible in a court of law, even though the definite accuracy is still in debate. Lastly there is the breath test this is the most common test to test if a person is under the influence of alcohol. This test
References: Carroll, C. R. (2000). Drugs in modern society (5th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, Resource, PSY425-Chemical Dependency in the Workplace Web site. Cook, Royer F. (n.d.) “Drug Abuse prevention in the workplace.” Retrieved from http://Springerlink.com/content/m4122986p1441j53 Drug Detection Laboratories Inc. (n.d.). “General Information on Drugs of Abuse and drug Detection Testing”. Retrieved from http://www.drugdetection.net/drug.htm Drug test. (2010, January 8). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. From http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Drug_test&oldid=336532753 MacDonald, S., Wells, S., & Fry, R. (1993). The limitations of drug screening in the workplace. International Labour Review, 132(1), 95-114. Retrieved from http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?&did=233214&sid=1&Fmt=3&RQT=309&VName=PQD&clientId=13118 United States Department of Labor. (n.d.). Workplace Drug Testing (Fact Sheet). Retrieved from United States Department of Labor website: http://www.dol.gov/asp/programs/drugs/workingpartners/dfworkplace/dt.asp