What are some of the problems and issues associated with drug testing employees and job applicants? What is your opinion on workplace drug testing?

What will be an ideal response?

Answer: Drug testing is problematical. Breathalyzers and blood tests for alcohol do correlate closely with impairment levels. However, urine and blood tests for other drugs only show whether drug residues are present. They can't measure impairment or, for that matter, habituation or addiction. Furthermore, products exist that help employees beat urine analysis drug tests. Drug testing therefore raises several issues. Without strong evidence linking blood or urine drug levels to impairment, some argue that drug testing violates people's rights to privacy and due process, and that the procedures themselves are degrading and intrusive. Others argue that workplace drug testing might identify one's use of drugs during leisure hours, but have little or no relevance to the job. It's also not clear that drug testing improves safety or performance. At least one study concluded that other than alcohol, there is no clear evidence that drugs diminish safety or job performance.

Business

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