Facts You Should Know About
Drugs in the Workplace

 

• Overview of Drugs in the Workplace
• Why employers test
• Current trends in Drug and Alcohol testing
• Adulteration/Substitutions
• Designer drugs
• How To Get Started With Our Drug and Alcohol Testing Service
• Do you have an appropriate (and defensible) drug policy?
• Here's a quick (non-DOT) checklist to determine if your policy needs immediate changes
  (these are suggested due to very recent unemployment hearings.)
• What do you want to accomplish with your Drug-Free Workplace program?
• Is your organization labor represented?
• What type of services do you need?
• Who do you wish to designate to receive testing information?
• When do you want to start?
• Is there a set-up fee

 

OVERVIEW OF DRUGS IN THE WORKPLACE

Why employer's test
In Oregon 30% of the workforce uses illicit drugs. Even though Oregon represents only 2% of the national population, we rank #2 in the country for methamphetamine production and #1 for high-grade marijuana cultivation. Nationally, we are seeing an increase in methamphetamine usage and an increase in designer drugs.

From the Oregon Business Council, we know that marijuana in now Oregon’s number one cash crop equaling the combined worth of cattle, wheat and hay. With the high availability and low cost we have a higher than national rate for drug abuse among workers.

The Oregon Business Council also reports that drug abusers are four times more likely to have accidents, two and a half times more likely to be absent more than once a week, and five times more likely to file a worker’s comp claim.

The cost to US businesses is higher than $150 billion in lost productivity per year. We have a huge problem in this country with drug abuse. It is simply too high to ignore this important public safety program implemented by the Department of Transportation. There are 8.5 million employees that fall under DOT rules.

 

CURRENT TRENDS IN DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING

Currently 79% of Oregon companies test at least for pre-employment and reasonable suspicion. The trend in Oregon is headed toward pre-employment testing for many categories of workers. If you want a minimum wage job at many restaurants and canneries, you will be subject to pre-employment drug testing. Many industries -- construction, electronics, and food services -- are leaning toward random testing. Many labor-represented industries such as the Electrical Contractors are also participating in random testing programs.

Adulteration/Substitutions
There appears to be an increase in adulteration products, which are commercially purchased products brought in to add to a urine sample like Urine-Aid, Urine-Luck, Turboclean, and Klear in the hopes that the donor can pass the test. Laboratories monitor specimens to show if it contains an adulterating substance or if it is a sample that is not consistent with human urine. If these are found, no drug test is conducted it is automatically considered a “refusal to test.”

Designer drugs
Designer drugs are becoming more common. Ecstasy is a combination of various toxic and pharmaceutical products. Some local Ecstasy being discovered in the Northwest now contains PCP (angel dust.)

 

How To Get Started With Our Drug and Alcohol Testing Service:

BIO-MED understands that time is valuable for our customers. To keep your time to a minimum we have developed a simple process for signing up for services. One call does it all. We will ask you some questions to tailor a program for you and to help you determine if your program is legally defensible and appropriate for your area and your particular industry. We will advise you of our recommendations and in most cases, get you started the same day you call. BIO-MED’s primary goal is unsurpassed customer satisfaction so there's no "contract" to sign and no time limit to agree to! All we require is a simple service agreement outlining the proposed services and negotiated fee structure. Here are some of the questions we will ask when you call:

Do you have an appropriate (and defensible) drug policy?
If not, we will provide you a "sample" drug policy designed for your industry and help you set-up your program. BIO-MED offers to conduct a quick review of your current policy and practices to determine if it needs updating, has illegal requirements or is inconsistent with your industry. We can then adjust the language for you, if necessary or recommend changes. BIO-MED always recommends that you work with your attorney to finalize any policy changes. Our policy review is no charge.

Here's a quick (non-DOT) checklist to determine if your policy needs immediate changes
(these are suggested due to very recent unemployment hearings.):

Do you list the laboratory testing cut-off levels for each drug you are testing for?
Do you list the prohibited level of alcohol….(0.02 BRAC)?
Do you require employees to report the name of medications they are taking to the company?- If so…EEEKKK! Beware of potential liability.
Do you list the methodology of confirming a test as positive (G.C./M.S.)?
Do you specify what behavior constitutes a "refusal to test" (adulteration, tampering…)?
Do you specify the specific reasons under which a test will be required..(Pre-employment, Reasonable Suspicion Post-Accident...)?
Do you clearly specify the consequences of testing "non-negative…(positive, adulterated….)?
Do you specify if a "last-chance" agreement may be offered?
Do you list the methodology for testing for alcohol?( Breath Testing..)?

Let BIO-MED help you determine if your policy is legally defensible and if it can withstand an unemployment or worker's compensation hearing.

What do you want to accomplish with your Drug-Free Workplace program?
We will make sure your program has the desired effect and meets (and exceeds) your expectations. Programs can be very simple such as setting up a pre-employment testing program or can be very comprehensive depending upon your specific needs. Regardless, we do the work to get you started.

Is your organization labor represented?
Do you have a negotiated drug and alcohol policy that allows for a testing program? If not, we can work with your labor organizations to get a policy in place- at no charge.

What type of services do you need?
DOT…Non-DOT… Both? What type of testing do you need? Certified Lab testing, instant testing (5 minute screening), breath alcohol testing, random, on-site, national specimen collection, Medical Review Officer (MRO), services etc… Which drugs do you want your employees tested for? Three-(3) drug panel up to ten-(10) drugs, which testing panel is appropriate for you and your industry? What cut-off levels do you require to determine what IS and what IS NOT a "positive" test? Supervisor/Employee education needed? What else can we do to make your Drug-Free Workplace program effective? If you don't know the answers to these questions we can help you determine what type of program will be a good R.O.I., legally defensible, appropriate for your industry and most cost-effective to meet your goals.

Who do you wish to designate to receive testing information?
Do they understand federal confidentiality regulations? If not, we can help educate your staff to prevent liability.

When do you want to start?
Today? - No Problem!

Is there a set-up fee?
Depending upon your specific needs, there may be a small set-up fee of about $50-$150. We will let you know if this fee applies when you contact us with your program requirements.

ATTACH SIGN-UP FORM