The History of Workplace Drug Testing

In 1986, the Reagan Administration began recommending a drug testing program for employers as part of the War on Drugs program. In 1988, Drug Free Workplace regulations required that any company with a contract over $25,000 with the Federal government provide a Drug-Free Workplace. This program must include drug testing, The Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991 required drug and alcohol testing of safety sensitive employees in aviation, trucking, railroads, mass transit, and pipelines. These industries included Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Maritime (USCG), Pipeline (PHMSA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), and the Federal Transit Authority (FTA). According to the Department of Transportation data (2008), the number of workers who are subject to drug testing is approximately 6 million.

Private employers also saw the value of drug testing and instituted Drug-Free Workplace programs. Today, approximately 90% of Fortune 1000 companies and 62% of all employers in the United States have mandatory drug-testing programs. Several states have initiated legislation that rewards employers who institute drug testing for employees. They receive discounts on workers' compensation premiums if they comply with state drug testing regulations. Today 47 of the 50 states have legislation or court cases that regulate specific drug-testing requirements. In 2008, approximately 50 million drug screens were performed on employees by 40 different SAMHSA certified laboratories.

The Facts

The 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimates are presented for seven illicit drug categories and for the use of any illicit drug. In 2015, 27.1 million people aged 12 or older used an illicit drug in the past 30 days, which corresponds to about 1 in 10 Americans (10.1 percent). The illicit drug use estimate for 2015 continues to be driven primarily by marijuana use and the misuse of prescription pain relievers, with 22.2 million current marijuana users aged 12 or older (i.e., users in the past 30 days) and 3.8 million people aged 12 or older who reported current misuse of prescription pain relievers. The 2015 estimate of current marijuana users was similar to the estimate in 2014, but it was higher than the estimates from 2002 to 2013. This increase in marijuana use among people aged 12 or older reflects the increase in marijuana use by adults aged 26 or older and, to a lesser extent, the increase in marijuana use among young adults aged 18 to 25.
(2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health)

Drug abuse is a very real problem in the United States in 2015. In terms of employee drug testing, 1 in 25 applicants/employees tested positive for drugs of abuse.
(Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index 2015)

Drug abuse is a very real problem in the United States in 2015. In terms of employee drug testing, 1 in 25 applicants/employees tested positive for drugs of abuse.
(Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index 2015)

In 2004, the American Management Association conducted surveys of employers and found that 62% of these companies located in the United States required drug testing for their employees. About 10.4 million (or 8.4% of those employed) used illicit drugs.
(Results from the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health)

Not only are illicit drugs being used by U.S. workers but the ramifications to the use of drugs are noteworthy. In surveys conducted with the Institute for a Drug Free Workplace, they found the following:

  • 76% of drug users are employed
  • 2.5 times more likely to be absent for 8 or more days
  • 5x more likely to file a workers’ comp claim
  • 3.6x more likely to injure themselves or others at work

The US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported in 2000 that those most likely to use illicit drugs are employed by businesses employing fewer than 500 workers.

  • 44% work for small employers (1-24 employees)
  • 43% work for medium employers (25-499)
  • 13% work for large employers (>500)
    (US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 2000)

According to SAMHSA, substance use disorders cost the nation an estimated $276 billion a year, with much of the cost resulting from lost work productivity and increased healthcare spending.1 Given that 76 percent of people with drug or alcohol problems are employed,2 employers have a major stake in ensuring that employees have access to substance abuse treatment.

The Benefits

Drug Testing will provide several benefits to employers including:

  • Reduced health benefit expenses
  • Reduced insurance premiums
  • Decreased absenteeism
  • Increased worker productivity