Drug Testing @ The Issue

Since the 1980s, drug testing in the workplace, for both prospective and current employees, has become standard practice in many American companies. Proponents maintain that drug testing cuts down on an employer’s bottom line, saving money on employee illnesses, absences and health costs. Furthermore, drug testing helps ensure safety, particularly in dangerous work environments. Critics call employee drug testing a violation of privacy that infringes on 4th amendment rights, and also question the correlation between drug use and efficiency on the job.