The Facts about Workplace Drug Testing

Since the 1990s, studies have shown that substance abuse is not only prevalent in the workplace, but that it is extremely costly to employers.About 70 percent of all drug users (including those that drink alcohol heavily) hold a job.


The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that drug use costs employers between $75 billion and $100 billion each year in lost time, accidents, health care and workers’ compensation costs.

The Small Business Administration further determined that employees with substance use issues cost their employers an average of $7,000 annually.

Sixty-five percent of all accidents on the job are related to drugs or alcohol, and employees who abuse substances cause 40 percent of on the job injuries.

The workers with a high rate of illicit drug use include construction workers, sales personnel, food preparation, wait staff, bartenders, handlers, helpers, laborers, and machine operators and inspectors.

For the many benefits of a drug-free workplace, more private sector employers have implemented drug testing as a cost effective means to eliminate harmful and unproductive employees, and stop these figures from trickling to their work environment.

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