Random Drug Testing

[Crimebytes2]

Okay, guys! Now it’s my turn. I’m writing my research paper on random drug testing in the workplace. My thesis statement is: Random drug testing is unfair, often inaccurate, and unproven as a means of stopping drug use. Needless to say, I have my work cut out for me since the pros outweigh the cons by a large margin. Still, I would love to know what you think. Please consider the following questions:

1. Have you ever participated in random drug testing? If so, how did it make you feel?

2. How do you feel about pre-employment drug testing?

3. Do you feel random drug testing is an invasion of privacy? After all, as long as you show up for work on time and do your job satisfactorily, what you do during your off time is your business, right?

4. How do you feel about companies who sale products to “beat the tests”? Do you think it’s fair?

I have attached an anonymous survey and will be including the results in my paper. Just so you know, while I may include your comments, I will not do so without first asking for your permission, and permission granted or not; user names will not be used. If you prefer not to make comment, this is fine, but I would appreciate a survey response. Finally, I did ask Brad’s permission before posting this. Many thanks in advance for your help.

PS – if you are aware of a good source regarding random drug testing please share it with me.

[10-42Adam]

100% for it. Enough said.

[Piggybank Cop]

Yes, ok

Yes

No

pos

anything else?

[10-42Adam]

Okay, Okay! I'll answer your questions too.

1. I've never been asked to do a random drug test. If I were asked I wouldn't get mad about it, I think it's the employer's right to know whether the people who work for them participate in illegal activities.

2. I'm all for it. Drugs are illegal and if someones chooses to willingly do something illegal, who says they won't try something else? (Example: theft.)

3. I don't feel as though a random drug test is an invasion of privacy. If you don't do drugs, you should have nothing to worry about.

4. I think "beat the test" products should be made illegal. They're basically saying "Go ahead and do illegal drugs, we'll hide all the evidence for you!" So what is this saying to the public?

[Just KC]

I am in 100% support for it. I have no drug use in my past, so I have no worries on a random drug test. If *I* owned a company, I would want to be sure that my employees on the clock were working with a non drug-induced mind. Drugs are bad and illegal, period. I don't see how this is even a debate. JMO

[KaiGywer]

1. Have you ever participated in random drug testing? If so, how did it make you feel?

Nope, never had to do random.

2. How do you feel about pre-employment drug testing?

These I've done for a few different jobs, and I'm all for it. Easier to deny somebody a job because of drug use, than to face issues later.

3. Do you feel random drug testing is an invasion of privacy? After all, as long as you show up for work on time and do your job satisfactorily, what you do during your off time is your business, right?

No, because if you do drugs on "your own time", who knows when you'll show up at work still under the impairment

4. How do you feel about companies who sale products to “beat the tests”? Do you think it’s fair?

No, it's not. But then again, keep cheating, and eventually you'll slip up and get caught

[kay88]

1. Have you ever participated in random drug testing? If so, how did it make you feel?

2. How do you feel about pre-employment drug testing?

3. Do you feel random drug testing is an invasion of privacy? After all, as long as you show up for work on time and do your job satisfactorily, what you do during your off time is your business, right?

4. How do you feel about companies who sale products to “beat the tests”? Do you think it’s fair?

1. No I haven't, but if I were asked, like Jewell, i would not be mad about it.

2. I did have to do that, and I agree with that 100% as well. It's only fair. Drugs are illegal and if you do drugs before you start, chances are you would do them while at work and possibly cause injury to yourself or others (depending on the work situation)

3. I do not feel it's an invasion of privacy. Drugs can be very detrimental and it is no longer an issue of privacy if someone were to get hurt because their co-worker is doped up (like I said before)

4. It is very not fair to those people that do not break the law. They are cheating the system and I agree with Jewell that they should be made illegal.

[Ducky]

I support it 100% for insurance reasons if nothing else. Someone comes in under the influence and has an accident on the job, then what? Or someone off the clock goes into an OD fit and the insurance company foots the bill.

I also support random drug testing for anyone receiving government support (i.e., welfare)

[BigDawg]

I support random testing. Especially after any accident on the job, that should be done asap to rule it out. This can be in the employees favor. I also believe that there should be random testing for anyone who receives any type of assistance from the government, (state or fed). Welfare, Food Stamps, Unemployment, Medicare, etc. We don't provide them assistance so they can buy drugs. The same with any and all assisted liveing, such as the projects. If the government is assisting in your housing in any way the random tests will be conducted. If they don't like it they can choose to live somewhere else.

[CopsRCool302]

what happens if you passed someone up who's smoking weed, and it gets into your system without knowing it? OR, poppy seeds from a hamburger bun can also show up as a drug..

I'm not for it, I am for the first test when you start a new job, but to many people who been working for years got fired becuase it was in their systems and they don't even use drugs..

[Growler]

Okay, guys! Now it’s my turn. I’m writing my research paper on random drug testing in the workplace. My thesis statement is: Random drug testing is unfair, often inaccurate, and unproven as a means of stopping drug use. Needless to say, I have my work cut out for me since the pros outweigh the cons by a large margin. Still, I would love to know what you think. Please consider the following questions:

1. Have you ever participated in random drug testing? If so, how did it make you feel?

2. How do you feel about pre-employment drug testing?

3. Do you feel random drug testing is an invasion of privacy? After all, as long as you show up for work on time and do your job satisfactorily, what you do during your off time is your business, right?

4. How do you feel about companies who sale products to “beat the tests”? Do you think it’s fair?

I have attached an anonymous survey and will be including the results in my paper. Just so you know, while I may include your comments, I will not do so without first asking for your permission, and permission granted or not; user names will not be used. If you prefer not to make comment, this is fine, but I would appreciate a survey response. Finally, I did ask Brad’s permission before posting this. Many thanks in advance for your help.

PS – if you are aware of a good source regarding random drug testing please share it with me.

Yes. I laughed. I had gotten pulled twice that week already for it. (hmm , maybe someone was trying to tell me something)

2. Great. Weed out (no pun intended) less desirables. WHo wants to run radio calls with a crack head?

3. No. You have a time which tells that you might be subject to call backs, i.e they own your arse. And just because you've done it on your own time by the time you get back to work, your party may still not be done.

4. PoS. It's like having drunks take a home breathalzyer then still go out driving and plow into people.

[Standard Dave]

1. when I was in the army reserve I was tested and could have been at any time while on duty.

2. pre employment checks like references or a literacy test is a safe guard for the employer and the rest of the work force.

3. Drugs can have an adverse effect on every part of someones life including work finding the problem/ issue early could save time, money or even lives in the longer term.

4. I don't know of many if any of the beat the test claims that actually work so I think they are just picking on the stupid for a fast buck.

[Lazy Fed]

1. Have you ever participated in random drug testing? If so, how did it make you feel?
YES, I asked for my magazine and video when I got handed the cup, the administrator just stared at me and advised me it was not that "sort" of test

2. How do you feel about pre-employment drug testing?
It is a good thing

3. Do you feel random drug testing is an invasion of privacy? After all, as long as you show up for work on time and do your job satisfactorily, what you do during your off time is your business, right?
No not an invasion of privacy. As LEO we are to be the example of right and wrong, how can I go home and chase the dragon when I am at work arresting people for the same thing I am doing at home.

4. How do you feel about companies who sale products to “beat the tests”? Do you think it’s fair?

NO they are not fair nor do they work. We caught a girl once with a fake penis on so she could "beat" her test in the morning???

[Ducky]

what happens if you passed someone up who's smoking weed, and it gets into your system without knowing it? OR, poppy seeds from a hamburger bun can also show up as a drug..

1) you would be very, very unlikely to inhale enough smoke to show up, and if you did, it would be because you were locked in an enclosed space with someone who was chain smoking joints, and they would have to be blowing it directly into your face. 2) yes, they can, but a second more specific test (for opiates) would rule it out. Mythbusters did a segment on that one.

[Pedro56]

1. Participated. Didn't feel anything it is a necessary part of the job, and the last 3 jobs that I have had.

2. Should be done. How can you not? Are you going to take some heroin addict into your company?

3. Why is it an invasion of privacy? Drugs are illegal, and if I don't want them in my workplace why shouldn't I test? Your off time is your own business, but you drink alcohol right? How many times have you gone out the night before drank your barins out, then went to work 2 hours after you got home? Who is to say that the pot head or the coker or the crack addict or the heroin junkie isn't going to do the same?

4. Those companies have a right to sell what they want. I know a lot of places now specifically look for those certain products. Someone that tries to cover it will eventually get caught.

[lesta311]

1. Have you ever participated in random drug testing? If so, how did it make you feel?
Yes, and I felt rather indifferent. I was told it would happen when I was hired.
2. How do you feel about pre-employment drug testing?
It is a good thing as it establishes character of a hiree.

3. Do you feel random drug testing is an invasion of privacy? After all, as long as you show up for work on time and do your job satisfactorily, what you do during your off time is your business, right?
I don't feel its an invasion of privacy provided people are given prior notice and consent to it when being hired.

4. How do you feel about companies who sale products to “beat the tests”? Do you think it’s fair?

I don't trust those products. I think they are a scam.

[Emily]

Kinda like the people that raised a fuss about the Patriot Act -- IF YOU HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

[Hannibal]

1. Have you ever participated in random drug testing? If so, how did it make you feel?

Yes, I have participated. I had no 'feelings' about the test, just indifferent I guess.

2. How do you feel about pre-employment drug testing?

I believe that an employer should have the authority to screen potential employees in this manner.

3. Do you feel random drug testing is an invasion of privacy? After all, as long as you show up for work on time and do your job satisfactorily, what you do during your off time is your business, right?

a) I do not think it is an invasion of privacy, given it is a clear condition of employment and all employees are subject to testing, and the random selection is done by an unrelated third party, i.e. contractor.

b) Many employers entrust their employees with representing their business / organization. With that responsibility comes a trust character and integrity. Breaking the law by using substances illegally, even off duty conflicts with the integrity for which they were hired.

Being drug free is especially important in jobs that hold responsibilities of public safety. For example, I wouldn't want to fly in an aircraft when the pilot is a stoner, a crack head or a tweaker. Would you?

4. How do you feel about companies who sell products to “beat the tests”? Do you think it’s fair?

I believe that these companies are promoting an unhealthy lifestyle and profiting on those who should seek help. I don’t really have an opinion on fair or unfair, but one cannot always beat the system.

A person who uses these products, shows even more of a lack of integrity in my opinion.

I also support random drug testing for anyone receiving government support (i.e., welfare)

+10000000000000000000000000000

[JohnnyRotten]

Here's a crazy thought... the biggest issue about drug use is the fact that they are illegal, right?

Lets say I go on vacation to Amsterdam where marijuana use is legal. I'm there for a week and experiment with weed, or even just get a contact buzz at the local coffee/hash house. THC can stay in your system for up to 6 weeks. What happens if I get caught up in a random drug test 3 weeks later and test positive?

For the record, I've never tried this. I won't touch dope because I'm afraid I'll like it too much.

[ticktwrter]

1) Yes, I have been randomly checked twice. The only problem I had was the first time I was called, I had just gone to the bathroom. You know how fun it is to try and force the issue.

2) I have no problems with pre-employment testing. If you don't want to be tested, don't apply for the job.

3) I have no problems with random drug testing. I know it is part of the job and, again, if I don't want to be tested, don't take the job that tests.

4) The companies are just in it for the buck. Seems like it would be easier just to not use drugs than take a chance with some companie's test.