Drug Addicts Need Not Apply

One might expect that the number of labs testing urine samples must have at least quadrupled in recent years. It seems that nearly every job is requiring their applicants to take a drug test before employment can be granted. The labs are generally very stringent to take care for accuracy at the time of the test also.

Let’s walk through the procedure with a woman whom we’ll call Tanya. Tanya arrives at the lab and signs in and waits for her turn. She presents her identification, which is checked and she is registered. Her name may be correlated to a list which shows that she was scheduled to come in for Company Q. Once she is allowed back in the testing area, she is asked to place her jacket and purse and any other belongings into a locker. She is given the key to the locker and ushered to the restroom and given a cup and directions as to how to fill and seal it. If she made the mistake of bringing her young child with her, she may not take that child into the room while she is donating the sample.
After the urine is put into the cup, she may be surprised to realize that the sink does not work. She must wipe her soiled hands on paper towel, open the door (trying not to think about the germs on that door handle!) and give the sample to the gloved lab assistant, who will then usher her to a sink where she can wash her hands.

All of this is to ensure that the sample is actually from that person. All of this is to help employers to find employees who will not be hindered in their work by substance abuse.

Beginning on July 1, 2011, the Department of Workforce Development will also be implementing mandatory drug testing for everyone who receives training that is paid for through WorkOne. There are usually about 9,000 people who work in these programs.

We here in Indiana are the first state to require our applicants to be clean and drug-free. It just makes sense.

Remember when it used to be common place for people to smoke in restaurants and airplanes and offices? Not anymore. Public opinion went that direction and prevailed. Well, it seems that another way of fighting substance abuse will be the lack of employment that will be available for those who are addicted. All the more reason to get treatment sooner, rather than later.