Should Random Drug Testing In Business Companies Be Legal? In the 1970s drug screening was used by the United States Military to try and control the rampant drug abuse of US soldiers while they were in Vietnam. During the Bush administration, drug testing became common Federal Government employees, as the government sought to further publicly demonize all drugs (excluding nicotine and alcohol). Since then, drug testing has become a common practice among both public and private sector employers. Though some argue that drug testing is necessary in order to increase worker productiveness and contributes to a drug free workplace, employers should rethink the effectiveness of drug tests. At this point there is no conclusive proof that drug tests are successful in everything that its supporters say they are. Supporters of drug testing argue that drug testing has positive effects on an organization. Drug testing creates a safer work environment and results in fewer accidents. Absenteeism is thought to be less common in organizations that have a drug testing policy. Furthermore, supporters claim that drug users cost companies millions of dollars each year. They further feel that drug testing deters the use of drugs amongst employees. Finally, they argue that drug testing is an economical means to decrease worker’s compensation claims. Despite these claims studies have yet to show that drug testing results in all previously stated. Companies conducting drug tests on its employees directly infringes upon the constitutional rights of a person and only serves to solve a company problem, it does little, if nothing, to help the employee’s drug addiction. Drug testing in the workplace is not a viable means of fingering people for drug testing. Rather, it is a procedure riddled with problems. According to the ACLU, drug testing has never been proven to decrease accidents within the work place. Based upon studies by the Cen...
