Characteristics of employee drug testing policies

Based on a review of the literature on drug testing, we developed a list of 56 specific policies and practices that characterize employee drug testing practices. We surveyed 177 organizations, 72 of which (40.6%) tested applicants and/or employees for drugs, to assess the frequency with which each of the 56 characteristics was included in actual testing programs. Common testing practices included testing all applicants, and rejecting applicants who fail the test, testing for cause, circulating written descriptions of the testing program to employees, training supervisors to recognize impairment, and the use of follow up tests and other safeguards against false positives. There was significant variation in drug testing policies across industries and sectors of the economy.