High on the Job

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SYNOPSIS
The growing sophistication of dealers and shifts in the types of drugs used are two trends in workplace substance abuse identified by experts. Dozens of illegal drugs can be found in the workplace, but a few in particular account for most of the abuse and attendant corporate and societal concern. Marijuana continues to be the most prevalent, while cocaine and methamphetamine jockey for second and third positions. But every organization has a unique culture in which different types of drugs may take root. Most workers who do not work in the safety-sensitive jobs that require testing are still not tested. But spurred by regulation, insurers, and client/partner demands, more companies are performing drug tests. Urinalysis is the most common type of test, but hair analysis is making headway, as is analysis of oral fluids. Adulteration of specimens continues to be a problem, however. Another concern is that some legal drugs simulate the effects of marijuana and other banned substances. These can be used with impunity because they are not tested for and not prohibited by any policy in any case. Unfortunately, many businesses are failing to update their substance-abuse policies to keep up with changes in law and practice. Insufficient training of supervisors also hampers the effects of substance-abuse programs at work.