Drug Testing: Do not become a victim of a "false positive"
A seventeen year old gymnast was stripped of her gold medal at the 2000 Olympics because she tested positive for drugs. But she said all it took was two tablets provided by her doctor, Here's what you need to know about drug testing and how to prevent false-positives caused by "hidden" substances.
Drug Testing in the Workplace
Random drug testing is becoming increasingly popular in the workplace. The airline industry, trucking, pipeline, mass transit and shipping industries do drug tests under the mandate of the United States government.
Private companies conduct drug testing to keep down health insurance costs, improve employee productivity, reduce absenteeism and ensure a safe working environment.
A positive drug test is cause for dismissal in many companies. Most companies do not employ drug tests to applicants who test positive.
Drug Testing in Schools
Drug testing is also becoming more common in schools. There has been a steady increase in the number of private schools using drug testing as a prerequisite for admission or participation in athletics or extracurricular activities.
What is the evidence?
Some of the substances being tested include:
- marijuana
- cocaine
- heroin
- psychotherapeutic drugs (any prescription-type stimulant, sedative, tranquilizer or analgesic used for nonmedical reasons)
- hallucinogenic drugs (LSD, peyote, mescaline, psilocybin, PCP and ecstasy)
- inhalants (fumes or gases which are inhaled to produce intoxication such as glues, aerosols, butane, ether, nitrous oxide and solvents)
- heavy alcohol use (defined by the U.S. government as taking at least five drinks in a day, five times per month)
