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Policies on Substance Abuse

As of 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that over half of America's population admitted to drinking alcohol frequently. In 2008, nearly 4 million people admitted to using marijuana on a daily basis for an entire year. Because of the trends of both use and abuse, many companies have established no-tolerance policies on substance abuse.

  1. Significance

    • Policies on substance abuse are commonplace in most work environments. These policies are established to protect both employees and the general public or customers. Often people who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol exhibit impaired judgement, which can make many workplaces dangerous environments.

    Identification

    • Many employers require a drug test before there is an offer for employment. Some companies require routine drug testing, and many of these tests are given at random. In many cases, employees can be randomly tested if there is a suspicion of drug or alcohol abuse.

    The Facts

    • If the drug test comes back positive, many employers terminate employment. Some companies, such as The Medical College of Georgia, offer counseling or rehabilitation options in select cases instead of immediate employment termination.

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