Drug testing isn’t meant as a way to criminalize employees or demonstrate a lack of trust. Rather, the purpose is to maintain a safe work environment. Employees who use drugs are more likely than other employees to be involved in a workplace accident. Workers under the influence are a danger to themselves and those around them. According to the National Safety Council, the people injured in a drug-related accident at work are most often not the drug-abusing employee, but the innocent bystanders.
To avoid these accidents and injuries, employers use drug testing for pre-employment screenings and sometimes, they may also do random checks and post-injury evaluations. Some workers may have understandable concerns about drug testing. Some may fear the drug testing isn’t accurate or can be used against the employee. Addressing these myths is important to ensure that workers know their rights are protected.
4 Top Myths About Drug Testing for Work
Misinformation is easily spread, especially when there’s not enough information debunking that misinformation. Here are 4 myths about drug testing to help you better understand the purpose and process of drug testing.
1. All Drugs Stay In Your System for a Similar Amount of Time
A general misconception is that all drugs have the same lifespan in the body. However, this is untrue, and each person actually has a different biological and physical makeup that changes how drugs metabolize in their system. Additionally, each drug has a unique chemical composition. Furthermore, drug users may ingest them in different ways and in different amounts, all of which can affect the duration of the drug in their system.
2. Urine Drug Tests Are Used Most Commonly Because They’re Cheap, Not Their Accuracy
Urine tests are affordable, but they are also extremely accurate. Drugs remain in someone’s urine for a longer time and in higher concentration than in their saliva. Hair follicle testing does have a longer window, but it takes longer to receive those results and won’t detect as many types of drugs. A urine test can generally provide quick results while also detecting most tampering.
3. If You Eat or Drink Something Before the Test, It’ll Cleanse the Body
There’s no food or beverage that can cleanse the body of drug traces. Although many sites can claim to have found secret ways to pass a drug test, there is nothing someone can put into their body that will get rid of the drugs in their system. There may be ways to create a false negative, but drug testers are trained to look for signs of manipulation.
4. Beating a Drug Test is Easy
People are always coming up with new strategies to try to beat a drug test. However, these methods are not as easy to accomplish as the internet may suggest, and the results are far from proven. Moreover, but drug testers are trained to spot these attempts and are equipped with resources to prevent these attempts from being successful.
Find a Skilled Employment Lawyer at Hollis Law Firm
At Hollis Law Firm, we believe in protecting the rights of all workers across Kansas City. We understand that workers can sometimes be at a disadvantage because they don’t understand their rights are being violated. Here at Hollis Law Firm, an employment lawyer will work tirelessly to help ensure our client’s rights are protected and that they find the justice they deserve.
Contact our offices today at (800) 701-3672, or fill out our contact form.
