Keeping K-12 and higher education campuses drug-free has been a long-standing goal for politicians, administrators, communities, and parents. One way that has been proven effective in keeping the incidence of illicit substance use to a minimum and preventing harm within educational settings is by establishing a random drug testing program. However, a key part of a successful random drug testing program involves ensuring the integrity – and randomness – of the testing process and the privacy and security of the data collected.
In this article, originally published on Future Healthcare Today, we share insights on how K12 schools, colleges, and universities can create effective random drug testing programs that meet the unique needs of both students and teachers. Read on to learn more.
The Costs of Substance Use Disorders
The health impacts of substance use disorders are well-documented, but these conditions also have high personal and financial costs for both individuals and the federal government:
- Issues related to substance abuse cost American employers an estimated $81 billion annually due to lost productivity, absenteeism, accidents, theft, and increased turnover.
- Substance use disorders increase the likelihood of injuries, workers’ compensation claims, and fatalities. According to Addiction Group, employees who abuse drugs or alcohol are “up to 3.6 times more likely to be involved in an on-the job accident […and] alcohol factors into roughly 40 percent of industrial workplace fatalities.”
- Misusing substances can cause a 70 percent drop in cognitive function, impairing performance at work. Hangovers and withdrawal symptoms can also impact productivity and quality of work.
- Long-term use of drugs and alcohol can result in chronic health conditions such as liver damage and heart disease, incurring higher medical costs.
The consequences associated with employee drug use restrict employers’ ability to provide a safe working environment. “An employee who is working while impaired could endanger the life of their coworkers, their customers, or even themselves,” said Samantha Lodish, Director of Deployment at Enterprise Health. “Random drug testing is one way that organizations can discourage risky behavior, reduce liability, and reinforce a culture of safety.”
Drug Testing Requirements Vary Across Industries
Substance use inhibits worker performance in any organization, but the consequences can be especially dire for those in national security and other safety-sensitive positions. For this reason, certain employees must comply with drug testing regulations depending on their industry, as well as state laws.
While requirements vary by state, many healthcare workers are subject to strict drug testing practices as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. In the public sector, the Drug-Free Workplace Act requires federal workplaces and federal contractors to implement Drug-Free Workplace Programs. And the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DoT) robust drug testing protocol has become the standard that other safety-sensitive organizations seek to emulate.
While this method of employee monitoring is highly effective, the burdens of managing selections and tracking results and compliance can become burdensome in complex organizations. However, an occupational employee health record (OEHR) can help employers and healthcare providers streamline the process and deliver a safer workplace.
OEHRs Simplify Random Drug Testing Program Delivery
Random selection can be simple for organizations testing their entire employee population, but more complicated scenarios require more management. “Healthcare organizations that manage random drug testing on behalf of smaller employers—for example, multiple small employers with only three employees that need to be tested—may combine them into a larger group to create a larger pool for selection,” said Dave Cornewell, Director of Research and Development at Enterprise Health. “A larger population introduces more randomness while still enabling the individual companies to meet their requirements throughout the year.”
That’s where an OEHR demonstrates its value: removing the burden of managing selection. A specialized platform allows employers to easily designate employee pools and set selection parameters within a simple, streamlined interface. Automating the process becomes especially valuable for organizations that want to avoid selecting employees multiple times in a row. “The OEHR shuffles the list of people many times to help disperse its selections each time it is run,” Cornewell explained. “No one employee feels like they are being singled out, and the employer gets a better view of the entire population.”
Conclusion
Random drug testing is an invaluable tool for deterring drug and alcohol use and identifying current users in need of assistance without singling out employees. Relying on an OEHR to facilitate the management of random testing programs helps organizations maintain compliance, minimize risk, and create safer work environments for employees.