When you look at the statistics regarding workplace drug and alcohol use, you’ll be alarmed. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence has discovered that 70% of the 14.8 million Americans who are addicted to illegal drugs are still employed. In 2019 Quest Diagnostics discovered that in America, non-safety-sensitive workers’ drug tests were positive 4.5% of the time. This is the highest level since 2004. Between the years 2015 – 2018, the number of American workers who tested positive for illegal drugs went from 4.8% to 5.1%. Here are a few other things you should know in this regard.
What drug screening options are available?
There are many options for drug tests today, including blood, urine, saliva, hair, and sweat. These drug tests in Clearwater are used to test for such things as amphetamines, phencyclidine (PCP), cocaine, opiates, and marijuana. This is what’s known as a “Multi-Drug test.”
If your employees work in safety-sensitive positions or have access to certain medications, it’s a good idea to expand this drug screening panel. You can use a urine test for this. It’s both quick and inexpensive. Additionally, it’s quite reliable. This is why more than 90% of drug tests in America each year are conducted in this way.
Other methods of drug tests in Clearwater, outside of urine drug screening, not only cost more but both their detection windows and accuracy aren’t as reliable. For instance, saliva tests, which are the next most common method, only have a detection window of two days. On the other hand, blood tests are quite reliable if you want to know if someone is currently under the influence, but they’re both expensive and invasive. The other option is hair testing. While it has the longest detection window (approximately 90 days) and is very noninvasive, it costs the most. This test is good to use when looking for a habitual pattern of drug use since this is something that other tests can’t reveal.
What is the testing window for these different types of drug tests in Clearwater?
Many individuals mistakenly think they can “outsmart” a drug test, attempting to manipulate the results to appear drug-free. This underscores the importance of a robust drug testing policy in Clearwater, which should grant employees only a reasonable window to undergo their screening. This timeframe should be tight enough to prevent any tampering.
A 24-hour window is considered ideal for drug tests, providing ample time to reach the testing facility but not long enough for most substances to exit the system.
Many employers also use this timeframe when they’re conducting random workplace drug tests in Clearwater. Typically, these tests occur after there’s been reasonable suspicion due to certain events or accidents occurring. Sometimes a different standard is used here based on the severity of the event or accident. This standard calls for the test to be completed within 1 – 3 hours of the time this event or accident occurred.
Businesses are responsible for clearly laying out their time expectations regarding workplace drug screenings.
Who can you rely on to conduct drug tests for your company?
Situated in the heart of Clearwater, FL, Peace of Mind Drug and Background Screening stands as a highly trusted and esteemed company. They are dedicated to offering comprehensive and meticulous drug and background screening services, catering to the unique needs of both individual clients and businesses alike. With their state-of-the-art technology and highly trained staff, they ensure accurate and reliable results, giving their clients the peace of mind that they deserve. Whether you’re a small business owner looking to hire trustworthy employees or an individual seeking personal background checks, they’re your go-to solution in Clearwater, FL.
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