The Benefits of Workplace Drug Testing

When it comes to health and wellness, business owners are expected to protect their employees on site during work hours. This means keeping all employees safe from accidents, and promoting a healthy lifestyle free from drug use.

If drug testing policies haven’t been established, many things could go wrong. Putting the health and safety of their employees first should be a top priority for employers.

Did you know that 4.4% of workers failed drug tests processed by Quest Diagnostics in 2020? That's about a 3.5% increase in failed drug tests compared to 2012.

Having a pre-employment drug test or a periodic one is beneficial not only to employers but also to the employees. It promotes a safe work environment and healthy lifestyle. Keep reading, and we will guide you through the benefits of workplace drug testing using a drug test kit.

Benefits Of Drug Testing

Without a drug testing policy in place, workplace accidents are much more common. This may create an unsafe environment for other employees.  A drug testing policy helps promote a  healthy lifestyle and safe environment for all employees.

Companies that have a drug test program note the following benefits:

• Decrease in employee healthcare costs
• Positive environment for employee morale, productivity, and performance
• Fewer accidents, people missing work, and downtime
• Reduced employee turnover and theft rates
• Averted risks of legal issues
• Creating a safe workplace

You want to show your employees that you not only care about safety and productivity, but that you care about their wellbeing. Employee retention is a large part of a successful business, and showing your employees that you care is the best place to start.

When drug tests come back positive, it’s best to act quickly and guide the employee to treatment. At the same time, this will reduce the likelihood of accidents on the job.

Most importantly, protecting the health and wellbeing of their employees should be a major concern. Drugs can ruin a person’s life, and be the main reason of accidents. Taking steps to ensure everyone is healthy and drug-free leads to amazing benefits for everyone involved.

Drug Test Kit Options

Because there are many drugs of abuse available, drug test kits can screen for many drugs.

Originally, the NIDA-5 (later SAMHSA-5) test was the standard for testing. It screened for the most common drugs at the root of substance abuse issues. These included:

• Amphetamines
• Phencyclidine (PCP)
• Cocaine
• Opiates
• Marijuana (THC)

One of the most common drug test kits includes a 12-panel drug test. This includes drugs that are a part of a "drug family," so you can test for all of these types of drugs simultaneously.

The 12-panel drug test uses the standard NIDA five-panel configuration as a base. Because other drugs have become more common, they expanded these drug test kits.

The most common way drug tests are administered is through a urine drug test kit. The business owner can determine how many drugs they want to test for.

You can decide if you want to provide a drug test kit internally or outsource it to a third-party company that will run the drug tests. You could also do a mix of both, where you outsource pre-employment drug tests but administer periodic ones.

Drug Testing Promotes Employee Wellbeing

Now that you know the benefits of workplace drug testing using a drug test kit, you can implement this practice into your business.

There are many benefits to drug testing in the workplace, including decreasing employee healthcare costs, accidents, downtime, and theft. It helps increase employee morale, productivity, and performance and creates a safe workplace.

Check out Drug Test Kit USA for professional rapid test solutions, including drug and alcohol screening.