Current Topics in Management , Vol. 6, p. 353-370,

17. Demographics of Employed Illicit Drug Users (An Excerpt)

by John B. White, Thomas Nicholson, Patricia Minors and David

Annual surveys performed by the American Management Association (AMA) indicate that companies with drug testing programs increased from 22% in 1986 to 81% in 1997 (American Management Association [AMA}, 1997). Results from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) indicated that 49% of full-time workers between the ages of 18 and 49 were at work sites that had some form of drug testing program (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAJHSA], 1999). In addition, 13% of full-time workers in the United States had actually taken a mandatory workplace drug test (SAMHSA, 1996). (P.354)

When all psychoactive drugs are taken into account (viz., alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, nicotine, many OTC and prescription medicines, the predominantly illicit drugs, etc.), it is clear that most, if not all Americans, are drug consumers (Duncan & Gold, 1982). An estimated two-thirds of American adults drink alcohol and the lifetime prevalence of illicit drug consumption is 35.8% (SAMHSA, 1999). (P.357)  

The overwhelming majority of these users never consume drugs at work. Actual drug abusers are much more likely to not be working at all. Given these realities, the potential for workplace testing programs to substantially reduce drug abuse problems is remote (Campbell & Campbell, 1987; IOM, 1994; ACLU, 1999). (P.358)  

Another measure of community involvement, political activity, scored much higher with the vast majority reporting that they voted in the last general election (79.4%, n = 950). This is much higher than the national reported average of 54.2% (U.S. Census Bureau, 2000, see Table 488).

While these previous measures suggest typical or higher rates of participation in socially desirable behaviors, respondents reported far lower participation rates in organized religious activities. Only 10.7% (n = 128) of the sample attended church regularly compared to a national average of 40% (U.S. Census, 2000, see Table 89)Š

Thus, the overall level of mental well being for this sample of users is equivalent to the level of well being of non-institutionalized adults in the U.S.

In sum, this sample of drug using adults is employed, earns more than the average household income of the general U.S. population, is well educated, and is happy with their marital status. They are comparable in terms of their volunteerism, and vote at higher rates than the general population. However, they are far less religious, as measured by attendance in some recognized church, than the general population. This suggests a healthy, well educated, highly paid secular sample. (P.361)

DISCUSSION

Guth (2000) has suggested that drug testing of employees is simply part of being a 'good corporate citizen.' We challenge this assertion. First, drug testing appears to be poor business. As noted in the IOM (1994) report there is no evidence to indicate that workplace drug testing increases worker productivity or produces a healthier work site. Further, RDT [random drug testing of employees] introduces potentially significant opportunity costs such as lowered productivity, and loss of valuable, skilled employees. Second, as a direct result of this ineffective and unjustifiable ‹ enforcement activity, businesses are exposed to potentially expensive lawsuits and wasted efforts promoting a flawed system. Third, by allowing government to transfer the burden of proof from the criminal justice system to a subsidized form of enforcement in the civil sector, corporate America has in essence lowered the rights enjoyed by their workers and managers.

Rather than continuing to follow this failed strategy, we suggest that industries concentrate on the more effective and efficient methods proposed in the IOM (1994) report. Namely, researching performance tests that could detect impairment prior to starting work, which would be a far more logical strategy. For example, in health care, fatigue is a common source of medical errors. One performance criteria could be that individuals appear well rested for their shift, rather than concerns about what employees might have consumed twenty-four hours earlier.

The overwhelming majority of U.S. workers do not use illicit drugs. Of the very smaall percentage that do, drug use on the job is very rare. Current RDT programs are therefore ill-conceived strategies to increase worker productivity and reduce drug abuse in society. Drug abuse is indeed a significant public health problem. These authors suggest focusing resources on the prevention and treatment of ddrug abuse based on sound scientific principles and repsect for the freedom and dignity of the individual.

CONCLUSION

These results confirm that the popular image of drug users as unemployed or unemployable is simply false. Users (i.e., not abusers) of illicit drugs come from all walks of life, work in all types of businesses, at many levels and maintain healthy, successful lives, regardless of their illicit use. This sample earned more than the average American, is better educated, and is generally happy with their life and health. Further, their illicit drug use does not, in and of itself, make them irresponsible members of our society. These individuals report volunteering and voting at approximately the same or higher rates as the U.S. general population. Additionally, these individuals are far more secular than the rest of the community. We therefore must ask whether it is cost effective to spend hundreds of millions or dollars a year to identify and punish people who are otherwise healthy and productive members of our society.

For the complete study, visit: Drug Policy Education Group, Inc.   

© 2001 by Elsevier Science Ltd.