The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #37762

John B. White, PhD¹, Thomas Nicholson, PhD¹, David Duncan, DrPH², and S. Patricia Minors, PhD, MBA¹. (1) Public Health, Western Kentucky University, Western Kentucky University, One Big Red Way, Bowling Green, KY 42101-3576, 270-745-5867, john.white@wku.edu, (2) Brown University, Kentucky Street, Bowling Green, KY 42101

One argument in support of workplace drug testing has been that recreational drug users are less employable than non-drug using adults. Higher accident rates, absenteeism, and turnover are among the purported outcomes of workers (and presumably managers) who use drugs. However, very little is actually known about the outcomes of drug testing programs and even less is known about workers who use drugs recreationally. DRUGNET is a longitudinal, panel survey of adults who occasionally use recreational drugs. It is possible to examine a subset of these adults and demonstrate that they are in fact desirable employees who lead normal healthy lives. Over a two year period 1,583 adults completed the survey, of which 1,205 (or 76.1%) were U.S. citizens and gainfully employed. The majority of users were full-time employees of a business (69.5%), part-time workers (14.9%) or self-employed (11.2%) status. Job titles ranged from entry level (e.g., receptionist) to CEO/Owner of the business. Industries represented included health care/hospitals, computer/electronics, chemical, hotel/hospitality, government, etc. These results re-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 business, at many levels, and maintain healthy, successful lives. We question whether it is cost effective to spend $300 million to $1 billion dollars a year to identify and punish people who are healthy and productive members of our society? Labor unions should seriously question the value and legitimacy of workplace drug testing.

Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to

• Describe US Drub Policy as it relates to employment in the US;
• Effects of this policy on workers;
• Be able to differentiate drug use from drug abuse; and,
• Craft more effective workplace drug policies base on worker performance and managerial evaluations.

Keywords: Drug Use, Labor

Related Web page: www.illicit-drugs.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.