Q: Do I have to drug test all of my employees in order to be certified?
A:  No, only new hires, after accidents, on reasonable suspicion and post treatment.

Q:  Do I have to conduct random testing?
A:  No, you may conduct random testing if you wish, but it is not required for certification.

Q: Do I have to fire an employee who tests positive for drugs?
A:  No, you may fire an employee, or refer him/her to treatment.

Q: Do I have to pay for treatment for my employees?
A:  No, you can provide them with a list of counseling and treatment centers.  Council members receive a free list of counseling and treatment centers in their area.

Q:  Can I afford the drug testing costs?
A:  Only limited drug testing is required, and The Council on Alcohol and Drugs has discounted rates available on drug test kits.

Q:  It’s hard to find workers now; will this limit the pool of workers I can draw from?
A:  If you choose to do so, you may limit the positions you test for, to safety sensitive positions, and/or you may put new hires on probation for 90 days and conduct their pre-employment drug test on the 90^th day (this solves the high-turnover problem).

Q:  Do we have to hold annual training meetings?
A:  No, employee education and supervisor training can be done through monthly training newsletters.

Q:  Where can I get technical help with certification?
A:  The Council on Alcohol and Drugs’ members receive free consultation.

Q:  If I still need help, where can I get legal guidance on DFW matters?
A:  Contact Robert Thompson, DFW Attorney.

What is a "Drug Free Workplace?"
It is an employment setting where all employees adhere to a program of policies and activities designed to provide a safe workplace, discourage alcohol and drug abuse and encourage treatment, recovery and the return to work of those employees with such abuse problems. The intent of the program is to educate adults on the problems relating to substance abuse. The one place where there can be mandated adult education is the workplace. This empowers the individual and the family, resulting in stronger communities.

Why Should An Employer Establish a Comprehensive Drug Free Workplace Program?
Current research indicates that nearly 77% of illegal drug users are employed in full and part-time jobs. Consequently, when the effects of alcohol abuse are added, the result is a large impaired portion of the national workforce. For the typical employer, that means unhealthy employees, unsafe working conditions, loss of productivity, smaller profits, more accidents, higher medical claims expenses, and a host of other negative effects for the employer and the employees. The employer also gets a sense of giving back to the community for which it has taken out in the form of profits. Businesses, companies and corporations are a part of the social fabric and they have a duty to give back to their community.

Small and medium-sized firms employ 80% of the U.S. workforce where drug testing policies & programs are not in place.  Absenteeism, increased healthcare costs and decreased productivity due to alcohol and other substance abuse costs your company $1,000 per employee per year!

You can minimize the chance of having to deal with a serious job performance problem in the workplace, and in the process support a better quality of life for your employees, by implementing a drug free workplace program in your company.  It will reinforce the message to your employees and customers that a positive work environment is a high priority.  The Council can provide you and your company with information and support to ensure your certification as a drug free workplace.

All aspects of society are harmed by illicit drug use; however, the American workplace is especially impacted.  Business owners lose an estimated $160 billion per year because of drug use.  Business owners can expect to pay thousands of dollars more per year to employ a worker who uses illicit drugs than to employ a worker who is drug free.

What Are the Components of a Comprehensive Drug Free Workplace Program?
The "Drug Free Workplace" is a more recent term and concept introduced by the Federal government's policy for its employees in 1986 and promulgated in the private sector by the President's Drug Advisory Council.  A comprehensive approach to having a drug free workplace would include:

- A written policy

- Access to assistance

- Employee education

- Supervisor training

- Drug testing

Supported by public opinion, legislation and regulation of safety-sensitive industries in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the drug free workplace concept was adopted and promoted by national, state and local organizations of employers and business executives.  Some unions adopted it as well and undertook drug testing of their members and provided "drug free worker" identification.  Written policies assure that all employees have the same understanding of their rights and responsibilities under the program, and that employers administer the program uniformly among all employees.

The Council on Alcohol and Drugs helps companies meet the above requirements after organizations become a drug free workplace and provides the policy, rules and guidelines with support, so that companies can be educated and encouraged to become drug free workplaces.  The Council provides the resources necessary to become, and remain, a drug free workplace.

Why Should I Implement A Drug Free Workplace?
Family Members’ Substance Abuse Affects Workers!!

Slightly more than one-fourth (26%) of employed adults report that there has been substance abuse or addiction within their family and 42% of these workers report that they have been distracted or less productive at work because of it, according to a recent national telephone survey.

Having their mind drift away from work tasks to thoughts of the problem was the most frequently reported work-related problem (89%), followed by missing a deadline or work/attendance suffering (57%) and errors in judgment (46%).

The workers surveyed suggested several ways in which employers could help, such as implementing a drug free workplace program, offering counseling for family members of addicted individuals (73%), providing better health insurance coverage (67%) and providing a more flexible work schedule or time off work (65%).