5.4
Current Illicit Drug Use and Reports of Workplace Drug Testing Programs
Figure 5.3 reveals that in 1994, workers who
were not current illicit drug users were significantly more likely to report
that their employers had drug use testing programs in their workplaces
than workers who were current illicit drug users. In 1997 there were no
statistically significant differences between current illicit drug users
and non users in the percent reporting their workplace had drug use testing
programs.
Figure 5.3 Percentage
of Full-Time Workers, Age 18 -49, Reporting Workplace Drug Testing Programs,
by Type of Program and Current Illicit Drug Use, 1994 and 1997
Percent Reporting Drug Testing Program
B
Current Illicit Drug Users
Percent Reporting Drug Testing Program
B
Not Current Illicit Drug Users
Table 5.3 presents further the association
between workers=
current illicit drug use status and the perceived workplace drug testing
programs by the establishment size of the workplace. The major findings
are:
-
Overall, in 1994, non-users were more likely
than current illicit drug users to say their workplaces tested their employees
at hiring (35.6% vs. 24.4%). However, by 1997, the percent of illicit drug
users who said their workplaces tested at hiring had increased and there
was no significant difference between users (35.5%) and non-users (38.9%).
-
Among workers in small establishments, a different
pattern emerged. Between 1994 and 1997, there were no differences in the
percent of current illicit drug users who said their establishment did
any drug testing. However, among non-users, the percent who reported their
workplace conducted drug testing increased in every category (at hire,
randomly, upon suspicion, and post-accident).
-
Among workers in medium-sized establishments,
the percent of current illicit drug users who reported their workplaces
did any drug testing increased from 43.5% in 1994 to 63.1% in 1997. Among
non-users, the percent who said their workplaces tested randomly increased
from 25.2% to 29.8% and who said their workplace tested upon suspicion
increased from 27.9% to 34.2%.
-
Among workers in large establishments, the
percent of current illicit drug users who reported their workplaces tested
at hiring increased from 56.4% in 1994 to 79.9% in 1997 and who reported
their workplaces tested randomly more than doubled from 22.7% to 47.4%.
Among non-users, the percent who said their workplaces tested post-accident
increased from 32.7% to 41.9%.