Misc Study Shows Preference for Impairment Testing

Six specific problems associated with drug testing

It discusses impairment testing as a potential alternative to drug testing in reducing counterproductive behavior in the workplace. The paper provides details regarding research on this topic that Grace O'Farrell and Gerard H. Seijts conducted. The authors also investigated perceptions of labor-relations experts and drivers of public transportation vehicles toward drug testing and impairment testing policies.

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Posted on Wednesday 20 May 2009 - 11:38:15 by Harvey Martens

Drug Detection by Testing Hair

Hair testing is unique in its ability to look back months rather than days at drug use, making it essential in child residence, protection orders, family and criminal cases. By providing information on exposure to drugs over time, hair analysis can be useful in verifying self-reported histories of drug use in any situation in which a past history of drug use is desired. During controlled tests of hair, a drug user is not able to hide the fact that they abuse drugs. Once ingested, the drug remains in the hair as a permanent record.

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Posted on Tuesday 19 May 2009 - 01:58:14 by Harvey Martens

Misc Window of Detection

To decide what method is best suited to your testing program, consider the “window of detection”. This is time that drugs are detectable. The time range varies depending upon what you are testing. The graph and tables below are intended to give a rough guide of this “window”.

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Posted on Tuesday 19 May 2009 - 01:30:22 by Harvey Martens

Prescription Drugs Cause Impairment

Although prescription drug abuse affects many Americans, some concerning trends can be seen among older adults, adolescents, and women. Several indicators suggest that prescription drug abuse is on the rise in the United States. According to the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an estimated 4.7 million Americans used prescription drugs nonmedically for the first time in 2002 -

2.5 million used pain relievers
1.2 million used tranquilizers
761,000 used stimulants
225,000 used sedatives

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Posted on Friday 15 May 2009 - 14:02:18 by Harvey Martens

Impairment Testing

Impairment Testing:

Testing for alcohol impairment is not a problem. Breathalyzers, saliva and blood testing are all acceptable methods to determine alcohol impairment. However, drug impairment can not be measured with today’s laboratory tests.

According to Steve Walton (Calgary Police – Drug Division), there are several methods of determining substance abuse impairment.

Contact Harvey to learn more ... 778-558-8587
email -email-

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Posted on Friday 15 May 2009 - 12:04:09 by Harvey Martens

Concerns Regarding Drug Testing Programs

There are at least six concerns about the fairness and invasiveness of drug testing program, especially whether these programs are an effective tool in assessing impairment for work performance. Such concerns are directed in particular at urine tests, the most frequently used drug test.

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Posted on Wednesday 13 May 2009 - 00:11:00 by Harvey Martens

Drug-Free Workplace

Drug Use in the Workforce

Current employment status was highly correlated with rates of illicit drug use in 2002. An estimated 17.4 percent of unemployed adults aged 18 or older were current illicit drug users compared with 8.2 percent of those employed full time and 10.5 percent of those employed part time. Of the 16.6 million illicit drug users aged 18 or older in 2002, 12.4 million (74.6 percent) were employed either full or part time. Most binge and heavy alcohol users were employed. Among the 51.1 million adult binge drinkers in 2002, 40.8 million (80 percent) were employed either full or part time. Similarly, 12 million (79 percent) of the 15.2 million adult heavy drinkers were employed.

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Posted on Tuesday 17 March 2009 - 18:30:00 by Harvey Martens

The Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits employment discrimination against employees and applicants with disabilities in organizations that employ 15 or more employees. The term "disability" means an individual has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of his/her major life activities or there is a record of such an impairment or an individual is regarded as having such an impairment. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) oversees application of the ADA. The requirements regarding drug and alcohol use under the two laws are identical.

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Posted on Wednesday 28 January 2009 - 18:36:00 by Harvey Martens

Legal Decisions on Alcohol and Drug Testing

In Entrop v. Imperial Oil,7 the Ontario Court of Appeal had an opportunity to apply the Meiorin test to the issue of drug and alcohol testing. The case involved an employee of Imperial Oil who was compelled under company policy to reveal a past drinking problem. The employee, Martin Entrop, was subsequently removed from his position in a “safety-sensitive” area, despite the fact that he had been alcohol-free for several years. Mr. Entrop then filed a complaint with the Ontario Human Rights Commission. His complaint triggered an analysis of drug- and alcohol-testing policies in the workplace that went all the way to the Ontario Court of Appeal

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Posted on Thursday 01 January 2009 - 18:39:00 by Harvey Martens

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