Employers May Still Require Drug & Alcohol Testing
As more and more offices open post-pandemic, there is a good chance that employers might implement new return-to-work policies, procedures, and protocols — and that includes drug testing.
While many employers conduct drug and alcohol testing as part of standard pre-employment screening processes, it is a good possibility testing could be a requirement to return to the office or to monitor those working from home.
Employers’ drug testing slowed down during the pandemic for several reasons, including COVID-19 safety concerns and unemployment. A recent survey found a 61 percent drop or more in drug testing among employers. Conversely, drug and alcohol use increased during the pandemic as people turned to vices to self-medicate or cope with the stress created by the national health crisis.
- Sales of alcoholic beverages shot up as much as 55 percent in March 2020. Sales remain 20–30 percent higher this year than in March
- Americans purchased $18.3 billion in cannabis products over the past calendar year, $7.6 billion more than the $10.7 billion in sales the previous year.
- Data shows a 29 percent increase in overdose deaths from October 2019 through September 2020, compared with the previous 12-month period after falling slightly in 2018 for the first time in decades.
Drug and alcohol screenings are important. These tests help employers provide the safest possible work environment for employees, visitors, and customers. Here are some of the effects drug use can have on returning workers:
- Greater risk of a workplace accident
- Lower productivity
- Increased absenteeism
- Higher medical costs
Employers need a policy against the use of drugs while working from home or at the workplace — especially now that the pandemic is winding down. Employers should also clearly restate the company drug and alcohol policy to employees to clear up any misconceptions.
Any Lab Test Now® is a direct access lab testing company that can manage pre-employment drug testing, random testing programs, reasonable suspicion tests, post-incident and return-to-duty drug and alcohol testing for employers nationwide.
The most common employment-related drug test is the Urine Drug Test (5-Panel), which checks for the presence of five drug metabolites including:
- Amphetamine/Methamphetamines
- Marijuana
- Cocaine
- Opiates
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
The company’s 10-drug panel tests may also include screenings for phencyclidine (PCP), methadone, propoxyphene, and methaqualone.
Any Lab Test Now is also qualified to provide testing for the Department of Transportation as part of its Federally Mandated Urine Drug Test (5-Panel). This test is a laboratory-based test and includes a screen, confirmation, and the review of a medical officer.
The company can also administer the Healthcare Professional Drug Panel, specifically designed to test healthcare professionals for highly addictive prescription medications that are readily available at their workplace. The panel will determine the presence or absence of the most easily abused prescription drugs or their metabolites in the urine.
Be at Ease
Any Lab Test Now wants everyone to be at ease when it comes to seeking out any type of lab work, including drug and alcohol screenings.
We provide a safe and clean alternative location for lab work. Each of our 190+ stores is sanitized several times a day, in accordance with the CDC’s protocols. Any Lab Test Now is a committed partner in helping you manage your family’s healthcare so you can make educated decisions that will directly affect your quality of life. We want to put you at ease during the coronavirus pandemic. We are here to help.
For more information about Any Lab Test Now, and the tests we offer, visit us at www.anylabtestnow.com.
