Only 5 US states currently have legislation that permits employee drug testing. The majority of the states consider it legal but with caveats, and others have no state laws on the matter at all. Especially as drug testing and drug use laws are being handed to the states, it is now more important than ever to protect Americans while at work.
In 2024, over 500 new bills related to drug testing were introduced. This comes off the back of the legalization of both the recreational and medical use of marijuana in the United States. This leniency across the country has led to a nearly 50% increase in positive tests over the past 5 years. Experts warn that this uptick could have serious implications for professionals in vulnerable industries. In fact, recreational marijuana laws have already been associated with a 10% increase in workplace injuries.
In order to mitigate this risk, many leaders are beginning to test their workers and use anti-cheating measures to decrease the chance of foul play during testing. Through dilution detection and adulterant tests, among other advanced technology, labor-intensive fields like manufacturing and energy can ensure their workers are not impaired while performing potentially dangerous operations. This makes the workplace safer for everyone and prepares today’s workforce for the future of the drug use climate in the US.
Source: USDrugTestCenters.com