TRENDS IN DRUG USE EDITORIAL PROVIDED BY COMPREHENSIVE DRUG TESTING Prescription Drugs in the Workplace
In 2015 alone, 97 million people took prescription painkillers; of those, 12 million did so without being directed to do so by a doctor.2
M
any employees consider a medical prescription to be “safe”; however, even employees who use certain
medical prescriptions in accordance with a doctor’s advice can be impacted in an unsafe way, affecting their job performance and safety to the point where the employee becomes unfit for duty. Te National Safety Council (NSC) recently noted that 23% of the U.S. workforce have used prescription drugs non- medically and that in many cases, even those employees who take a “regular” dose may be too impaired to work.1
According to the NSC:
• Injured workers prescribed even one opioid have average total insurance claim costs four times greater than similar claims from workers not on prescription opioids.
• Workers who receive more than a one-week supply of opioids following an injury have double the risk of a disability aſter a year.
• Courts have found employers and workers’ compensation insurers financially responsible when an injured worker with prescription painkillers fatally overdoses. Many employers wrongly assume that the
standard 5-panel drug test will detect both prescribed and abused prescription drugs for their non-mandated employees. However, many abused narcotics (e.g., fentanyl, hydrocodone, oxycodone, oxymorphone, etc.) are not tested for, unless an employer adds the expanded opiates panel for their non-mandated employees. Additionally, a standard medical-review process cannot identify the misuse of prescription drugs if the employee has a valid prescription. Tis means a drug abuser need only have one valid prescription and, in theory, the medical review officer could reverse a positive drug test and report the result as negative to an employer. Policies should focus on prescription drug use, regardless of whether the drug use is pursuant to doctor guidelines or not.
44 datia focus Over two million Americans are estimated
to have a problem with opioids. In 2015 alone, 97 million people took prescription painkillers; of those, 12 million did so without being directed to do so by a doctor.2
Employees
who abuse prescription drugs are more likely to miss work, use pain relievers on the job, return a positive drug test, have poor work performance, and negatively impact employee morale than their non-abusing counterparts.3 71% of U.S. employers have been impacted by employee prescription drug use.4
By having an
up-to-date and comprehensive workplace drug testing policy that also addresses commonly prescribed drugs, employers can reduce their chances of employing a prescription drug- abusing employee. ❚
References 1
http://www.nsc.org/learn/NSC-Initiatives/Pages/ prescription-painkillers-for-employers.aspx
2
The 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health Detailed Tables
3 4
2017 National Safety Council Survey The National Safety Council
For over 30 years, Comprehensive Drug Test- ing, Inc. (CDT, Inc.) has managed drug-testing programs for employers and professional sports organizations. CDT is a consortium/ third-party administrator (C/TPA) and also of- fers services such as training, medical review officer (MRO) services, and pre-employment packages. CDT excels in the drug and alcohol testing industry by adhering to strict quality control, procedural compliance and manage- ment (including standards set forth by the Department of Transportation), and exceptional customer service. Our philosophy is to provide the highest level of quality drug and alcohol testing services, exceeding the expectations of our clients. We have maintained longstanding relationships with our clients, and the longevity of these relationships is a measure of our com- mitment to excellence.
summer 2018
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