There are three frequently cited reasons that constitute reasonable ground.

1. Public Safety – Where employee are directly responsible for the well-being and safety of others.
2. Employee Safety – Drugs are a major cause of accidents that can lead to injuries and possibly legal action for liability and negligence.
3. Fitness for Duty – Failure to produce a quality product or service can endanger the reputation of a company due to employee negligence or abuse.

Unfortunately, yes. Estimates indicate that workplace substance abuse is costing American companies as much as $30 million each year in lost profits and liabilities.

Employees who abuse drugs and alcohol:

• Are about 30-35% less productive
• Cause over 40% of on-the-job injuries
• Cost twice as much in medical and worker compensation claims
• more likely to steal to support their habit

-- National Institute on Drug Abuse in its Workplace Trends

More than ever before. Nearly 98% of Fortune 200 companies are now screening for substance abuse during their pre-employment process. No business regardless of size or location is immune to the enormous problems that drug and alcohol abuse can cause nor the cost related to such problems. Most individuals who have substance abuse problems take their problems to work with them.

• Amphetamines/Methamphetamines (Speed, Uppers)
• Cannabinoids (Marijuana)
• Cocaine
• Opiates (Heroin, Opium, Codeine)
• Phencyclidine (PCP)

Workplace violence and drug abuse have exploded at an alarming rate. Over 2 million workers suffer physical attacks on the job each year. Workplace violence is the leading cause of death in the workplace for women and the second leading cause for men.

One in five workers ages 18-36 use drugs on the job. Ten percent of the workforce are alcoholics and one-half of all industrial accidents are linked to alcohol and drugs.

Increased absenteeism due to illnesses, accidents or damage to company property, theft, fraud, decreased employee morale, increased healthcare costs, lost business opportunities, high employee turnover rates, and unproductive employees.

Small businesses are the most vulnerable to these types of employees because most small businesses do not have a drug testing policy in place. These types of employees can force a small business to shut its doors due to employee negligence and/or theft.

• Current employment status was associated with illicit drug use in 2005. Among unemployed adults aged 18 or older, 17.1 percent were current illicit drug users, which was higher than the 8.2 percent of those employed full time and 10.4 percent of those employed part time. These rates were all similar to the corresponding rates in 2004.
• Although the rate of past month illicit drug use was higher among unemployed persons compared with those from other employment groups, most drug users were employed. Of the 17.2 million current illicit drug users aged 18 or older in 2005, 12.9 million (74.8 percent) were employed either full or part time.

--Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

• 70% of illicit drug users, age 18-49, were employed full-time.
• 6.3 million of full-time workers were illicit drug users.
• 1.6 million of these full-time workers were both illicit drug and heavy alcohol users in the past.

--U.S. Department of Justice