NCJ Number
116376
Journal
University of Kansas Law Review Volume: 36 Issue: 4 Dated: (Summer 1988) Pages: 683-697
Date Published
1988
Length
15 pages
Annotation
Common rationales for the use of mandatory drug testing of unimpaired American workers rest on a combination of zealotry and improper use of statistics and data to support a moral stance and an unwarranted intrusion into people's lives.
Abstract
Studies often cited to show that alcohol or other drug use has significant effects on absenteeism, workers' compensation claims, accidents and productivity are seriously flawed. Similarly, arguments that the drug problem in the United States is pervasive overlook national survey data showing steady declines in drug use since 1972. Moreover, discussions of marijuana often erroneously report findings regarding the fat storage and carry-over effect of marijuana, the effects on piloting simulated airplanes, and the potency of domestically available marijuana. As a result, the proponents of testing are creating enormous harm under the guise of helping. Urine testing is simply drug abuse abuse. Figure, tables, and 53 footnotes.