The Retail, Service and Professional segments of the business world are generally not specifically required by law to drug test their employees. So if you don't have to, then why go through that added expense? Because NOT testing, costs you more.

"I guess you could call me a thief, I was stealing time from the company." - Anonymous small business employee recovering from substance abuse

Employers who think alcohol and other drug abuse will never be a problem in their workplace should consider this: Job applicants who can't pass a drug test tend to apply to companies that don't test. Users work somewhere, after all, approximately 75% of all illegal drug users are currently employed.

Employers with successful drug testing programs report decreases in absenteeism (users take 3 times as many sick days), accidents (also 3 times higher for users), behavioral problems, downtime (81 billion is lost productivity per year), turnover (twice as likely to change jobs 3 or more times in one year) and workplace theft (aprox 20% of users admit to stealing from co-workers and the company to help support their drug use). They also enjoy increases in productivity and overall improved morale, better health status among many employees and family members and a decreased use of medical benefits.

Some companies with Drug Testing Programs qualify for incentives such as decreased premium costs for insurance (i.e. Worker's Comp), because insurance companies know that users are 5 times more likely to file a worker's compensation claim and have higher than average health care claims.

Though your company may not be required by law to drug test your employees, the many valuable benefits of an active program far exceed the cost. And remember, an effective program can keep you from being the employer of choice for users, abusers and addicts.