It appears millions of employees are working under the influence of drugs daily and these employees may be working at less capacity than employees who do not use drugs. There are obvious ethical implications surrounding this. Some employers have used drug testing as long ago as the 1980s attempting to create a drug-free workplace; today, many employers are not required to drug test, and some state and local governments prohibit workplace drug testing (United States Department of Labor). Research shows effective drug policy programs protect employee rights and companies' liabilities and also shows variations in opinions about whether drug testing violates or upholds employee rights. Additionally, it appears employers have a social responsibility to ensure workplace safety and there are concerns regarding the repercussions of not testing often or not testing enough. The core focus of this research is the social responsibilities of drug testing in the workplace, including random or planned drug testing, and pre and post-employment drug testing.
