DRUGS, WORKPLACES DON'T MIX

Businesses concerned about productivity, absenteeism, accidents,
health-care costs and morale are stepping up their efforts to prevent
alcohol and drug abuse by employees.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, alcohol and drug use has
been estimated to cost American businesses $81 billion a year in lost
productivity. The department is encouraging companies, particularly
small businesses, to take action to prevent drug and alcohol abuse.

For many employers, becoming a drug-free workplace is a logical step
to protect business owners, employees and customers.

Montgomery Eye Physicians recently revised its drug-free workplace
policy, which has been in place for 10 years.

"Drugs have become a big part of the culture of this country. There's
a perception that some drugs are OK on a recreational basis. We are
not going to take that attitude," said Chris McElvaine, practice
administrator at Montgomery Eye Physicians.

"We test applicants, and we do that at different times -- sometimes
before work, sometimes in the first 90 days of employment. We want it
to be somewhat random so people can't take advantage of a routine,"
she said.

In addition to testing job applicants, Montgomery Eye Physicians'
policy allows for random drug and alcohol tests for all full- and
part-time employees.

"We use that to protect our employees as well as to protect us," she
said. "No one wants to work with someone who is impaired. It's a
win-win for everybody, including our patients. We test not only for
illegal substances but for legal substances that are being taken
illegally. If you take someone else's prescription, you are taking
drugs illegally, just as if you're taking your prescription not in the
manner it was prescribed."

The strategy succeeds, she said. People who suspect that they would
test positive for drugs in a random test generally don't stay in the
workplace.

Many companies in the Montgomery area have expanded their
pre-employment drug testing policies in the past few years, said Patsy
Moretz, administrator at Southeastern Industrial and Family Medicine
Associates.

"Most of the clients that we deal with as a business have a random
testing policy in place as well as post-accident and pre-employment
testing," Moretz said.

It's difficult for a drug user to beat a drug test, especially if it
is administered randomly. For example, marijuana lingers in the body
for up to six weeks in the case of people who use it several times a
day, according to the National Organization for the Reform of
Marijuana Laws.

The organization is among the groups that oppose random workplace drug
testing on the grounds of privacy and because most testing is looking
for drug residues rather than evidence that a person is impaired by
drug use. The American Civil Liberties Union contends that there are
not enough studies to prove the benefits of random drug testing.

Some people find drug testing distasteful because they are embarrassed
or because they are offended at having to prove they are not breaking
the law.

McElvaine's response: "While it may make you uncomfortable, you just
have to look at the bigger picture. It's for you as well as for the
company."

Moretz said most people don't mind the testing, except occasionally
truck drivers who are called away from work to take a test. "I only
see resentment in testing sometimes from the guys from the Department
of Transportation because they're on a run or have someplace to be but
have to stop what they're doing to take a drug test," Moretz said.

"A lot of companies in the Montgomery area are going to hair testing,
especially for random testing," she said. "Women are very particular
about you messing with their hair, but we really only need a very
small amount."

In Alabama, employers that are certified as drug-free workplaces
receive a 5 percent discount on their state workers' compensation premium.