title: The efficacy of preemployment drug screening for marijuana and cocaine in predicting employment outcome.
abstract: We present a prospective, controlled study of the association between preemployment drug screening results and employment outcomes in 2537 postal employees. For identified marijuana users, relative risk for turnover was 1.56 (95% confidence interval [Cl], 1.17 to 2.08); accidents, 1.55 (95% Cl, 1.16 to 2.08); injuries, 1.85 (95% Cl, 1.30 to 2.64); and discipline, 1.55 (95% Cl, 1.03 to 2.32). Their mean absence rate was 7.1% compared with 4.0% for nonusers. For identified cocaine users, relative risk for turnover was 1.15 (95% Cl, 0.65 to 2.05); accidents, 1.59 (95% Cl, 0.95 to 2.67); injuries, 1.85 (95% Cl, 1.01 to 3.39); and discipline, 1.40 (95% Cl, 0.62 to 3.17). Their mean absence rate was 9.8%. Our study shows that a preemployment drug screen positive for marijuana or cocaine is associated with adverse employment outcomes. The level of risk, however, is much less than previously estimated. This finding has important implications for the social, legal, and economic arguments for and against drug testing.
authors.affiliation: Boston Postal Service Medical Unit, MA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zwerling
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Orav
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D001900:Boston; D002188:Cannabis; D003042:Cocaine / Q000652:urine*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004647:Employee Discipline / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004650:Employee Performance Appraisal / Q000379:methods*; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010563:Personnel Turnover / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011177:Postal Service; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012306:Risk; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D003042:Cocaine