23.9 million Americans are currently drug users, according to new report

National Survey on Drug Use and Health was released last month, and provides a valuable insight into how prominent and consequential drug use in American workplaces may be. This annual report provides a comprehensive look at the current state of substance abuse by surveying approximately 70,000 people throughout the country. The report contains information on…

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Oklahoma to initiate drug tests for welfare applicants

House Bill 2388, that requires welfare applicants to be screened for possible drug use and drug tested upon suspicion they are using. The screening requirement is designed to surmount constitutional objections to mandatory, suspicionless drug testing of public benefits applicants and recipients. Several other states have passed public benefits drug testing laws with a screening…

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Employer's Guide: Drug screening for jobs

17.2 million drug abusers in the US, 12.9 million were employed either full or part time. In addition, 10 to 20% of workers who died on the job tested positive for alcohol or other drugs. And according to statistics on drug abuse by American workers, workplace drug and alcohol use costs U.S. businesses an estimated…

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Job seekers test positive for drugs at highest rate since 2007

While some employers are still on the fence with regards to drug testing, this latest information may make those against it rethink. “Employers are going to have to take a hard look at their policies and decide if they want to do drug testing,” said Holli Hartman, counsel at BakerHostetler. “[Marijuana] is still an illegal…

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Texas bill to require drug screening for welfare recipients

NBC News, a new bill was moved forward that, if implemented, will require welfare applicants to submit to drug testing. Senator Jane Nelson authorized the bill which has already been approved by the state senate’s Health and Human Services Committee. If passed by the full senate, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) applicants will be…

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Drug testing guidelines issued to Colo. employers after Amendment 64

drug testing employees. To help businesses understand the legalities, Mountain State Employers Council has developed a guideline for employers to help them develop policies about Amendment 64, something local Chamber of Commerce leaders say will be helpful for employers. “We have a lot of employers who have a lot of questions about this because it’s…

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Rep.: If you drug test for welfare, drug test politicians too

drug screening for welfare recipients would only be fair if applied to all who receive taxpayer dollars – including elected officials, said Rep. Joe Deshotel (D-Beaumont). The bill, filed last month by Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound), would authorize the use of drug screening for recipients of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and unemployment benefits, according to…

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Tennessee studies welfare drug testing in six other states

The Tennessean. Legislation approved this year mandates the drug-testing program and gives the Department of Human Services until January 2014 to finalize a plan. Over the next two years, the department must submit quarterly progress reports to two General Assembly committees. “The Department hopes to gain insight on how other states have implemented their policy…

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