Pros And Cons Of Drug Testing In The Workplace

Drug testing has become known as an essential part of gaining employment. There are some places of business that require drug testing, and there are few who do not require drug testing. It makes the most sense that the fields getting drug tested would involve public safety. Fields involved in public safety can include, but is not limited to: police officers, firefighters, emergency paramedics, and emergency dispatchers. This may also include doctors, nurses, nurses’ assistants, and the majority of hospital personnel. Public safety can also include heavy machine operators, bus drivers, and other businesses that deal predominantly with public in certain conditions and situations. On the other hand, employment such as clerical, minor labor, and some retail that isn’t safety related beg the question , what does the employer have to know?
There are quite a few reasons to continue drug testing in the workplace. Drug abuse is more likely to cause employees to …show more content…
However, consider if the drug testing were to stop. Police officers were no longer drug tested, firefighters, and paramedics all had the ability to go to their work under the influence. The amount of casualties and crimes would most likely skyrocket. The police would not be able to function at their greatest and may cause things to be worse than if they were not there at all. Firefighters who run into burning buildings could have a higher chance of an accident and possible fatality. Paramedics may crash, or when administering medications to patients may accidentally overdose the patient, or not give them enough of the medicines that they need. The cons of drug testing is the price that it will continue to cost the American industry, but there is the possibility that drug testing may actually save the lives of thousands of people on a daily basis. There are also the nurses and doctors, and the heavy machine workers to be