How Does Your Drug Abuse Program Measure Up?

Workplace drug abuse costs U.S. businesses more than $100 billion each year in lost productivity, and higher healthcare and workers’ compensation costs. "Drug-free workplace programs can make dramatic contributions to a company’s bottom line, but only if they’re done right," says Beth Lindamood, a drug-free workplace expert.

Despite free information offered by insurance companies and the federal government, many small businesses try to rid their workplaces of substance abusers by devising their own drug-free workplace programs. These homemade programs usually fail because of incomplete planning and improper implementation.

Take this quiz to determine whether your program needs some professional intervention of its own.

Quiz
1. My company’s drug-abuse program has full support of top management.	True	False
2. My company distributed a policy, educated employees, and reviewed applicable union agreements before starting a substance abuse testing program.	True	False
3. My company conducts drug testing and has a written drug-free workplace policy.	True	False
4. My company uses a medical review officer in our testing program.	True	False
5. My company tests management as well as staff.	True	False
6. My company uses accredited laboratories to analyze samples.	True	False
7. My company tests for adulterants.	True	False
8. My company enforces a workplace drug abuse policy consistently.	True	False
9. My company provides transportation when it sends “reasonable cause” cases to the testing site.	True	False
10. My company reports the results of drug tests to a limited number of key people.	True	False
If you answered “false” to any of the questions, it may be time to review your company’s drug-abuse program. For tips on how to establish a drug-free workplace, call the Ohio Casualty Group, (877) 397-CALL, or contact the Small Business Administration at www.sba.gov.