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Employment drug testing is designed to look for a variety of drugs and alcohol from a sample, which could be either hair, urine, or even saliva. There are a few different drugs that can be screened and the ones that will be chosen will depend on your area and your employment, however some standard ones include marijuana, alcohol, opioids and amphetamines. Depending on the type of sample used, drug screening can detect drug use within the previous few days up to 12 months in duration. If you want to learn more, check out Redwood drug testing for more information.

When Does Employment Drug Testing Happen?

There are so many times during employment that drug testing can happen, so it’s important to be aware of the main reasons you may be tested. Many employers will test during the screening procedure, to ensure that candidates are drug free and a good fit for their company. This will vary company by company, but I would expect to be tested during the shortlisting part of the hiring process.

Once hired, there are many companies that do regular drug testing, especially for those industries that are related to tourism and transport, where it’s essential that their workers are drug-free and able to effectively perform their duties.

There are also specific incidents that may require a drug test be performed, such as if there’s been a workplace incident to ensure that there was no drug related impairment. Likewise a drug test may be required when someone is returning to duty after extended leave. You may also find that there is a drug test if someone in your company suspects that you are using drugs.

If there’s nothing outside the ordinary going on, then you can expect randomized drug testing to occur every three months in most companies. The goal with random testing is that everyone has an equal opportunity to be tested and you won’t be given any notice if you are chosen to be tested.

What Happens If I Fail My Test?

What happens exactly will depend on the company, but generally it’s pretty serious if you fail a drug test. Chances are you may lose your employment, as well as having any licenses stripped from you. There are many industries where it’s simply not safe for staff to be intoxicated or under the influence while working, so for these reasons most companies are pretty cut-throat about positive results.

If you want to learn specifically what could happen with a positive result, be sure to check out your company’s individual policy. If you return a positive result during the pre-screening employment process, then you would not continue with the hiring process and would not be awarded the job.

Employment drug testing allows us to be sure that the people working in sensitive jobs, such as the transport industries, aren’t using any drugs or alcohol which can impair their ability to perform their job well. Many other companies may benefit from drug testing to ensure that their employees are healthy and functioning at their best.