A new study finds 14% of American adults currently have an alcohol use disorder (AUD). Many have never been treated. Thirty percent of those interviewed said they had an alcohol-related problem at some time in their lives. Researchers from the National Institute on…
Posts by Category: Pre-employment Drug Testing
Connecticut Drug Testing Statutes Do Not Apply To Hair Tests, Court Holds
Connecticut’s drug testing laws apply only to urinalysis drug tests and not to a drug test using hair specimens which led to an employee’s termination, a Connecticut trial court has held. Schofield v. Loureiro Engineering Associates, Inc., 2015 Conn….
California Court Upholds Emotional Distress Award Due to Unannounced Random Drug Test
A California appellate court affirmed an award of emotional distress to two employees who felt pressured to submit to a random drug test. The Court reasoned that the random drug test administered in this case violated a fundamental right to privacy, which is protected…
Positive Workplace Drug Test Results on the Rise for Second Straight Year, Study Finds
For the second year in a row, the percentage of American workers testing positive for illegal drugs has increased, according to a study conducted by Quest Diagnostics. Quest Diagnostics’ Drug Testing Index (DTI) – an annual analysis of workplace drug…
Federal Law Trumps Colorado Medical Marijuana Protections
Colorado workers who use medical marijuana and engage in other activities permitted by state law but not federal law are not protected by the state’s “lawful activities statute,” the Colorado Supreme Court ruled. In Brandon Coats v. Dish Network…
Failure to Disclose “Shy Bladder Syndrome” to Employer Defeats ADA Claims Over Firing for Refusal to Drug Test
A retail employee in line for a store general manager’s position lost not only the promotion, but his job, as well, when he failed or refused to take a test because he could not provide a urine specimen as a result of “shy bladder syndrome.” The…
Growing Number of Workers Abusing Stimulants to Stay Competitive
A growing number of workers in a wide variety of professions are abusing stimulants in an effort to stay competitive, experts tell The New York Times. Abuse of stimulants to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), such as Adderall, has long been an…
Medical Marijuana Extracts Approved in Georgia
Georgia became the 36th state, plus Washington, D.C., to legalize marijuana extracts to treat illnesses. Gov. Nathan Deal signed the “Haleigh’s Hope Act,” which immediately legalized the use of medical marijuana to treat eight serious medical…
Employee’s Request to Provide Information Excusing Positive Drug Test Could Trigger Obligation to Engage in Interactive Process
An employee’s request to provide medical documentation excusing a positive drug test could trigger an employer’s obligations to engage in the interactive process, according to a recent decision by the United States District Court for the Eastern District…
Legal Marijuana Blurs Workplace Drug Policies
Since California became the first state to permit the sale and possession of medicinal marijuana in 1996, 22 other states and the District of Columbia have passed similar legislation. More recently, recreational marijuana use has been legalized in four states –…