The Drug Testing Debate and the Security Profession

Abstract

The ongoing debate over whether drug testing should be legal in the workplace has many different views. In this report I will show the merits of the arguments for and against drug testing by the views of Tamara Roleff's article, "Workplace Testing Reduces Drug Use" and the opposing views from Jacob Sullum's, "Workplace Testing Has Not Been Proven to Reduce Drug Use." These main principles will be applied to the security profession. It will show the effect that drug testing could possibly have over this specific group of employees and their work quality. It will also show how the ethics that are expected of a security professional are affected by drug use and how they should react to any request for a drug test for pre-employment or randomly during employment.

The Debate of Drug Testing in the Workplace

Every business has a duty to their employees to maintain a safe work environment. They also have a duty to their customers to provide a safe product that is correctly assembled or that their business is conducting business to their fullest abilities. Drug use and abuse among employees cause can huge problems within workplaces and hinder a person's ability to perform their job. Should testing for these intoxicating substances be legal in the workplace?

All businesses are affected when employees are under the influence or use illegal drugs. The security profession is no different. These men and woman are entrusted with the duties to protect an employers merchandise, employees, and clients from any harm. What effects would drug use on or off duty have on these professionals in respect to their execution of their assigned duties?

The Argument for Drug Testing

Roleff's, "Workplace Testing Reduces Drug Use," argues that by testing all employees for drugs during pre-employment, reasonable suspicion, and after accident situations, the workplace is a safer and the business is more efficient. She states that 9.4 million employees use drugs (Drug Abuse Costs Businesses, ¶1). That is a huge segment of the population and these are the users that are employed.