Survey: Most applicants try to cheat drug tests
November 4, 2008 by Sam NarisiPosted in: Background checks, In This Week's E-Newsletter, Job screening tests, Latest News & Views
Here’s some scary news for companies that try to screen out drug users during the hiring process:
Many applicants will try to get around the test, according to a recent survey by testing service provider TestCountry.
In a poll of 3,500 construction, transportation and manufacturing employees, 55% said they had tried to cheat on a drug test.
The most common methods use by those who said they cheated:
- Diluting the specimen by drinking a lot of fluids (45%)
- Using chemical screens designed to mask signs of drug use (23%)
- Substituting another person’s urine sample (19%), and
- Other methods (13%)
What can companies do about it?
TestCountry recommends switching to tests that use a hair sample, which are more expensive but nearly impossible to cheat. Also, random tests of employees can help cut back on drug use.
November 7th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
If you are using a drug testing company that employs certified collectors (that follow strict guidelines) and a Medical Review Officer there will be a huge reduction in the number of cheating employees that get away with cheating.