[Superman]

The fact that drugs are unlawful is only a small part of the equation. It's one of the more minor excuses that the industry can use when it's time to change the subject.

The real presumed and accepted basis for drug testing is performance and safety. It is presumed that drug use causes poor performance and unsafe behavior. Problem is, those links are not real. Not established. First, the link between urine content and level of intoxication has not been made. Indeed, we know that urine can contain cannabis metabolytes weeks after use, when intoxication is clearly not present.

The second link that would be necessary to support these (performance and safety) conclusions would be the link between intoxication (which we know cannot be established through urinalysis) and performance/safety. Interestingly, this connection is weak. Indeed, performance under the influence of some drugs (cocaine for example) is consistently higher than with individuals who are not intoxicated.

And finally, if the industry were the slightest bit serious about performance or safety, it would test for the drug that clearly lowers performance and erodes safety, which is also the drug where current intoxication can be established through testing. The test is a called "breathalyzer" and the drug is alcohol. I have been a Drug Testing Coordinator and have looked into this industry in some detail. As it turns out, programs that include testing for alcohol are rare.

It's a witch hunt, guys. What if your employer could analyze your urine and detect whether you have taken office supplies home, or driven a vehicle in excess of the posted speed limit during the past three months? Most of you guys would be screwed. Nevermind that these things probably cannot predict performance or safety. Nevermind that the industry would not be required to establish those links. They are unlawful and you do them anyway, which is an effective excuse for termination.

I am not anti-drug testing. In my view, it has a place. Safety-sensitive positions like pilots, etc. Or when there is clearly a problem and management needs that tool to make a worker face up to facts. But in my humble opinion, if I need a lab report in order to form an impression of whether my direct reports are productive and safe, then I'm not doing my job and should be terminated. For actual cause.