New Twist on Drug Testing

A health regulatory agency is considering issuing new rules that would expand the types of testing available to federal agencies to test employees for possible drug use. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration may issue rules soon that would allow the use of saliva, sweat and hair tests in addition to the urine tests now used. The policy would not expand the situations in which drug testing can be administered-it’s most commonly done in screening job applicants, on a regular or random basis for certain positions and when management has reason to suspect drug use-but employee organizations already are raising concerns regarding the accuracy of the tests.