Your business has drug testing policies in place to protect your employees, your customers, your property and the reputation of your business. However, some individuals still attempt to find ways to try manipulating a drug test. In order to understand the best ways to reduce the chance of an employee or an applicant manipulating a drug test, you need to understand how they try to manipulate them in the first place.
There is much advice on the internet containing creative ways to pass a drug test while also using illegal drugs. Some of the most common methods suggested online include:
- Flushing illegal drugs out of the system by drinking a lot of water, tea or coffee before a urine drug test. Flushing may make it harder for the substances to show on the drug test.
- Attempting to delay the test by waiting until the drug has cleared the system (2 days in some cases or 4 days in others).
- Switching out the urine sample with someone else’s urine.
- Using an adulterant substance to attempt to mask the existence of the illegal drug.
If a donor’s test comes back with “dilute” results, it’s a sign that they may have attempted to flush their system. You might want to consider a re-test.
You should also set a strict number of days during which the employee must be tested. It is standard to require a 3-day testing period. While that could be enough time for some substances to disappear you can also shorten the period to a single day without breaking any laws or regulations.
One of our most successful clients requires people being screened to take their drug test within 24 hours to reduce the likelihood of manipulating a drug test. This also helps to screen out people who might be less serious about working for you. If they always have an excuse, clearly they aren’t taking the job offer seriously anyways.
Finally, another obvious method of manipulating a drug test is attempting to switch the urine with someone else’s. Pay attention to how employees act when completing the screening and ensure they are not bringing bags or extra objects into the bathroom with them.
James P. Randisi, President of Randisi & Associates, Inc., has since 1999 been helping employers protect their clients, workforce and reputation through implementation of employment screening and drug testing programs. This post does not constitute legal advice. Randisi & Associates, Inc. is not a law firm. Always contact competent employment legal counsel. Mr. Randisi can be contacted by phone at 410.494.0232 or Email: info@randisiandassociates.com or the website at randisiandassociates.com
