Drug Testing

Drug testing has become a major weapon in the war on drugs. Nearly three-quarters of America's biggest companies require job applicants to undergo urinalysis — up from only 21 percent a decade ago. Proponents say drug testing protects public safety and deters drug use, but opponents say neither can be proved. Until recently, most companies only tested job applicants and public-safety employees. But now employers randomly test all employees. Some state and local governments require random testing of public employees, high school students participating in after-school activities, prisoners and welfare and student-loan recipients. Many employee groups and civil libertarians see such expanded drug testing as a dangerous erosion of Americans’ constitutional right to privacy.