Pre-Employment Drug Screening Impact Analysis

This technical report examines the relationship between pre-employment drug screening and post-accident drug testing positivity rates, particularly in the context of trends observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The First Advantage Strategic Consulting Team analyzed aggregate customer data and identified that many organizations paused their pre-employment drug screening programs to expedite the hiring process amidst staffing shortages. The report details a significant increase in post-accident drug positivity rates across various industries, with notable increases in sectors such as Transportation, Restaurants, and Healthcare. The data indicates that clients who conducted pre-employment drug screening experienced a 17% increase in post-accident positivity rates, while those who did not saw their rates more than double. The report further discusses the financial implications of substance use in the workplace, including costs related to lost productivity and increased workers' compensation claims, suggesting that the costs of pre-employment drug screening may be justified when weighed against these potential losses.