IBJNews

  • Home

Indiana: Two percent fail job-training drug tests

Associated Press
December 29, 2011
Keywords
Education & Workforce Development, Government, Government & Economic Development, State Government, Vocational training
Back to TopCommentsE-mailPrint

Indiana officials say a drug-testing program that started in July for people seeking job training has led to about 2 percent of applicants failing.

The state Department of Workforce Development says 13 people, or 1 percent, of the 1,240 applicants tested for drugs through the end of November had failed the test. Three people refused to take the test. Seven other samples were so diluted that they needed to be retested.

Agency Commissioner Mark Everson told The Associated Press he believes the program has been more effective than the numbers show. He expects many who would have failed didn't bother applying because they knew they wouldn't pass.

The ACLU said it thinks such tests are unconstitutional, but it hasn't challenged the practice because it has not received any formal complaints.

ADVERTISEMENT

  • What % Was Marijuana?
    Mr. ObviousDecember 30, 2011 12:30 PM
    Marijuana is really no different than a combination of Alcohol / Tobacco, yet it is classified and treated as an illegal narcotic. If included in these tests, it likely skews the numbers dramatically. It should be reclassified and decriminalized regardless, that's just common sense.

    As for now, Prohibition is alive and well. Regulate and tax it like Alcohol / Tobacco and leave it up to individual Companies/Unions/States/Locales on how to handle the substance and Testing Procedures.

    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • Drug Testing
    TerryDecember 29, 2011 12:22 PM
    Sadly, we have seen between 2% and 4% of our employees fail mandatory drug testing over the years. We never discharge the employee without first getting the employee enrolled in a rehabilitation program, and then requiring the employee be tested monthly for six months following the rehab program. We have never filed a claim against the employee's insurance coverage. We keep the issue inside the company. If the employee fails a second drug screen, they are given thirty days to find another job. Anyone can become addicted to drugs and alcohol. We value our employees and want them to feel we care about their wellbeing. However, they must accept responsibility for their actions.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment

Post a comment to this story

COMMENTS POLICY
We reserve the right to remove any post that we feel is obscene, profane, vulgar, racist, sexually explicit, abusive, or hateful.
 
You are legally responsible for what you post and your anonymity is not guaranteed.
 
Posts that insult, defame, threaten, harass or abuse other readers or people mentioned in IBJ editorial content are also subject to removal. Please respect the privacy of individuals and refrain from posting personal information.
 
No solicitations, spamming or advertisements are allowed. Readers may post links to other informational websites that are relevant to the topic at hand, but please do not link to objectionable material.
 
We may remove messages that are unrelated to the topic, encourage illegal activity, use all capital letters or are unreadable.
 

Messages that are flagged by readers as objectionable will be reviewed and may or may not be removed. Please do not flag a post simply because you disagree with it.

ADVANCED SEARCH
Sponsored by
ADVERTISEMENT

facebook - twitter on Facebook & Twitter

Follow on TwitterFollow IBJ on Facebook:
Follow on TwitterFollow IBJ's Tweets on these topics:
 
Subscribe to IBJ

  1. Saw the Indy Men's Chorus "Music of Gilbert & Sullivan" at the Indiana Historical Society on Sunday evening.

  2. Temporary workers are not "tools" they are people and companies that keep large amounts of temp staff are cheating.

  3. I miss having them around. I hope one of their stores is in the general Meridian/86th Street area. I will make good use of it.

  4. The Fringe! Plus, the simple fact that there are so many local faves in such close proximity to each other.

  5. I remenber, watching the toll road, being built, through South Bend, when I was 10 years old. I believe, back then that it was estimated, that the toll road, would be paid for in 20 years and then it would be free. I am now 71, what happened? Since the power is in the people, by that, I mean that, we the people are in total control of everything. I, suggest that no one ever use the toll road again, let it go broke. We the people can control the price of everything, from groceries to gas, if we would just do it. If we don't pay the asking price, the sellers will lower the price and if we wait awhile, they will lower the price to what we accept as reasonable. I would like to know why a highway like interstate 94, is so well maintained, a much better highway, than the toll road, but has no tolls. I would also like to know why, a sitting governor, with a term limit, maximum of eight years, can lease, public property, for 75 years. Even though I have transponders in both of my trucks and will not be affected by the increase, I have been and will contine to avoid using the toll road. I make many trips from northern Indiana to Chicago, every year, and I prefer the better highway, I94!

ADVERTISEMENT