While it ends with a list of the dumbest ways to beat "drug" tests, it does not inform anyone that there really are ways to beat the tests. Certainly, it never tells the reader that tests are much more likely to detect marijuana than hard drugs, but I would wager that this "expert" sees that as an advantage. This is an insult to the intelligence of anyone not holding public office.)

Thursday June 25, 4:00 am Eastern Time

Company Press Release

SOURCE: Great American Insurance Companies

Going Straight from College to Work

CINCINNATI, June 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Graduating college seniors may think they’ve cleared all the hurdles necessary to enter the job market. But, in reality, many will soon face their most important test yet: a drug test. And statistics suggest that nearly one in five of them will fail.
(Ed. note: That "fail rate" is for all tests not just college grads. If only 18% have used an illegal drug in the last 30 days, how is it that 20% fail? False positives?)

According to a study conducted by the University of Michigan in 1996, 18% of college students have used some type of illegal drugs in the past 30 days. The study found that 17.5% of these students smoke marijuana (2.8% daily); and nearly 2% use hallucinogens.

A survey designed by the Core Institute yielded similar results for the period 1995-1996 finding that 18.6% of college students had smoked marijuana in the prior 30 days and 2.7% had used hallucinogens.

Beth Lindamood, senior analyst at Great American Insurance Companies®, believes many companies that hire college graduates are looking at these and other findings. "Many employers realize what a serious safety and productivity issue drug use poses to their businesses if the consequences associated with it happen in the workplace," said Lindamood.

The Core survey found some of the consequences experienced by drug-using college students included: poor performance (21.4%), missed class (30.1%), memory loss (28.1%) and injury (13%).
(Ed. note: 13% of college marijuana users are injured because of their marijuana use? This is so absurd that I cannot imagine anyone writing this.
There is really only one campus "drug" problem, and that is binge drinking. Somehow I have not been able to find any mention of alcohol here.)

"Employers are paying close attention to the cost of workplace drug abuse to their companies," Lindamood said. Overall, workplace drug abuse costs companies in the United States more than $100 billion annually in lost productivity, accidents and increased workers’ compensation and medical expenses. As a result, graduating seniors can expect to encounter a job market increasingly informed about—and inhospitable to—drug users.
(Ed. note: These numbers are utter non-sense. If alcohol is factored in then the numbers might be real.)

Employers are aware of the demographics of drug abuse, too. And that includes not just today’s college students, but the future workforce as well—the high school seniors of 1997. According to the University of Michigan study, 26.2% of these seniors are already using drugs. The study shows that this rate rose an alarming 82% from the 14.4% of seniors who were using drugs in 1992.

To help protect themselves from problems associated with drug-using employees, more and more employers are moving to establish workplace drug abuse programs that include drug testing.

Currently, 98% of Fortune 200 companies have anti-drug policies and programs. Companies large and small, recognizing the tremendous losses caused by drug use in the workplace, are stepping up efforts as well. Nonetheless, Federal government research shows that 73% of adults who use illegal drugs are employed.

In May, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business heard testimony regarding proposed legislation designed to make drug-free workplace programs more attractive to even the smallest businesses.

"Regardless of the field they plan to enter or the companies they apply to, it is increasingly likely that graduating college seniors will be drug tested," said Lindamood, who was among those who testified before the Congressional Committee. "Businesses covet these young minds, but only the ones that test free of drugs. College students need to realize this before they begin to interview, clean up their acts now and test drug-free. Making the right choices now could effect the rest of their lives."

Businesses wishing to learn more about establishing a drug-free workplace can do so by calling Great American® at 1-888-788-GAIC or by sending an e-mail inquiry to gaworkcomp@fuse.net.

Beth Lindamood has been quoted on the topic of workplace drug abuse in the Wall Street Journal, Christian Science Monitor, New York Daily News, Associated Press, Bloomberg Business News, Copley News Service, CNN-fn, Business News Network and numerous local and regional print, radio and TV outlets. Ms. Lindamood has also testified before a committee of the U.S. House of Representatives on workplace drug abuse issues.
(Ed. note: Now, the above paragraph is one that I find entirely believable.)

Sidebar:

Top Ten Dumbest Ways Employees Try to Disguise Drug Abuse
This list was compiled by Beth Lindamood, senior analyst with Cincinnati-based Great American Insurance Company, after years of studying workplace drug abuse.

10. Buying "Mary Jane’s SuperClean 13", a vial of liquid dishwashing fluid that sells for $29.95.

9. Drinking liquid soap.

8. Drinking vinegar.

7. Adding ammonia, blood, Drain-0, lemon juice, table salt, Visine and WD-40 to urine specimen.

6. Drinking bleach.

5. Injecting "clean urine" into bladder.

4. Making your own powdered urine and substituting "when you’re clean."

3. Submitting a "fresh" 40-degree urine sample.

2. Substituting canine urine for human urine.

1. Sending someone else to collection site for you.