Abstract
This paper discusses the use of drug screening for employee selection decisions. Common methods of drug screening are described, and a recent study of drug screening accuracy is summarized. It is argued that drug screening is subject to the same standards as are other selection procedures, and that human resource professionals must assume responsibility for understanding the potential problems associated with drug screening. Issues relevant to determining the benefits of drug screening are discussed, and an illustration of the impact of drug screening on decision accuracy is presented. It is suggested that, in many instances, the value of drug screening in the selection process may be low enough to warrant serious concern. Implications for human resource research and practice are noted.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Angarola, R. T. (1985, September). Drug testing in the workplace: Is it legal?Personnel Administrator, 79–89.
Bickerton, Richard L. (1986, September/October). Urinalysis: Dilemma of the 80's.EAP Digest, pp. 26–35.
Cascio, W. F. (1987).Applied psychology in personnel management. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Cronbach, L. J., & Gleser, G. C. (1965).Psychological tests and personnel decisions (2nd ed.). Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press.
Curran, W. (1987). Medical intelligence law-medicine notes: Compulsory drug testing, the legal barriers.New England Journal of Medicine, 316, 318–321.
Denenberg, T. S., & Denenberg, R. V. (1983).Alcohol and drugs: Issues in the workplace. Washington, DC: BNA.
Hansen, H. J., Caudill, S. P., Boone, J. (1985). Crisis in drug testing.Journal of the American Medical Association, 253, 2382–2387.
Has drug epidemic already peaked? Many estimates are fluid, unreliable. (1986, October 3).Wall Street Journal, p. 20.
Lundberg, G. D. (1972). Urine drug screening: Chemical McCarthyism.New England Journal of Medicine,287.
Morgan, J. P. (1984). Problems of mass urine screening for misused drugs.Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 16, 305–317.
National Treasury Employees Union v. Von Raab, 649 F. Supp. 380 (E.D. La. 1986).
Ostrov, E., & Cavanuagh, J. L. (1987). Validation of police officer recruit candidates' self reported drug use.Journal of Forensic Sciences, 32, 496–502.
Rosen, T. (1987). Detection of substance abuse in the workplace: One consultant's perspective.The Industrial-Organizational Psychologist, 24(4), 53–59.
Rust, M. (1986, November). The legal dilemma.ABA Journal, pp. 51–54.
Sackett, P. R., & Decker, P. J. (1979). Detection of deception in the employment context: A review and critical analysis.Personnel Psychology, 32, 487–506.
Schein, D. D. (1986, July). How to prepare a company policy on substance abuse control.Personnel Journal, pp. 30–38.
Schreier, J. W. (1983, June). A survey of drug abuse in organizations.Personnel Journal, pp. 478–484.
Schwartz, R. H., & Hanks, R. L. (1985). Laboratory detection of marijuana use.Journal of the American Medical Association, 254, 788–792.
Sellers, D. (1987, January 12). Positive results for drug test sales.Insight, pp. 44–45.
Sharf, J. C. (1987). Pre-employment questions about “illegal substances” held to violate the fifth amendment protection against self-incrimination: “Honesty testing” on notice?The Industrial-Organizational Psychologist, 24(3), 44–45.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 95th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association in New York; August 31, 1987. The authors would like to thank Michael Bramel for his assistance in locating and summarizing some of the medical literature cited, and two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fraser, S.L., Galen Kroeck, K. The impact of drug screening on selection decisions. J Bus Psychol 3, 403–411 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01020708
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01020708