A Reference Guide to the Subject of Drug Testing!

Drug Testing

Overview: Drug testing in America has become a common method in discouraging illicit drug use; its stated goal is to reduce the number of drug users by threatening them with exposure and sanctioning. Though many citizens believe this is the correct approach, many feel this is a direct violation of privacy, which is guaranteed by our Constitution. The following is a research guide to finding informative resources on the topic.

Library of Congress Subject Headings: Drug Testing; Drugs and Employment; Urinalysis.

Keywords – The following terms should be used when searching electronic sources

• Drug testing
• Drug screening
• Drug Policy
• Privacy
• Substance screening

Reference Sources: The following sources provide an introduction to drug testing law, technology and practice, as well as current issues and options. These sources were found on the Library of Congress Online Catalog.

1) LC Control No.: 90015085

LCCN Permalink:

Type of Material: Book (Print, Microform, Electronic, etc.)

Personal Name: Evans, David G., 1947-

Main Title: Drug testing law, technology, and practice / by David G. Evans.

Published/Created: Deerfield, IL: Clark Boardman Callaghan, c1990-

Subjects: Drug testing --Law and legislation --United States.

Employee rights --United States.

Drugs and employment --United States. Drug testing.

LC Classification: KF3540 .E93 1990

Dewey Class No.: 344.73/012596 347.30412596 20

2) LC Control No.: 90007848

LCCN Permalink: http://lccn.loc.gov/90007848

Type of Material: Book (Print, Microform, Electronic, etc.)

Main Title: Drug testing : issues and options / edited by Robert H. Coombs and Louis Jolyon West.

Published/Created: New York : Oxford University Press, 1991

Subjects: Drug testing --United States. Civil Rights --United States. Substance Abuse Detection. LC Classification: HV5823.5.U5 D77 1991

Dewey Class No.: 362.29/364/0973 20

3) LC Control No.: 88143569

LCCN Permalink: http://lccn.loc.gov/88143569

Type of Material: Book (Print, Microform, Electronic, etc.)

Main Title: Drug testing : protection for society or a violation of civil rights? / by the National Association of State Personnel Executives and the Council of State Governments. Published/Created: Lexington, Ky: The Council, c1987.

Subjects: Drug testing --United States.

Drug testing --Law and legislation --United States.

Privacy, Right of --United States.

Employee rights --United States.

LC Classification: HV5823.5.U5 D78 1987

Dewey Class No.: 331.25/5 19

Print Books: The following are books in print that provide useful information on drug testing.

1) Drug Testing: Issues and Options, by Robert H. Coombs and
Louis Jolyon West. This books provides an introduction to the complex world of drug testing. Discusses and answers questions concerning "voluntary" testing, individual rights-of-privacy, and the psychological effects of mandatory testing are also discussed.

2) Surveillance, Privacy, and the Law: Employee Drug Testing and the Politics of Social Control, by John Gilliom. This book uses survey research and highlights the divided opinion among people on this subject. It presents arguments suggesting drug testing as a form of social control.

3) Frequently Asked Questions About Drug Testing, by Jonas Pomere. Describes the most common drug tests and discusses the controversy behind mandatory testing for students and employees.

Periodicals: The following articles focus on the issue of drug testing and how it relates to privacy, a civil right. All articles were found using the ProQuest database, performing an advanced search using Boolean operators to refine the search (drug testing AND privacy).

1) Juliet A Terry (2007, August). Employers Limited in Ability to Test for Drug Use. The State Journal, 23(34), 5. Retrieved July 31, 2008, from ProQuest Newsstand database. (Document ID: 1338213581). This article is from The State Journal, a publication dealing with issues in the state of West Virginia. It discusses employers’ inability to randomly test employees, unless they are in a “safety sensitive” job.

2) RHEA DAVIS (2004, August 15). Some schools to start testing for drugs / Plans draw support, but concerns are raised about rights' violations :[4 STAR Edition]. Houston Chronicle, p. B.1. Retrieved July 31, 2008, from ProQuest Newsstand database. (Document ID: 679008601). This article, from the Houston, Texas daily newspaper, Houston Chronicle, discusses how school districts in the State of Texas prepare for the implementation of random drug testing, the support it has drawn, but also, concerns about rights to students’ privacy.

3) Kris Maher (2004, January 20). Career Journal: Armchair Drug Detection; Devices Sweep Office Fixtures For Illegal Substance Traces; Viewed as 'Kind of Sneaky'. Wall Street Journal (Eastern Edition), p. B.1. Retrieved August 1, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 526409681). This article from The Wall Street Journal, discusses how one company tests for the presence of narcotics in theri office, by simply brushing office furniture and equipment with a new tool designed to detect certain substances. The ACLU sees it as an unfair way to harass or try and get rid of certain employees.

Website Resources: The internet has an overwhelming amount of websites and organizations that support drug testing. Many of the websites that present the opposing viewpoint lack credibility, mostly in part due to outdated websites. Many seem to contain information on how to pass drug tests.

1) The American Civil Liberties Union website (www.aclu.org) includes a section on drug policy, which discusses drug testing. Includes links to news articles that cover events where drug testing is not an efficient solution. The following is an excerpt from this website, explaining the ACLU’s objective and purpose:

“Majority power is limited by the Constitution's Bill of Rights, which consists of the original ten amendments ratified in 1791, plus the three post-Civil War amendments (the 13th, 14th and 15th) and the 19th Amendment (women's suffrage), adopted in 1920.

The mission of the ACLU is to preserve all of these protections and guarantees:

• Your First Amendment rights - freedom of speech, association and assembly; freedom of the press, and freedom of religion.
• Your right to equal protection under the law - equal treatment regardless of race, sex, religion or national origin.
• Your right to due process - fair treatment by the government whenever the loss of your liberty or property is at stake.
• Your right to privacy - freedom from unwarranted government intrusion into your personal and private affairs.”

2) The Drug Policy Alliance Network (www.drugpolicy.org), is the nation's leading organization working to end the war on drugs. They support new drug policies based on science, compassion, health and human rights. This organization and their website are a good example of how current policies are being challenged because of their failure to protect people’s right to privacy.