Substance use in the UK continues to be prevalent, with approximately 1 in 11 adults aged 16 to 59 reporting drug use in the year ending June 2022. Since recorded estimates began in 1995, cannabis has been the most used drug, followed by powder cocaine.¹

Although pre-employment drug testing is common in the US, it is not seen as much in the UK. This could be due to a lack of awareness of the benefits. Here, we aim to look at the benefits that pre-employment drug testing may bring to businesses.

According to data from Abbott Toxicology, one employee in every 14 could be reporting to work while unfit to do so due to drug or alcohol use. That equates to 2.2 million people at work in the UK at any given time.²

One employee in 14 could be reporting to work while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The benefits of pre-employment drug testing are just as applicable today as they have always been. In fact, with an increase in drug use, and illegal drugs costing taxpayers nearly £20 billion per year, the benefits could be even greater than ever before.³

Deterrence – Drug Users Don’t Want to Be Drug Tested

A few years ago, a large employer held a job fair in the U.S. When the throng of potential employees learned that the next step of the application process would be a drug test, about half of them left.⁴ We cannot assume that all of them were drug users. However, we can assume that at least some of them aborted the application process because they were current drug users.

The value of drug testing can be measured in many ways, but perhaps the most significant way is knowing that some drug users avoid drug testing.

Often when drug users learn that a company conducts drug testing, they may turn around and walk out the door without even completing the job application. Before they can get hired, use company resources for onboarding and training, or cause an accident, they apply for work at another company where drug testing is not conducted. Employers who don’t run pre-employment drug testing may unwittingly become “that other company.”

Direct Cost Savings – Return on Investment Calculations

The cost of a pre-employment drug test is very likely to be less than the cost of having a drug user in the organisation. The average base pay for an entry-level employee in the UK starts at £23,000.⁵ and it’s estimated that turnover costs for such an employee are £11,000.⁶

Using the US as an example, their National Safety Council reports that 22% of currently employed non-substance users have had more than one employer in the previous year. Workers with any substance use disorder are 40% more likely to have had more than one employer in the previous year.⁷ That’s a lot of turnover at a high cost to employers.

Let’s say a company conducts 100 pre-employment drug and alcohol tests. According to data from Abbott’s toxicology business, drug testing results for UK workplaces, approximately 7% of all workplace screens are positive.*⁸

Using 100 as our base, 7% equals 7 positive results. That is 7 job applicants who could cost the company £11,000 each if they decide to quit and find a different job within the year. If all of them are hired and subsequently decide to leave the company, that would lead to £77,000 in turnover costs alone. To conduct 100 pre-employment screens at £65 per test will cost £6,500. If these candidates are screened out before they can become employees, that drug testing saves £70,500.

No matter what the actual number of pre-employment drug tests you perform is, the benefit of knowing up-front if a potential employee has a drug or alcohol problem can be very valuable. Even at a smaller scale, it only takes one employee under the influence of drugs or alcohol to increase the risk of a catastrophic accident happening. The confidence that you gain in hiring people who test negative – even in small number – is of huge value. 

Other Benefits to Pre-employment Drug Testing 

The pre-employment drug test is a good way to make clear to any new and prospective employee the company’s culture in how it approaches drug and alcohol use. With the expectation of a pre-employment drug test, the new employee should be in no doubt that the company they are joining takes the risks associated with drug and alcohol use seriously.

For any individual with a history of recreational drug use, this could provide them with the motivation to make lifestyle changes that will have a positive impact on both their physical and mental wellbeing, as well as their relationships and income. An employer who can motivate prospective employees in this way will be making a positive impact on the society they are a part of, demonstrating their commitment to social responsibility. 

Pre-employment Drug Testing to Promote a Safer Work Environment 

Substance abuse is not going away. In fact, it’s safe to assume that it will continue to spread globally. In the year ending March 2023, an estimated 9.5% of people aged 16 to 59 reported using a drug in the last 12 months. That’s approximately 3.1 million people.⁹ The full cost of this shift towards wider-spread substance abuse is yet to be discovered but will likely be significant to employers. Employers who test for drugs can maintain a safe work environment.

Drug testing is not only smart for public safety and workplace safety; it is also fiscally responsible for employers. An updated drug testing policy continued education based on science and statistical evidence, and continued pre-employment drug testing programmes are beneficial to employers.