Date: Fri, 10 Mar 1995 04:39:49 -0800 (PST)
From: [d b lake] at [eureka.wbme.jhu.edu] (Dave Blake)
Subject: Re: The Great Usenet Piss List Monthly Posting

   Authors                                                                  
    Zwerling C.  Ryan J.  Orav EJ.                                          
   Institution                                                              
    Boston Postal Service Medical Unit, MA.                                 
   Title                                                                    
    The efficacy of preemployment drug screening for marijuana and cocaine  
   in predicting employment outcome [see comments].                         
  Source                                                                    
   JAMA.  264(20):2639-43, 1990 Nov 28.                                     
  Abstract                                                                  
   We present a prospective, controlled study of the association between    
   preemployment drug screening results and employment outcomes in 2537     
   postal employees. For identified marijuana users, relative risk for      
   turnover was 1.56 (95% confidence interval [Cl], 1.17 to 2.08);     
   accidents,1.55 (95% Cl, 1.16 to 2.08); injuries, 1.85 (95% Cl, 1.30 to   
   2.64); and discipline, 1.55 (95% Cl, 1.03 to 2.32). Their mean absence   
   rate was 7.1% compared with 4.0% for nonusers. For identified cocaine    
   users, relative risk for turnover was 1.15 (95% Cl, 0.65 to 2.05);     
   accidents, 1.59 (95% Cl, 0.95 to 2.67); injuries, 1.85 (95% Cl, 1.01 to  
   3.39); and discipline,1.40 (95% Cl, 0.62 to 3.17). Their mean absence    
   rate was 9.8%. Our study shows that a preemployment drug screen positive 
   for marijuana or cocaine is associated with adverse employment outcomes. 
   The level of risk, however, is much less than previously estimated. This 
   finding has important implications for the social, legal, and economic   
   arguments for and against drug testing.