Björklöv P.

Division of Clinical Pharmacology, LabMedicin, Huddinge University Hospital, SE 14186 Huddinge/Stockholm, Sweden

The aim of the study was to investigate how drugtesting effect integrity among people when applying for a job.
Methods. 350 subjects applying for a job at 4 big companies with more than 2000 employees (Sandvik, SSAB, Skandia and Erasteel) where given a form with 3 questions. The subject should then voluntary answer these questions.
The form was filled in anonymously and put in an envelope by the subject and mailed to us. The employer was not allowed to take part in the answer.
The questions:
1. Do you think that drugtesting is a good method to achieve a drugfree workplace?
2. Do you feel offended giving a urine sample for that purpose?
3. Do you think that narcotic-drugs are a problem in our society?
The subject had 4 answering choices;
Question 1: Very good method, Good method, Rather bad method, Very bad method.
Question 2: Yes absolutely, Yes a little, Not at all, No,absolutely not.
Question 3: Yes a big problem, Yes in a certain way, Not at all, No absolutely not.
Result. All the 350 subjetcs gave there answers in a proper way (nobody refused to answer). 93 % answered that they absolutely not or not at all felt offended giving a urine sample. 99,5 % answered that they think drugtesting is a very good or a good method to achieve drugfree workplaces. The same 99,5 % answered that they thought narcotic-drugs are a problem in our society.
Conclusion. An argument very often used by people in Sweden that are against drugtesting is that drugtesting affects integrity a lot. This investigation shows that if people in Sweden know why they are giving a urine sample the acceptance of drugtesting would be largely increased.