Did you know that one in three job applicants in the US is tested to see if they use drugs, even though fewer than 10 per cent of workers report having ever taken stronger drugs than nicotine or caffeine at work? These snippets appear in a review of occupational drug use, Under the Influence? (National Academy, Washington DC, ISBN 0 309 04885 0). It concludes that, in spite of the push to purge federal workplaces of drugs, there is no reliable evidence that drug screening by employers is cost-effective. It may even discourage able applicants from applying for jobs.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features

Technology
US government wants to have a useful quantum computer by 2028
News

Life
Childbirth for many primate species is even harder than for humans
News

Humans
Humans sleep the least of all apes – is it the secret to our success?
Features

ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû1000¼¯ºÏ
Your menstrual cycle may affect how well vaccines work
News
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
Where, when and how to watch the 2026 solar eclipse
2
Humans sleep the least of all apes – is it the secret to our success?
3
Remote-controlled cockroach swarm can now breathe underwater
4
Our verdict on The Selfish Gene: An unpopular piece of popular science
5
We’ve uncovered a master gene that switches on human development
6
If you aren't terrified by this heatwave, you should be
7
Read an extract from Slow Gods by Claire North
8
US government wants to have a useful quantum computer by 2028
9
Screwworm could be the first species targeted by an 'extinction drive'
10
Woman with Alzheimer's starts conversing again after taking psilocybin