What’s so random about Random Drug testing…
Nowadays, if you’re applying for a job, and almost ANY job, you’re chances of being tested for DRUGS in your system are pretty damn good. Some of the smaller businesses don’t participate because squeezing the budget dollar is just a little more important and a lot less expensive than making each propective employee pass “the test”. The ones desperate to replace a departed employee with another warm body will settle for that person passing the “flashlight test” (shining the light in one ear and hope something blocks it on the way out the other ear) or the “walk-and-chew-gum-at-the-same-time-without-tripping” test.
Back in the day, so to speak, I would not have passed the drug test. At times, when I think about those days, I feel there’s a story there waiting to be told. Indeed, those are days gone by and left behind for good. What the heck was I thinking, getting high in the morning before going to work, finding ways to do it at work (via brownies with the “secret” ingredient, and after work. One tends to associate with others who enjoy the same pleasures and you lose focus on the other things in life that are really important, namely your health, family, finances, and future.
ANYWAYYYYY……I once worked for a large company, with branches across the U.S., and not only were you required to submit to pre-employment testing but also subsequent “random testing” while employed. Funny thing about that…….only those of us with hair just a little bit longer or seeming to have a little more relaxed, laid back attitude ended up being called up for “random” testing over and over again, as if the powers-that-be knew that sooner or later , one of us would fail the test. The squeaky clean, hair always trimmed folks somehow never got their names pulled out of the hat. Probably coincidence, huh?
In some ways, what seems to be socially acceptable or unacceptable is determined by what’s currently legal or illegal. Example: Go to work on a Monday and talk about going out Saturday night to a club or different clubs and getting “shit-faced” or fall-down drunk and it’s acceptable and entertaining. But if the “drug” of choice is marijuana, or coke or something else that’s illegal, it’s a whole different situation. Many companies have programs for their employees to help them recover from a problem with alcohol. Test positive for marijuana or something along those lines and you’re HISTORY…end of story. Hopefully, we make the right choices for the things that affect our own lives and leave others to do the same, without being judgemental. What should be legal or illegal?……that’s a WHOLE ‘nother story and a whole different argument.