Hair Drug Testing for Employment on the Rise

A February 16, 2012 article in the Huffington Post confirms that the need to pass a drug test due to drug testing for pre-employment and for existing employees isn’t about to change in volume anytime soon.

Huffington Post journalist Arthur Delaney writes, “57 percent of employers required all new hires to pass a drug test in 2011. An additional 10 percent tested only certain candidates, and an additional 4 percent tested when required by state law. Of 80 recruiters at Fortune 500-sized companies surveyed last year, 53 said they require new hires to pass drug tests, according to Corporate Executive Board, a business research firm.” 

The drug tests administered by employers are most often done by way of urinalysis, but there’s an old trick up the sleeve of employers who know unemployment rates are on the rise. Large corporations especially don’t want to take chances with what they would consider “iffy” candidates, so rather than relying on urine tests for new hires and random drug tests at work, large-scale employees are now more than ever turning to hair drug testing. 

Drug testing by hair is nothing new, but it is experiencing a surge in popularity. Among the main reasons for its newfound wide-acceptance is the fact that hair follicle drug tests can detect drug use further back (in almost every instance) than a urine drug test, and certainly far further back than a blood drug test or cheek swab. 

The Internet has been ablaze with questions and commentary about hair drug testing coming from people who have interviewed well and are on their way to the drug testing lab. In what can only be described as sheer panic, those trying to pass a hair drug test are doing everything thinkable to their tresses. 

From bleaching to dying and re-dying, bleaching again, head shaving, drinking pickle juice, and pouring vinegar on their heads, those in the grips of drug testing stress will do just about anything to get the negative test result required to land or keep a job. 

What many drug test takers are not taking into consideration is that, a) There are very simple, affordable drug test shampoos available that will make it possible to pass a drug test in 24 hours or less, and b) Drug testing labs don’t always take hair from the scalp—they’re not scared to ask for underarm, leg, arm, or even pubic hair to determine if a candidate has used drugs within the past 60-90 days.  

A hair follicle drug test is very easy to do, and not expensive for employers. So those who want to know what a potential employee has been up to during their time of unemployment are now as curious as ever. Given that millions of Americans have been out of work for more than 18 months, “job creators” see this as a higher risk demographic for drug use.  

Test takers who know they have what it takes, and who have already landed a job by way of a good resume and great interview shouldn’t be disheartened by having to take a hair drug test—they should be prepared. And preparation in this case means cleansing hair from head to toe with a drug testing shampoo that works.

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Pat Surr

Multimedia Management

Pass A Drug Test

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