Saliva tests work like this: the person being tested submits a saliva sample which is then placed on a test strip. If the strip stays colorless, the person being tested is drug-free. If any colors show up, it is a different story entirely—different colors represent the presence of different drugs, making it easy for testers to spot drug use. Saliva drug tests are multipanel screening devices that will detect the presence of multiple substances in one single kit.

One of the main concerns about saliva tests is the length of time that drug use shows up in the results. Experts say saliva will only detect drugs for a few days after use. So if a drug-user can stay clean for just a couple days, he or she may be able to pass a saliva test. On the other hand, urine and hair drug tests can detect drugs for a much longer period of time, enabling potential employers to determine habitual drug use.

Despite its flaws, more companies are turning to saliva tests because they are extremely easy to use and do not require a nurse or 3^rd party vendor to manage. In fact, they can be administered on-site and provide instant test results. This can be a huge cost savings to employers who frequently conduct random drug testing. One simple test administered in any office (you don’t even need a bathroom) with results in ten minutes is why saliva drug tests are quickly becoming an industrial favorite. Less invasive then urine tests yet still able to provide the same accurate results.

There are dozens of drug tests on the market to check for cocaine, marijuana, and other illegal drugs—there are even home screening kits for alcohol drug tests. But many people may not know that similar nicotine drug testing can be done to identify cigarette and tobacco use.

Nicotine breaks down very quickly, which makes it difficult to spot in any tests. But when you smoke, the drug releases a byproduct called Continine. This metabolite is recognizable through a urine test, and can be spotted 2-4 days after tobacco use. As with any other drug, there are many factors that can contribute to the potency of the results, including cigarette puff size, how often you smoke, and the type of cigarettes used. Continine itself is not harmful, the nicotine and tar is what makes smoking dangerous. But it is an instant indicator of tobacco use. Continine drug testing is the industry standard when screening for nicotine and cigarette use.

Blood tests can also be used to test for Continine, though urine tests seem to be the most commonly used and easily accessible. Saliva tests do not work, since there are so many variables in your saliva that can alter the test results.

Though smoking may be a social faux pas, businesses have not yet jumped full-speed on the anti-smoking bandwagon. So if businesses aren’t buying these tests, why bother having them? Often, these tests are used by parents who are checking to see if their kids are smoking. Or in some cases a loved one made a promise to quit and tests are used as a way to show the smoker hasn’t fallen off the non-nicotine wagon. People may also need to be negative for nicotine drug tests in order to receive certain medical procedures. There are several uses outside the workplace for this type of nicotine drug testing.

Additionally, while many employers do mandate drug screenings prior to and during a term of employment, many also do not. And, drug screenings are not infallible, meaning that there are some unscrupulous methods that drug users take to defeat them. Lastly, some drugs – such as cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin – are only present in the system for so long. On that basis, if an employee is aware of the dates on which they will be subjected to a urine drug test – which most often is not something extensive and revealing, like a hair follicle drug test – they can better prepare to pass that test if they think that they might fail it.

So what are the costs of employee drug usage?

What is the impact of employee drug usage? It’s far greater than most people presume.

According to recent statistics, nearly 12-million people in the United States are currently using or abusing illicit substances, which can denote any kind of a drug. Far more are frequently using or abusing alcohol. Out of these 12-million persons, just over 9-million of them are employed at a job, either full time or part time. According to an expert study that was conducted as a Firestone Study, employees who are currently abusing or even using drugs are absent about five times more than employees who are not. Furthermore, the cost of employees using or abusing illegal drugs costs the United States nearly $250-billion annually due to the loss of productively.

It is important to note that these numbers lean greatly upon those who are abusing alcohol, which is a legal substance. About 60% of these productivity numbers actually stem from alcohol abuse, and not illegal drug abuse. Luckily there is even alcohol drug testing you can do on-site the minute you suspect an employee is drinking alcohol at work. So when you break down the real numbers, nearly $100-billion dollars is lost every year in productivity at the workplace due to the abuse of illicit drugs. Some additional studies have also demonstrated that most people who are using these drugs use them for recreation, and are not considered to be addicts.

Parents and employers who are concerned about ecstasy use can relieve their doubts by using the ecstasy (MDMA) drug testing kit. This simple to use product can detect traces of MDMA up to 7 days after it was ingested. Ecstasy (MDMA) drug testing kits come in two forms: a single use urinalysis test and the long term hair follicle test. Each version is guaranteed to detect the presence of ecstasy up to one week after it was taken.

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Due to reports from members of the construction industry that employee drug use was compromising safety and productivity, lawmakers worked quickly to require employee drug testing. Reception to the law has been highly positive so far, with on the job accidents being reduced and contractors reporting a rise in productivity. Other states around the country have noticed West Virginia’s success with workplace drug testing, and similar proposals are being considered.

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The latest innovations in employment drug testing have targeted the rise in prescription drug abuse. Prescription drug testing kits have become the tool of choice for employers seeking to safeguard their workplace. These kits are simple to use, and will detect commonly abused prescription drugs such as Vicodin, Oxycontin, Adderall, and Hydrocodone. Employers can use prescription drug testing kits to dissuade workers from abusing painkillers or mood-altering prescriptions, while also protecting their business assets.

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While anti-anxiety drugs may have a genuine purpose, the fact remains that countless people across the country have been consumed by addiction to these powerful substances. The benzodiazepine drug test can be used to easily detect the presence of mood altering chemicals, up to 7 days after the drugs were consumed. For conscientious parents or vigilant employers, the benzodiazepine drug test is the best option for preventing the abuse of anti-anxiety drugs.

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The employment drug testing program in South Africa should be used as a shining example of how similar programs in the United States can and should work. The emphasis on assisting employees who are suffering from addiction, rather than ending the work relationship entirely, is crucial in truly ending the drug use once and for all. By strictly monitoring employees, using pre-screenings during the hiring process as well as periodic random tests, companies can ensure that their workplace is drug free and as productive as possible.

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On the other hand, if an employer wants to examine his staff’s drug usage over a long period, perhaps for a quarterly review, he or she should choose the hair follicle test. Traces of drug use, even up to 2 months after the illicit substance was last used, can be detected by hair follicle testing. This is also a less intrusive option for large workforces, as it simply requires a few strands of hair to be plucked, rather than dealing with bodily fluids. Knowing which drug testing option you may need for certain circumstances is essential for any conscientious employer.