EVERYONE SEEMS to be calling for random drug testing of Boston fire department employees, but there should be some dissent. Studies show that without-cause drug testing is not effective at reducing illegal drug use. Nor, contrary to popular belief, does it protect public safety or improve employee performance.
Testing does not test for drugs in a person's system; rather, it detects byproducts of past use. So drug testing does not detect employee impairment on the job, which can be caused by factors including illness, over-the-counter medications, or lack of sleep.
If city officials want to protect the safety of the public and employees, they might consider using performance-based testing that would detect impairment, regardless of the cause, usually by sitting an employee in front of a computer screen and testing various reaction times. Random, without-cause drug testing should not be imposed on fire department or other employees without analyzing the cost and effectiveness of such programs in comparison to impairment testing.
SARAH WUNSCH
Staff attorney
ACLU Foundation of Massachusetts
Boston
