Drug use by employees and workers has become an important issue for American business. Employers of all types (large and small businesses, nonprofit organizations, government, and so on) are concerned about illegal drug use because it has serious effects on job performance, productivity, safety, and health. Most of the illegal drug users in the United States are employed. According to the 2000 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, of the estimated 11.8 million illegal drug users over age 18, 9.1 million (77 percent) were employed either full or part time.

Because of increasing concerns about drug abuse by workers, most business organizations have established written policies on drug use and require drug testing of workers. Most also offer employee education and employee assistance programs for workers with a drug problem. Programs in the workplace reach out to workers and their