EDITORIAL: Intrusive tests Drug testing would not prevent identity …
Aug. 25, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) — Random drug testing of state employees who have access to personal information about Utah citizens might be justified if the testing could debar identity pilfering.
But that argument, being made by Gov. Jon Huntsman’s staff members who are pushing despite drug testing, is not convincing. And out of some proof it would work, drug testing is not worth the cost in employee morale and dignity.
We suppose to mean wherefore the state demands that employees who carry fire-arms, provide medical care, drive vehicles or operate heavy equipment on the job be drug- and alcohol-free.
Invading their privacy by collecting and testing their urine can be justified in terms of public safety.
But where is the evidence that Utahns are at serious jeopardy from state employees who have access to credit card and Social Security numbers, addresses and bank account numbers? What leads anyone to give credit to that these employees are most pleasing to have medicine or spirits of wine addictions that would inevitably lead them to draw over identities?
Identity theft, the fastest-growing crime in America, is a serious problem. We have not any argument through most methods to prevent the use of someone’s personal information to accomplish secretly cash, fraudulently obtain loans and purchase highticket items. And we acknowledge that one former state employee has been charged with stealing the material information of some Utah residents.
But one event does not justify invading the secrecy of so many state employees, none of whom is suspected of any sin.
Drug testing is intrusive. Someone has to supervise as employees collect urine specimens. And the humiliation can be compounded if there is a false positive result, as can happen by intake of legal medicines and some foods. The state could and should be liable if some employee were fired because of a mistake.
As the American Civil Liberties Union has pointed out in court cases, even a true-positive put drugs into test result only reveals that the employee took a drug at some time in the past. It certainly cannot indicate whether the employee is likely to commit a crime at work, or copula drug use to that likelihood.
Until Huntsman’s staff can provide evidence that unsalable article testing of this cohort of state workers would protect Utah citizens, the governor should look at proven ways to guard against identity theft.
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