Over the past 20 years, the "workplace substance abuse prevention industry" has grown enormously in size and has become more sophisticated in its marketing approach. Drug testing alone has become a $6 billion industry. Employee assistance programs are now widely used by employers at significant cost. This thesis presents a brief review of drug use patterns as related to occupational injuries together with a history of workplace testing. Results from studies suggest that drug-free workplace programs are an important public health approach to improving workplace health and safety through early intervention and, quite possibly, substance abuse prevention
