Despite all the pushing to make drug testing mandatory in the workplace across America it was never actually made clear exactly HOW the implementation of a mandatory drug testing program would help to reduce the demand of drugs, but it is a logical conclusion that can be drawn as an aftereffect of such a program. Though commentators on the program when it was first being introduced did seem to agree that this testing policy threatened the employment of millions of Americans, and at the time (and again with our current economy) the threat of unemployment is almost more than people can stand. People would rather be facing criminal charges than the possibility of unemployment. As a direct result mandatory testing policies have been more of a deterrent for drug use than many people believed possible.

While the beginning of this program was designed for government employees and those directly in charge of public safety/health it has become a common practice amongst companies where employees would be in charge of heavy machinery as well. Those who are operating sensitive equipment and heavy machinery are in control of a situation that could pose a threat to the safety of many other employees. It only makes sense that the company hiring them would want to ensure on a regular basis that these employees are completely in charge of all of their faculties and will not be creating an unsafe environment. However, in the 1990’s is when even stricter laws about drug testing and testing policies were created and enforced (mainly surrounding those forms of employment where a person would be a driver for public transportation).