BENGALURU, 4 FEB

If you abuse drugs and have applied for a job in IT or health-related companies and have undergone a drug test, be rest assured you will not land that job as companies in City are increasingly filtering out substance abusers from job aspirants.

With the City grappling with the rising problem of drug abuse, employers are becoming more concerned about the impact on employee performance. “No company wants an employee impaired by drugs affecting project outcomes,” said Gangadhar Kamath, an HR professional in the City. “If the applicant fails a drug test, the job offer is immediately withdrawn,’’ Kamath said.

In some instances, drug testing policies are client-specific, said Amandeep Biswas, an HR professional at a company in the City. “The job applicant is required to have a drug test as per the agreement with clients. Most banking and finance system-related clients demand their developers/resources to appear for drug tests. Several companies do random drug tests when an employee is slacking at work, and this is done based on the inputs by the HR team which monitors employees who are suspected drug users,’’ Biswas said.

Major IT companies such as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys and Cognizant conduct a pre-screening drug test before taking candidates on board, industry insiders, who did not wish to be named, said. Ocwen Financial Solutions Private Limited located at Ambalipura Village, Varthur in Hobli Taluk of the City’s outskirts also insists on drug tests of employees.  If a company asks for a urine sample during recruitment, then it is surely for a drug test, sources said.

A reformed drug user who failed a drug test in an MNC in the City said: “I used drugs a week before my job interview. Little did I know that they would ask me to undergo a drug test and I failed it. I am dreading about my future,” the 26-year-old, who did not wish to be named, said.

Besides drug tests, what is necessary is giving these users who have kicked the habit a chance to return to mainstream society, said Cecil George, CEO at Blossoms Convalescent Care, which helps substance abusers come out of the addiction. “What would that person do if companies shun him or her away? What future does that person have without a job or employment,’’ George said.

Most tests pick up traces of drugs from urine, saliva, blood and hair. Heroin will leave a trace in urine for 1-3 days while cocaine will show in urine for 2-3 days. Marijuana/THC will be detected in urine tests for 1-7 days and meth for 2-3 days. Methylenedioxymethamphetamine or MDMA will be detected in urine for 2-4 days.

Karnataka recorded 4,484 cases under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in 2023, according to the police. Among those, 2,584 cases were for cultivated or processed drugs, and 1,900 cases were reported for synthetic drugs. More than 400 cases are recorded in the City every month under NDPS Act. —Salar News