SAMS (Substance Abuse Management Solution), from Avitar, is a comprehensive framework of integrated best-practices, processes, and implementation methodologies, which enable an organization to develop, deploy, and efficiently manage a world-class testing program for drugs-of-abuse. SAMS is designed to provide corporations with ability to:

(1.) Proactively mitigate the problems caused by illicit drug use in the workplace,
(2.) Deliver significant cost savings, documented ROI, and
(3.) Protect their most valuable asset, their people.

SAMS is the only known solution that has proven to be effective at reducing illicit drug use over 8x and specifically involves the use of on-site, oral-based drug screening technology, deployed via random, post-accident, pre-employment, return-to-duty, and similar testing modalities, combined with related process, services, and software.

Why Should My Organization Implement a SAMS Drug (& Alcohol) Free Workplace Program?

It is estimated that drugs-of-abuse costs the U.S. economy well over $110 B each and every year due to employee theft / inventory shrink, lost productivity / employee turnover, absenteeism, increased healthcare utilization rates, workers compensation, accidents, and workplace violence. The SAMS approach for drugs-of-abuse leverages oral-based screening technology provides the highest level of deterrence, and therefore the greatest ability to drive down the use of illicit drugs in the workplace.

Avitar’s proprietary on-site, oral technology platform allows random screening to be used in workplace settings. Up until recently, random screening could not be effectively done in the workplace because the traditional testing technique of urine-based lab services was typically considered to be unsuitable for widespread employee testing. Oral on-site screening delivers multiple advantages vs. urine-based testing, including; convenience, lower testing costs, removes gender issues, and can not be adulterated (no none method to “beat the test”).

Workplace drug testing (testing applicants and/or employees), should be differentiated from clinical substance abuse testing. The latter, primarily done in emergency rooms, detects illicit drugs in overdose or other health oriented situations.

The United States Federal Government encourages drug screening in both the public and private sector in order to combat this documented socioeconomic problem.

[IMPORTANT NOTE: The federal government mandates workplace drug screening methodologies, cut-off concentrations, etc., for specified federal government workers, and transportation related professions only. Federally mandated screening guidelines for drugs of abuse are limited to the detection of five drugs / drug classes: amphetamines, cannabinoids, cocaine metabolites, opiates, and phencyclidine (PCP). Unfortunately these regulations where adopted approximately twenty years ago and do not specifically require the detection of currently “popular” drugs of abuse, such as oxycodone / Oxycotin ®, or MDMA / Ecstasy.]

Goals and Objectives of a SAMS Program

While every organization will draft, maintain, and report its progress vs. goals, benchmarks, and metrics relative to implementing a drug and free workplace program, a safe, competitive work environment is consistently the primary goal.

Important areas in which to develop quantitative metrics include: on-the-job accident rates, workers compensation costs, healthcare utilization rates and associated costs, employee turnover, tardiness, and absenteeism, employee theft and/or inventory shrinkage, and the incidence of workplace violence.

Developing and Deploying a SAMS Program

In developing a comprehensive drug and alcohol free workplace program, the following elements typically are considered;

1. A Written Drugs-0f-Abuse Policy
2. A Documented Drug Screening Program
3. An Employee Awareness, Communication, and Awareness Program
4. Managerial / Supervisor Training
5. Test Administrator Training & Certification
6. Drug (& Alcohol) Screening Devices
7. Confirmatory GC/MS Laboratory Screening & MRO Services
8. Employer Actions / Sanctions
9. Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
10. Drug Screening Program Monitoring, Reporting, & Evaluation, including ROI Analysis

Read Important SAMS Programs Elements for further information

SAMS Programs Glossary