Drug Test – San Antonio, TX

San Antonio Drug Laws

The City of San Antonio (COSA) as an employer has a strict, zero tolerance policy about alcohol and drug use. The COSA drug testing policy outlines which drugs are tested, who the policy applies to, and what the consequences are of a failed test. COSA requires testing for both DOT and non-DOT covered drivers, as well as all full time and part time employees, applicants, and interns, with the exception of those who fall under a collective bargaining agreement with the city.

Statistics from San Antonio Drug Use Research

In a recent survey conducted by Health Street, 44.7% of San Antonio residents admitted to using marijuana in the past year, with 21.5% of San Antonians saying they’ve smoked or otherwise consumed marijuana in the past month. The opioid epidemic has left a mark on the region, with 24.4% of residents admitting to using opiates like fentanyl, oxycodone, or heroin without a viable prescription.

Cocaine is the second most popular drug in San Antonio. More than one in ten residents say they’ve used the stimulant within the past year.

Drug Use at Work

A shocking one-fifth of employees in the region admitted to using illicit drugs on the job despite the fact that they themselves acknowledged the degree to which drug use impacted their job performance. 12% admitted to using cocaine while at work.14.3% consume drugs they know their employers doesn’t test for, the most popular of these being: Opiates (Fentanyl, Oxycodone, Heroin, etc.), Cocaine, and Ecstasy/MDMA.In addition to reporting on their own drug use, 55.1% of respondents stated they also knew of co-workers who had recently come to work under the influence of drugs and remained undetected.An additional 26.1% of San Antonioans reported knowing of a co-worker who stole from the workplace because of their drug use.

Workplace Drug Use in San Antonio

The majority of Alamo City survey respondents were employed full time (71%) and have been drug tested by their employer (56.5%). Nevetheless, 20.6% of respondents still admit to being high at work on frequent occasions.

A possible solution

68.3% of San Antonio respondents were subject to pre-employment testing but not random drug testing. If employers really hope to help solve the drug abuse crisis in San Antonio. they should require tests that don’t allow employees to moderate their drug use in advance of a known test.

Characteristics of San Antonio

San Antonio has some of the oldest and richest culture in all of the United States, with deep roots in the iconic Spanish period as well as the Old West. The local food and lifestyle truly express that connection to history. Regional cuisine such as barbecue is widely adored by locals and is a don’t-miss item for visitors. Be aware that temperatures run high here, even during the winter. And, there isn’t much in the way of public transportation; accordingly, the most common type of transportation is by car. Plan to rent one if and when you plan a visit.

Bioscience Industry

Healthcare and Life Sciences are among the largest industries in San Antonio. Collectively, these two sectors had an economic impact of 40 billion dollars in 2017. Many collaborative breakthroughs have originated in San Antonio in the areas of cancer, diabetes, and infectious disease research. In 2018, the industry employed over 182,000 employees, with a total wage impact of nearly $10 billion. In fact, one in six San Antonian’s works in the bioscience industry.