drug testing for prospective employees.....a common practice?

dello1234

I am looking for a job in Ireland at the minute and I am wondering if it is common practice for companies to ask prospective employee's for a urine sample for a drug test? Particularly in the pharmaceutical/biotech industries.
Thanks for all your feedback in advance guys

Stheno

For most jobs I've gone for with MNCs (Multinational companies) a preemplyment medical includes a drug test.

I've known a fair few people fail too, maybe 10%

murphym7

Standard practice.

Michael D Not Higgins

Every job I've done has had this. Even summer jobs when I was a teenager (it was for a large company and they required a medical)

whatnext

Speaking as a recruiter.......

I am astonished by how many fail these tests. Not that people take drugs, but that people that are job hunting in those particular environments use drugs while looking for a new job... they know they will be tested and I'm sure they know they will fail.

To be honest I'm amazed that people don't just with drop out at the medical stage, but that has never happened once.

ABajaninCork

It's common practice in the UK, and becoming more and more so here. In my brother's job, the testers can come at any time you're on shift to test too.