It promotes the safety and welfare of the children and adults of our state and provides a safer, more productive, and healthier working environment for state employees. It also protects the financial interests of our state by providing safeguards to eliminate the misappropriation of entitlement benefits. Quite frankly, after looking at the statistics, I was shocked to learn what a huge problem drug abuse has become, especially in the workplace. Drug abuse is a bad habit that destroys communities, families, and lives. It is our responsibility to do what we can to fight it.
Drug testing is one way to do that.
If people are faced with a choice between drugs and their jobs, I believe most will choose their jobs. Three bills aimed at doing just that were passed in the last legislative session. Following the 1997 legislative session, we immediately went to work to design drug testing programs that are both effective and cost efficient and meet the requirements of the legislation. I look forward to having these programs in place to provide a safer environment for Louisiana citizens. In support of my fight against illegal drug abuse, my staff has taken a leadership role in this effort by volunteering to submit to a drug test to kick off the program.