29 Jul 2003

Surge in drug use detected in CNMI government workers

6:01 pm on 29 July 2003

The Office of Personnel Management in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas says about one in 10 employees returned positive drug tests last year.

Government workers face the random drug tests each year.

The Office says the trend of growing drug use is alarming and has issued a directive to all agencies that safety-sensitive positions will be exposed to further random drug-testing.

The Office says that safety sensitive activities are those that directly affect the safety of one or more people, including the operation of motor vehicles, heacy machinery or the carrying of firearms.