By Angel Perkins Staff Writer
ARGOS — A common practice for today’s employers has been introduced to Argos employees in the form of a drug testing policy. Only recently agreed upon, Argos Town Council members discussed the idea for months, since November, reviewing other town’s policies and drug testing companies’ basic services.
They collectively chose to hire Indiana Testing of Indianapolis to do the town’s testings which include a pre-employment alcohol and drug screen test, post accident, random and reasonable suspicion tests. All town employees and volunteers within the police, fire and EMS departments, full or part time (with the exception of clerical workers) are subject to the new ordinance.

Council president George Null said that employees and volunteers should let their superiors know if they are to be taking a prescription drug prior to their shift and that supervisors will be trained to evaluate whether or not an employee appears to be under the impairment of alcohol or drugs and may advise that the person be tested.
“We’re doing this not to be vindictive but to help someone out that has a problem and get them help,” Null said.
The cost to be in the random testing pool is $59 and alcohol testing costs $35. Drug screens are $48. The town’s testing program will include screenings to determine the presence of amphetamines, cannabinoids, cocaine, grain alcohol, opiates, phenylcyclidine and their metablolites.
For drugs, testing will be carried out on urine samples and those that test positive during the initial Enzyme Multiplied Immunoassay Test (EMIT) will be re-tested using a Gas Chromatography/Mass Specto-metry (GCMS) test. If the second testing confirms a positive result, the applicant will not be considered for employment and existing employees will be subject to variable discipline or dismissal procedures.
For alcohol the procedure is similar. An initial screening that results in an alcohol concentration of .02 or more will be tested again using an evidential breath testing (EBT).
Employees testing .02 or greater but less than .04 will not be considered positive but the employee shall be removed from duty, without pay and be subject to disciplinary action. Employees with breath alcohol content (BAC) of .04 or greater will be subject to discipline or dismissal.
Regardless of whether the employee tests positive for alcohol or drugs, he or she is to be relieved of duties, without pay, and are required to contact the town council president within five days of the postmark of a certified notification letter. The council president will then designate a substance abuse professional for the employee to see.
The professional will make a determination as to whether the employee is a casual user or an addict and the results will be reported to the council president. Those found to be addicted must enter an addiction program at the employees’ expense, and satisfactorily complete the program until which time the employee is recommended by the substance abuse professional to return to work.
The employee must then pass a return drug and alcohol screening and will be required to be subjected to be randomly tested six times during the first year after the positive result and less frequently, yet still randomly, for the next four years. If the employee was determined to be a casual user, he or she has up to 45 days to submit a negative specimen at which time he or she may return to work.
That employee will be tested randomly using the timetable for the employee that was considered to be an addict.
he new ordinance reads, “It is the intent of the town to have a strong commitment to provide all employees with safe working conditions. This simply means that there is no place in the town environment for alcohol or drug abuse.”
Even those that are using or abusing drugs off duty are to report to their supervisor and the town council if they have been convicted of any unlawful manufacture, distribution or possession of a controlled substance and will be subject to discipline or dismissal procedures.
Also, any employee who operated a town vehicle and is charged with DWI or who’s driver’s license has been suspended for any reason is to notify the council immediately as well.