@TCE: Companies and hospitals don't do anything that costs extra money unless it gets them more money or a cost savings that is greater than what they are spending. So, based on that logic, I'd assume that drug testing is not done for anyone's good, or so that the "public trusts them more" unless there is solid market research to show that it makes them more money. I'd sooner suspect that it lowers their insurance costs or brings them into line with some government funding requirement. They do it to fulfill the requirement or to realize savings.
In most companies, you can only go so far with invasive testing. A major exception would be the military, where, as you know, you are "owned" by them and you will do as they wish. Otherwise, invasive blood testing would probably lead to employees -- your talent -- leaving the company to work in a less overbearing place. It's one thing to piss in a cup or take a swab test during the qualifying process when getting a job. It's another to have to submit to blood tests repeatedly.... unless that job is really kick-ass, pays stupendously, and is really worth keeping. I'd guess that your "Sober Air" would have fewer good pilots on staff, and your "Sober ER" would have doctors on staff who couldn't find work elsewhere.
