The Nation - News from Dec. 15, 1988

Health Secretary Otis R. Bowen, stressing the need for his department to “take the initiative to deter illegal drug use,” said his successor and 8,600 employees will be subject to random drug tests. “The decision to go forward with random testing was made only after months of careful review and consideration of privacy concerns of our employees,” said Bowen in a memorandum to the 118,000 employees of the Health and Human Services Department. Bowen’s “Drug-Free Workplace Plan” names 80 job categories subject to random testing, affecting about 8,600 people or about 7% of the work force.