Paranoid that Booz Allen might do drug testing? Here’s what I found…
After spending a lot of time researching and getting help from reliable sources, I found out that Booz Allen does drug tests before hiring you. The company is very strict against substance abuse. It helps to maintain a safe and professional working environment.
There’s one more thing! If you are working at Booz Allen and their management thinks that you are taking drugs, they will screen you without warning (especially true if you’re dealing with a government agency).
Below, I’ll reveal:
- Does Booz Allen do drug tests?
- What types of drug tests do Booz Allen conducts?
What is a drug test in a consulting firm?
A drug test is a screening process to find out if a person has used any illegal substances. (Source)
Consulting firms like Booz Allen, Deloitte, PwC, and many others ask you to take drug tests as a part of the hiring process.
Even after you get the job, the firms might still ask you to go through a drug screening process for various reasons.
The companies do this in order to create a sound working environment. Basically, if you’re taking drugs, this might impact your performance, judgment, or reliability on the job (a nightmare for any employer).
Does Booz Allen conduct drug tests?
Yes, Booz Allen conducts drug tests before hiring you. The firm takes this approach to make sure you’re not using any illegal substances so that it can maintain a peaceful working atmosphere (that’s safe for everyone). (Source)
Drug Testing HQ recently conducted a survey on Booz Allen’s drug testing. Around 55 potential and current employees participated in this.
I have summarized the results in the following table, showing you the number of personnel who took the tests and those who did not:
| Participants | Took Drug Test | Did Not Take Drug Test |
| 55 | 45 | 10 |
This clearly shows that drug testing is a major part of Booz Allen’s employment policies. (Source)
Apart from conducting drug tests before hiring, Booz Allen does this (randomly) after you’ve started working there.
This is to make sure that you follow the rules and don’t go wrong, especially when you’re dealing with a high-profile government client. (Source)
Drug testing is pretty random and comes without a warning. So, you should always stay alert. Also, if you’re taking any prescription medicines due to any illness, you must inform the authorities about it. And don’t worry; it will not impact your drug test results (in any way). (Source)
And there’s more! This helps Booz Allen and many other companies save a lot of money in the process!
Do you know how?
Well, it was estimated in a study that companies in the US usually spend around $276 billion on the following:
- Direct medical expenses
- Lost productivity
- Absenteeism
- Miscellaneous healthcare costs
(Source)
So, by doing drug tests, Booz Allen cuts down on these costs and makes sure every employee is playing by the book!
What types of drug tests do Booz Allen conducts?
Booz Allen usually does urine drug tests to screen potential and currently working employees.
The urine drug test is pretty common, inexpensive, and easy to conduct. It can catch substance use in the last 5 to 10 days.
On the other hand, Booz Allen sometimes also goes for hair, blood, and saliva drug tests. Here are some details for you:
- Hair drug tests are more expensive but can detect substance use for up to 90 days.
- The blood drug test is very accurate, but it costs a lot of money and only spots substance use within a few minutes to hours (Often, people are scared of giving their blood).
- Talking about the saliva ones, they are also very easy but can only detect substance use in the last 2 to 48 hours. (Source)
Booz Allen uses all of these tests (that I’ve told you above) to screen the following illegal drugs:
- Methamphetamines (meth, speed, crank, ecstasy)
- THC (cannabinoids, marijuana, hash)
- Cocaine (coke, crack)
- Opiates (heroin, opium, codeine, morphine)
- Phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust)
A consultant working at Booz Allen said on Glassdoor: “I recently joined Booz Allen, and I wanted to share my experience with the drug testing procedure, as I had to undergo a few tests before joining the firm. Overall, the process was smooth and relatively easy to navigate. Booz Allen seems to have a well-organized system in place for conducting drug tests. I know I said that the process is easy. But still, you need to be alert and stay prepared. If you are concerned, you must stop drinking alcohol and avoid substance use at all costs. I did this because I needed the job a lot. Thankfully, I am very happy here.”
What happens if you fail the Booz Allen drug test?
As I’ve already told you above, Booz Allen conducts drug tests before hiring you. Also, the firm does regular screenings randomly when you’re on the job as well.
Let’s discuss what happens when you fail the drug test in both scenarios:
1. Failed Pre-Employment Drug Test
If you fail a drug test at Booz Allen during the hiring process, the company usually takes the offer back. It also doesn’t give you the chance to take a retest because it’s totally against the policies. Unfortunately, you’ll no longer be eligible to be a part of the company.
On the other hand, this failed drug test could come and haunt you forever! Why?
Well, Booz Allen might share the test details with other employers, and this can ruin your employment records. (Source)
2. Failed On-Job Drug Test
If you’re working at Booz Allen and you test positive in a random drug test, you may end up losing your job! The firm has all the rights to terminate the employment contract on the basis of an agreement that you signed before joining. (Source)
Bottom Line!
I hope you now know that Booz Allen does drug tests during the hiring process and after you’ve got the job on random accounts.
The key is to not stress about it. The firm just wants a safe and drug-free place where everyone can work happily. So stay responsible, and you’ll be fine.
