North Dakota Alcohol & Drugs: What you need to know

Some states have comprehensive laws that regulate or prohibit drug testing, but North Dakota does not have such a law. North Dakota employers are therefore free to implement any kind of drug-testing programs at their own discretion. However, if an employer requires an employee or applicant to take a drug or alcohol test as a condition of retaining or obtaining employment, the employer must pay for the test and for the furnishing of any medical records (ND Cent. Code Sec. 34-01-15). Please see the national Alcohol and Drugs section.

A person is guilty of a class A misdemeanor if he or she willfully defrauds a urine test and the test is designed to detect the presence of a chemical substance or a controlled substance. A person is guilty of a class A misdemeanor if he or she knowingly possesses, distributes, or assists in the use of a device, chemical, or real or artificial urine advertised or intended to be used to alter the outcome of a urine test (ND Cent. Code Sec. 12.1-11-07).

The North Dakota Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in employment based on certain classifications, including disability (ND Cent. Code Sec. 14-02.4-01 et seq.). The law applies to all employers in the state, and could, in theory at least, apply to someone with an addiction to alcohol or drugs. To be covered, such individuals would have to meet the definition of "disability," i.e., be able to prove that they have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. They would also have to be able to perform the job in question satisfactorily, with reasonable accommodation.

Current use of illegal drugs is not a protected disability under the federal Americans ...