Drug and Alcohol Testing Issues

What the issues are and what to look out for

Misuse is not the same thing as dependence. Drug and alcohol misuse is the use of illegal drugs and misuse of alcohol, medicines and substances such as solvents all of which can be examined with our Drug and Alcohol Testing. Consider these warning signs, which could indicate drug or alcohol misuse:

• Unexplained or frequent absences.
• A change in behaviour.
• Unexplained dips in productivity.
• More accidents or near misses.
• Performance or conduct issues.

These can also be signs of other things, like stress or illness.” Source: HSE Healthscreen UK Ltd can provide drug and alcohol tests. The alcohol test requires a saliva swab test. The drug test can be tested two different ways, one way can be a saliva swab test, the second being a urine test. Please see below a list Healthscreen UK Ltd test for:

• Amphetamine (AMP).
• Benzodiazepines (BZO).
• Buprenorphine (BUP).
• Cocaine (COC).
• Cannabis (THC).
• EDDP (EDDP).
• K2/Spice (K2).
• Ketamine (KET).
• Methamphetamine (MET/MAMP).
• Opiates (MOP/OPI).

During the Drug and Alcohol Testing you and the Collecting officer will need to complete a sheet, this will ask questions such as “have you take any medication in the last 14 days” you do not have to declare this, but we highly recommended you to. If you are having a urine test the collecting officer will ask you to empty your pockets and he/she will kindly ask if they can pat you down to make sure you are not taking anything in the lavatory with you. You will take the drug test into the lavatory with you and urinate in the pot, this will check if you have a negative or non-negative result for one of the drugs above. If you have a non-negative result for the urine or saliva test, we will then send the results back to our laboratory. The laboratory will then check the test in further detail to pinpoint exactly why you have a non-negative result, for example, if you had non-negative results for one of the above drugs, the laboratory will be able to tell if it’s the actual drug or if it is any medication you have taken (this is why we highly recommend for you to declare what medication you have taken.)

Policy planning

Full planning needs to be undertaken. You should set out what data you wish to obtain and who you wish to obtain it from. Furthermore, you must consider how you will keep such sensitive personal data and how it will be used. Following the data protection act, the amount of personal information gathered should be kept to a minimum. You also need to set out whether all staff will be tested, or only certain categories of your employees. The onus is on you to explain exactly why you are introducing the policy. You should also make it clear to employees what the consequences of failure to comply with the policy will be. Employees should be allowed to ask questions and discuss the policy in person with direct management. “You have a general duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of your employees. Employees must also take reasonable care of themselves and anyone who could be affected by their work. There is up to date information on laws, such as the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and The Road Traffic Act 1988, which apply to drug and alcohol misuse.” Source: HSE Please click below to read more: Drug and Alcohol Testing in the Workplace Contact Healthscreen today! [email protected] 01455 234700