EMPLOYERS LIFT THE LID ON DRUG ABUSE

UP to one in five workers or job applicants are failing company drug tests.

Firms cracking down on the drug scourge have uncovered disturbing safety
risks.

Testing laboratories and drug-kit makers have confirmed, a rise in requests
to weed out users.

The surge in screening inquiries comes after reports of workers:

STEALING from colleagues to feed addictions.

ASSAULTING supervisors while under the influence.

CRASHING company cars and heavy machinery.

FALLING asleep on toilets.

REPEATEDLY failing to show up for duty.

The mining, petrochemical, transport, marine, security and racing industries
are the main ones looking for evidence of amphetamine, cannabis, cocaine or
heroin use.

Leading laboratories say positive tests rates range from 3 to 20 per cent.

The head of toxicology at Pacific Laboratory Medicine Services Dr John Lewis
said several thousand urine samples from employees or job applicants were
screened at random, routinely or after accidents each year.

Marijuana is detected the most, comprising up to 95 per cent of positive
readings for illicit drugs.

Amphetamines, or speed, are the second biggest problem.

But cocaine and heroin use are rare, at less than 1 per cent.

Racing Analytical Services spokesman David Batty said most positive tests
for opiates were the result of workers taking pain relief tablets containing
codeine.

Despite this, the drug testers believe white-collar professionals are the
new targets for testing.

Independent Drug Detection Services director Dr Julian Parmegiani claimed
several companies were on edge about aggressive employees taking drugs,
including cocaine and heroin.

"There are two issues: the perception of more accidents being caused by
drugs, and the concerns about workers losing their temper at putting others
at risk," he said.

Most referred staff with drug problems to rehabilitation programs but
workers who ignore repeat warnings risk the sack.

"Five years ago, workplace drug tests were barely heard of," Dr Parmegiani
said. "But in the past six to 12 months companies have been having a
serious look at it."