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Drug testing can occur in a wide range of settings including:
• workplaces
• sporting events
• prisons
• roadside
• schools
• drug treatment situations.
Drug testing has become more common in Australia and other developed countries, with data indicating that it is now a billion dollar a year industry. In 2007, between 30 and 40 million workers in the United States of America were tested for illicit drug use (Pidd & Roche 2009).
How does drug testing work?
Drug testing is a two-step process: a screening test which, if positive, is followed by a confirmatory test.
- Screening tests can take place anywhere using a range of methods, and typically only indicate whether a substance is present or not, but not how much of that substance is present.
- Confirmatory tests are typically performed in a laboratory. The most commonly used laboratory method for testing for illicit substances is called immunoassay, in which antibodies are used to identify whether a particular substance is present in a biological specimen. (Kolan K, Rouen D & Kimber J 2004).
In any test, there is a cut-off level which is an agreed concentration at which a drug or metabolite can be detected. Recommended cut-off levels have been developed for urine and saliva testing in Australia, which are detailed in the Australian Standards AS 4760 (2006) and AS 4308 (2008). These standards are available for a fee from the Standards Australia website.
There are four possible interpretations of a test result:
- true positive (drug is present)
- true negative (drug is not present)
- false positive (drug is detected when it is not present)
- false negative (drug is not detected when it is present) (Topp 2009).
What type of drug tests are available?
There are various types of drug tests available; all have their advantages and disadvantages.
- Urine drug tests are often used in workplaces and usually give accurate results. During a urine test, an individual urinates into a small container; the urine specimen is then tested using a dipstick. If the dipstick test is positive, the sample will be sent to a laboratory for further testing.
- Blood tests are used to test for very recent drug use, i.e. within a couple of hours of use. They are not used very often because of the expense incurred. In the course of a blood test, a sample of blood is taken from a finger prick or from a vein using a needle. The blood is then sent to an accredited laboratory for testing.
- Saliva testing is used in random roadside drug testing and also some workplaces. Saliva tests are relatively quick, accurate and reliable.
- Hair tests are the only drug tests that can reliably detect drug use beyond a couple of days or weeks. They are not used very often because of their cost. Approximately 40–50 strands of hair are cut from the scalp line at the crown of the head, and are then tested by an accredited laboratory.
- Breath tests are convenient to conduct, are relatively inexpensive, and are used to detect alcohol.
Do home drug testing kits work?
Test results from home drug testing kits are not always accurate, and should be used with caution. There can be false positives and false negatives—for example, some prescription and over-the-counter medications such as cold remedies and cough syrups can produce positive results for opioids and/or amphetamines (DrugScope 2005).
Do I have to take a drug test?
Australia does not have legislation relating to drug testing. However, in 2008 the aviation industry introduced amendments to aviation safety regulations, which now mandate drug testing.
All other Australian workplaces deal with workplace drug issues under various occupational health and safety acts and regulations, which require employers and employees to take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe workplace, which can include drug testing (Topp 2009). Therefore, drug testing may be a mandatory requirement of employment, especially for high risk industries, and this will depend on a particular workplace’s policies and requirements.
Australian public schools do not drug test their students but some private and boarding schools do as part of their own drug and alcohol policies (Australian Drug Foundation 2011).
If you are driving anywhere in Australia and refuse a random roadside breath or drug test when you are asked to have one, you can be fined or lose your licence (Australian Drug Foundation 2011).
References
Australian Drug Foundation 2011 Drug testing [fact sheet]
DrugScope n.d. Testing
Kolan K, Rouen D & Kimber J 2004 “An overview of the use of urine, hair, sweat and saliva to detect drug use”, Drug and Alcohol Review 23:2, pp. 213–7
Pidd K & Roche A 2009 “Workplace drug testing: Why the controversy?” Of Substance 7:3, pp. 18–9
Topp L 2009 “Drug testing: How it’s done”, Of Substance 7:2, pp. 24–6
Further reading
Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing 2005 Drug testing kits: detailed discussion paper on social, health and legal issues, Woden, ACT: DHA
Australian Institute of Criminology 2008 Drugs and driving in Australia, Canberra: AIC
Heiler K 2002 Drugs and alcohol management and testing standards in Australian workplaces: avoiding that “morning-after” feeling, Sydney: University of Sydney
Pidd K 2002 Drugs and alcohol “abuse” and testing of workers for the presence of drugs and alcohol, Adelaide: National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction, Flinders University,
National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA) Workplace drug and alcohol use information and data series, Adelaide: National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction, Flinders University.
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