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In a significant move to address rising concerns, employers are intensifying their efforts to curb cocaine use among white-collar workers, following reports of nearly doubled detections of this illicit drug in Australian workplaces over the past year.
According to industry expert Dobson, there was a noticeable increase in cocaine detection during the holiday season, followed by a slight decline. However, levels have not returned to their previous norms. “Year-over-year, we are seeing an uptick in detections across almost every state, suggesting the presence of a robust and persistent supply network,” Dobson noted.
Recent data from The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA) reveals that cocaine use has surged in all Australian states, with the exception of Western Australia. This information, gathered between January 1 and March 31, includes results from various types of testing such as pre-employment, post-incident, as well as regular and random screenings conducted in workplaces across the country.
Cocaine use has climbed in every state except Western Australia, according to tests compiled by TDDA between January 1 and March 31.
The data has been taken from pre-employment, post-incident, regular and random testing in Australian workplaces.
Detections of the drug were highest in South Australian workers, with an 128.2 per cent year-on-year increase, followed by Queensland, NSW and Victoria.
The use of amphetamine-type substances (ATS), including methamphetamine, is also up by 28.3 per cent.
The TDDA has urged employers to ramp up efforts to tackle drug use as a “priority” in light of the alarming statistics.
“If a testing programme is not yet in place, or has not been reviewed for some time, addressing this should be a priority,” Dobson added.
“Employers are encouraged to strengthen measures specifically addressing those substances.
“Implementing a targeted testing programme including pre-employment, regular and random testing is one of the most effective tools for early warning and intervention.”
Dobson said cocaine detection can be prevalent among high-performing staff in leadership roles.
He described it as a “risk” to everyone in the workplace.
“Cocaine does not announce itself the way some other substances do,” Dobson said.
“Employees using cocaine may present as confident and high-performing, even as their judgement, concentration and impulse control are compromised.
“In workplaces where people operate heavy machinery, drive vehicles, or carry out safety-sensitive tasks, that is not just a risk to the individual. It is a risk to everyone around them.
“By the time the problem becomes visible, it may have already been present for some time.”
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