Employers have the right to implement their drug policy among their employees. If that drug policy includes a drug testing program, then an employer can ask employees to undergo drug tests. The question is, can employees refuse drug testing? An article by Mary Luros for the Napa Valley Register suggests that employees can’t, not when the employer has “reasonable suspicion” that the employee is on drugs.
The Fair Work Commission has effectively paved the way for companies to conduct confirmatory urine drug and alcohol tests on workers who fail saliva tests after quashing a previous decision by a Deputy President of the commission on the issue.
Drug policy has been in place for many years, but does it really work? Many British politicians are now saying that British drug policy has failed, but an article written by Prof. Paul Hayes for The Conversation says otherwise.
Practically everyone knows that using drugs like cocaine, heroin, ice, cannabis, and even alcohol have adverse effects on one’s health, among other things. Yet even with this knowledge, far too many people worldwide still abuse and overuse these substances. Why do people take drugs and alcohol?
What is the connection between drug policy and drug use? If an official study conducted by the UK government is to be believed, the answer is nothing.
A report by Jamie Grierson for Western Morning News says that the international comparators study conducted by the Home Office has revealed that drug policies—both tough and lenient—have little to no impact on levels of drug use.
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Drug abuse and addiction has been a problem of society for a long time now, but it’s quite surprising that many people still assume that only a certain kind of person would ever become a drug addict. There’s this antiquated perception that only people who have low morals and a weak will get hooked on drugs. The truth is, drug addiction is actually a disease, and a very complex one at that. It can affect just about anybody, regardless of age, sex and station in life.
Just when most workplaces have started implementing drug testing programs that effectively screen users of illegal substances such as cannabis, cocaine, ice, and heroin, here comes synthetic cannabis, a drug that is proving to be quite difficult to detect by normal drug testing methods. What makes things worse is that there is an increased prevalence of synthetic cannabis use in workplaces these days, making it harder for employers to effectively implement their work health and safety programs.
Random drug testing operations conducted by police in different parts of NSW over the weekend has resulted in the apprehension of more than forty drivers who have tested positive for drugs while behind the wheel, according to a news article in The Canberra Times. (more…)