Drug testing ramps up in Australian ‘white-collar’ workplaces amid surge in cocaine detection

Employers are cracking down on the use of white-collar cocaine after detections of the illicit substance almost doubled in Australian workplaces this year.

“We saw a holiday spike followed by a partial correction, but cocaine detections have not returned to previous baseline levels,” Dobson said.

“Year over year, detections have increased in nearly every state, which may indicate a stable and increasingly entrenched supply network.”

Cocaine use has risen in every state except Western Australia, according to tests conducted by TDDA between January 1 and March 31.

The data comes from pre-employment, post-incident, regular and random testing in Australian workplaces.

Detections of the drug were highest among South Australian workers, up 128.2 per cent year-on-year, followed by Queensland, NSW and Victoria.

The use of amphetamine-like substances (ATS), including methamphetamine, has also increased by 28.3 percent.

The TDDA has urged employers to step up efforts to address drug use as a “priority” in light of the alarming statistics.

“If a testing program doesn’t already exist or hasn’t been reviewed in a while, addressing this should be a priority,” Dobson added.

“Employers are encouraged to strengthen measures specifically targeting these substances.

“Implementing a targeted testing program, including pre-employment testing, regular and random testing, is one of the most effective early warning and intervention tools.”

Dobson said cocaine detection is common among high-performing employees in managerial positions

He described it as a ‘risk’ for everyone in the workplace

“Cocaine doesn’t announce itself the way some other substances do,” Dobson said.

“Workers who use cocaine may appear confident and high-performing, even though their judgment, concentration and impulse control are impaired.

“In workplaces where people operate heavy machinery, drive vehicles or perform safety-sensitive tasks, it’s not just a risk to the individual. It’s a risk to everyone around them.

“By the time the problem becomes apparent, it may have been present for a while.”

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