Drug and Alcohol Testing Adelaide: What It Is and the Available Services

Adelaide is known for its thriving business community and stringent workplace safety regulations. As a result, many organisations implement drug and alcohol testing in Adelaide. Testing is a method for tracing substance use using biological specimens from individuals. It is crucial for maintaining the health and safety of the general public. It also lowers the risks of accidents on the road and in workplaces. The available services include breath, blood, hair, urine, and saliva testing.

Substance use disorders can cause several negative outcomes for individuals who suffer from them. It can affect their health, relationships, and financial status. It can also negatively impact organisations and lead to risks in public safety. Fortunately, drug and alcohol testing services are an effective deterrent against illicit substance use. This article will provide an overview of screening in Adelaide, the available methods of screening, and how to understand the results.

An Overview of Drug and Alcohol Testing in Adelaide

Due to the prevalence of substance abuse in society, drug and alcohol testing in Adelaide has also become more commonplace. Testing is the process of tracing substances in the body samples of an individual. It plays a crucial role in maintaining public safety and the betterment of the community. Moreover, various organisations also conduct drug and alcohol screenings for different purposes.

There are also legislation and standards that cover substance use testing. These are vital for organisations to take note of when they are forming their policies. Hence, many consult legal professionals and industry experts before implementing company drug and alcohol management policies. These are crucial for mitigating legal risks and helping employers ensure their process does not violate the rights of the employees.

Testing is commonly conducted in high-risk industries, such as construction, mining, and transportation. This is because they have safety-sensitive positions that can impact individual and workplace safety. Companies may opt for in-house screening or contact third-party drug and alcohol testing providers. There are high-quality alcohol and drug testing kits and devices that are easy to use for a quick screen.

Importance of Testing

• It helps workplaces maintain a drug-free working environment.
• Testing is an effective deterrent against substance misuse on the roads and in workplaces.
• Roadside testing helps law enforcement officers identify drivers who are committing drink driving or drug driving offences.
• Alcohol and drug screening helps reduce the risks of accidents from impairment.
• It can also help identify if intoxication from substance misuse was a cause of an incident.
• It aids sports organisations in maintaining the integrity of the sporting event.
• Testing can help provide intervention for individuals with substance use disorders. Early intervention can significantly impact their rehabilitation process.

Available Services for Drug and Alcohol Testing in Adelaide

There are several drug and alcohol testing methods that organisations can use. With drug and alcohol testing in Adelaide, a common way of tracing liquor consumption is breath alcohol screening. To conduct it, people use alcohol breathalysers to measure the Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level. It can detect ethanol for up to 24 hours.

Urine screening is the standard method for workplaces. This is because it provides a detection window spanning days to a week and can trace a wide range of substances. Meanwhile, saliva testing is growing in popularity for its ease of use for onsite testing. This is because the saliva collection procedure does not require using bathroom facilities. In addition, it helps trace recent consumption due to its shorter detection windows.

On the other hand, hair follicle testing is ideal for organisations that need to acquire a history of substance use. This is due to its long detection window of 90 days. Lastly, blood testing is considered the most accurate method. However, due to its invasive collection procedure, it is often reserved for confirmation tests or testing for legal purposes.

Detectable Substances

The detectable substances in a screening depend on the panels used for analysis. Urine and saliva drug test kits can trace multiple drugs using one test. The panels commonly equipped with these include amphetamines, opioids, benzodiazepines, marijuana, and cocaine. Some also have panels for ethanol, methamphetamines, barbiturates, and phencyclidine.

Laboratory testing is ideal for those who wish to identify a wider range of substances. This is because they have advanced equipment and do not have the limitations kits have. Nevertheless, it is essential to note that some medications, foods, and health conditions may contribute to inaccurate results.

Understanding the Results of Drug and Alcohol Testing in Adelaide

After collection, the samples may undergo analysis using kits or be transported to a laboratory. Using kits can provide results within minutes. On the other hand, laboratory analysis may take days, depending on the complexity and quantity of samples to analyse. Afterwards, they will send a report of the results.

Understanding the results of drug and alcohol testing in Adelaide is crucial for making informed decisions regarding safety and potential risks. A negative result indicates the absence of the substances tested in the sample. Meanwhile, a non-negative result means the initial screenings detected traces of substances above the cut-off levels of the test. Lastly, a positive result means that a quantitative analysis has determined the presence of the substance. This can only come from a lab test.

However, it is necessary to note that a positive result for drugs does not reflect the level of impairment upon collection. Moreover, there are possibilities of false negative and positive reports. Hence, many recommend diversifying testing methods and implementing laboratory confirmatory tests to ensure accuracy.

What to Expect After a Non-Negative Result?

There are several potential outcomes that one can expect after a non-negative result. Firstly, employers may interview the employee and allow them to explain or refute the result. This may prompt them to conduct a confirmation test. However, if the result outcome is positive, they may face consequences.

Depending on the specific circumstances and policies in place, a non-negative or positive result may lead to disciplinary action. This includes suspensions, mandatory rehabilitation programs, demotions, or termination. Meanwhile, with law enforcement, it may serve as evidence for illicit misuse of drugs, leading to Driving Under the Influence (DUI).

Conclusion

Drug and alcohol testing in Adelaide is crucial for ensuring the health and safety of everyone in the community. Testing enables organisations to trace the illicit use of substances. It helps identify those who are misusing drugs and alcohol and can aid in preventing them from causing incidents. Organisations may choose among blood, urine, saliva, hair, and breath tests when conducting their screening. They may opt for in-house or third-party providers, depending on various factors.

The detectable substances in a drug and alcohol test may include ethanol, amphetamines, opioids, marijuana, cocaine, and benzodiazepines. Many urine and saliva kits have built-in panels to trace these. Others may send the sample to a laboratory to add panels for initial screening or to conduct a confirmation test. If the individual receives a non-negative or positive result, this indicates a possible violation of substance use laws or policies. They may become subject to disciplinary action or legal consequences.