Drug testing in workplace urged

THE director of one of the country’s largest addiction treatment centres has called for drug-testing in the workplace to combat spiralling drug abuse.

Health and safety in the workplace outweighs civil liberties concerns, according to Stephen Rowan, director of the Rutland Centre.

Mr Rowan, who is to address a conference, Creating a Drug Free Workplace, on Thursday, said research has shown workers who are dependent on chemical drugs claim three times as many sickness benefits and file five times as many workers’ compensation claims.

The authors of the United Nation’s World Drug Report recently estimated that 1% of Irish people use ecstasy, putting us at the top of the league of 22 western nations. The report also put Ireland third from the top in terms of cannabis use and fourth in terms of cocaine abuse.

“The majority of people are using these drugs recreationally and are probably under-estimating the harm they are doing to their overall life,” he said. “But clearly some of them are using drugs during their working day. But even for those using drugs during the weekend, if it is in their system during the working day, there is a belief it impairs their reflex times and their judgment. Safety has to take precedence,” Mr Rowan said.

Mr Rowan is a speaker at the Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP) Institute’s conference in Dublin tomorrow and Thursday. Dr Des Corrigan, Trinity College, warned that cannabis users could be responsible for a significant numbers of workplace accidents because their reaction times are slowed and their coordination and cognitive function are impaired.

EAP Institute director Maurice Quinlan said the conference aims to encourage companies to adopt a comprehensive anti-drug strategy: education of employees, training of supervisors, employee assistance programmes and drug-testing.

Director of toxicology services at Claymon Laboratories John O’Sullivan estimates 40,000 employees are tested for drugs each year, the vast majority tested as part of their pre-employment medical examination. Less than 5% prove positive, he said, with cannabis accounting for approximately 95% of positive tests.