Testing for drugs can cause problems

TESTING workers and students for drugs can cause problems for employers and schools, the Drug Treatment Centre warned yesterday.

While there has been a significant increase in requests for drug tests, there are concerns about the way those tests were carried out.

“We have noticed a substantial increase this year both in requests for tests and in telephone calls from GPs, agencies and employers,” said Sheila Heffernan, general manager of the Drug Treatment Centre. “Our concern is that proper procedures are adhered to in testing, from taking of the sample to the chain of custody, before it gets to our laboratory.”