Today Mediscreen considers some of the lessons learned from roadside testing and how certain facets of the roadside testing programmes that exist in Australia have been successfully adapted to an onsite screening regime.
All the states of Australia utilise roadside testing. Why? Because the vastness of the continent is connected by an extensive and complex network of highways and roads that are the main means of transport for recreation, business, organisations and families and communities.
Roads and vehicular use are synonymous with life in Australia and equates with the old adage have vehicle will travel.
Australia relies so heavily on vehicular use for most practical aspects of life and we do so in a manner that is far more intensive than many other countries. Compare travel distances in Australia as compared to the United Kingdom or Europe and it is evident that the distances and conditions here are uniquely extreme for a westernised nation.
While freight transport in the form of trains picks up a degree of the transport load, the use of heavy transport vehicles is still a major feature of industry and product transport nationally and state wide.
Random Testing
Random Testing is the practice of screening vehicle drivers for indication of alcohol or drugs.[1] This involves breathalysing with a hand held unit or the saliva testing of the drivers. The Police force in Australia performs “random roadside saliva testing to detect drivers travelling while affected by illicit drugs.”[2] Testing aims to ensure road safety and reduce road accidents and death. It also effectively acts as a deterrent, the 2010 ROSITA study states.[3]
According to the Federal Government’s full report on Drugs and Driving, safety approaches over the last 3 decades have reduced road trauma statistics. It has also contributed to debate on the use of illegal drugs behind the wheel and says that there is “increasing evidence that pharmaceutical drugs and illicit drugs impair driving ability and are thus a safety concern. Cannabis, methamphetamines and ecstasy appear to be the drugs of most concern from a road safety perspective… some pharmaceutical drugs – benzodiazepines in particular, are implicated in a considerable proportion of road accidents and trauma.”[4]
Saliva Testing
Saliva testing is the preferred method of drug test used by Police. It is easy, quick, efficient and less invasive and allows for less disruption to the Police operations and less disruption to those being tested. It allows for a greater throughput in terms of testing ratios and numbers and is therefore a comparatively cost effective mode of bulk testing.
There is no doubt drug urine tests also have their place and are exceedingly important as an option in certain contexts and each have distinct advantages.
However, for a cost effective and efficient mode of screening that can detect recent use, saliva screening may be ideal.
Onsite Screening Programmes
The efficiency and adaptability factors of saliva tests, as well as the recent use detection factor, translate well to a workplace screening context. This form of testing actually dispels with the possibility of identification of drugs through urinalysis, where the window of detection is longer and therefore usage may not be specific to recency of use. A positive urine sample may well indicate use, but the use may be in the distant past and this can cause issues for both employees who demand rights to privacy in relation to recreational use of substances on a weekend.
If your organisation requires onsite screening, consider the options available through Mediscreen and discuss the possibility of a saliva screening programme. Telephone 1300 797040
[1] http://www.arrivealive.vic.gov.au/c_drugsAD.html
[2] ibid
[4] http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/attachments/400_Drugs_and_Driving_in_Australia_fullreport.pdf
