The Symptoms of Drug Use

If you are considering undertaking a contract to employ onsite drug and alcohol testing, it is important that you understand both the laws that apply in Australia and the symptoms of common drug intoxication. Drug screening is an effective way to diagnose intoxication, but there are also symptoms that you can be on the look out for when viewing your employees.

The Australian government penalises both the use and possession of several substances. Cannabis, cocaine, MDMA (or ecstasy), GHB, heroin, LSD and PCP are the main substances that are banned under Australian law. Drug screening should catch any of these drugs, however it is always a good idea to be watchful of signs of intoxication.

The symptoms of cannabis intoxication include relaxation, sleepiness and mild euphoria. It can also inhibit short term memory and cause red or tired looking eyes. Cocaine intoxication is marked by enlarged pupils, agitation, fast heart rate and high blood pressure, and euphoria. MDMA highs are characterised by euphoria, relaxation, talkativeness, desire to be in contact with people and possible mild hallucinations. The use of drug testing equipment will pick up traces of these drugs in a person's system, in some cases even months after initial use. Drug screening should be used to prevent abuse of these substances whilst performing work related duties.

Workplace drug testing will also pick up traces of harder drugs, however. Drug screening will definitively show whether or not any of the following harder drugs have been used. GHB (symptoms of use include relaxation, slow heart beat, sleepiness and occasionally a distinct gas or glue odour), heroin (signs of use may include sedation, euphoria and pain relief or immunity to pain), LSD (characterised by its hallucinogenic effects) and PCP (marked by numbness, slurred speech and unbalanced walking) are all hard drugs whose use can be picked up by the use of drug screening.

It is important to be observant when it comes to employee behaviour. Any marked change in behaviour could be due to drug or alcohol use or abuse. An increase in secretiveness, changes in speech, sleepiness, or undue agitation may be signs that drugs are at play. Onsite drug & alcohol testing should be utilised in order to minimise the chances of employees getting away with using illicit substances. But being observant of changes in behaviour can be helpful between workplace drug testing sessions. However, it is also important to note that some symptoms of drug use could be down to other factors. And not everybody reacts in the same way to the same drug. Because of this, the use of symptom charts cannot be as accurate as drug screening. Observant is good, and may help stop problems before they start, but it is not an alternative to using certified onsite drug and alcohol testing.

This article has been taken from http://mediscreen.net.au/articles/?p=1990