Random Drugs Testing in Schools

Random Drugs Testing in Schools

* A survey published by News of the World on Sunday demonstrated that 82% of parents and 66% of children support drug testing in schools.


Drug use amongst young people is an increasing trend, yet the public perception of the suitability / effectiveness of random drugs testing at school is relatively uncertain. Such testing takes place quite rarely in the UK, in spite of it being a more common practice in the USA.

The average starting age for heroin use in many cities in the UK is just 15, and a survey of over 20,000 UK school children showed that 9% of 13 year olds and over a quarter (27%) of 15 year olds had used an illegal drug at some point in their lives. So there is clearly a need for more assertive intervention at an early age.

Parents face the growing concern that their teenager may already be taking drugs, or that they are in an environment where they are exposed to those who will offer them drugs, especially Cannabis / Marijuana. The frightening reality is that this environment may be their school.

In order to learn more about drug use (and in particular Cannabis / Marijuana supply and young people), 182 young people who were Cannabis / Marijuana users aged between 11 and 19 were interviewed for a study published in January 2008 by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. The sample included both city dwellers and young people from rural villages. Half of the young people had taken cannabis into school or college and 43 per cent said that they used cannabis whilst at school or college. It is clear from the report that the majority of these young people purchase cannabis from their friends or relatives and in turn supply their friends in a new wave of ‘social’ and ‘not-for-profit’ drug-taking which is a departure from the typical dealer-user scenario. One young interviewee told researchers that the people who sold her Cannabis / Marijuana included ‘friends from school’ and shows how combining drug-use with normal social networking is having the effect of normalising the act of taking drugs.

However, a recent study by Neil McKeganey, Professor of Drug Misuse Research at Glasgow University, demonstrates that random drug testing in schools is a more complex and controversial issue than one would at first imagine. Questions arise over matters including cost, ethical issues such as what would happen in the event that a pupil tested positive for drugs and what ‘punishment’ or deterrent would be appropriate, concerns that pupils may switch from easily detectable drugs to more harmful drugs in order to avoid detection, and the probability that a trusting relationship between staff and pupil would be damaged and encourage a culture of concealment. Furthermore, it is possible that enforcing random drug testing of pupils would conflict with the UN Charter on the Rights of the Child or the European Charter on Human Rights.

Whilst acknowledging the obvious need for drug prevention, it appears that further research and data collection is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of drug screening within schools.

In spite of this, results from an ICM Research poll which previously appeared in the News of the World on Sunday demonstrated that 82% of parents and 66% of children support drug testing in schools and of the 1,000 parents surveyed, 96% said they would want to know if their son or daughter was taking drugs.

So what can be done?

In the absence of a drug-testing programme at school or college, anxious parents, guardians or caregivers who have concerns about teenagers or young people using drugs are able to conduct a drug test in the privacy of the home. These home drug test kits are used daily by professionals in the healthcare industry and one test can provide easy to read results in minutes for a variety of different drugs. This includes the most common drugs, such as Cannabis / Marijuana, Cocaine, Amphetamines, Benzodiazepines, Opiates, Methadone and Methamphetamines (including ecstasy).

Drug-Aware.com is considered by many to be a UK authority on drug awareness, information and testing. Visit our drugs and alcohol information page for more information on the signs, symptoms and effects of the most common drugs or our home drug tests frequently asked questions page to answer your questions on carrying out testing in the home.

Substance abuse in young people - New Statistics.

Substance abuse in young people - New Statistics.

There have been a number of new UK studies released which show a frightening trend in both drug and alcohol abuse affecting young people and their safety.

One survey of 8000 young drivers (17-24 year olds) carried out by Auto Trader, which is a UK motoring magazine and website, showed a worrying trend toward driving under the influence of either drink, drugs or both.

In today's binge drink and drug abuse culture amongst young people it is unfortunately no surprise that as many as 17% admitted regular use of Cannabis, more alarmingly 12% frequently use the dangerous class A drug Cocaine, and 10% revealed regular use of Ecstasy. However, the greater danger comes from upwards of 10% admitting that they regularly drove their vehicles whilst under the influence of drink or drugs.

When asked about driving under the influence, over 40% felt "fine" to drive their vehicles after taking drugs and 31% found it acceptable to drive after consuming alcohol. A high proportion were unaware of the legal limits for alcohol consumption when driving and consequently 8% had already had an accident while under the influence, with a further 11% admitting a near miss.

Over a third of deaths on UK roads are young people aged 25 or under, so this is obviously a serious problem. This equates to the death or serious injury of a young driver or passenger every hour on average across the UK.

Other recent statistics include the number of early teenagers using drink or drugs. 1 in 7 people admitted to Accident and Emergency departments across the UK for alcohol related harm last year were under 14 - a total of over 2239 cases. Many have blamed a surge in advertising for alcohol between 3pm and 5pm which corresponds to when children have come home from school. Of course, the government spend £3.7 million on anti-drinking and alcohol awareness campaigns, but this is dwarfed by the estimated £200 million spent on advertising by the drinks industry.

The average starting age of Heroin use in many towns and cities in the UK is just 15 years of age so we have an obvious duty to prevent young people from getting inadvertently caught up in addiction through misguided experimentation.

So what can be done about this?

Well, many parents are unaware that home drug testing kits and alcohol test kits are easily available and can be used to act as a deterrent. They can also be used by teenagers as a valid reason why they can't use drugs when under peer pressure. Being able to say "Sorry, I can't take drugs because I get tested at home" really can make a difference.

Responsible use of home drug testing products (with open communication and co-operation) can play a pivotal role in keeping younger people safe and can help to mend relationships and build trust. Some people question whether testing removes trust from a relationship, but we believe that the substance abuse has already done that in many cases and home testing can be used to rebuild trust.

So if you feel you would like more drug information, or to purchase drug or alcohol test kits for use in the home, visit us at www.drug-aware.com or our dedicated home drug test site www.1st-home-drug-tests.com

Alternatively, for employers we have a page specifically for information on random drug testing in the workplace on our drug-aware web site.

Alcohol Related Deaths on the Increase

Alcohol Related Deaths on the Increase

A recent report from the Office for National Statistics has shown that alcohol related diseases in the UK are killing nearly twice as many women as at the start of the 1990s.

About 30 years ago, UK alcohol related death rates for men and women were about two per 100,000, which was the lowest in western Europe. Now, the rate for men is 18 per 100,000, although this is still less than the European average.

For women, particularly In the 35 - 54 year old age group, around 14 women per 100,000 die from conditions such as cirrhosis of the liver and liver failure – and this is well above the European average.

Spain, France and Ireland still consume more alcohol per person than the UK, but deaths from alcohol-related diseases are much lower. Perhaps this is attributable to a culture of binge drinking.

Experts attribute the marked increase since 1990 onwards to the general public having more disposable income, drinks costing less since the introduction of the European single market, and extended opening hours for pubs, nightclubs and off-licences.

Gordon Brown has indicated that reducing alcohol abuse in the general public is amongst his priorities and is requesting a focused review of the recent rules concerning 24-hour opening hours for pubs and off-licenses. This coincides with his plans for the Home Office to facilitate a crackdown on retailers who sell alcohol to minors and people who are obviously already intoxicated in the run up to Christmas.

For more information on drug and alcohol awareness and alcohol tests visit www.drug-aware.com or www.1st-home-drug-tests.com

Workplace Drug Testing

Workplace Drug Testing

According to the British crime survey conducted by the home office, almost half of all 16-29 year olds have used an illegal drug in the last year. 70% of substance misusers are in full time employment and are more than 3 and a half times more likely to have an accident in the workplace than their substance free colleagues.

Substance misuse costs British industry an estimated 12 to 16 billion pounds each year in accidents, litigation, ill health, absenteeism, reduced productivity and crime.

The underlying issue is that substance abuse is a feature of society, and by bringing society into your workplace you will be bringing with it all of the dangers associated with substance misuse.

That is why corporate customers of all backgrounds rely on drug aware to bring them the benefits of a substance free workplace.

When it comes to workplace drug testing, we have the advantage of being able to offer all kinds of employers everything they need from start to finish.

Some companies ask us to handle the whole process for them – which involves writing their policy, training their managers, and attending site to collect samples – all the way through to medical review and organising any rehabilitation.

More commonly, companies ask us to review their existing policy to ensure that it is totally legally defensible and to offer any advice on how to make it run more smoothly, followed by drug and alcohol awareness training for their managers. We cover the extent of the problem, how to recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse, information on the drugs themselves, your obligations under the law, how to facilitate your company policy, and detailed procedures should you require them to undertake any testing.

Whether you require full day, half day or 2 hour sessions, the training is comprehensive and satisfaction is guaranteed. Our trainers are very experienced and knowledgeable. I myself have personally trained staff from over 70 UK HM Prisons, several Police Forces, and well over a hundred NHS hospitals, drug treatment centres, GP surgeries, etc. Not to mention the literally thousands of delegates from all industry sectors who have attended my training seminars on workplace drug awareness, policy development and testing.

Workplace drug testing is surprisingly straight forward to set up, and is extremely cost effective. You can drug and alcohol test your staff for an average of less than 10 pounds per head whilst still maintaining full chain of custody so that the results can be fully relied upon in court.

We recommend workplace drug testing in accident or incident situations, or when you have reasonable suspicion that someone is perhaps unfit for their duties. This is testing when you physically have a problem – and under health and safety at work legislation, you cannot simply ignore this. Random drug testing is above and beyond this basic requirement in the workplace and so it is up to you (and the nature of your industry) as to whether this is required.

So whatever your business, large or small, we have a package which will suit you. Contact us today for free literature, samples of our workplace drug testing products or for some free advice from a friendly expert! We’re here to help.

Record Opium Harvest in Afghanistan

Record Opium Harvest in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has just had the largest opium harvest in it's history - which will have a significant ongoing impact on the volume of Heroin that will be hitting the streets across the globe.

Officials from the USA have increased their efforts to convince the government of Afghanistan to begin spraying herbicide on opium poppies - an action that many believe will help reduce the opium production but could affect the stability of the region by dividing the government there.

According to United Nations estimates, Afghanistan now produces an amazing 93 percent of the entire world’s opiates. Since the American-led invasion in 2001, its drug revenues have grown exponentially because more traffickers are also processing opium into heroin there.

In August this year, a United Nations report recorded a 17 percent increase in poppy cultivation from 2006 to 2007 and a 34 percent growth in opium production. The issue is even more recognisable in the southern province of Helmand, a Taliban stronghold. Almost 4,400 metric tons of opium were produced in Helmand this year, which based on current UN statistics is almost half of Afghanistan's overall output.

The government of Afghanistan's opium eradication efforts have failed to keep up with this growth. Their efforts were responsible for cutting down about 47,000 acres of poppy fields this year, which although 24 percent more than last year is still less than 9 percent of the country’s overall poppy crop.

Street prices of Heroin have fallen over the last few years, making this harmful drug even easier to obtain by young people - in fact, the average starting age of Heroin use in many UK cities is just 15. Consequently, Afghanistan's failure to adequately deal with this issue will have a global cost which will unfortunately be paid by young people who are drawn into experimentation.

The latest annual report on drug-related deaths in the UK (covering 2006) published by the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths (np-SAD) has shown that opiates / opioids (i.e. Heroin / Morphine, Methadone and other opiate / opioid analgesics), alone or in combination with other drugs, accounted for the majority (68%) of drug-related fatalities in England & Wales in 2006. In Scotland the proportion was 71%.

For more information on Heroin and Opium, visit the drug information page at www.drug-aware.com

Substance abuse in the Workplace - The Facts

Substance abuse manifests itself in many areas of society but its effects are keenly felt by industry. The estimated cost of substance abuse to employers ranges from £11 billion to £16 billion annually in the UK alone – largely due to the fact that close to half of all industrial accidents are drug or alcohol related.

With over 70% of drug users currently in employment, most companies will have drug users on the payroll - which leads to persistent costs stemming from drug-related accidents, theft, illness, absenteeism, reduced productivity and poor quality of work.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published statistics confirming that drug users are 3.6 times more likely to injure themselves or others at work, and when they do, they are 5 times more likely to file a claim for compensation against their employer.

When coupled with the fact that they are 2.5 times more likely to have absences of 8 days or more, you can see why substance abuse is so incompatible with company activities.

Employers are directly responsible for everything that occurs in the workplace. Consequently, it is their duty to remove any hazards to the wellbeing of staff – including substance abuse, which is a foreseeable hazard.

However, it is largely the substance that creates the problem and that is why many companies offer rehabilitation to staff who may have become dependent and are seeking assistance. Provided the individuals affected by substance misuse can return to their former levels of safety and performance in the workplace in a reasonable timescale, it is best practice to remove the substance from the individual rather removing than the affected personnel from the workplace.

The nature of substance abuse.

In the context of a company’s substance misuse policy, ‘substance’ refers to alcohol, illegal drugs, prescription drugs, over-the-counter medication and inhalants (or solvents).

Each of these substances have different effects when abused, but they all have the potential for impairment of performance, dependency or physical addiction. They therefore increase the potential for accidents, absenteeism, unsatisfactory performance, poor moral and harm to the company’s reputation.

People often think of substance abusers as being in a very narrow stereotypical group. However, the reality is quite different. Substance abuse can affect us all.

Back in the 1996 British Crime Survey, it was revealed that 29% of all full time employees questioned had used illegal drugs, and this statistic has risen ever since... now almost half of all 16-29 year olds in the UK have used an illegal drug in the last year. With regard to alcohol, many staff will have gone to work with a hangover or with alcohol in their system from drinking the night before at some time in their career - in fact, almost a third of the people who lose their driving licenses to drink driving do so the morning after their drinking.

It is important therefore, for companies to adopt the attitude that substance abuse is not a question of stigma for the business, but more a relatively common problem in society that needs monitoring and prevention wherever possible.

This is achieved in the workplace by drug awareness training, drug policy development, drug testing and alcohol testing (in the event of accidents, incidents or reasonable cause situations) and providing suitable options to aid recovery for those who seek assistance.

Whilst it there isn't a law which forces UK companies to have a drug and alcohol policy, there is a fair amount of legislation which can affect you if you don't. Employers, managers and employees alike have certain obligations regarding substance misuse under the following UK legislation:

• The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974
• Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999
• Transport and Works Act 1992
• Road Traffic Act 1988
• Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
• Disability Discrimination Act 1995
• Disability Discrimination Regulations 1996
• Human Rights Act 1998

If your staff are not familiar with their responsibilities under the above legislation, there is potential possibility of prosecution or litigation against them, the company or even YOU!

Contact us for free advice and information on what you can do about this issue. We cater for every kind of business offering everything from training, to on-site sample collection - even drug tests that you can use in the workplace for instant results.