The lockdown imposed to control COVID-19’s deadly spread was never going to be a perfect arrangement. As the world had to think on its feet, necessary compromises were made. But there were always going to be consequences, such as the increased use of narcotics.

Rhys Evans, MD of drug and alcohol testing equipment and accessories provider Alco-Safe, highlights that despite bans on the sale of alcohol during South Africa’s national lockdown, many people continued to consume alcohol acquired on the black market. Illicit drug usage also rose. 

“Though the evidence is still only anecdotal, it suggests a jump in drug usage among more people,” he adds. “Users of casual drugs reported increasing their doses or even switching to harder drugs. There are also signs that some cigarette smokers turned to cannabis when cigarettes were banned.” 

Employees, notes Evans, may have picked up some bad habits during the harder lockdown periods, stemming from boredom, unavailability of legal substances, or so as to be sociable during very socially challenging times. “We shouldn’t judge people too harshly under the current conditions. But their choices still translate into a potential problem for employers.” 

He explains that the most widely encountered form of screening is the mandatory alcohol breathalyser presented at the entrances of factories, warehouses, mines and other industrial sites. “This test is very quick and easy to apply, and other than the upfront cost of the equipment, it is an economical way to ensure alcohol rules aren’t broken.” 

But other drugs can’t be tested for via a breathalyser, which has made companies reluctant to implement more extensive drug testing. “Yet the influence of the lockdown on people’s drug habits is prompting them to reconsider their position,” Evans points out. “The question is: how can they go about this smartly and affordably?” 

 

The first step to smart testing is clear policies and procedures, dictating when tests are done, for what reasons, and who is authorised to carry them out. “There must be a consideration for cross-reactions – when someone took a legal substance that might give a false positive. 

“For example, someone may have used mouthwash, which is then flagged by a breathalyser. Usually doing a second test and testing a neutral party at the same time can address such scenarios. There should also be a policy regarding presenting prescriptions or allowing an employee’s healthcare provider to weigh in on their results.” 

Smart testing also has to take into account the rapidly legalising position of cannabis. “Employees can imbibe this narcotic in their private capacity, which can be an issue for some testing. For example, urine tests will detect marijuana use dating back days and even weeks. But saliva tests can narrow usage down to the past few hours. So, using the right type of test will greatly enhance results and reduce false accusations.” 

He notes a third point about smart testing: the process should not turn into a witch hunt. “There are ‘bad apples’ in every workplace, but not every employee who acts irresponsibly is one of those. Involving unions from the start to discuss drug testing policy is very helpful to create positive buy-in. Compassion and context are also important, reinforced by a culture of accountability and responsibility.” 

Evans explains that if tests are done in a way to exclude whatever employees do in private, it can lead to a proactive culture. “This approach should be coupled with an education campaign to explain the health and safety risks on the job when drugs become involved. 

“But drug tests cost money, and in a depressed economy, companies do not want to know about escalating costs. Unlike breathalysers, other drug test kits work once-off. At the cost of between R100 and R200 per test, that can compound quickly into a significant amount.” 

Evans notes that two factors can mitigate these hurdles. “Not every employee needs to be tested. Tests can be random or focus on circumstances such as suspicion of drug use.” 

He adds that some of Alco-Safe’s customers buy a set number of kits per month and use all those kits during the month. “Others buy kits and shelve them – a kit can last as long as 12 months. If the strategy for buying kits aligns with an appropriate drug testing policy, it can be very efficient and a justified, affordable operational cost.” 

Kits that test for multiple drugs simultaneously can also be useful. “For example, six-panel saliva tests cover the most popular illicit narcotics. An employee might not be using the narcotic they are suspected of, but there could be something else. Multi-panel testing covers that risk. 

“The goal is to create a culture of safety and sobriety, of breaking a culture of alcoholism and drug use which can quickly develop within a company – especially if there are people who are using drugs and encouraging co-workers to do so the same.” 

So, although the ban on the sale of liquor has been lifted and everyone has returned to the workplace under Alert Level 1, it has become critical not only to enforce workplace rules against alcohol consumption (with regular breathalyser testing) but also essential to address bad new habits that might have followed employees from the hard lockdown. 

“But by addressing policy and strategic testing,” says Evans, “this can be countered effectively and affordably.”  

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