The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA) stories
Many employers are struggling to keep drug and alcohol policies compliant as prescription medicines, cannabis and testing rules change.
Changing drug patterns are forcing New Zealand employers to tighten testing and training as cannabis stays widespread and cocaine edges higher.
Cannabis now accounts for 71.1 percent of positive workplace drug tests, prompting New Zealand employers to tighten safety policies ahead of summer.
Prescription opioid detections in New Zealand workplaces have risen to 18.9 per cent, prompting warnings over safety in high-risk jobs.
Workplace safety risks are rising as meth detections climbed to nearly a quarter of all non-negative drug tests in March, data shows.
Amphetamine and opioid detections have risen in New Zealand workplaces, lifting concerns about accident risks as cannabis stays the main finding.
Safety-sensitive workplaces risk staff impairment as fentanyl use spreads, with TDDA urging firms to update testing and drug policies.
Workplace testing could face legal scrutiny unless employers use accredited providers that follow the new Australian and New Zealand standard.
Accreditation standards are needed to prevent faulty drug tests from putting workers at risk and costing them jobs or income.
