Employers Becoming Aware Of Dangers Of Synthetic Cannabis

Media Release – New Zealand Drug Detection Agency 4 June 2013

Employers Becoming Aware Of Dangers Of Synthetic Cannabis

Employers in New Zealand workplaces are becoming more aware of the dangers of synthetic cannabis and are requesting their workplace drug screening to include the detection of the drug, says the New Zealand Drug Detection Agency (NZDDA).

Since late 2012 NZDDA has included tests for synthetic cannabis in its drug detection arsenal – 15% of all NZDDA’s workplace drug screening are to detect synthetic cannabis; the company expects this to rise over the balance of 2013. NZDDA workplace drug testing also detects cannabis (THC), opiates (including codeine), amphetamines, methamphetamine, benzodiazepine and cocaine.

NZDDA’s chief executive Chris Hilson says,”Between November 2012 and April 2013, NZDDA has carried out more than 5,000 workplace drug tests to detect synthetic cannabis. Of those samples that were non-negative, an average of 12%, with a spike of 24% in November, have come back from independent lab testing as positive, that is, detecting synthetic cannabis compounds.

“The dangerous effects of synthetic cannabis are now, sadly, well-known to most New Zealanders. Causing severe nausea, vomiting, anxiety attacks, seizures and aggressive behaviour as well as psychotic episodes, synthetic cannabis is not a good drug to be detected in the workplace. We believe synthetic cannabis is seriously addictive and may lead to increased use of hard drugs, such as methamphetamines, as users seek greater highs.”

“What’s particularly interesting is that we’ve seen an increasing number of employers asking for synthetic cannabis screening at the pre- employment stage, along with the standard drugs screen. The problem is that in today’s synthetic climate, those wanting jobs may have substituted cannabis, and/or other drugs, with synthetic cannabinoid usage in the hope that this will not be screened for when applying for jobs.” says Mr Hilson.

Canterbury Health Laboratories’ head scientist Grant Moore adds. “Synthetic cannabis is a dangerous drug and the more developments the manufacturers make the more unknown the long-term effects of it on users.

Recent US research that has shown acute kidney injuries can occur from synthetic cannabis use. Synthetic cannabis is such a hazardous drug, most users have no idea, or choose to ignore, the dangers that its use poses to their health, their livelihoods and their family life.”

All NZDDA’s non-negative drug screening tests are independently retested at the Canterbury Health Laboratory (CHL) for the legally required independent verification.

Grant Moore continues,”Synthetic cannabis is a continually evolving drug. No sooner is one compound banned by new legislation, than the manufacturers are developing more to circumvent the law. At CHL we’re continually updating our library of tests to keep abreast of new formulations of synthetic cannabis. Even during the month of May, we’ve detected some synthetic cannabinoids that are new to us including JWH-122, JWH-250 and 5F-AKB48.”

NZDDA is equally concerned at the rate the drug manufacturers are altering the active ingredients to avoid the New Zealand government’s legal crackdowns. The company has recently developed a relationship with the Redwood Toxicology Laboratory (RTL) in California that performs more than 16,000 laboratory tests every day. RTL’s testing has recently expanded to include 19 new synthetic cannabis compounds, including four new generation drugs not yet banned in New Zealand. By working more closely with RTL, NZDDA believes it will help bring the company’s testing closer to the newest of the synthetic cannabinoid compounds. This is good news for employers, it says.

Mr Hilson adds, “More US research has shown that synthetic cannabinoids can be detectable in a person’s system for up to 102 days. This means that synthetic cannabis users are going to work, many in safety-sensitive industries, with the drug still in their systems. Employers are acutely aware of safety in the workplace and the dangers that drug taking can have on a business. It’s not just the accidents that can happen that can affect the drug user, but the usage may result in injury to nearby colleagues, customers and suppliers, and in some cases and the general public. There’s usually no second chance if there’s any effect from drugs in those workplaces.”

NZDDA’s 2012 annual statistics, released in March, showed the company conducted 68,561 workplace drug tests in 2012, up 31% from 52,124 tests carried out in 2011. This followed an increase of 77.7% from the 29,513 tests carried out in 2010.

NZDDA is New Zealand’s only fully compliant AS/NZS4308:2008 International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ)-accredited on-site drug and alcohol testing provider. NZDDA has more than 30 specialist testing vans on call 24/7. The company is considered to be a leader in its field.

NZDDA’s chief executive Chris Hilson concludes, “As an organisation, we’re very concerned at the increasing usage of synthetic cannabis in this country. These drug manufacturers are only interested in making money. There’s no interest or understanding on the risk and harm that these will cause to users, and in the workplace to workmates.

“Synthetic cannabis is a dangerous man-made compound that can cause catastrophic effects on people who use it, their families and their workplace colleagues. Employers have a responsibility to provide a safe workplace for all their staff; their responsibility is particularly high in the safety sensitive sectors. At NZDDA we strongly support the government’s move to criminalise synthetic cannabis products. In doing so, it will enable employers to legally screen for the detection of synthetic cannabis and, in doing so, New Zealand workplaces will become safer places for all.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media