National Amphetamine-Type Stimulant Strategy Background Paper

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68 At-risk workplaces There is increasing evidence about the use of ATS in association with work, with associated risks of working under the influence of drugs and impact on absenteeism. The impact of ATS use in the workplace can result in: • Overwhelming tiredness at the onset of the working week; • Otherwise unaccountable irritability, agitation or mood swings; • Difficulty concentrating and reduced performance; • Mental health problems, such as paranoia, delusions, feeling despondent or depressed; • Lack of concern about otherwise serious matters; and • Health problems, such as palpitations, infected injection sites or lesions (<strong>National</strong> Centre for Education and Training on Addiction, 2006). As outlined earlier (see ‘use in the workplace’, section 2.4), the use of ATS is more prolific in some industries than others. In particular, use in the transport industry, especially among long distance drivers, has been identified as one key area of concern in relation to the workplace. A report commissioned by the Motor Accidents Authority found evidence of widespread tolerance and lack of discouragement of drug use within transport companies (Quinlan, 2001). The use of stimulants by truck drivers in Australia was demonstrated in one study that detected stimulants in 23% of truck drivers compared to 4.1% of all drivers in road traffic crashes in three states (Drummer et al., 2003). In addition to concerns that ATS use may contribute to road injuries and fatalities, for drivers and innocent third parties, there are concerns about the health problems experienced by drivers as a result of prolonged use, including: high blood pressure; renal problems and kidney damage; heart and lung damage; stroke; liver damage; depression and other mental health issues (NSW Health, 2005). Recently, a project was conducted by the NSW Injury Risk Management Research Centre in collaboration with the University of NSW into stimulant use by long distance truck drivers (Williamson et al., 2006). The first study aimed to identify factors that may predict drug use by reanalysing data from previous national surveys with long distance truck drivers, while the second study aimed to update and expand this information by conducting an in-depth survey of drivers. The strongest predictors of stimulant use by long distance truck drivers, according to self-reported reasons for use, were fatigue and productivity-based payment systems. The second study found that one in five truck drivers used stimulants at least sometimes and more than half had used these drugs at some point in their career. The most common stimulants used were illicit forms of amphetamine-type stimulants. As a result of concern about ATS use in this population, some state-based strategies have been introduced. In NSW, the Roads and Traffic Authority has developed educational materials, including information booklets and posters, for drivers and operators highlighting the dangers of using drugs and the need for more appropriate fatigue management strategies.
69 Roadside drug testing is now being developed and implemented in a number of jurisdictions as a means to deter and detect drug impaired driving. While not restricted to the transport industry (indeed most governments have indicated an intention to target various high-risk groups and locations) this strategy will have direct relevance for the industry. In NSW, for example, a Drug Driving Working Party was convened to manage research and field trials in preparation for commencement of legislation to implement drug testing of drivers. This included the introduction of random roadside drug testing for the presence of certain illicit drugs, and compulsory drug testing of any driver involved in a fatal traffic accident. Similarly, random drug testing was introduced in Victoria in 2004, and while various trials and evaluations are still underway, roadside drug testing has been implemented or is currently being considered in most other states and territories (Lenne, 2007). At a number of consultations, concern was expressed regarding the use of ATS in relation to work and it was suggested that the workplace should be a site for prevention and harm reduction strategies. Some participants suggested that there was a need to identify and disseminate models of managing ATS use in the workplace, some identifying current programs such as recently developed programs in the Department of Defense and guidelines for responding to drug problems developed by organisations such as Work Cover. For example, one participant observed that: Some industries, such as the construction industry, do undertake screening and offer drug education programs and use employment contracts which make provision for drug treatment or dismissal although there is a concern that some ATS users know how to beat the screening process. In their written submission, the <strong>National</strong> Indigenous Drug and Alcohol Committee (NIDAC) stated that: The use of alcohol and other drugs has a significant impact on Australian workplaces in terms of accidents, lost productivity and absenteeism. While alcohol and other drug use may impact on the way people work, so may work related factors such as stress influence the way people use drugs. Occupational settings including transport, forestry, construction, industrial and hospitality industries have been noted as areas that have an association with the prevalence of ATS use. Information gaps: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations Concern was raised during the consultation process that there is only minimal drug and ATS specific research within both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities. This relates not only to the use of ATS among these populations, but also how to target effective prevention campaigns to current users and those at-risk. Prevalence rates of use are variable and a lack of specific information makes it difficult to determine not only the need, but also the nature of any prevention strategy.
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National Amphetamine-Type Stimulant
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ii Acknowledgments This research wo
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iv Table of contents Acknowledgemen
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vi List of tables Table 1.1: Amphet
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viii
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2 The NDS framework and the Law Enf
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4 Table 1.1: Amphetamine-type stimu
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6 particularly on the Pacific Coast
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8 Figure 1.1: MDMA (ecstasy) tablet
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10 a 10-year period. While some of
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12 Figure 1.4: Forms of methampheta
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14 Figure 1.5: Median purity of met
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16 As noted, the route of administr
Page 28 and 29: 18 Chapter 2: Setting the Context T
Page 30 and 31: 20 Figure 2.2: Prevalence of ecstas
Page 32 and 33: 22 19 years (Dunn et al., 2007). Th
Page 34 and 35: 24 The use of MDMA among police det
Page 36 and 37: 26 this survey is conducted with th
Page 38 and 39: 28 models might be useful. On the o
Page 40 and 41: 30 the questionnaire in February 20
Page 42 and 43: 32 2.5 Summary According to the lat
Page 44 and 45: 34 anxiety, agitation, tremor, teet
Page 46 and 47: 36 may be stronger than the link wi
Page 48 and 49: 38 Srisurapanot and colleagues (200
Page 50 and 51: 40 Psychiatric problems appear to o
Page 52 and 53: 42 In 2005, there was a total of 68
Page 54 and 55: 44 The most recent EDRS survey foun
Page 56 and 57: 46 same reasons they use the drugs
Page 58 and 59: 48 Shoptaw and Reback (2007) review
Page 60 and 61: 50 It has also been speculated that
Page 62 and 63: 52 Parental ATS use In addition to
Page 64 and 65: 54 The Minnesota Department of Heal
Page 66 and 67: 56 Chapter 4: Prevention and Harm R
Page 68 and 69: 58 should cover the full range of d
Page 70 and 71: 60 specific drug (Spoth et al., 200
Page 72 and 73: 62 be applied regularly and systema
Page 74 and 75: 64 Strategies targeting vulnerable
Page 76 and 77: 66 Examples of particular periods t
Page 80 and 81: 70 The consultation forum with Abor
Page 82 and 83: 72 young people was noted in the su
Page 84 and 85: 74 and/or others); mental health ef
Page 86 and 87: 76 of the fact that frequently peop
Page 88 and 89: 78 Sexual risk behaviour is a furth
Page 90 and 91: 80 • Cleaning up; • Transport o
Page 92 and 93: 82 Assessing the risks of illicitly
Page 94 and 95: 84 4.4 Challenges of applying preve
Page 96 and 97: 86 but a number of studies are now
Page 98 and 99: 88 The pack included a video, train
Page 100 and 101: 90 Chapter 5: Treatment and Service
Page 102 and 103: 92 to the occurrence of amphetamine
Page 104 and 105: 94 In relation to the need for spec
Page 106 and 107: 96 These studies replicate earlier
Page 108 and 109: 98 addressed not only the drug user
Page 110 and 111: 100 Research conducted in the subse
Page 112 and 113: 102 users, data that may be general
Page 114 and 115: 104 that limit brain exposure to me
Page 116 and 117: 106 only significant difference was
Page 118 and 119: 108 through the use of antipsychoti
Page 120 and 121: 110 to develop the capacity of the
Page 122 and 123: 112 It was also suggested that link
Page 124 and 125: 114 as new evidence emerges. New ps
Page 126 and 127: 116 border in 2000 (McKetin et al.,
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118 Table 6.1: Number of clandestin
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120 Table 6.2: Examples of domestic
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122 Tasmania In 2004, strengthened
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124 Recommendations from the consul
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126 Although there are a number of
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128 illegal drugs. When incarcerate
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130 heroin) (Payne et al., 2007). I
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132 Some examples of diversion prog
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134 Other research has compared psy
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136 Rehabilitation in Corrections T
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138 Synthetic Drugs measure will im
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140 • Stealing from motor vehicle
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142 criminal offences There continu
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144 • Increase international coll
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146 • Ensuring offence and penalt
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148 Law enforcement agencies are pl
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150 Appendix 1 National consultatio
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152 Appendix 2 Written submissions
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154 Australian Institute of Health
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156 Bowers, J. & Johnson, S. (2003)
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158 Crits-Christoph, P., Siqueland,
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160 Drug & Alcohol Services South A
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162 Halkitis, P.N., Parsons, J.T.,
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164 Hull, P., Rawstorne, P., Zablot
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166 Leek, L., Seneque, D., & Ward,
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168 McKetin, R., McLaren, J., Kelly
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170 NSW Health (2006). Psychostimul
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172 Ressler, K.J., & Nemeroff, C.B.
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174 Small, W., Kerr, T., Charette,
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176 United Nations Office for Drug
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