Posted By William
It has been reported today that the horse tranquiliser ketamine's use is on the rise amongst people in the UK as a recreational drug. Current drug screening tests do not test for this drug, so it mat be a more attractive option to those who work in positions where random drug testing takes place.

Is it time for drug screening to also look for ketamine?

Posted By graeme12345
if u tested the whole of the UK's construction workforce for recreational drugs you would probably shut it down overnight

Posted By William
Vicky,

I think you misunderstood the question, in the industry which i work in (offshore) pre-employment and random drug screening are the norm, and i feel that given its growing popularity and use it should be treated the same as other recreational drugs and screened for.

i also think you have confused ketamine with a different drug which is used for the purpose you have described as ketamine shows up in the system for a few days after taken.

As for shutting down the construction industry due to drug taking, then if there is a problem now would be the best time when there is little work to take the issue of drug abuse more seriously in a bid to prevent accidents and improve the health and well being of employees.

I would say my main point is why should ketamine which is used in the manner as, cocaine, ecstasy and other drugs be offered immunity from drug tests as this will only encourage people who's workplaces have substance abuse screening to use it as it is not tested for.

Posted By William
Mike,

It was in response to a reporting in the media yesterday that ketamines use is growing in popularity as a recreational drug, it also is not a substance which is currently screened for and in theory may be an attractive option to persons who are currently screened for drugs.

Posted By A Campbell
For those of you who enjoy a good read...
http://www.homeoffice.go.../rds/pdfs08/hosb1308.pdf

It was news to me that Ketamine is classed as a class c drug..on par with steroids!

Posted By NickW
Ketamine is not such much a downer but rather a 'dis-associative' drug whereby the user can retreal into their halluncinations. Not an ideal state to be in for a tower crane operator etc.

Potential thread de-rail here but a thorny issue in my mind is that many 'hard' drugs such as cocaine, speed and heroin can be eliminated from the body between 24-72 hours after use. However fat-soluble drugs such as THC (the active ingredient in cannabis which is considered to be a softer less harmful drug) can remain detectable in the blood for up to a month after use. Therefore the drugs test-system appears to be skewed in favour of harder drug use and can even risk influencing drug use patterns. I have even heard anectdotal evidence of HM forces squaddies and other workers who are drug-tested, choosing harder drugs rather than softer drugs such as cannabis as they can flush them out of their system.

Its a complicated area thats for sure.

Posted By Robert B.
Ketamine is class C as it is relativley safe. In fact, it is used regularly as an anasthetic in paediatric medicine. It is NOT an illegal drug, but (as with many other legal drugs) it is illegal to possess without prescription.

Posted By graeme12345
just a thought, say as an example a hired (not fully contracted)crane driver forgot to take their medicine (for whatever condition), became unconscious and caused a fatality.

What degree of control would a PC / employer be expected to have overt site, and would this degree go to ensuring that they are aware of the medical condition of all on a site and at least try to monitor any deviation from treatment which an employee is currently on?

Considering DVLA notification etc.

Posted By A Campbell
Are not all drugs safe... providing they are used as prescribed by a medical practitioner..... if used by people for social benefits e.g. to be 'happy' then I would describe that as 'unsafe'... unless CITB or other good providers would run a course on it's safe use??

The only 'safe' way is to have a zero tolerance in the workplace... that includes residue and policy of random testing as in rail & offshore industry.

Just my humble 10 pence worth!

Posted By SC
"if u tested the whole of the UK's construction workforce for recreational drugs you would probably shut it down overnight"

Given the popularity of "recreational" drugs across society as a whole, that statement could be applied to most industries!

Offshore employees are tested at pre-employment medicals and medical refreshers, but random tests are few and far between. I think it would be naive to think that drug users don't just "clean up" when they know a medical is due.

Posted By John Richards
Funnily enough, the ones in offices calling for the workforce to be tested are the one doing lines of coke......one "wag" stated that the fault for the collapse of the worlds banks could be laid firmly at the door of America....South America !
As for steroids, specify which ones....one presumes you mean anabolic steroids and not corticosteroids, commonly prescribed for control of inflammation. Corticosteroids have few side effects, neither do properly used anabolic steroids. Both however show on tests.

"Steroids are another major problem which isn't addressed in our line of work. They make people dizzy, nauseous, aggressive and result in making bad judgments"

So does premenstrual tension, and the menopause. Both not tested for !
So does coke (the white stuff), common with high-risers and admin staff.
Leave the workers alone, test the management. That's where all the cock-ups are made anyway !