Increasing trend in prescription-drug misuse

According to the Illicit Drug Data Report (IDDR) 2012-13 released by the Australian Crime Commission at the end of April this year, detection of Amphetamine-type stimulants at the Australian borders are the highest on record. Amphetamine-type stimulants are a group of drugs that include both illegal substances and some prescription medicines.

While the use of synthetic drugs has grabbed the headlines of late, there is a growing recognition that prescription-based medicines are on the rise and indications are that drugs of this type are being increasingly used for illicit purposes.

One such prescription medicine, oxycodone, has reportedly become one of the most abused prescription drugs in the United States and statistics indicate similar trends in Australia. According to reports on the Australian Drug Foundation (ADF) website, the amount of oxycodone being prescribed by doctors nationally in Australia increased from 95.1 kg in 1999 to 1270.7 kg in 2008 - a 13-fold increase. Some experts believe this increase could be the result of an ageing population, but it is also thought that a lot of this prescribed medicine is being diverted from medication use to illicit use.

Shopping online for legal drugs is also a growing trend. Dr Lucy Burns of National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) was quoted in a recent ABC news report about the rise of oxycodone use in Australia. She said the kinds of the drugs being sold online are changing, and demand has shifted from psychoactive substances - which mimic the effect of illegal drugs - to opioid painkillers like morphine, over-the-counter medications containing codeine, and oxycodone.

Traditionally, oxycodone is used to treat moderate to acute pain, but when misused it can make the user become sleepy, anxious, depressed or confused and this may create risks in the workplace.

According to LaneWorkSafe Managing Director Stephen Lane, many organisations lack an understanding and/or awareness on recent trends and developments and how best to combat them effectively in the workplace. “It’s important for organisations to keep up to date with recent findings and ensure that their drug testing policy and programs reflect these changes,” he said.

One of the challenges with this trend in prescription drug misuse is that “standard drug testers cannot pick up oxycodone and it is not covered under the current Australian standard”, he said. However, options for its detection are available; and Lane WorkSafe recommends its Oxycodone Single Step test for on-site detection of this substance. Lane's company has also developed a urine test for on-site detection of synthetic marijuana, which is another drug that is currently not listed by Australian Standard AS 4308. According to Lane, LaneWorkSafe was one of the first companies to supply to the Australian market a device that tested for the two main ingredients (JWH 018 and JWH 073) found in synthetic marijuana.

Along with drug testing, a drug and alcohol workplace program should also include a formal policy for all levels of the organisation, education, training, counselling and regular evaluation to make sure the program is working.

“As technology continues to evolve and science continues to improve, on-site devices for both drug and alcohol are becoming faster, easier to use and more reliable,” said Lane. “It is imperative that the on-site devices selected for the drug and alcohol program meet the requirements of the Australian Standards AS 4308:2008 or AS 3497:2007, and ask the supplier for a Compliance Certificate issued by NATA Accredited Laboratory to ensure the device meets these requirements.”