Inside the science: Dr John Edwards on leading AusHealth’s drug and alcohol testing services
Dr John Edwards brings more than three decades of experience to AusHealth Diagnostics’ drug and alcohol testing services. As Senior Toxicologist, he plays a pivotal role in ensuring rigorous scientific oversight, policy accuracy and client education – all absolutely essential in drug and alcohol testing procedures which ensure the safety of workplaces.
Dr Edwards’ career in toxicology began early. ‘I knew I wanted to be a toxicologist at 14,’ he says. He completed a PhD on chemical exposure in workers (studying under Professor Brian Priestly, considered the ’grandfather of toxicology’ in Australia) before lecturing in the UK and Australia. He then spent two decades at Flinders University where he became Associate Professor and Deputy Head of the School of Environment.
In 2016, he joined AusHealth Diagnostics, complementing his consulting work and interest in community health.
Today, his work covers every aspect of workplace drug and alcohol testing, from developing and reviewing policies to analysing results, ensuring compliance with Australian Standards, and providing scientific interpretation to clients. AusHealth Diagnostics’ clients rely on Dr Edwards and the toxicology team for insights such as whether a worker’s result is consistent with prescribed medication, when an individual is likely to be drug-free and fit to return to work, or how to manage prescription drug use that may impact safety.
Dr Edwards is also actively involved in advancing the science of workplace testing. AusHealth Diagnostics conducts approximately 100,000 drug and alcohol tests each year, and the toxicology team regularly reviews trends, industry-specific risks and the performance of devices and methods. These insights are shared via industry reports, academic publications, and conferences. (At the upcoming NATA National Conference, his presentation will challenge the scope and application of current Australian Standards, advocating for a more practical and complete approach to accreditation and compliance.) “The science itself hasn’t changed much since the 1980s,” he explains. “But testing precision, device accuracy and response times have all improved significantly.”
Still, there are challenges. Many businesses underestimate the legal and operational risk of avoiding drug and alcohol testing services. Dr Edwards stresses that under current laws, directors and officers can be held criminally liable if they fail to take reasonable steps to manage impairment risks. And there are penalties.
He also highlights gaps in understanding around prescription medications, particularly medicinal cannabis and amphetamines. “Medication is a right,” he says, “but impairment while operating machinery or driving cannot always be reconciled with workplace duties.”
In his role, Dr Edwards helps clients navigate disputed results, providing independent scientific review and engaging with the organisation to reach evidence-based conclusions. “We liaise with the client to ensure that the disputed result may be tested using the reference specimen collected at the same time as the original test specimen. We then examine the declared circumstances of the test procedure, the drug and concentration detected, and the explanation offered by the donor to determine whether there are any grounds for challenge. This is conducted from a neutral standpoint so the independent opinion can be relied upon. We have sometimes found such challenges to be supported with the evidence provided.’
Whether advising on policy, overseeing AusHealth Diagnostics’ proprietary quality control materials, or navigating emerging threats like synthetic cannabinoids and nitazenes, Dr Edwards ensures that AusHealth Diagnostics’ drug and alcohol testing services remain among the most trusted in Australia.
And when he’s not at work? He’s an accomplished sailing instructor with experience in international yacht races – another aspect of his life that demands precision and rigour to best meet a challenge.
If you’re looking for an experienced team to conduct workplace drug and alcohol testing and keep your organisation safe from substance misuse, contact AusHealth Diagnostics today.