Your workplace could need a cocaine drug test. Here’s why
Cocaine use has increased considerably in Australia over the past two decades. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), 4.5% of Australians aged 14 and over used cocaine in the previous 12 months in 2022–23. That’s around one million people, making cocaine the second most commonly used illicit drug in Australia after cannabis. Among people who had used cocaine recently, 15.4% reported using it at least monthly.
For employers, there’s another statistic worth paying attention to: 6.2% of employed Australians reported using cocaine in the previous 12 months.
While cocaine may be thought of as a recreational or weekend drug, its effects on judgement, concentration, risk-taking, sleep and subsequent fatigue can have implications for workplace safety. This is particularly important in safety-sensitive roles and industries where one poor decision can put more than one person at risk.
So, what does cocaine actually do to the body and brain, and how does a cocaine drug test work?
What is cocaine?
Cocaine is a stimulant derived from the coca plant. As a stimulant, it speeds up messages travelling between the brain and the rest of the body.
In Australia, it’s most commonly available as cocaine hydrochloride, usually in the form of a white or off-white powder that’s typically snorted through the nose. Other forms of cocaine can be smoked or injected.
The effects can begin almost immediately and may last from around 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the amount taken, the person’s health and body size, how it’s taken, whether other substances are involved and the composition of the drug itself.
What happens to your body when you use cocaine?
Because cocaine stimulates the central nervous system, it can affect several parts of the body at once.
Short-term physical and behavioural effects can include:
- increased heart rate
- elevated blood pressure
- increased body temperature
- dilated pupils
- reduced appetite
- dry mouth
- agitation or irritability
- aggressive behaviour.
Cocaine places additional strain on the cardiovascular system. Regular use has been associated with high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, cardiovascular disease and stroke. At high doses, cocaine toxicity can cause serious complications including chest pain, seizures, heart failure, stroke and kidney or liver damage.
Mixing cocaine with other substances can increase the danger. This includes alcohol, prescription medications and other illicit drugs. Polydrug use can produce unpredictable effects and increase the risk of serious harm or death.
How does cocaine affect the brain?
Cocaine affects the brain’s reward system and can produce feelings of euphoria, alertness, energy and confidence. But feeling more alert or confident doesn’t necessarily mean someone is performing better.
Regular cocaine use has been associated with cognitive changes affecting attention, memory and impulse control. It can also contribute to anxiety, paranoia, depression and, in some cases, psychosis.
These are all important factors in workplace safety.
Cocaine can affect decision-making
There are plenty of jobs that require people to constantly assess risks, make decisions and respond quickly when something changes. Think about someone driving a heavy vehicle, operating machinery, working at heights, providing patient care or making decisions on a mine or construction site.
Cocaine can affect attention and impulse control while increasing agitation and confidence. That combination can create a dangerous disconnect between how capable someone feels and how safely they’re actually performing.
Impaired judgement or increased risk-taking can potentially affect colleagues, customers, patients and members of the public as well as the individual worker.
What happens when cocaine wears off?
Workplace risk isn’t necessarily limited to the period when someone is experiencing the immediate effects of cocaine.
The initial rush can be relatively short. As cocaine wears off, some people experience a comedown or crash that can continue into the following day or for several days.
Symptoms can include:
- lethargy and low energy
- irritability
- paranoia
- anxiety
- disrupted sleep
- fatigue.
With dependence, withdrawal can also involve depression, agitation, insomnia and strong cravings.
This means recreational cocaine use outside working hours may still have implications for someone’s fitness for work the following day, particularly where fatigue, poor concentration or irritability are involved.
What does cocaine use mean for workplace safety?
Cocaine use can present several potential workplace risks, including:
- impaired judgement
- reduced attention and concentration
- poor impulse control
- increased risk-taking
- agitation or aggression
- disrupted sleep
- fatigue during a comedown
- reduced performance
- workplace conflict
- increased risk of incidents or near misses.
These risks become particularly important in industries such as mining, construction, transport and logistics, manufacturing, aviation and healthcare, where employees may be responsible for vehicles, machinery, equipment, patients or safety-critical decisions.
How does a cocaine drug test work?
A cocaine drug test can form part of an organisation’s broader drug and alcohol management program.
Workplace testing doesn’t simply involve looking for whether someone appears to be high. Drug testing uses biological samples to identify a drug or its metabolites according to the testing method being used.
What happens after a non-negative cocaine drug test?
A non-negative screening result shouldn’t automatically be treated as a confirmed positive result.
Depending on the testing process, further laboratory confirmation may be required. Appropriate chain-of-custody procedures, confidentiality and accurate documentation are also important parts of a professional workplace testing program.
Employers should have a clear drug and alcohol policy explaining what happens following a non-negative result, how confirmation testing is handled and what steps managers should take.
What should managers do if they’re concerned about a worker?
Managers shouldn’t try to diagnose cocaine use based on someone’s appearance or behaviour alone. Changes in behaviour, concentration, mood or performance can have many possible explanations. Instead, managers should focus on observable behaviour and workplace safety.
This may involve:
- documenting concerns objectively
- addressing any immediate safety risk
- following the organisation’s drug and alcohol policy
- assessing whether the employee is fit for work
- arranging workplace drug testing where appropriate
- maintaining confidentiality
- providing access to support services where appropriate.
A clear process protects both the organisation and its workers while reducing the risk of assumptions being made about an individual. That’s where your workplace policy comes in handy!
A cocaine drug test is one part of that bigger picture, helping organisations manage risk and support a workforce that’s fit for work. Education, clear drug and alcohol policies, employee wellbeing programs, manager training, access to support and appropriately implemented testing all have a role in managing alcohol and other drug risks.