Time for Change Survey and Report

50 Random workplace drug testing There was also very low support (22.2% support/strongly support) for random workplace drug and alcohol testing in professions where impairment at work does not pose a risk to protecting public safety. The majority of respondents (60.9%) opposed or strongly opposed workplace drug and alcohol testing performed on workers who were not responsible for tasks where intoxication could increase workplace risk (e.g., operating machinery) and/or risk to clients. Students and/or young people had the lowest support, at only 9.0%, followed by respondents who identified as someone who uses drugs (10.3%) or as a friend of someone who uses drugs (12.0%; see Figure 24). There was slightly higher support among professionals (15.6%), with the highest support coming from people who identified as a family member of someone who uses drugs (25.2%). Figure 24. Support for random workplace drug and alcohol testing in professions where impairment at work does pose a risk to protecting public safety As commented by one person: “People on a stabilised dose of legally prescribed medicinal cannabis should not be penalised in the workplace” Another respondent commented on the ways that workplace drug testing may increase or encourage the use of certain substances: “I know people who work in sectors where they are encouraged to use cocaine as it clears the system faster. I think without those drug tests it might not be such a common thing for those workers to always use it because it is ‘safe’ from the testing.” Statistically significant findings suggest differences in support across demographics: ● Support increased with age, with individuals aged 56 and older expressing significantly higher support compared to those aged 35 and younger and those aged 36 to 55. There was also greater support among those aged 36 to 55 compared to respondents aged 35 and younger.