Clear policies. Informed decisions. A stronger workplace.
Workplace culture matters more than ever. While not every difficult or unhealthy workplace involves drugs or alcohol, substance misuse can contribute to safety concerns, impaired judgement, interpersonal conflict, absenteeism and reduced performance. For employers, these issues can affect both people and operations.
A strong workplace culture is not created by testing alone. It is built through leadership, clear expectations, fair procedures, appropriate risk controls and genuine support for employees. Drug and alcohol testing can form one part of that broader framework, particularly in safety-sensitive workplaces.
Leading by example
Positive workplace culture starts with leadership. Managers and business leaders who demonstrate fairness, respect, consistency and a genuine commitment to safety help establish the standard expected throughout the organisation.
A workplace in which employees feel respected and supported is better positioned to encourage engagement, accountability and early reporting of safety concerns. Drug and alcohol risk management should therefore sit within the organisation’s broader approach to work health and safety, rather than being treated simply as a disciplinary measure.
Setting clear foundations
A clear Drug and Alcohol Policy gives employees and managers a consistent framework for understanding expectations. It can define prohibited conduct, explain when testing may occur, identify how results will be managed, address prescription and over-the-counter medications where relevant, and set out the support and disciplinary processes that may apply.
Safe Work Australia notes that workers must be fit and well enough to perform their job, must not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs at work, and must not use alcohol or illegal drugs while working. It also recognises that some organisations use alcohol and drug testing policies, particularly where a worker could seriously injure themselves or another person.
Testing should be implemented in accordance with applicable workplace laws, industrial instruments, privacy obligations, employment arrangements and the organisation’s own policy. The testing method should also be appropriate to the purpose of the program.
What the Australian data tells us
Australian Government data shows that alcohol and illicit drug use is not a marginal issue. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) reported that, in the 2022–2023 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, an estimated 3.9 million Australians aged 14 and over — 18% of the population — had used an illicit drug in the previous 12 months.
Cannabis was the most commonly used illicit drug, reported by 11.5% of people aged 14 and over. Cocaine was the second most commonly used, with 4.5% — approximately 1 million Australians — reporting use in the previous 12 months.
The employment data is particularly relevant for workplace decision-makers. AIHW reported that 6.3% of currently employed Australians had used cocaine in the previous 12 months, compared with 3.5% of people who were unemployed or looking for work.
Methamphetamine and amphetamine use remains another important consideration. Approximately 200,000 Australians aged 14 and over — 1.0% of the population — reported use in the previous 12 months in 2022–2023.
Alcohol also remains a significant public-health issue. The 2022–2023 survey estimated that 6.6 million Australians consumed alcohol at levels that placed their health at risk.
These figures are population statistics and do not mean that the same proportions of employees are impaired at work. They do, however, demonstrate why Australian organisations — particularly those operating in safety-sensitive environments — should have a considered approach to alcohol and other drug risk.
Note: AIHW began releasing results from the 2025 National Drug Strategy Household Survey in August 2026. The initial 2025 release covers tobacco, e-cigarettes and nicotine; updated alcohol and illicit-drug findings have not yet been published. Accordingly, the 2022–2023 NDSHS remains the latest complete Australian Government dataset for the alcohol and illicit-drug statistics used in this article.
The hidden cost of inaction
Substance-related risks may remain unnoticed until they contribute to an incident, performance issue or broader workplace concern. For employers, the consequences can extend beyond the individual employee and may include safety incidents, operational disruption, absenteeism, errors, reputational damage and additional management time.
For this reason, drug and alcohol risk management should be viewed as part of a wider safety and governance strategy. An appropriately designed testing program can help reinforce a workplace policy, provide objective information when testing is justified and support consistent decision-making.
Choosing the right type of testing
Different testing methods answer different questions. Oral fluid and urine testing generally focus on comparatively recent drug exposure. Hair testing provides a longer retrospective window and can be useful where an employer wants information about historical patterns of drug exposure rather than only the period immediately before testing.
For pre-employment screening in safety-sensitive roles, hair testing may therefore provide additional information that shorter-window testing cannot. Hair testing does not determine whether a person was impaired at work or at a particular time, and it should not be used as though it does.
The testing method, substances included in the analytical profile, collection process and chain-of-custody requirements should be selected according to the purpose of the workplace program.
Supporting employees
A positive drug and alcohol policy is not only about rules and consequences. Employee assistance programs, counselling, education, treatment pathways and appropriate return-to-work support can give employees a way to seek assistance before a problem escalates.
Balancing accountability with appropriate support can strengthen trust in the organisation’s drug and alcohol program. Employees are more likely to understand testing as a legitimate safety measure when the policy is transparent, consistently applied and supported by clear procedures.
The takeaway
Drug or alcohol misuse does not automatically create a poor workplace culture, and a testing program alone cannot create a positive one. The strongest approach combines leadership, clear policies, appropriate risk controls, fair testing procedures and meaningful employee support.
For Australian employers — particularly those managing safety-sensitive work — an appropriately designed drug and alcohol testing program can form part of a broader strategy to protect employees, strengthen workplace safety and support responsible behaviour.
Toxicology Solutions provides professional hair sample collection and chain-of-custody services for workplace and pre-employment testing across Australia. We can assist organisations in understanding the hair-testing options available and selecting a testing period appropriate to the purpose of the program.
Australian Government sources
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2022–2023: Summary and Use of illicit drugs. Australian Government. Key figures used: 3.9 million (18%) recent illicit drug use; cannabis 11.5%; cocaine 4.5%; 6.6 million consuming alcohol at risky levels.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2022–2023: Cocaine in the NDSHS. Australian Government. Key employment figure used: 6.3% of currently employed people reported cocaine use in the previous 12 months, compared with 3.5% of unemployed people or those looking for work.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2022–2023: Methamphetamine and amphetamine in the NDSHS. Australian Government. Key figure used: approximately 200,000 people (1.0%) reported use in the previous 12 months.
Safe Work Australia. Drugs and alcohol – guidance on workplace duties, fitness for work and drug and alcohol testing.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2025: Tobacco, e-cigarettes and other nicotine insights. Initial 2025 results released 20 August 2026; alcohol and illicit-drug results are to be provided in a subsequent update.
