Workplace drug testing has increased significantly in the UK, four leading screening companies have said [BBC News 3 October]. They have seen rises in the number of annual tests carried out of between 40% and 470% over four years. Workers cannot be made to take a drugs test, but if they refuse when the employer has good grounds for testing, they may face disciplinary action. Business leaders' increased awareness of workplace drug use is a large factor behind the growth, said LGC Group. LGC Group indicated that employees in safety-critical roles – such as operating heavy machinery or driving – and government agencies were most likely to be screened. But there was a growing trend for drug testing to be conducted in more normalised industries, including retail and health companies, as businesses look to safeguard not only the business, but also the reputation in the field they work in. There had also been changes in the types of drugs for which businesses wished to screen. Traditionally LGC see requests for amphetamines, cocaine, cannabis, opiates, but now they are seeing more requests for things like ketamine, steroids, and also for novel psychoactive substances – or legal highs as they're otherwise known.

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