Drugs use up for health staff and police

-

The amount of staff that have tested positive to use of Class A drugs – such as heroin, cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines and methadone – increased by 50 per cent between 2007 and 2011 from 2.26 per cent to 3.23 per cent, according to statistics from the drug and alcohol screening company Concateno.

Although the figures did not split out the public sector from the private sector, healthcare workers and police staff were among the 1m employees who had been found to have taken the drugs. The other sectors were logistics, haulage, utilities, retail, occupational health, manufacturing, construction and commerce.

The research also revealed that most users of Class A drugs were between 25 and 34 years old.

Dr Claire George, Concateno’s laboratory director, said: “These are conservative figures across the workplace.”

HRreview Logo

Get our essential weekday HR news and updates.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Keep up with the latest in HR...
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Optin_date
This field is hidden when viewing the form

 

Pamela Flores is an events professional with experience at Symposium Events, a UK-based conference and events organization. She has worked in editorial and event coordination roles within the HR and expatriate management sector, contributing to the organization of major conferences including the Expatriate Management and Global Mobility conference. Her background spans online editorial work and events management within the professional conference industry.

Latest news

Curtis Holmes: Payroll is the driver for employee engagement

Payroll has long been treated as a back-office necessity: essential, but not something that shapes culture or drives engagement. This no longer stands.

Labour market yet to show major AI impact on jobs, govt adviser says

A government economic adviser has challenged predictions of widespread AI-driven unemployment, arguing labour market data has yet to show disruption.

Young workers ‘pressured into signing NDAs after workplace injuries’

Workers say injuries are being hidden behind confidentiality agreements while financial pressures leave many afraid to challenge unsafe conditions.

CIPD recognises 30 HR leaders driving change across UK workplaces

The CIPD has unveiled its HR30 list for 2026, recognising senior people leaders whose work has delivered measurable impact across organisations and workforces.
- Advertisement -

Brits dream of being their own boss, but still cling to the monthly pay cheque, survey reveals

Britons say they like the idea of self-employment, but most still value the security and stability of traditional jobs.

AI Coaching Won’t Replace Managers. It Will Expose Coaching Debt.

As AI coaching expands, employers may gain a clearer view of where manager support is falling short.

Must read

Kevin Turner: Top five tips to attract millennials

Online job board, Jobsite recently surveyed over 5,000 workers...

Bengt J Lundberg: What Role does HR Play in Meeting COP26 Goals?

HR will play a key role in the formation and implementation of a sustainability strategy. New technology, effective management and data-driven targets can help businesses. Even small changes in behaviour can make a big difference, says Bengt Johanes Lundberg.
- Advertisement -

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you