As we approach the Festive Season, also called affectionately the Silly Season, one thing you can expect in addition to more parties and social gatherings, is an increase in roadside drug testing in Victoria.
As highlighted on Victoria’s Transport Accident Commission website, drug driving is a serious road safety issue. In the last five years just under 40% of all drivers and motorcyclists killed who were drug tested, had drugs in their system, with cannabis and stimulants the most common substances detected. Perhaps surprisingly, one in four Victorians who use drugs have admitted to driving under the influence of recreational drugs.
With these types of figures, it should be no surprise to hear that the number of roadside drug tests have increased over the past few years. In 2014, around 40,000 drug tests were conducted in Victoria on our roadsides; in 2017 the number had increased to 100,000.
As we enter the Festive Season there’s sure to be an increase in drug testing. As a reminder, Victoria Police, like police forces around the rest of the Australia, have the right to pull drivers over at any time to conduct drug testing. If you’re one of those pulled up to undergo drug testing, your saliva will be analysed for traces of illicit drugs including THC (the active ingredient in cannabis), methamphetamines and ecstasy.
Drug testing reveals one in five Victorian rental homes high!
Here’s a scary thought for those that rent, or those that are about to buy a home – testing has revealed that around one in five Victorian rental homes could be contaminated with methamphetamines residue.
The residue is generally caused by people using methamphetamines, not the manufacture of the drug. And it’s not just the poorer suburbs at risk, with drug testing also revealing that so called high-end Melbourne suburbs such as Toorak and Elwood are not safe from the drug residue.
The results have prompted calls for drug testing to be carried out as part of building inspections.
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Expect to see additional drug testing on Victorian roads in the Silly Season Credit TAC
