Synthetic Cannabis Products Causing Workplace Dangers

News Release – Instep Limited 5 July 2011

For immediate release

Synthetic Cannabis Products Causing Workplace Dangers

Readily available legal synthetic cannabis products are posing significant dangers for workplaces and workers, says one of New Zealand’s leading workplace behavioural healthcare companies.

Instep Limited’s chief executive Matthew Beattie says, “The rapidly escalating use of Kronic, Spice, Dream, K2 and other synthetic cannabis products now has major implications in the New Zealand workplace.

“Not only have employers a responsibility to keep the workplace safe, but also they have the onus of individual worker safety – helping the employee to look after themselves. Synthetic cannabis is currently a legal drug and its use poses significant risks to the workplace. For an employer it is not about legal or illegal, it is about safety and managing workplace risk – after all, employers are expected to manage the impact of alcohol in the workplace. We believe that employers need to take a strong position on the issue of synthetic drugs at work.”

Kirk Hardy managing director of the NZ Drug Detection Agency agrees with Instep’s concerns. “We work very closely with high-risk industries such as aviation, transport, civil engineering and mining companies with their employee drug testing programmes. The negative effects of Kronic and other similar drugs have become very visible in the last nine months. Testing for these legal synthetic cannabis products has only recently become available and we’re now seeing more corporates wishing to include these legal drugs in their on-site workplace drug testing regimes.”

The effects of taking synthetic cannabinoid products mimic the effects traditional cannabis with users experiencing euphoria and paranoia. However, Kronic and others are anecdotally known to be much more potent than illegal cannabis.

Kirk Hardy says that he’s seen up to 20 times stronger effects from Kronic users. “Employers need to draw a line in the sand now. Using the analogy of alcohol – which is of course also readily accessible - employers must take a stand.”

A recent number of random specimens taken from a specific sector in one region of New Zealand that NZDDA sent overseas for synthetic cannabis testing returned a 30% positive rate for the synthetic drug.

Kirk Hardy says that this provides real evidence that there are people in the workplace who are willing to put themselves and others at risk of being seriously hurt or killed from using these types of drugs.

“In the industries we test you don’t necessarily get a second chance if things go wrong. Employees have to concentrate and just can’t afford to be at risk of being impaired. We are talking safety-sensitive industries and if someone is not on their game, so to speak, you are going to have a much higher chance of someone being killed or seriously injured in a workplace accident and that is not something you can take chances on.

“We just hope that this acts as a deterrent to others not to use synthetics, or other substances legal or illegal, that pose a serious workplace safety issue,” said Mr Hardy.

Instep’s Matthew Beattie says that although the NZDDA testing results at this point should not be used as indicative of a trend “the figures don’t look good.”

Instep offers some guidance for employers. “It is not just about compliance with health and safety in employment legislation. It’s also about best practice for employee wellbeing. Employers are legally required to provide a safe working environment. We recommend that businesses alter their workplace policies to include the ability to test for the presence of synthetic drugs, and this will include a consultation process. For some this will involve unions represented in their workplace,” said Matthew Beattie.

“Instep also strongly recommends that businesses continue to educate and inform their staff about drugs - legal and illegal, including alcohol - so good choices are made and their workplaces are safe. Businesses should monitor suspected employee drug use and test where appropriate, and then make sure they provide a supportive environment for employees who are found to have a drug or alcohol problem,” says Mr Beattie.

On 17 June, the Hon Peter Dunne, Associate Minister of Health, announced amendments would be made in the next few weeks to the Misuse of Drugs Act. This would make synthetic cannabis a Class D drug, making it a restricted substance.

Kronic and other named synthetic drugs that mimic the effect of cannabis were banned in New South Wales from t1 July 2011 under the NSW Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act. A ban on the use of synthetic cannabis will come into effect seven days later. Western Australia recently banned synthetic cannabis products, with other Australian states considering similar action.

ENDS

About synthetic cannabinoids
• A psychoactive herbal and chemical product which, when consumed, mimic the effects of cannabis such as euphoria and paranoia. However it is anecdotally known to be up to x20 more potent than traditional cannabis.
• It’s made up of a combination of synthetic cannabinoids, with herbs added for smoking.
• Known in New Zealand as Kronic, Pineapple Express, K2, Spice, Aroma and Dream.
• The synthetic cannabinoids are usually JWH-018, JWH-073 or HU-210 which are undetectable in regular drug testing for cannabis.
• Testing for synthetic cannabis was recently made available by the NZ Drug Detection Agency that sends samples to the US to test for the two most common synthetic cannabinoids.
• Synthetic cannabinoid products are readily available for purchase in dairies, petrol stations, other retail outlets, and online as pre-rolled joints or in loose form.
• Banned in many countries, synthetic cannabis is currently legal in New Zealand.
• On 17 June, the Hon Peter Dunne, Associate Minister of Health, announced amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act would be made shortly. The Minister’s office has indicated this would make synthetic cannabis a Class D drug, making it a restricted substance.

Background: Instep Limited
Instep is a national behavioural healthcare company delivering support programmes to the workplace. Programmes are designed to build and develop relationships, and have a particular emphasis on employee wellbeing.
Offerings include alcohol and drug-free workplace programmes, critical incident support, mindfulness training, health and wellbeing good practice award training, employee assistance, professional supervision and organisational development.
Clients include many of New Zealand’s major companies and corporates, particularly those who operate in a safety sensitive environment.
Established 13 years go by Matthew Beattie, Instep Limited works closely with agencies such as NZDDA and ESR and employment and forensic experts. It is accredited as an Investors in People company.
www.insteplimited.com

Background: New Zealand Drug Detection Agency (NZDDA)
The NZDDA supplies specialised services for companies that conduct on-site workplace drug and alcohol testing. It is the only fully compliant AS/NZS 4308:2008 on-site testing provider in New Zealand and is considered to be the leader in its field.
NZDDA staff are experts in the drug and alcohol testing industry, and include former NZ police officers with significant experience in drug investigation. NZDDA has specialist on-site testing vehicles and are New Zealand’s only accredited on-site drug testing company.
Major clients include KiwiRail, Trans Pacific Industries, Solid Energy, the Fletcher group of companies and Hawkins Construction.
Established in 2005, NZDDA is a New Zealand-owned and operated company; there are 17 branches throughout the country.
www.nzdda.co.nz

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