

https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1211/S00115/nz-drug-detection-agency-opens-queenstown-office.htm

NZ Drug Detection Agency Opens Queenstown Office

Thursday, 8 November 2012, 10:35 am
Press Release: NZ Drug Detection Agency

News Release – New Zealand Drug Detection Agency 8 November 2012

For immediate release

NZ Drug Detection Agency Opens Queenstown Office

The New Zealand Drug Detection Agency (NZDDA) has opened a Queenstown branch office, the company has announced. The establishment of a Queenstown office brings the NZDDA’s coverage in Otago and Southland to three offices (Dunedin, Invercargill and Queenstown) as well as six mobile testing units which allow for 24/7 coverage of the region, including the Wanaka, Alexandra and Cromwell areas.

NZDDA supplies specialist services to conduct on-site workplace drug and alcohol testing, as well as pre-employment drug testing. The company also offers advanced drug and alcohol manager and employee training programmes.

John Galliven, NZDDA’s general manager for the Otago/Southland region, says, ”The opening of NZDDA’s Queenstown branch office allows us to work more closely with our growing Southern Lakes client base, including the local tourism operators. Having a permanent base in Queenstown means we can now more easily provide our clients with a fully compliant, quick and cost-effective pre-employment, and workplace drug and alcohol testing, services and training programmes.

NZDDA tests for the following drugs: amphetamines, benzodiazapines, cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, optiates and synthetic cannabinoids.

Whilst NZDDA doesn’t have any official figures of the use of synthetic cannabinoids in New Zealand, it says there’s strong anecdotal evidence that its use is on the rise. “This means that some synthetic cannabis users will be going to work with the drug’s effects still in their systems – and this can profoundly affect a person’s judgement, particularly in safety-sensitive industries, such as tourism. NZDDA can accurately test to detect these substances in its pre-employment and workplace drug testing. The test strips we use to detect synthetic cannabis metabolites have passed the stringent FDA (US Food & Drugs Administration) testing, as well as being independently verified by an accredited AS/NZS 4308 laboratory,” says Mr Galliven.

NZDDA’s chief executive Chris Hilson adds, “Employers have a responsibility to provide a safe workplace for all - whether it’s for their employees, customers or simply passers-by. Having the ability to accurately detect for drug use in the workplace has got to be good for business and, ultimately, the New Zealand economy.

NZDDA’s Queenstown office is located at Unit 8, 70 Glenda Drive, Frankton.

John Galliven

Background: New Zealand Drug Detection Agency (NZDDA)
• NZDDA supplies specialised services for companies that conduct on-site workplace drug and alcohol testing. It 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. On-site testing is carried out in specialist NZDDA vehicles.
• Last year the NZDDA conducted 52,124 on-site workplace drug tests, up 77.8% from the 29,313 tests carried out in 2010. Of those tested in 2011, 90% were men, compared with 92% in 2010.
• NZDDA’s drug testing includes: amphetamines, benzodiazapines, cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates and synthetic cannabinoids.
• Sectors in which NZDDA operates include tourism, construction, forestry, freezing works, manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, transport and waste. NZDDA is increasingly working in the white collar sector with pre-employment and hair testing.
• NZDDA assists companies with drug and alcohol policy implementation as well as managerial/supervisory training and employee training sessions.
• The company has trained more than 5,000 managers and a similar number of employees nationwide.
• Established in 2005, NZDDA is a New Zealand-owned and operated company; there are 19 branch offices throughout the country.

ENDs