[12] (*) ADDICTION 88, pp 163-166 1993;
“Hair analysis for drugs: technological breakthrough
or ethical quagmire?” by John Strang, Joseph
Black, Andrew Marsh, & Brian Smith
While it may be politically attractive to concentrate on illicit drugs,
it ignores the reality that it is the use of alcohol and nicotine and not
illicit drugs which constitutes the greatest threat to safety and productivity
in the work place. The resources used in drug screening programmes might
usefully be redirected towards education and rehabilitation based initiatives
which address all the issues surrounding the use of drugs and alcohol in the
work- force. Directing resources towards the new and expensive technology of
hair analysis is a retrograde step.