[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.