<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Employers are cracking down on white-collar cocaine use after detections of the illicit substance almost doubled in Australian workplaces this year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Positive workplace tests for the illegal party </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/drugs" rel="" target="_blank" title="drug"><span>drug</span></a><span> were up 45 per cent in the quarter ending March 31, according to the country's largest drug testing agency.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://tdda.com/australia-imperans-q1-2026-report-state-of-workplace-drug-use-from-tdda/" rel="" target="_blank" title="The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA) chief executive"><span>The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA) chief executive</span></a><span> Glenn Dobson warned that cocaine detection is no longer slowing down outside of typical holiday periods and is becoming a "sustained" problem in office environments.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/meningococcal-b-strain-warning-after-perth-man-dies-overseas/3c468ac9-2c7a-4883-b491-8a3631ec3319" rel="" target="_blank" title="Zander, 21, died hours after developing a headache and rash on flight"><strong><span>Zander, 21, died hours after developing a headache and rash on flight</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/meta-to-slash-thousands-of-jobs-in-ai-push/ddbeef78-ee8c-452d-a3fa-e367845a07ae" rel="" target="_blank" title="Meta to slash 8000 jobs in aggressive restructure"><strong><span>Meta to slash 8000 jobs in aggressive restructure</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We did see a holiday spike followed by a partial correction, but cocaine detections have not returned to previous baseline levels," Dobson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Year-over-year, detections are up across almost every state, which may point to a steady and increasingly entrenched supply network."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/white-collar-workers-should-be-regularly-drug-tested-as-cocaine-use-surges/664abb44-c8e1-4e0c-a285-7e9dadddc146" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Cocaine use has climbed in every state except Western Australia, according to tests compiled by TDDA between January 1 and March 31.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The data has been taken from pre-employment, post-incident, regular and random testing in Australian workplaces.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Detections of the drug were highest in South Australian workers, with an 128.2 per cent year-on-year increase, followed by Queensland, NSW and Victoria.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The use of amphetamine-type substances (ATS), including methamphetamine, is also up by 28.3 per cent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The TDDA has urged employers to ramp up efforts to tackle drug use as a "priority" in light of the alarming statistics.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dobson told the </span><a href="https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/careers/drug-testing-coming-to-white-collar-jobs-as-cocaine-use-booms-20250811-p5mlx0" rel="" target="_blank" title="Australian Financial Review (AFR) "><em><span>Australian Financial Review (AFR)</span></em></a><span> that he is seeing "more testing in white-collar environments".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-april-23-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/a233896c-f0d2-4024-bd3c-3cce661a51ab"><strong><span>Why Trump is losing his grip and what can turn it around</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/meta-to-roll-out-extra-supervision-features-for-parents-with-teenagers-using-facebook-instagram/ebb681b9-6831-4ef9-8e9c-b3a8c914c3e0" target="_blank" title="Parents will soon see their child's AI search history on Facebook, Instagram"><strong><span>Parents will soon see their child's AI search history on Facebook, Instagram</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If a testing programme is not yet in place, or has not been reviewed for some time, addressing this should be a priority," Dobson added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Employers are encouraged to strengthen measures specifically addressing those substances.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Implementing a targeted testing programme including pre-employment, regular and random testing is one of the most effective tools for early warning and intervention."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dobson said cocaine detection can be prevalent among high-performing staff in leadership roles.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He described it as a "risk" to everyone in the workplace.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Cocaine does not announce itself the way some other substances do," Dobson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Employees using cocaine may present as confident and high-performing, even as their judgement, concentration and impulse control are compromised.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"In workplaces where people operate heavy machinery, drive vehicles, or carry out safety-sensitive tasks, that is not just a risk to the individual. It is a risk to everyone around them.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"By the time the problem becomes visible, it may have already been present for some time."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>National Alcohol and Other Drug hotline 1800 250 015</span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>Support for families and friends of individuals experiencing alcohol or drug dependency:</span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.fds.org.au/"><strong><span>Family Drug Support Australia</span></strong></a><span> </span><strong><span>24/7 Support Line – 1300 368 186</span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>