By Glenn Dobson, CEO, The Drug Detection Agency 

At The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA), New Zealand’s leading workplace drug testing provider, we’ve added new drug testing capabilities to support infrastructure businesses in the region.

We’re making it easier to screen for tramadol and fentanyl, two high‑risk opioids that pose significant safety concerns. This is the first time that these tests will be incorporated into enhanced oral fluid and urine screening devices instead of needing independent testing strips or other costly devices.

This innovation expands TDDA’s screening panel from seven to nine drug types without adding additional costs. The updated devices – independently verified by an Australian Standards (AS)/New Zealand Standards (NZS) 4760:2019– and AS/NZS 4308:2008–accredited laboratory – will help infrastructure companies proactively mitigate risks associated with these potent, and widely abused, substances.

Globally, the use of opioids like tramadol and fentanyl poses a serious safety risk, and New Zealand is now seeing an uptick in workplace detections.

Any increase in detection rates represents a significant workplace threat, regardless of opioids being used while legally prescribed or in a non-medical setting. The emerging trend of abusing pharmaceuticals like tramadol and fentanyl is what keeps me up at night.

Until now, New Zealand largely avoided the fentanyl epidemic seen overseas, but there are indicators now saying otherwise. Any detections are worth examining. As a workplace risk, fentanyl is at the top. We don’t need research to tell us that this deadly substance can cause workplace accidents and long-term addiction, and lead to loss of life, in more ways than one.

The newly introduced tramadol and fentanyl screening strips will give infrastructure professionals the most advanced substance detection tools available. And that’s what we do; we help businesses stay ahead of the curve and protect their people. These will now become our standard devices, ensuring companies can take decisive action, maintain compliance and protect their workforce.

I recommend that businesses take a proactive approach to workplace safety by implementing comprehensive drug testing programmes, including pre‑employment, reasonable cause, and random drug and alcohol testing. Every worker has a right to a safe environment, and business owners, managers, and supervisors have a legal duty to ensure they’ve created a drug- and alcohol-free culture of safety.

Failing to act not only risks legal consequences, but can also erode workplace culture. As a leader in workplace drug detection, TDDA is committed to helping businesses stay ahead of these challenges, fostering safer and more productive workplaces.

Visit www.TDDA.com for more information.