Results of workplace drug testing in Norway

Workplace drug testing is less common in Norway than in many other countries. During the period from 2000-2006, 13469 urine or blood samples from employees in the offshore industry, shipping companies and aviation industry were submitted to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health for drug testing. The samples were analysed for benzodiazepines, illicit drugs, muscle relaxants with sedating properties, opioids and z-hypnotics. In total, 2.9% of the samples were positive for one or more substances. During the study period the prevalence decreased for morphine (from 1.9% to 1.1%) and increased for amphetamine (from 0.04% to 0.6%), clonazepam (from 0% to 0.1%), methamphetamine (from 0.04% to 0.6%), nitrazepam (from 0% to 0.4%) and oxazepam (from 0.5% to 1.3%) (p