Australian workplace drug profile shifts as ATS accounts for six in ten positive tests
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – 16 July 2026 – The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA), Australasia’s largest workplace drug testing provider, has released the Q2 2026 edition of the Imperans Report based on analysis of real workplace drug testing data from across the country.
“Overall workplace drug detections remained relatively consistent during Q2, but several findings warrant employers’ attention,” said TDDA CEO Glenn Dobson. “Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), including methamphetamine, reached their highest level in this first full year of Australian Imperans reporting and now account for six in every 10 positive workplace drug tests. Regional differences reinforce that employers need to monitor and understand the specific risk profile of their workforce and operating environment.”
Regional results highlighted distinct workplace substance profiles, with Western Australia recording the highest ATS prevalence, South Australia the highest cocaine detections, Queensland the highest cannabis detections and Victoria the highest opioid detections.
Published each quarter, the Imperans Report is designed to help employers track changes in workplace substance trends over time and make informed decisions about workplace safety programmes, education initiatives and testing policies.
National Snapshot
This quarter, 3.0% of all screens conducted by TDDA indicated the presence of drugs, continuing the broadly stable workplace drug detection rate observed over the past four quarters.
Among all positive results, the breakdown is as follows:
- ATS (including methamphetamine): 59.98% of positive tests, up 17.9% YoY
- Cocaine: 8.04% of positive tests, up 18.0% YoY
- Opioids (including oxycodone): 11.58% of positive tests, down 36.0% YoY
- Cannabis: 39.29% of positive tests, down 2.0% YoY
Regional Snapshot
TDDA tracks regional fluctuations in workplace substance use to help employers better understand changing risk profiles and support targeted testing, education and early intervention.
Cocaine
Cocaine remains a smaller but persistent component of detections. TDDA’s workplace testing data suggests cocaine is becoming a more established substance of workplace concern, particularly in the eastern states and South Australia.
Highest cocaine detection rates:
- South Australia – Recorded the highest proportion of cocaine detections nationally at 14.9%, almost double the national rate (8.04%), making it Australia’s leading regional workplace hotspot in Q2 2026.
- New South Wales – With 12.0% cocaine detections, NSW sits well above the national cocaine detection rate, reinforcing the state’s continued exposure to cocaine in the workplace.
- Victoria – With 9.6% cocaine detections and remaining above the national rate, cocaine continues to present a notable workplace risk in Victoria.
- Queensland – Although below the national rate, cocaine still accounted for 7.3% of detections and remains a persistent component of Queensland’s workplace substance profile.
ATS (Amphetamine-Type Stimulants)
ATS remained the most commonly detected substance in positive workplace drug tests during Q2 2026. Western Australia and South Australia continue to record exceptionally high ATS prevalence, while Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales also reported strong stimulant activity, reinforcing ATS as Australia’s leading workplace substance risk.
Highest ATS detection rates:
- Western Australia – 88.6%
- South Australia – 78.7%
- Queensland – 53.0%
- Victoria – 50.0%
- New South Wales – 47.5%
THC (Cannabis)
Cannabis remains one of the most commonly detected substances nationally, with Queensland recording the highest results in Q2. Although cannabis remains widespread across Australia, growth has been relatively stable compared with the continued increase in ATS detections.
Highest THC detection rates:
- Queensland – 46.3%
- Western Australia – 39.8%
- New South Wales – 34.8%
- Victoria – 32.4%
Opioids
National opioid detections continued to decline during Q2, although several states remain above the national average. Victoria recorded the highest opioid detection rate nationally, highlighting the importance of maintaining robust workplace testing programmes that include prescription opioid monitoring.
Highest Opioids detection rates:
- Victoria – 21.3%
- New South Wales – 12.0%
- Western Australia – 10.8%
- South Australia – 10.6%
Full regional stats (graphs) can be found here.
Recommendations
TDDA recommends employers regularly review their workplace drug and alcohol policies to ensure they continue to reflect the workplace risks associated with their region, industry and operating environment.
“One quarter of data doesn’t establish a trend, but it does add another important piece to the picture,” said Dobson.“Over time, the Imperans Report can help employers understand how workplace substance risks evolve and identify the patterns specific to their region. That allows organisations to review workplace safety, education and testing programmes using current evidence rather than assumptions.”
A comprehensive workplace substance management programme should combine:
- workplace drug and alcohol policies that are reviewed regularly to ensure they are fit for purpose;
- employee education to improve awareness of workplace drug risks;
- manager training to recognise potential drug risks and confidently have early, supportive conversations and mitigating processes with employees.
- appropriate testing programmes, including pre-employment, random and post-incident testing where suitable.
Early identification and intervention remain the most effective way to reduce workplace safety risks while supporting positive health outcomes for employees.
Methodology
Tests from 19 sterile clinic locations and over 50 mobile clinics throughout Australia were used. All tests were taken between 1 April and 30 June 2026. Data from pre-employment, post-incident, regular and random testing has been combined. Testing methods included urine and oral fluid screening. Data is reported into, anonymised, and aggregated using TDDA’s Imperans system, a bespoke IT platform for testing services, data recording, and reporting. It represents a snapshot of drug trends across Australian workplaces and industries. Total figures on testing volumes or testing results by industry and region are commercially sensitive. TDDA drug tests screen for amphetamines; benzodiazepines; cocaine; methamphetamine; opiates and opioids; Cannabis; and synthetic drugs.
For more information, or to speak with a TDDA spokesperson, please contact:
Richelle Gillett, Giant Squid Inc
0418 781 610 rg@giantsquidinc.com.au
About the Imperans Report
The Imperans report addresses an information gap for business. Government organisations like Safe Work Australia and state regulators such as WorkSafe Victoria and SafeWork NSW, publish incident reports, but they do not quantify when substances are a factor. Reports build businesses’ understanding of substance use patterns regionally and temporally so that they can anticipate and reduce workplace risks. TDDA provides over 250,000 tests every year.
About The Drug Detection Agency
The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA) is a leader in workplace substance testing with more than 300 staff, 90 mobile health clinics, 65 locations throughout Australasia. TDDA was established in 2005 to provide Australian and New Zealand businesses with end-to-end workplace substance testing, education and policy services. TDDA holds ISO17025 accreditation for workplace substance testing in both AU and NZ. Refer to the IANZ and NATA websites for TDDA’s full accreditation details. As members of the National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA) and the California Narcotic Officers Association (CNOA), TDDA closely follows and acts on global drug trends. Learn more about TDDA by visiting https://tdda.com/.