Alarming new normal in 2026 workplace drug statistics

What was once a short-term spike is now a consistent plateau as drug use hits a new high, mounting concerns around detection in the workplace.

Latest findings from The Drug Detection Agency revealed rates of drug use have not dropped to the expected post-holiday level despite 2026 being well underway.

In its Q1 2026 report based on these findings, Imperans found that cocaine detections in Australian workplaces have risen 45.4 per cent year on year (YOY), while amphetamine-type substances (ATS) such as methamphetamine and MDMA continue to climb nationally.

While detections in Q1 2026 fell by 2.6 per cent from Q4 2025, the quarterly snapshot signalled seasonal patterns rather than meaningful improvements.

As such, the YOY rise from Q1 2025 (5.7 per cent) to Q1 2026 (8.3 per cent) indicates an alarming increase and underscores the need for detection refinement and measures to address specific substance use that may not be obvious to employers.

Chief executive of The Drug Detection Agency, Glenn Dobson, said, “Cocaine does not announce itself the way some other substances do.”

“Employees using cocaine may present as confident and high performing, even as their judgement, concentration and impulse control are compromised. 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.”

Dobson also suggested that the YOY detections up in almost every state “may point to a steady and increasingly entrenched supply network”.

Regarding cocaine, YOY increases were noticed in every state except Western Australia. South Australia saw a 128.2 per cent increase, Queensland a 99.7 per cent increase, New South Wales a 59.5 per cent increase, and Victorian rates a 44.6 per cent increase.

ATS were the most frequently detected substances, present in more than half of all positive tests. Nationally, detections rose 11.8 per cent YOY and almost 10 per cent from Q4 2025 to Q1 2026, unlike cocaine, which saw minor decreases after the holiday period in every state except Queensland.

The report urged employers to regularly review their drug policies in response to the latest and state-specific trends. It suggested implementing a targeted testing programme, including pre-employment and regular, random testing, as one of the most effective tools for intervention, in addition to ongoing training for managers to support their employees.

In an increasingly complex environment, the earlier the intervention, the better the outcome.