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Alcohol and Other Drug Testing
Alcohol and Other Drug Testing
On this page
Please note: Random testing does not start outside the Northern Region
until March 2021
Legislation came into force in May 2017 that allows Probation and Police to test people
with an abstinence condition and on a sentence or order and those on bail for alcohol
and drugs.
An abstinence condition includes any condition that directs a person not to use alcohol
and drugs. Sometimes a judge or parole board will impose an alcohol abstinence
condition only or a drug abstinence condition only. Most of the time it is both.
Why test?
The purpose of testing is to provide probation officers with another tool for managing a
person with an abstinence condition on their sentence/order. It can be used in
conjunction with the ASSIST, MotivationaI Interviewing and other tools to allow
probation officers to make better decisions about treatment and management.
Testing for alcohol and drugs provides probation officers with valuable information
about a person’s substance use which allows them to have honest conversations with
people about their use and to access support.
Knowing a person’s AOD behaviours allows probation officers to take informed and
appropriate action based on their risk and need.
For high risk situations testing may provide evidence for necessary enforcement action.
Who is involved in AOD testing?
Probation officer
Assigns people on their caseload to a testing tier in IOMS (either tier 1, 2 or 3)
Takes action in response to test results
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Alcohol and Other Drug Testing
Decides when to book a reasonable grounds test and organises a time with the
AODTCT
AODTCT
The central team organises all the tests with the provider
Sends test results to PO
The testing provider
Takes the urine sample
Sends sample to a laboratory
Receives results and sends to AODTCT
AODT Tiers
How does a probation officer decide which tier a
person should be?
Probation officers need to assign each person on their caseload with an abstinence
condition to a testing tier based on their risk and AOD need.
Tier 1 – reasonable grounds only
Probation officer makes the decision whether to have a person tested. It can
happen any time. It can be at any frequency.
Tier 2 – random and reasonable grounds.
As above but person also put into “randomiser” which selects people for random
tests at a lower frequency than tier 3.
Tier 3 – random and reasonable grounds.
As above but person selected at a higher frequency than tier 2.
An algorithm has been designed that calculates an “automatic” testing tier for a person
based on their static risk. A person’s “automated tier” is found in Cobra and can be
accessed here.
The automation provides a starting point for a probation officer when deciding
person’s testing tier but the probation officer needs to make a professional decis
taking an holistic look at a person’s use of AOD and how this affects them and others.
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Alcohol and Other Drug Testing
All staff have automatically been enrolled and can access the AODT learning
module through My Learning Hub under ‘My Learning Modules’.
Testing Tiers Can Change
A probation officer may change a person’s tier at any time. If a person returns multiple
“clean” tests the probation officer could consider reducing their tier. If a person’s risk is
increasing and the probation officer suspects they are using drugs they might think
about increasing their tier.
What does “reasonable grounds” mean?
Reasonable grounds means the probation officer needs to have a reason to test a
person. For this reason, sound rationale must be included in the decision to test and
this recorded in IOMS.
Here are some bullet points to help shape thinking around reasonable grounds
testing:
reasonable grounds doesn’t mean a probation officer needs to have evidence to
test a person
reasonable grounds can be proactive. For example, it can be used if the person is
entering a high risk situation and the probation officer wants them to be tested
upon return. This can actually be good for those people who are affected by peer
pressure if they know they will be tested upon their return from an
event/party/other situation where alcohol and drugs might be present
it can be used to help a person into employment by providing assurance to
potential employers they are clean
it can be used to show family/whanau a person is remaining clean and sober
a probation officer can book multiple tests over some weeks or months. As long as
they have rationale
Telling a person about testing
A probation officer needs to tell any person on their caseload with an abstinence
condition they might be tested.
Here is the information sheet. It should be included in all induction packs.
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When a probation officer arranges for someone to be tested they must be advised
in writing. They can be told on the phone or via text but this needs to be followed
up at the earliest convenience with an ITR.
The probation officer liaises with the AODTCT about a time/day and then tells the
person the date and time.
The central team (AODTCT) will complete the ITR. The probation officer just needs
to print it from IOMS.
While the probation officer can book a test at any time the person should not have
more than 48 hours notice of a test. This is so they have less time to change their
AOD behaviours and means the results of the test represent their actual use.
The probation officer should only book a test with the AODTCT within 24 hours of
the appointment (an urgent test) if there are imminent concerns about risk related
to a person’s AOD use. There is an additional cost for urgent tests.
The Test
Testing happens at permanent testing sites or in testing vans that attend at the
Community Corrections site.
How does a urine test work?
The tester (who will be the same gender as the person being tested identifies) ensures
the following steps are completed:
confirm the identity of the individual (using the Refer Online Request or photo ID
provided by the them)
talk the person through their Chain of Custody form, including asking them if they
are on any medications, and the process for providing a urine sample.
advise the person that they will be indirectly observing them as they pee into the
collection container.
ask them to remove any excessive or baggy exterior clothing.
visually check the person for prosthetic or other devices designed to carry “clean”
urine and urine substitutes.
seek their consent for taking of the sample (signature and date)
take the sample and label it with the person’s details
seek their signature that the sample was labelled and sealed in their presence
(signature and date)
advise the AODTCT within two hours if a urine sample was not provided fo
reason
send the sample to the laboratory for testing.
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Alcohol and Other Drug Testing
Recognising Compliance
For some people, compliance with an abstinence condition might be very
difficult. It might be the first time in their adult lives where they have practiced
abstinence.
It is important for compliance with an abstinence condition to be recognised and
for people to receive positive feedback and affirmation.
Compliance with their abstinence condition might be an incentive for a testing tier
to be reduced. For example, a person subject to random testing (Tier 2 or 3) could
be recognised for producing a number of negative test results, by being changed to
Tier 1 reasonable grounds testing.
A negative test could also be used by a person to show an employer or to prove to a
partner/friend/family member that they are drug and alcohol free.
Recommending an abstinence condition
Considerations for including recommendations for abstinence conditions:
Was alcohol and/or drug use a factor in the offending?
Has alcohol and/or drug use been a factor in previous offending?
Is the person physically dependent on alcohol/drugs?
What programmes are available to support the person should they receive an
abstinence condition?
How do drugs and/or alcohol impact the person’s risk of reoffending and/or harm?
How could an abstinence condition support the person’s ability to remain offence
free?
How might an abstinence condition support any case-work with the person?
Are any specialist reports available, e.g., Alcohol and Drug Comprehensive
Assessment, DTU, MIRP, Psych?
Is there an identified victim of the offending? Where are they?
What is the outcome of the ASSIST?
What programmes or interventions has the person completed?
When deciding whether to include a recommendation for an abstinence conditi
probation officer should consider what rehabilitative programmes, interventions or
maintenance would support the person to abstain from alcohol and drug use.
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Important information about
drug and alcohol testing
For people with a special condition not to use alcohol or drugs
December 2020
You may be tested for alcohol or drugs.
This could happen if a judge or parole board has told you not to use alcohol or drugs.
Here’s what you need to know:
Your probation officer might ask you to take an alcohol or drug test.
They will tell you what to do.
Please take a test
for alcohol or drugs.
Probation Officer
You
Taking the test will help you show that you are clean and sober.
I took the test. It
shows I am sober.
Well done, I can see
you are doing well.
You
Probation Officer
If you are asked to take a test, you must do it. If you don’t, your probation
officer will decide what happens.
• You need help to
stay sober
Not taking the test could mean...
• More report ins
• Breach
You
We can test
• Beer
• Meth
you for all
• Wine
• Cocaine
drugs and
• Weed/cannabis
• Prescription drugs that
• Synthetics
have not been prescribed
alcohol
• Heroin
to you by a doctor
including:
• MDMA
• Anything else
• Liquor (gin, vodka, rum etc)
If you want help to stay sober, you can talk to someone. You can talk to your probation
officer, your whānau, or a counsellor.
I want to stay sober.
Who can help me?
You
How? Call the RecoveRing
support line 0800 678 789.
When? Anytime.
How? It’s free and private.
Probation Officer
Your whānau
A counsellor
If you are asked to take a test
What will happen?
Any time
Around 3
On test day
days after
Probation
Give urine
Probation
officer asks you
Do not drink
Go to testing
sample (wee
officer tells you
to take a test
lots of water
station
in a cup)
the results
The test will take place at a testing
site or a van like this:
On the day of the test…
You must not:
You must:
• drink lots of water
• go to the testing van
or other liquid. If
• show your ID (passport or driver’s
you drink too much,
license).
you will need to
If you have no ID please talk to your
take another test.
probation officer who will help you get some.
• sign a form to show you agree to
take the test
• show you are not hiding anything –
empty your pockets, turn around,
remove baggy clothes
• give a urine sample (wee in the cup)
After the test…
After around 3 days, your probation officer will tell you the result.
If the result is
negative, it means you were clean and sober.
Negative test (there
are no drugs or
Great!
alcohol in your urine)
If the result is
positive, it means there were drugs or alcohol in your body. Your probation officer
will talk to you about what happens next.
Positive test (there
Talk to your
are drugs or alcohol in
your urine)
probation officer
