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Greenbud

Mulling over the swab squad
By John Elder | The Age | June 27, 2004

Duff Beer is the brew favoured by Homer Simpson, which he drinks at home on the couch as a fun way of passing time. Curiously, the director of research at the Australian Drug Foundation is a man named Duff - Dr Cameron Duff - who kind of declared this week that drugs, notably party drugs, are the new beer.

"Drug use seems to have become a leisure activity in its own right," he said, citing a foundation survey of 380 peppy Melbourne nightclubbers.

In short, pillin' and chillin' are now "mainstream".

Dr Duff made a careful call for national policy makers to "rethink" their approach to managing the heartland's latest hobby.

His comments made news, but inspired no outrage.

Consider, on Friday night a real-life Edna Everage called Radio National talkback to say that expelling school students found smoking weed wouldn't deter other students from bonging on.

"Kids smoke marijuana," she said. "It's just a fact of life."

She could well have been talking about the quality of lamingtons at a church fete, such was her shrugging tone.

Certainly, John Howard isn't slapping his forehead with amazement and a Homer-like, "Doh!" But the random drug testing by Victoria Police of 9000 motorists over the next 12 months might do it.

The world-first experiment begins in four days - at least that's when the police officially get their powers to conduct the testing. The first roadside swabbing is actually some weeks away; the technology isn't in the hands of the police yet.

The sampling of drivers won't give us a definitive picture of Australia as a stoner nation - yet it promises to make a compelling one.

When the drug test kits turn up, and if they hold up, we'll know if drug-driving exceeds drink-driving's popularity. More fatal accidents involve drugs than drink - and drink-driving is very popular indeed. Consider the recent blitz on the West Gate Bridge: a boozer at the wheel caught every four minutes.

During the drug trial, drivers will be tested for cannabis and speed - and not the full range of popular party favourites, including the top whiz, ecstasy. It's presumed that a good number of E-users will be nabbed, because speed is widely used to cut the huggy drug - one bound to invisibly confuse the trial's analysis and resulting profile.

Also confused are the subscribers to marijuana.com. A newspaper story about the drug test trial was posted on the site last month, birthing a discussion board featuring many people with dope-related nicknames - some outraged about their bodies being invaded (by the swab), but many more of a mellow disposition who considered the police campaign a reasonable idea.

Bongwater writes: "Yeah, I'm for it if it can show recent traces, like within the last four hours. But if it can't tell when you used a drug, then it is ridiculous and shouldn't be allowed." Smoking Joe Lee, likewise: "I don't like the idea of anyone driving while intoxicated but... when testing for alcohol, there is an agreed-upon level that says, 'You're wasted!' Will the swab system work in a similar way?"

Put your dreamy minds at ease, fellas. I called George Svigos, media adviser to Police Minister Andre Haermeyer. George says the swabs will pick up the good stuff within two to three hours of smoking it.

A helpful tip: stock up on munchies before twisting up. No more late night dashes to the 7-Eleven.

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"I believe in the near future, the government will use anti-drug hysteria to set up a police state."
-author William S. Burroughs, 1947

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SevenLeafs

Heh, aside from the fact that members of this site are mentioned, I think this is a great article, and it also offers a bit of info at the end, where it says that the swab detects the drug used (although it didn't say if it was any drug, or one in specific) within the last 3-4 hours.

This last is excelent news to me. I have agreed with the swab if it could detect current/recent use of drugs, but not like the urine test, which shows use up to 2 weeks post-usage.

Peace.7L

__________________

"A soul in tension that's learning to fly
Condition grounded but determined to try
Can't keep my eyes from the circling skies
Tongue-tied and twisted just an earth-bound misfit"
- Pink Floyd -

Just say KNOW!

Greenbud

Ironic how the US isn't planning on adopting the use of the swabs for their "random drug tests". Instead, they happily embrace the blood and urine screenings.

See, the swabs will detect drug usage over the past few hours, whereas the blood and urine tests show usage over the past few weeks. The swabs would be easier to use roadside instead of dragging John or Jane Doe to the station or hospital for the tests. And the Aussies say they work; obviously, or they wouldn't be using them. Given the US government's "zero tolerance" attitude towards drivers who show any positive signatures in their blood or urine, and the fact that THC metabolites are still present weeks after smoking without symptoms of intoxication, it's further proof that the new "drugged driver" laws are soley to uncover and prosecute the pot smokers.

Suetaz

Originally posted by Greenbud:
Ah, but do they work? and how well do they work?

Are you clean?

Jun 23 2004 | By Nick Ellis Rhyl Visitor | icNorthWales

NORTH Wales Police chief constable Richard Brunstrom was challenged to prove he is drug-free this week - and he accepted.

During a meeting at Rhyl Town Hall, Mr Brunstrom took a drugs test following a "dare" from well-known cannabis campaigner Jeffrey Ditchfield. He challenged the chief to go through one of five drug saliva probes.

The analysis failed to produce a result, but Mr Brunstrom said he would gladly take another in public when the force introduces its random test policy in the next few months.

[SNIP]

Mr Brunstrom, who gave up the test after it failed to provide a result and confessed to having a drink of wine the night before, said he would not have a problem taking another trial.

[SNIP]

Back to "Mulling over the swab squad":

It would have been nice if the author had mentioned WHY marijuana users are so concerned with the tests.

Last month? How about in the last week?

Bushllit!!! Many more? He obviously missed the poll too!

This doesn't mean that it won't pick up older traces. I'd really like to see some proof as to how well these swab tests work. I guess the poor Australians will have to be the guinea pigs and find out the hard way.

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rick

Very interesting and I do believe it is the first time a Member(s) of our Community has ever been quoted. Nice job to both Smokin_joe and Bongwater!

::nods:: Very cool indeed!

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StewScum

Bah, i still say i can drive fine high as long as i can pass a subriety test or something, weed hasn't cause many deaths as far as accidents at all, so it should not be treated the same as alcohol. It is pretty cool to get mentioned.

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Life is like a pot of stew, if you don't stir it up every once and a while, all the scum rises to the top -Still Life with Woodpecker by Tom Robbins.

sharpdog18

When the drug test kits turn up, and if they hold up, we'll know if drug-driving exceeds drink-driving's popularity. More fatal accidents involve drugs than drink - and drink-driving is very popular indeed. Consider the recent blitz on the West Gate Bridge: a boozer at the wheel caught every four minutes.

This a quote from the above article yet everyone seemed to let it go. When evidence as soon that this statement is just not true.

And serious random drug test are a violation of our rights. I think i would just have to go to jail and they are going to have to physical take blood from my arm. Since i live in the good ole USA and we can do a simple swab test no we want blood or urine. Which means the law is directly aimed at pot smokers because of the time that it stays in your body.

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I just hope I meet a girl one day who understands my relationship with Mary.