DAMP testing....
 

So there has been a rumour floating around for a week or so now of a crew being done for being caught with some fairly nasty drugs in their system. The rumour is that Pilot A had heroin and pilot B had cocaine. Caught in QLD with AFP at the ready.

Anyone know anymore ?

Does CASA only do their "random" testing Monday to Friday mornings or do they work weekends, afternoon and night shifts as well?

Turned up at Cairns ATC one Sat morning.

That's a fairly serious allegation, blueloo.

I call Bull**** ! on the "Caught in QLD with AFP at the ready"

WTF would the AFP have to do with it ?

Especially since the last I heard they were only testing for codeine. Come to think of it, that test would likely be sensitive to any opiate. Cocaine not so much.

As mentioned, hardly a helpful allegation.

On edit, I was wrong. The relevant DAMP testing from the CASA site says:

"What drugs are tested for?
Amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine and opiates. The cut-off levels are set out in the relevant Australian Standard."

codeine metabolises as an opiate.

As far as I can tell it will test positive to opiates but secondary testing will reveal it is codeine not other nastier drugs.

Don't know what the detection level is, i.e. if you had a couple of Panadeine yesterday whether you will test positive today. I believe that codeine can be traced up to about three days but whether that is true I don't know.

The cutoff level is said to be in accordance with the relevant Australian standard, but I don't know what that means.

I think the way the rules and guidance material are written is such that it is almost impossible to tell how over the counter medications will show up on a CASA damp test when used within the proper usage guidelines (up to 8 tablets for things like panadeine or nurofen extra in 24 hrs) - if they do prove positive whether the secondary test will be treated as a legitimate over the counter medication used within the appropriate dosage limits and therefore not an issue or whether they are a no go regardless of the dosage.

Obviously taking a bucket load of over the counter pain meds i.e. more than the recommended dosage - is bad, but is "proper" use ok - I don't know

At my job we are cautioned "no codeine". But like you I don't know if using such a drug a couple of days before will test positive.

The original post is still troubling either way.

Been there with DAMP testing. I had the quick test and it picked up opiates from a poppy seed roll the day before and I was stood down until the proper lab test was done. The result from that was negative as I was way below the threshold.
Lesson; dont rush for a result and be prepared to wait a day or two for the proper test. I am also a lot more careful of what I eat before heading off to work.

With no specific party(s) mentioned. (even before editing to make even more vague)

So I think "a fairly serious rumour" is more the appropriate term.

And all I have heard is a rumour....

hence the post here, as If it is true then people will have heard about it.

Quite possibly. I do understand a similar scenario unfolded at another airline a long while ago, but the target was tipped off and vacated the aeroplane via the Jacobs ladder or some such means.

Propstop is absolutely correct with his false positives.
There is a particular cheese which causes positives to Amphetamines.
Poppy seeds can cause a positive to Opiates as does any Codeine containing medication.
I am aware of a mine site employee who popped a Panadine Forte (prescribed) any time he saw the drug testers. The preliminary positive had him stood down from work on full pay till the laboratory test confirmed it was prescribed, permitted medication. That could take between one and four days depending. He got paid to relax at the mine camp until cleared.
I seem to remember Victoria Police commenced Random Drug testing with a large media contingent to see the first "Drug Driver" arrested.He had his Photo on the front page and on each of the TV News channels. The guy was in a company vehicle and was sacked before the results came back, NO DRUG DETECTED. A false positive.
The Road side test is VERY unreliable.