Drugs and alcohol
Request ID: FOI-0342-2021
Date published: 24 June 2020
You asked
What type of urine test for alcohol do Tfl use for staff who have been to rehab for alcohol? What biomarkers are tested? How many people seek help per year
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-0342-2021
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 6th June 2020 asking for information about alcohol testing at TfL.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
“What type of urine test for alcohol do Tfl use for staff who have been to rehab for alcohol? What biomarkers are tested? How many people seek help per year?”.
I can confirm that we hold the information you require.
At TfL we use breathalyser tests for alcohol, and urine tests for drugs. The urine test biomarkers are listed below. We have approximately 50 employees per year seeking help through our Drugs and Alcohol Assessment and Treatment Service (a proportion of which go to residential treatment). When these employees return to work, they return under a drugs and alcohol monitoring programme, where they are tested for six months in the workplace.
Urine test biomarkers:
Amphetamines
Barbiturates
Benzodiazepines
Cannabis
Cocaine
Ketamine
EDDP (Methadone metabolite)
Opiates
Propoxyphene
If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me.
On a more general matter, please note that the Government has announced a series of measures to tackle the coronavirus. It is essential for London that we continue to provide a safe transport network for essential journeys.
In current circumstances, we are not able to answer FOI requests readily and we ask that you please do not make a request to us at present.
Answering FOI requests will require the use of limited resources and the attention of staff who could be supporting other essential activity. In any event, please note that our response time will be affected by the current situation.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely,
David Wells
FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London
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