Firm wins contract to test troops for illegal drugs
Thursday November 06 2008
A LONDON-BASED company has won a €60,000 contract to screen for illicit drugs among members of the Defence Forces, writes Allison Bray.
Concateno plc yesterday said it will carry out random drug-screening over the next two years for Ireland's troops serving at home and abroad.
The company will conduct urine tests among a random sample of 10pc of the forces to check for the presence of cannabis, cocaine, heroin and other illicit drugs.
Defence Forces' spokesman Commandant Gavin Young said approximately 7,000 troops have already undergone drug-screening over the past five years.
"Consumption of illegal drugs is simply incompatible with service life and our random drugs testing programme ensures that we have a strong deterrent and to identify those abusing drugs," he said.
