From next month, Australia will join the growing list of nations in which it is possible to purchase home drug testing kits from the local chemist.
The Oraline saliva test kit will retail for around US$20 and is capable of testing for marijuana, heroin, amphetamines and cocaine through a basic saliva test. The kit will also be able to provide results within 7 minutes as opposed to other kits which can take up to 48 hours to return a result.
According to the manufacturers, the kit tests the saliva and can detect drug use within the last 24 to 48 hours.
While the product is being marketed as a tool for parents to test their children, a large market will also be bosses wanting to test their employees. Both scenarios raise serious questions about the issue of privacy, but the use of the kits on a professional level may also involve legal consequences in Australia.
Privacy laws may in fact bar the use of the kits on employees.
The release of the kits has raised the predeictable debate in Australia with family groups, industry pundits and civil libertarians coming out in force.
Of course, this has simply ensured the distributors have a good first month of sales.
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