On 1 February 2018 in Australia, codeine (Panadeine, Panadeine Forte, Nurofen Plus, etc.) became a prescription-only drug. This means no over-the-counter medications purchased in a pharmacy or supermarket will contain codeine or other opiates.
This change may affect workplace drug and alcohol testing policies, particularly regarding declared medication.
Previously, during cold and flu season, many employees could test “positive” for codeine on-site due to its presence in over-the-counter products. Most cases were treated as “declared medication,” allowing employees to remain on-site until laboratory confirmation.
Now, only prescription-only products can generate a non-negative result (i.e., a “positive” result) for opiates on an on-site test. This means employees must declare such medication prior to testing, and, if confirmed in the laboratory, it may need to be reviewed with the company doctor.
However, some employees may still have legally purchased codeine preparations obtained before 1 February 2018.