During the year, Eskilstuna has been hit hard by gang-related shootings and other acts of violence. For several years, the municipality has also carried out drug tests on the waste water, where a large amount of narcotics was found.
– All shootings and explosions in Sweden have their basis in drugs, but we are not talking about the market. We want to restrict recruitment to the gangs, but that will never work as long as there is a drug market, says Jari Puustinen (M), vice chairman of the municipal board to Dagens Samhälle.
More and more companies drug test staff
Now the municipality is looking at how the tests should be carried out practically, but the idea is that the tests should be done on a regular basis, with certain professional groups being tested more often. The tests must be based on voluntariness and if a drug test turns out to be positive, the employer has a responsibility to help the employee get rid of his addiction.
Today, more and more companies in Sweden drug test their staff, according to Dagens Samhälle. Refusal may result in reassignment or dismissal. But employees in the public sector have greater protection through the constitution. In the Form of Government, it is stated that “every citizen is protected vis-à-vis the public against forced bodily interventions”.
– If we are to address the social problems we have today, we must challenge the law, Jari Puustinen tells the newspaper.