Q1 2026 Child Safety Hair Testing Results (Northern Rivers)

Between 1 January and 31 March 2026, we finalised and reviewed 43 hair tests in matters relating to DCJ (Restoration) and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.

At face value, these are just numbers. But in practice, each result sits inside a much larger story: allegations (generally the ones against men in FCFCOA are proven false), risk assessments, and ultimately decisions about children.

Overall Results

Of the 43 tests:

·       31 (72.09%) were negative

·       12 (27.91%) were positive

Of those 12 positives, 4 were consistent with prescribed medications and excluded from illicit drug analysis.

This leaves 8 confirmed cases of illicit drug use.

This quarter is notable for one key reason: it is the first time in almost two years we’ve had more negatives than positives.

Given the nature of referrals, that matters.

Hair testing in this space is rarely random. Most cases arise from allegations or concerns significant enough to warrant court-ordered testing. A high proportion of negative results therefore suggests that, at least in this quarter, a substantial number of allegations were not supported by toxicological evidence.

Substances Detected

The 8 confirmed illicit cases did not point to a single dominant substance (cocaine and cannabis tied). Instead, they reflected a spread across multiple drug classes:

·       Cocaine (multiple cases)

·       Cannabis (THC)

·       Methamphetamine

·       Illicit benzodiazepines (e.g. diazepam without prescription)

·       One case involving three or more illicit substances.

Interestingly, this is the first time in 9 months methamphetamine has been in third place, showing the use of cocaine is becoming more popular than methamphetamine.

This distribution reinforces a consistent observation in forensic work: illicit drug use in family law and child safety matters is rarely uniform.

There is no single “profile” of use. Instead, patterns vary widely depending on the individual, their circumstances, and their environment.

Demographics

Of the total cohort:

·       35 males (81.39%)

·       8 females (18.61%)

Of the 8 illicit detections:

·       5 were male

·       3 were female

Closing Remarks

This quarter represents a positive shift, particularly after an extended period where positive results exceeded negatives.

Whether this reflects a genuine reduction in illicit drug use, changes in referral patterns, or simply natural variation over time is difficult to determine from a single quarter alone.

However, the outcome remains encouraging.

From a forensic perspective, the goal is not to “catch” drug use. It is to provide accurate, defensible, and unbiased evidence in matters where the stakes are exceptionally high.