Experts in the Field of Drug Testing & Canine Drug Detection

What is an Expert Witness?

An expert witness, particularly in common law countries such as New Zealand, is a person whose opinion by virtue of education, training, certification, skills, or experience, is accepted by the judge as an expert. The judge may consider the witness’s specialised (scientific, technical, or other) opinion about evidence before the court within the expert’s area of expertise, to be referred to as an “expert opinion”. We know and adhere to the New Zealand High Court Rules for Expert Witnesses.

The right expert can offer a powerful advantage. An expert can also be called upon to explain complicated scientific issues and technical practices so that an individual or business can fully appreciate a process or system. 

Experts

ScentTECH’s Experience

For more than 10 years, ScentTECH has provided law firms, government entities, insurance companies and many other industries with highly qualified technical advice on Drug Testing and Canine Detection. This is largely drawn from the extensive scientific knowledge and experience of Dr. Severn.

Dr. Severn has a PhD in analytical Biochemistry and 35 years’ experience as a research chemist. He is a subject matter expert in all aspects of drug screening and drug free workplaces including training, rules, regulations, and procedures. 

Dr. Severn is the Founder and Director of ScentTECH Canine Detector Dogs, a company that breeds, selects, and trains dogs in all aspects of canine detection. His specialised knowledge regarding the training and provision of instructive courses on canine olfaction has been drawn from 27 years working in these disciplines, both as a Canine Search & Rescue dog handler and as part of a substance detection dog team. 

Dr. Severn has authored a number of articles on Drug Detection (dogs) and Drug Testing (sample collection and analysis) and can provide opinions and expertise on a wide range of related topics.

Our Services

Services include, but are not limited to; review, research, and analysis of,

  • Reports
  • Conferences
  • Consultation
  • Site visitation and 
  • Surveys.

Where appropriate, a review of all discovery materials and any other materials deemed necessary to reach and render an opinion on the subject, will be provided.

Dr. Severn will only agree to serve as an expert witness after he performs a review of the applicable information, and only if he sees a significant issue on which he can ethically render an opinion.

We write Workplace Drug Policies

If you are considering employing one of ScentTECH’s Drug Detection or Testing Services in a situation which directly involves staff, you will need a Drug and Alcohol Policy. 

ScentTECH can help you write or update existing policies which will allow you to introduce Drug Detection on your site. This document will,

  • Show your responsibility and commitment to ensure a safe and healthy workplace for all staff,
  • Ensure that all staff can work in an environment free of alcohol and drug use or abuse,
  • Outline the company’s expectations and requirements for creating and maintaining an alcohol and drug free work environment, and for dealing with substance abuse in the workplace, and
  • Provide an opportunity for staff members with a substance use problem to get well rather than provide grounds for suspension or termination.