PEABODY-The city?s decision to administer random drug tests to firefighters last May is finally coming into effect. Fire Chief Steven Pasdon said that an exact start date has not been set, but testing should begin later this month.And he couldn?t be more pleased.?I?ve been an advocate for (drug testing) most of my career,” said Pasdon. “This is not a place for substance abuse.”For increased effectiveness, the city chose to test by hair follicle, as opposed to urinalysis or saliva. Hair drug testing allows for a larger window of detection (up to 90 days after use) and eliminates the possibility of tampering with the specimen since a professional takes the sample directly from their scalp.?That?s why we?re doing it every other month,” said Pasdon. “There?s no escape.”Eight to nine firefighters every other month will report to the vendor location by appointment and offer several strands of hair to be sent out for lab work. The entire process will be confidential and random, as each firefighter has been assigned a random number and will not be identified by name. By the end of the year, Pasdon said approximately 50 percent of the department will have been tested, some more than once.?There will always be the same percentage for getting picked,” said Pasdon. He said that removing names of those already tested might give off a sense of freedom to use drugs knowing they couldn?t get caught. He also added that firefighters may be tested for reasonable suspicion brought on by any accidents, safety violations, or leaves of absences for longer than 90 days.?This wasn?t thrown together,” said Pasdon. “It was a very well thought out plan. I think what we have in place here is as good (as it gets).”Contracts are currently being negotiated with a local vendor, which Pasdon declined to name. Drug screening will begin immediately once everything is finalized.One thing that Pasdon wants the public and his firefighters to know is that the screenings are to keep everyone safe, not to call anyone out.?With 100 people, we?re going to have problems – that?s life,” said Pasdon. “This is not to hurt anyone. If we do have an issue where someone comes back positive, we?ll rehab them and put them in programs. It?s not a ?you?re fired? thing.”Pasdon said he has been working on getting drug testing approved in Peabody for the past six years, long before the infamous John Brophy Jr. case or more recently, the incidents in West Roxbury. He?s called it one of his “little crusades.”In the spring of 2005, Brophy Jr., a Peabody firefighter at the time, missed a 911 call to the fire department that nearly cost an infant?s life. During an investigation, Brophy failed a drug test and was suspended from his job.In August, two Boston firefighters died while fighting flames at a West Roxbury restaurant. Autopsies later found cocaine in one of their systems, while the other had high blood alcohol content.?It?s a dangerous job. Survivability comes down to the acuity of our senses. We rely on feeling, touch, hearing. If you?re the least bit impaired, your ability to save yourself or someone else greatly diminishes.”Pasdon doesn?t want people to continue to get the wrong idea in thinking that there?s a great problem of drug use among the Peabody fire department.?I?m just working to minimize the chance of there being a problem,” he said. “It?s no different than buying new technology. This is another tool to keep everybody safe.”