Substance Abuse In The Workplace Essay
Introduction
Part of the success of a company depends on having the best employees. However, due to stress at work, influence of colleagues and any other factors employees get into substance abuse. This report will cover how substance abuse may affect the business and its employees. It will also tackle how to address the issue considering employees are not open about it.
Problem
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), 68.9% of all drug users are employed and active in the workplace. The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) also reports that substance abuse cost the Canadian economy more than $39.8 billion in 2002. Our company is no exception if we are not going to do anything concerning the issue. It …show more content…
Substance abuse is any use of alcohol or illicit drugs and misuse of prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, which results in adverse side-effects or reactions.
The picture below shows common substances that are being abused, its harm to users and to others:
Contributing Factors to Substance abuse
• Stress, fatigue
• long hours or irregular shifts, low job satisfaction
• repetitious duties, boredom
• remote or irregular supervision
• easy access to substances Costs of Substance abuse to the company
• Productivity losses- tardiness/sleeping on the job, poor decision making, loss of efficiency
• Major Issues- Premature death/fatal accidents, increase in injuries/accident rates, illegal activities at work like selling drugs at co-workers.
• Money- training of new employees, health and rehabilitation. Sometimes, financial assistance not just to the employee but their families as well.
What other companies do about it?
Large businesses have assessment or drug testing and educational programs that they offer to their employees having Substance abuse.
Advantages
• Increased morale.
• Decreased workplace accidents.
• Reduced employee theft.
• Increased productivity.
• Reduced employee turnover
• They provide a safer environment for employers and other employees
• Increases
Part of the success of a company depends on having the best employees. However, due to stress at work, influence of colleagues and any other factors employees get into substance abuse. This report will cover how substance abuse may affect the business and its employees. It will also tackle how to address the issue considering employees are not open about it.
Problem
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), 68.9% of all drug users are employed and active in the workplace. The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) also reports that substance abuse cost the Canadian economy more than $39.8 billion in 2002. Our company is no exception if we are not going to do anything concerning the issue. It …show more content…
Substance abuse is any use of alcohol or illicit drugs and misuse of prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, which results in adverse side-effects or reactions.
The picture below shows common substances that are being abused, its harm to users and to others:
Contributing Factors to Substance abuse
• Stress, fatigue
• long hours or irregular shifts, low job satisfaction
• repetitious duties, boredom
• remote or irregular supervision
• easy access to substances Costs of Substance abuse to the company
• Productivity losses- tardiness/sleeping on the job, poor decision making, loss of efficiency
• Major Issues- Premature death/fatal accidents, increase in injuries/accident rates, illegal activities at work like selling drugs at co-workers.
• Money- training of new employees, health and rehabilitation. Sometimes, financial assistance not just to the employee but their families as well.
What other companies do about it?
Large businesses have assessment or drug testing and educational programs that they offer to their employees having Substance abuse.
Advantages
• Increased morale.
• Decreased workplace accidents.
• Reduced employee theft.
• Increased productivity.
• Reduced employee turnover
• They provide a safer environment for employers and other employees
• Increases