Substance abuse among workers can result in injuries and cost employer’s thousands. According to surveyed data these injuries have higher medical cost, cause more absenteeism and reduce productivity. On average Employers pay $7,000 per employee annually to deal with unaddressed substance abuse problems among workers. Coupled with the possibility of a workers compensation claim, the cost could become significantly higher.
In hopes of avoiding these and other troubles many employers require drug and alcohol screens and some require random routine tests. However many people that struggle with substance problems will avoid jobs where testing is required.
Promoting drug-free policies also provide an incentive to current workers to abstain from abusing drugs, because they know their companies value a sober workforce and drug use could put their jobs at risk, experts said.
National studies have shown that there is much higher prevalence of self-reported illicit drug use among workers who are employed by companies that do not test for drugs than among those that do, said Dr. Barry Sample, director of science and technology for the Employer Solutions business of Quest Diagnostics, http://www.questdiagnostics.com/home.html a New Jersey-based drug-testing company.
Drug abuse in the work place is a huge problem for many companies. Here is some information that indicates there is a problem.
American drug users consume Sixty percent of the world’s illegal drugs. Two million Americans use heroin, six million use cocaine, 18 million have alcohol abuse problems and an estimated 23 million people use marijuana at least four times in a week, according to the American Council for Drug Education.
Of all drug users, 74.8 percent are employed and active in the workplace. This means that 12.9 million individuals actively use drugs in the workforce, according to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). Using drugs impairs decision-making abilities as well as physically impairs people. This is a deadly concoction when on the job. In fact, between 10 and 20 percent of American workers who die at work have a positive result when tested for drugs or alcohol. A study by OSHA states that the most dangerous occupations, such as mining and construction, also have the highest rates of drug use by their employees.
Workers who get high on drugs or drink heavily often cannot think clearly, and they may make poor decisions or serious mistakes, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Their work quality is often inconsistent, and they may have trouble concentrating or focusing. Their productivity may suffer, and they may miss work more often than sober employees. Personal appearance and hygiene may deteriorate, and they often have a lot of health problems.
If you feel that someone in your workplace is abusing illegal substances, you need to tell a supervisor immediately. This can either be a manager, a team member, or human resources officer. You can do this privately or outside of work if it makes you more comfortable.
Never feel that you are risking a coworker’s job. This is the biggest reason that employees withhold their suspicions, and this is a big mistake. By not telling someone, you are contributing to the likelihood that an accident will occur. Reporting your suspicions could also force the addict to seek treatment.