Considering that many organizations don´t realize the prevalence of employee drug abuse in their workplaces, they´ll be shocked to learn that of the 16.6 million illicit drug users aged 18 or older in 2002, 12.4 million (74.6 percent) were employed either full or part time. In fact, studies have shown that on average, 10% to 12% of the workforce in any given company abuse drugs.
What´s more alarming is that this number appears to be on the rise. "In 2005, our addictions hotline reported a 22 percent increase in calls, compared with 2004," says Jennifer Wegener of Bensinger, DuPont & Associates, a leading provider of employee assistance programs. "We also saw a seven percent increase in EAP cases with substance abuse problems during that same time period."
Because of the far-reaching impact of substance abuse on the employee and the workplace, employers need to be aggressive in addressing the issue head-on. According to the Drug-Free Workplace Act:
Health benefit utilization is 300% higher among drug users than among employees who do not use drugs.
Absenteeism is 66% higher among drug users than among employees who do not use drugs.
Forty-seven percent of workplace accidents are drug-related.
By implementing an assessment, training and intervention program, employers can be take a proactive stance against substance abuse in the workplace. Ms. Wegener offers these suggestions:
Draft a Substance Abuse Policy: The written policy should explain the purpose of the program, describe substance abuse-related behaviors that are prohibited, and delineate the consequences for violating the policy.
Train Supervisors: Supervisors should be trained to recognize signs of substance abuse (such as absenteeism, poor job performance) and follow standard company procedures for dealing with them.
Educate Employees: A program should educate employees about the dangers of alcohol and other drugs, discuss the impact that substance abuse has on the workplace, explain how the substance abuse policy works and the consequences for violating it, and guide employees to where they and their family members can get help --- such as through the company´s employee assistance program.
Says Ms. Wegener, "Employers may reason to themselves that they can't afford to address the problem of substance abuse in their workplaces. But, the truth is, they can't afford not to do something."
For additional information, Ms. Wegener can be reached directly at 312-807-0513.
Cindy Kazan
Communi-K, Inc.
969 West Jonathan Lane
Milwaukee, WI 53217
414.352.3535
FAX: 414.352.2331