The loss to companies in the United States due to substance abuse by employees totals $100 billion a year . Some people use substances such as alcohol or illicit drugs and some people even misuse prescription drugs and still attempt to function in the workplace. Abuse of substances affects the workplace just as the workplace may affect substance abuse but sadly it is becoming more accepted.
There are two sides of the workplace and substance abuse. One side is that the workplace requires alertness, and accurate and quick reflexes. So an employee may feel that he or she “needs” a drug or substance to be alert and be focused. The other side of the workplace issue is that drugs may give focus, etc but as the substance is abused, the employee will suffer from an impairment to these very qualities. It can go so far as to even cause accidents, interfere with the accuracy of the employee’s work or the efficiency of work.
Substance abuse can cause other issues at work also including more absenteeism, preoccupation with obtaining and using substances either at work or before arriving at work or when leaving work. The distraction can go so far as to engage in illegal activities at work such as selling illicit drugs to others in the workplace.
We think that it is the hard-core substance abuser who is detrimental to the workplace, however, statistics show differently. The social drinkers is the most responsible for lost productivity by tying the hangover issue to production in the workplace. Twenty-three percent of upper management admitted to having a drink during the work day compared to only 8% of the hourly employees.
There may be offensive behavior complaints from one employee against another but when the truth is known, the underlying problem was substance abuse. Not only does a drug or alcohol problem cloud a person’s judgment but employees are 3.6 times more likely to injure themselves or another person in a workplace accident. Another interesting fact in addition, up to 40% of industrial fatalities and 47% of industrial injuries are linked to alcoholism.
