The economic costs of drug and alcohol related sicknesses are huge. It is estimated that up 17 million working days are lost each year due in part, to the sheer number or people who struggle with addiction as well as their families on an ongoing basis throughout life.
It’s a known fact that one in four employees admit to making mistakes at work due to being hungover, with 83% of those surveyed reporting an adverse effect from their morning after. The impact of substance abuse on the individual is both financially and socially costly. The side-effects range from economical issues to professional problems, but it’s important not to overlook that there are also medical implications for people who misuse substances. In our quest to educate and support you in the fight against substance abuse, we have developed a course for employees regarding substance misuse. Developed with Drug and Alcohol Awareness professionals, this training will help inform your staff members of risk factors associated with drinking patterns or developing an addiction – as well offer advice on how early warning signs may occur so they can take action before it becomes too late! It also provides a forum to introduce your organisation’s Drug and Alcohol Policy, which will help increase awareness of the consequences of using substances in the workplace. It is important that all employees are aware of what they should do if someone reports being an alcoholic or addict so you can avoid any legal issues down the line!
What Is Substance Abuse?
Substance abuse is the use of a substance for something other than its intended medical or social purpose. This can result in an impaired physical and mental condition as well as lead to disorders such as depression, which often leads one into abusing substances again just so they have something else with which to numb themselves from emotional pain. Abuse can often lead to addiction and cause dependency that’s physical, mental or both. In addition substance abuse creates personal problems beyond the abuser’s control; all controlled substances have potential for abuse – some drugs alleviate pain while others energize users with their effects.
How Does Substance Abuse Affect Employers?
People who abuse alcohol or drugs tend to neglect nutrition, sleep and other basic health needs. This leads to:
Employees who attend work under the influence of drugs or alcohol may be physically and mentally impaired while carrying out their job. As a result they lack motivation to perform at capacity and also present a major safety risk when operating equipment. This leads to: