Substance Abuse In The Workplace Essay

Alcohol and drug abuse is common, and the cost of substance abuse are high for employers. The 12.85% of total population in BC classified as having problems with substances dependence or abuse and approximately 8% of all full-time employees between the ages of 18 to 49 reported abusing alcohol and drugs. Additionally, substance abuse leads to considerable amount of problems such as injuries and illnesses which cause greater health care expenses.

BACKGROUND AND PROBLEMS

The impact of alcohol and drug abuse in the workplace often focuses on some major problems; premature death, fatal accidents, injuries, absenteeism, and extra sick leave. Furthermore, family members living with the employees suffering from drug or alcohol abuse may also suffer

• Research below for address employees suffering from alcohol and drug abuse:

• How other organizations manage and handle their employees suffering from alcohol and drug issues.

• What approaches these organizations are taking and what programs they offer.

• What policies they are adapting.

• Suggest what the company can do for the employees with alcoholism and drug issue and recommend a reasonable policy for them.

Discussion of Finding

Part 1. Why should employers care about workforce substance abuse?

On average, about 8 % of full time workers in a company were reported abusing alcohol and drugs. Each year, alcohol and drug abuse costs companies enormous amount of dollars in expenditures for health care, workplace injuries, disability payments and productivity losses. More specifically, substance abuse causes 35% of all workplace injuries and fatalities and also 35% of all absences are caused by substance abusers within the workplace.

Substance abuse by employees results in:

• Higher health care expenses for injuries and illnesses.

• Higher rates of absenteeism.

• Reductions in job productivity and performance.

• More workers’ compensation and disability