Substance abuse by employees can affect attendance, performance and safety. Thus, there is both a financial and human cost to addiction. Michelle Morra writes in HR Professional “substance abuse costs Canadian employers $24.3 billion annually according to 2002 statistics from the Canadian Center for Substance Abuse.” Alarmingly, the U.S. Department of Labor, reports, “research indicates that between 10 and 20 percent of the nation's workers who die on the job test positive for alcohol or other drugs.”

The first step towards recovery is to identify the problem. In some cases, such as those described in Problematic Substance Abuse in the Workplace, colleagues can play a role in uncovering a co-worker’s problem. As suggested in the article, documentation related to an individual’s ability to perform on the job is important.

If, however, abuse is suspected but the individual denies there is a problem, some organizations consider screening or testing, which are very controversial. The following article by Barbara Butler and Associates Inc. discusses many issues related to this topic. Additional information about testing can be found on the U.S. Department of Labor website.

Employees can be supported in a number of ways. The George Washington University Medical Center recommends organizations “offer comprehensive health insurance” that includes alcohol related services. They also advise that “the health plans should treat alcoholism as a disease and manage it accordingly" and that "policies must be nonpunitive and encourage employees to seek treatment.” Confidential screening and intensified education are also recommended.

Regardless of the approach used, the fact remains that substance abuse is a problem that can drain employee productivity. How does your organization address this issue?

References:

Barbara Butler & Associates Inc. Current Legal Context: Employee Testing. [www.ccsa.ca]. June 2009.

College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia. Problematic Substance Abuse in the Workplace. Halifax: Nova Scotia, 2008.

The George Washington University Medical Center. “Seven Tools to Lowering the Business Costs of Alcohol Problems” [www.ensuringsolutions.org]. Obtained August 9, 2009.

Morra, Michelle. “Return on Wellness.” HR Professional [www.hrthoughtleader.com]. Aug/Sept 2009, pp. 20-24.

U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration. “Workplace Substance Abuse.” Safety and Health Topics [http://www.osha.gov]. May 26, 2009.