American Drug Testing Consultants - - Drugs in the Workplace

Drugs in the Workplace

By
Gianni DeVincent Hayes, Ph.D

Every employee has the right to a drug free workplace. Alcohol and other drug (AOD) abuse certainly endanger the safety of the abusing employee, but it also endangers every other employee. In a nationwide survey performed for The Institute for a Drug Free Workplace, the Gallup Organization reported that 28% of the full-time employees surveyed identified illicit drug abuse as the greatest threat facing America today.

Every day, in large corporations and small businesses all across the country, the problems caused by substance abuse disrupt the workplace. There is a false perception that America's drug problem is youth-orientated. However, two-thirds of drug abusers are employed. If you are in business you must be aware of these facts:

41% of the workers surveyed stated that the drug abuse of fellow employees seriously affected their own job productivity

The United States has the highest substance abuse rate of all industrialized nations.

America accounts for only 5% of the world's population, yet consumes 60% of the world's illicit drugs.

Over 35 million Americans are addicted to prescription and nonprescription medication.

18 million Americans are alcoholics. (“National Household Survey,” NIDA)

Nearly 20 million Americans use hashish or marijuana regularly.

Over 5 million people use cocaine or crack regularly.

Every day, 5000 people use cocaine or crack for the first time.

74% of all illegal drug users are employed either full or part time

10% of all employees abuse alcohol or other drugs on the job

53% of employees state that drug use and drug dealing are major contributors to workplace violence

44% of drug users support their habits by stealing from or selling drugs to fellow employees

An average 10% of all full-time employees abuse alcohol and other drugs on the job. “Drugs in the Workplace: Research & Evaluation Data, National Institute on Drug Abuse Research Monograph”

64% of workplace substance abuse is alcohol related.

— Comprehensive Textbook of Substance Abuse

20% of all employees aged 18-25 use drugs on the job.

– “Research on Drugs and the Workplace,” NIDA Capsules

64% of all accidents on the job are directly or indirectly related to substance abuse in the workplace. – Texas Business Today

1 in 5 or 6 employees are under the influence of alcohol in the workplace. Do you want this problem in your business?

In 2003, US Department of Labor estimated each impaired worker cost his or her employer $11,000 per year, up from $9,600 the previous year--“Alcohol & Other Drugs in the Workplace,” Ntl. Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence of CA

A substance abuser is 5 times more likely to file a worker’s compensation claim.–“Strategic Planning for Workplace Abuse Programs,” NIDA

A substance abuser uses 16 times more sick leave than a non-abuser. The American council for Drug Education

Substance abusers are almost 4 times more likely to injure themselves or another person in a work place accident, and 5 times more likely to be involved in an accident off the job, affecting attendance or job performance. “Some Facts About Drug Abuse in the Workplace,” The American Council for Drug Education

A substance abuser is 35% less productive than an unimpaired worker.--“Drug Abuse Attacks the Workplace.” The Electrical Distributor.

From the National Drug-Free Workplace Alliance:

Marijuana remains the most commonly abused illegal drug by employees, followed by cocaine.

Small businesses bear the greatest burden of substance abusers. - Substance abusers will steer away from drug-free workplace companies and go to work for those small businesses…where there is no drug testing involved.

Alcoholics & problem drinkers are absent from work nearly 4 to 8.3 times more often than normal, and are absent from work and average of five days per month due to drug use.

Light and moderate drinkers cause 60% of tardiness, absenteeism and poor quality work as a result of alcohol consumption. Heavy drinkers and alcoholics cause the remaining 40%.

When they do show up, substance abusers are 33 percent less productive

The more frequently employees get high or drunk from consuming alcohol, the more likely they are to report work-performance problems, according to a study of over 6,000 employees.

Up to 40 percent of industrial fatalities can be linked to alcohol abuse and alcoholism

Drug-using employees are 3.6 times more likely to be involved in workplace accidents and five times more likely to file a workers’ compensation claim

38% to 50% of all workers’ compensation claims are related to substance abuse.

Substance abusers are three times more likely to use medical benefits than other employees.

80 percent of drug abusers steal from their workplaces to support their drug use.

Substance abuse is the third leading cause of workplace violence.

Occupational groups most frequently associated with substance abuse are food prep workers, waiters, and bartenders. Other occupational categories showing high rates of illicit drug use were construction other service occupations and transportation and material moving.

Heavy alcohol use were higher among handlers, helpers and laborers, construction workers, precision production and repair, other service workers, and transportation and material moving.

If you’re an employer, don’t take the chance that one of your employees is on drugs or alcohol; it could bankrupt you and ruin your employee’s life. Test now; know now.

At American Drug testing Consultants, we do onsite workplace testing, implement job and alcohol programs, and give educational orientations and lectures in addition to selling kits. Call us today!

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	9/8/2010 Baseball-KBO set to launch targeted drug testing 9/4/2010 NADA for quick trial of dope-tainted athletes 9/4/2010 Commercial pilot sentenced for drug-masking powder 9/4/2010 Knights warn players of drug-test blitz 8/31/2010 Hawthorn player on third strike More News... INFORMATION LINKS Articles FREE Seminars Home Drug Testing The Drug Problem Addiction The Solution Workplace Drug Use Workplace Testing About Us FAQs Helpful Links Privacy Policy		Drugs in the Workplace By Gianni DeVincent Hayes, Ph.D *Every employee has the right to a drug free workplace.* Alcohol and other drug (AOD) abuse certainly endanger the safety of the abusing employee, but it also endangers every other employee. In a nationwide survey performed for The Institute for a Drug Free Workplace, the Gallup Organization reported that 28% of the full-time employees surveyed identified illicit drug abuse as the greatest threat facing America today. Every day, in large corporations and small businesses all across the country, the problems caused by substance abuse disrupt the workplace. There is a false perception that America's drug problem is youth-orientated. However, *two-thirds of drug abusers are* *employed.* If you are in business you must be aware of these facts: 41% of the workers surveyed stated that the drug abuse of fellow employees seriously affected their own job productivity The United States has the highest substance abuse rate of all industrialized nations. America accounts for only 5% of the world's population, yet consumes 60% of the world's illicit drugs. Over 35 million Americans are addicted to prescription and nonprescription medication. 18 million Americans are alcoholics. (“National Household Survey,” NIDA) Nearly 20 million Americans use hashish or marijuana regularly. Over 5 million people use cocaine or crack regularly. Every day, 5000 people use cocaine or crack for the first time. 74% of all illegal drug users are employed either full or part time 10% of all employees abuse alcohol or other drugs on the job 53% of employees state that drug use and drug dealing are major contributors to workplace violence 44% of drug users support their habits by stealing from or selling drugs to fellow employees An average 10% of all full-time employees abuse alcohol and other drugs on the job. “Drugs in the Workplace: Research & Evaluation Data, National Institute on Drug Abuse Research Monograph” 64% of workplace substance abuse is alcohol related. — Comprehensive Textbook of Substance Abuse 20% of all employees aged 18-25 use drugs on the job. – “Research on Drugs and the Workplace,” NIDA Capsules 64% of all accidents on the job are directly or indirectly related to substance abuse in the workplace. – Texas Business Today 1 in 5 or 6 employees are under the influence of alcohol in the workplace. Do you want this problem in your business? In 2003, US Department of Labor estimated each impaired worker cost his or her employer $11,000 per year, up from $9,600 the previous year--“Alcohol & Other Drugs in the Workplace,” Ntl. Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence of CA A substance abuser is 5 times more likely to file a worker’s compensation claim.–“Strategic Planning for Workplace Abuse Programs,” NIDA A substance abuser uses 16 times more sick leave than a non-abuser. The American council for Drug Education Substance abusers are almost 4 times more likely to injure themselves or another person in a work place accident, and 5 times more likely to be involved in an accident off the job, affecting attendance or job performance. “Some Facts About Drug Abuse in the Workplace,” The American Council for Drug Education A substance abuser is 35% less productive than an unimpaired worker.--“Drug Abuse Attacks the Workplace.” The Electrical Distributor. From the National Drug-Free Workplace Alliance: Marijuana remains the most commonly abused illegal drug by employees, followed by cocaine. Small businesses bear the greatest burden of substance abusers. - Substance abusers will steer away from drug-free workplace companies and go to work for those small businesses…where there is no drug testing involved. Alcoholics & problem drinkers are absent from work nearly 4 to 8.3 times more often than normal, and are absent from work and average of five days per month due to drug use. Light and moderate drinkers cause 60% of tardiness, absenteeism and poor quality work as a result of alcohol consumption. Heavy drinkers and alcoholics cause the remaining 40%. When they do show up, substance abusers are 33 percent less productive The more frequently employees get high or drunk from consuming alcohol, the more likely they are to report work-performance problems, according to a study of over 6,000 employees. Up to 40 percent of industrial fatalities can be linked to alcohol abuse and alcoholism Drug-using employees are 3.6 times more likely to be involved in workplace accidents and five times more likely to file a workers’ compensation claim 38% to 50% of all workers’ compensation claims are related to substance abuse. Substance abusers are three times more likely to use medical benefits than other employees. 80 percent of drug abusers steal from their workplaces to support their drug use. Substance abuse is the third leading cause of workplace violence. Occupational groups most frequently associated with substance abuse are food prep workers, waiters, and bartenders. Other occupational categories showing high rates of illicit drug use were construction other service occupations and transportation and material moving. Heavy alcohol use were higher among handlers, helpers and laborers, construction workers, precision production and repair, other service workers, and transportation and material moving. If you’re an employer, don’t take the chance that one of your employees is on drugs or alcohol; it could bankrupt you and ruin your employee’s life. Test now; know now. At American Drug testing Consultants, we do onsite workplace testing, implement job and alcohol programs, and give educational orientations and lectures in addition to selling kits. Call us today!