Substance Abuse in the Workplace Essay -- Illegal Drugs Alcohol Addict

Substance twist around in the WorkplaceSubstance abuse in the employment is one of the top concerns in the UnitedStates today. Studies depict that 73 percent of drug users are employed, costingAmeri evict businesses billions of dollars annually in lost production and staffing costs(Walsh). Due to higher employment evaluate and rising substance abuse, the chancesthat your organization employs one of these 8.1 million workers is greater today than ithas been in the past several years (Walsh). Studies also reveal that employees whoabuse drugs nurse a tremendously harmful effect on the workplace. They are morelikely to have extended absences from work, show up late, be involved in workplaceaccidents, and file workers compensation claims. Substance abuse includes anythingfrom drug use, such as cocaine and heroin, to alcohol abuse. Before I start to discuss the different ways to get control of substance abuse Iwould like to give you a small background of the impact of substance abuse on theworld today. The department of labor has gathered some of the following informationand statistics to show the world how it is being affected Substance abuse in the workplace costs are estimated at $100 billion dollars annually. Alcoholism causes 500 million lost work days each year. Drug-using employees at GM total 40 days of sick leave each year compared to 4.5 days for non-users. In Ohio substance abuse treatment has shown significant improvements - 91% decrease in absenteeism. - 88% decrease in problems with supervisors. - 93% decrease in mistakes in work. - 97% decrease in on-the-job injuries.Page 2As you can see substance abuse is a very ser... ... the warning signs and implement a policy to attack theproblem. Most likely it is going on even out under your nose and you do not even know it.Take the time to step back and help your employees, the people that really make adifference to your company. You never know it might save you money. Bibliography Works CitedCampbell, Reginald L. Substance Abuse in the Workplace. new-made York Mcgraw Hill,1990. Harris, Michael. Human Resource Managment A practical Approach. New YorkDryden Press, 1997. Largent, Richard J. Preventing Substance Abuse in the Workplace. Boston Houghton Mifflin Company, 1996.Loomis, Loyd. Drug Testing A Workplace Guide to Designing Practical Policies.Chicago BNA Plus, 1990.Walsh, Michael J. Drug and Alcohol Abuse in the Workplace. New York TargetInvestment Inc., 1996.