Employee EducationEmployee EducationAlcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace

Impact of Substance Abuse in Impact of Substance Abuse in the Workplacethe Workplace

Employee health Productivity Decision making Safety Employee morale Security Organizational image and community relations

How common are alcohol-related How common are alcohol-related problems in businesses in the problems in businesses in the

Manufacturing sector?Manufacturing sector?For every 1000 employees:

Likely number of problem drinkers: 65

Likely # of family members who are problem drinkers: 127

Likely number of work days lost to sickness, injury, and absence because of problem drinking every year: 541

Likely number of work days of lowered productivity associated with alcohol use each year: 323

Likely number of extra nights spent in the hospital by employees and their family members each year: 53

Likely number of extra emergency room visits by employees and their families each year: 38

How much do alcohol-related problems cost businesses in the Manufacturing sector?

For every 1,000 employees each year:

Work days lost to sickness, injury, and absence because of problem drinking: $67,486

Work days with lowered productivity associated with alcohol use: $8,053

Extra nights spent in the hospital by employees and their families: $64,151

Extra emergency room visits by employees and their families: $22,708

Extra health care costs to employers and employees for

treatment of alcohol-related health problems: $265,762

From: Ensuring Solutions to Alcohol Problems , George Washington Univ. Med Center

Ways that People Use Alcohol Ways that People Use Alcohol and Other Drugsand Other Drugs

Use:

Experimentation

Social/Recreational

As a stress reliever

Abuse:Abuse: Using a substance to Using a substance to modify or control mood or state modify or control mood or state

of mindof mind in a manner that is in a manner that is illegalillegal or or harmful to harmful to

oneself or othersoneself or others.. Potential consequences of abuse include:Accidents or injuriesBlackoutsLegal problemsPoor job performanceFamily problemsSexual behavior that increases the risk of

HIV infection

AddictionAddiction::The irresistible compulsion to seek or use

alcohol and other drugs despite adverse social, psychological, or physical consequences.

It is characterized by: repeated failures to control use, physical dependence, withdrawal symptoms, increased tolerance, and increased disruption in personal, family, or work

life.

Addiction to alcohol and other drugs is: Chronic Progressive Primary Terminal Characterized by denial.

Understanding AddictionUnderstanding Addiction For one in ten people, abuse leads to addiction. 3/4 of those who use illegal drugs also work.

Risk of addiction:

Addiction is a family diseasePrior abuse of alcohol and other drugsOther contributing factors.

Signs and Symptoms of Signs and Symptoms of Substance AbuseSubstance Abuse

EmotionallyBehaviorallyPhysically

Abuse of alcohol and other drugs affects people:

Emotional effects of Emotional effects of substance abuse:substance abuse:

Aggression Burnout Anxiety Paranoia DepressionDenial.

Behavioral effects of Behavioral effects of substance abuse:substance abuse:

Slow reaction time Impaired coordination Slowed or slurred speech Irritability Excessive talking Inability to sit still Limited attention span Poor motivation or lack of energy.

Physical effects of substance Physical effects of substance abuse:abuse:

Weight loss Sweating Chills Dilated pupils or bloodshot eyes Slurred speech Unsteady movements Drowsiness, lethargy Disorientation Odor.

Family and Coworker ImpactFamily and Coworker Impact

Enabling:

Action that someone takes to protect the person with the problem from the consequences of his or her actions.

Unfortunately, enabling actually helps the person to NOT deal with his or her problem.

Examples of enabling:

Covering Up Rationalizing Withdrawing/Avoiding BlamingControlling Threatening.

Examples of traps family members and coworkers may fall into when confronting the person with a problem:

Sympathy Excuses Apology Diversions

Innocence Anger Pity Tears.

Specific Drugs of AbuseSpecific Drugs of Abuse

Alcohol Marijuana CocaineStimulants/ Depressants Hallucinogens Narcotics

ALCOHOLAlso known as:

Booze, Juice, Brew, Vino, Sauce

You probably know why alcohol is abused

Relaxation Sociability Cheap High

ALCOHOLBut did you know that -

Alcohol is a depressant that decreases the responses of the central nervous system

Excessive drinking can cause liver damage and psychotic behavior

As little as two beers or drinks can impair coordination and thinking

Alcohol is often used by substance abusers to enhance the effects of other drugs

Alcohol continues to be the most frequently abused substance among young adults.

ALCOHOL

Additional Health effects of Alcohol: Decreased sexual functioning Liver disease Increased cancers of the mouth, tongue, pharynx,

esophagus, rectum, breast and skin Kidney disease Ulcers Spontaneous abortion Birth defects – leading cause of preventable

retardation.

MARIJUANA Also known as:

Pot, Grass, Joints, Roaches, Reefer, Weed, Mary Jane

You probably know why marijuana is abused -

Relaxation Euphoria

MARIJUANA

But did you know that – Marijuana may cause impaired short-term memory, a

shortened attention span and delayed reflexes Marijuana may cause relaxed inhibitions, disoriented

behavior

Health effects: Emphysema-like symptoms Respiratory track and sinus infections Lowered immune system response During pregnancy, marijuana may cause birth defects Marijuana may cause a fast heart rate and pulse.

COCAINEAlso known as:

Coke, Dust, Snow, Flake, Blow, Girl You probably know why

cocaine is abused – Carefree Feeling Euphoria Relaxation In control

COCAINEBut did you know that –

Cocaine use may cause severe "mood swings" and irritability. You need more and more cocaine each time you want a "high" Cocaine increases your blood pressure and heart rate

particularly dangerous if you have a heart condition One use can cause death! (By Cardiac Arrest or Respiratory

failure) Preparation of freebase, which involves the use of volatile

solvents, can result in death or injury from fire or explosion Possession and use are illegal.

CRACKAlso known as

Crack, "Crack cocaine", Freebase rocks, Rock

You probably know why crack is abused –

Quick high Power Euphoria

CRACK

But did you know that – Crack is almost instantly addictive One use could cause a fatal heart attack Repeated use may cause insomnia, hallucinations,

seizures, paranoia The euphoric effects of crack last only a few minutes Crack possession and use are illegal in all fifty states There are more hospitalizations per year resulting

from crack and cocaine use than any other illicit substance.

MethamphetamineAlso known as:

Meth, Crystal, Crank, Ice

You probably know why meth is abused –

Temporary mood elevation

Exhilaration (high) Increased mental

alertness Upper-increase

wakefulness

ICE - Methamphetamines

But did you know that – Ice is extremely addictive - sometimes with just one use! Ice can cause convulsions, heart irregularities, high blood

pressure, depression, restlessness, tremors, severe fatigue An overdose can cause coma and death When you stop using ice you may experience a deep

depression Ice causes a very jittery high, along with anxiety,

insomnia, sometimes paranoia.

HALLUCINOGENSLSD (Acid, Red/Green Dragon), Ecstasy (designer drug)_ PCP

(Angel Dust, Loveboat)PCP & Cocaine (Beam me up Scottie), Mescaline l Psilocybin

You probably know why hallucinogens are abused –

Fun Stimulation or

depression Behavioral changes

HALLUCINOGENS

But did you know that – One use of LSD or PCP can cause multiple and dramatic

behavioral changes Large doses of hallucinogens may cause convulsions and

coma, ruptured blood vessels in the brain, irreversible brain damage, and heart or lung failure

Many hallucinogens cause unpleasant and potentially dangerous "flashbacks," long after the drug was used

Most hallucinogens cause "hallucinations" i.e., changes in perception of time, smell, touch, etc.

NarcoticsNarcotic analgesics include Opium, Opiates (morphine,

codeine, percodan, heroin and dilaudid) and Opioids (synthetic substitutes such as vicodin, darvon, demerol,

oxycontin and methadone)

Health effects: Tolerance to narcotics develops rapidly and

addiction is likely The use of contaminated syringes may result in

diseases such as HIV/AIDS, endocarditis and hepatitis

Addiction in pregnant women can lead to premature, stillborn or addicted infants who experience severe withdrawal symptoms.

Assistance Assistance

Things to remember:

Difficulty performing on the job can sometimes be caused by unrecognized personal problems - including addiction to alcohol and other drugs

Help is available Although a supervisor may suspect that an

employee’s performance is poor because of underlying personal problems, it is up to the employee to decide whether or not that is the case

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)PROGRAM (EAP)

Addiction is treatable and reversible Help is available An employee’s decision to seek help is a private

one and will not be made public An EAP can help employees decide what to do if

they or someone in his family or workgroup has a problem with alcohol or other drugs

Conversations with an EAP are confidential

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)PROGRAM (EAP)

An EAP can help employees decide what to do if they have a problem with alcohol or other drugs

An EAP also can help an employee decide what to do if someone in his/her family or workgroup has a problem

Conversations with an EAP are confidential

Additional EAP, Mental Health Additional EAP, Mental Health and Community Resources:and Community Resources:

Private counselors or therapists Addiction treatment centers Community hotlines Self-help groups such as Alcoholics

Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Al-Anon, etc.