WORKING ON WORKPLACE SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Americans have been enjoying the benefits of a strong economy, and one of those benefits is low unemployment. A high rate of employment is good news for workers, but can lead to problems for employers. An employer desperate for workers may tend to overlook problems that would otherwise disqualify some potential hires. Substance abuse is one such problem, and overlooking it can result in many unforeseen costs.

Recent studies report that most people between the ages of 18 and 49 who use illicit drugs, approximately 70 percent of them, are employed full- time. Not surprisingly, workers who use drugs are more likely to lower the overall rate of productivity, have higher medical costs and have a higher incidence of workplace accidents. They are also likely to have higher rates of absenteeism and more likely to move from one job to another.

Employees who use drugs are three and a half times more likely to be involved in a workplace accident and five times more likely to file a worker's compensation claim. An even more disturbing statistic is that in approximately 80 percent of serious accidents in which a drug user is involved, someone other than the drug user is injured. In such cases, the employer risks becoming the target of a law suit that holds them responsible for failing to maintain a safe work environment. For all these reasons, employers should have a strong incentive to reduce drug use among their employees.

The Occupational Safety And Health Administration (OSHA) endorses a drug- free workplace but has no written guidelines for developing and implementing substance abuse programs. If you own a business, protecting it and protecting your employees is up to you.