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facing addiction in the workplace

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According to the U.S. Department of Labor, ten percent of all full-time and part-time workers have a substance abuse problem. These workers are dependent on alcohol or other drugs, including marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, ecstasy, heroin, or prescription medications.

Drug-using employees have a huge impact on the workplace. Their behavior often results in increased workloads for co-workers, decreased employee morale and can threaten workplace safety. According to U.S. Department of Labor statistics:

• 65% of all accidents on the job are directly related to alcohol or other drug use.
  
• Substance abusers are absent from work three times more often than non-abusing employees.
  
• Substance abusers are 25% to 30% less productive than employees who do not abuse drugs.
  
• Drugs in the workplace cost U.S. businesses over $100 billion a year in decreased productivity, lost time, worker compensation, accidents and health care costs.

The Hidden Signs of Workplace Substance Abuse

Most would recognize a co-worker at work appearing doped or intoxicated, having the smell of alcohol on the breath, or having hand tremors, as signs of substance abuse. However, direct signs such as these are not always present. Lesser-known indicators of a substance abuse problem at work may include the following:

• deterioration in job performance
  
• excessive absenteeism
  
• accidents on or off the job
  
• extended lunch breaks or returning late from lunch or breaks
  
• chronic irritability, mood swings or attitude changes
  
• increased problems with – or withdrawal from – co-workers
  
• unusual patterns of behavior
  
• poor personal hygiene or grooming

* Note: The symptoms above - when considered individually - may not indicate substance abuse, but they can be clues that are very telling when they are part of a package of symptoms.

How to Help

If you suspect someone at work has a problem with drugs, follow the suggestions below:

1. Do not protect the drug user from the negative consequences of his or her drug use. The best way to help a user face an alcohol or drug problem is to make sure you don't ignore, excuse, or cover up behaviors or mistakes that result from the abuse or addiction. When you cover up for someone, it is called enabling. When you enable, you allow a person to avoid the negative results of using alcohol or drugs. Enabling actually helps the person to NOT deal with his or her problem.

Examples of enabling in the workplace:

• You offer to take on more than your fair share of the work because a co-worker is "going through a rough time" and is finding it hard to get her work done on time.
• A co-worker who you suspect is high has caused an accident – again. You know that if the boss finds out, your co-worker will be fired. You feel sorry for him, so you cover for him by lying to the boss about how the accident happened.

2. If an impaired co-worker threatens your safety…tell a supervisor right away. Also, if you see a co-worker get high or deal drugs on the job, report it to a supervisor as soon as you can.

Helpful Resources

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
(301) 443-3860
www.niaaa.nih.gov

Makes available free informational materials on all aspects of alcoholism, including the effects of drinking during pregnancy, alcohol use and the elderly, and help for cutting down on drinking.

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD)
(800) NCA-CALL
www.ncadd.org

Provides phone numbers of local NCADD affiliates (who can provide information on local treatment resources) and educational materials on alcoholism via the above toll-free telephone number.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
(212) 870-3400
www.aa.org

Makes referrals to local AA groups and provides informational materials on the AA program. Many cities also have a local AA office listed in the white pages of the telephone book.

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters
(800) 344-2666
www.Al-Anon-Alateen.org

Makes referrals to local Al-Anon groups, which are support groups for spouses and other significant adults in an alcoholic person's life. Also makes referrals to Alateen groups, which offer support to children of alcoholics. Free information can be obtained by calling the following toll-free telephone number: (800) 356-9996.