SUBSTANCE ABUSE: SUBSTANCE ABUSE: The Multi-Million Dollar ProblemThe Multi-Million Dollar Problem

SUBSTANCE ABUSESUBSTANCE ABUSE

Substance abuse is the misuse of alcohol, Substance abuse is the misuse of alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescription drugs.illegal drugs, or prescription drugs.

Cost to companies is $60 to $100 Cost to companies is $60 to $100 billionbillion each year.each year.

Alcohol and Drug Information

Human Relations

• ACTIONS TAKEN BY ORGANIZATIONS ACTIONS TAKEN BY ORGANIZATIONS TO CONTROL SUBSTANCE ABUSETO CONTROL SUBSTANCE ABUSE– TestingTesting

• Pre-employmentPre-employment• Expected intervalExpected interval• Random interval Random interval • For causeFor cause

– Employee assistance programsEmployee assistance programs– Employee educationEmployee education

Human Relations

• DOWNSIDE OF DRUG TESTINGDOWNSIDE OF DRUG TESTING– CostCost– Intrusive, humiliating, invasion of Intrusive, humiliating, invasion of

privacy!privacy!– Not foolproofNot foolproof– Don’t measure “impairment”, only Don’t measure “impairment”, only

amount in blood.amount in blood.

Human Relations

• COMMONLY ABUSED SUBSTANCESCOMMONLY ABUSED SUBSTANCES– AlcoholAlcohol– CocaineCocaine– MarijuanaMarijuana– Sedatives and tranquilizersSedatives and tranquilizers– AmphetaminesAmphetamines– InhalantsInhalants– HallucinogensHallucinogens– NarcoticsNarcotics

Human Relations

• SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICIESSUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICIES– Athletes– CompaniesCompanies

• SEEKING TREATMENTSEEKING TREATMENT– Where?Where?– AAAA

Human Relations

• DEALING WITH A SUPERVISOR OR COWORKER DEALING WITH A SUPERVISOR OR COWORKER WHO ABUSES SUBSTANCESWHO ABUSES SUBSTANCES

– Intervention with an employee.Intervention with an employee.

– Intervention with a boss.Intervention with a boss.

Human Relations