Introduction
Substance abuse is a major problem in today's society, and for businesses it can be a massive headache. Typically responsibility of substance abuse falls to human resources for policy direction and front-line managers for executing the policy. There is a wide range of substances that are abused, and the implications for the company are considerable. First, there is the productivity issue, since substance abuse in the workplaces costs American businesses billions – an estimated $246 billion in lost productivity in 1992, the last year for which data is known (DOL, 2014). Two decades later, that figure is likely much, much higher today. Substance abuse in the workplace is a widespread problem, with 14% of workers reporting heavy drinking, and other statistics showing that 73% of current drug users are presently employed (DOL, 2014). In addition to productivity issues, there are liability issues. While not all drug users will work while under the influence, some do, and that can have serious implications for liability should the work be of poor quality, or other problems that can occur when a worker is not at peak fitness. In additional to illegal drugs, prescription drug abuse is also common in the US, and there are differences for businesses between the two categories with respect to detection and remedy. This paper will outline this issue, and how companies have dealt with it. There will also be recommendations for how companies can continue to address this issue going forward.
The Forms of Substance Abuse
There are a number of different forms of substance abuse, and each of these is going to have some relevance in the workplace. First, there is an opportunity to break down this abuse by drug. A legal but...
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... point remain in treatment and will see positive outcomes in terms of reduce recidivism and harm reduction.
The one grey area for employers is with respect to prescription drug abuse. While the White House is publishing papers noting the rise in prescription drug abuse, deaths from prescription drug overdose and the billions of dollars lost in productivity from drug abuse in the workplace, the EEOC is going to bat for the right of drug abusers to get wasted with impunity in the workplace. Civil rights extend to illegal off-label use of prescription drugs but not to illegal use of other drugs. It's a funny area legally, and at this point leaves the most risk for employers because they are virtually powerless to address the issue and this means they are vulnerable to ongoing accidents and productivity loss as the result of prescription drug abuse in the workplace.
...y, H. (2008). Drug use and abuse: a comprehensive introduction (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth.
While employment screening in the healthcare sector is decidedly standard, the law does often not require drug and alcohol testing. Substance abuse is one of the leading causes of disciplinary action against a nursing license in the U.S. Random drug screenings are used to detect the use of unapproved or illegal drugs for the purpose of upholding patient safety (National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 2006). The American Nurses Association (ANA) estimates that six to eight percent of nurses use alcohol or drugs to a degree that would impair professional judgment (National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 2011). Approximately one-third of the one percent of actively licensed nurses are disciplined each year for their substance misconduct (Kenward, 2008). Protecting patients from unsafe practices and personnel is the primary responsibility of each supervisory board of nursing. However, the fear of punishment from the board or termination keeps many nurses unwilling to come forward (Maher-Brisen 2007). The purpose of this paper is to discuss the viability of mandating random drug testing for nurses and other health professionals. The objective of this would be to address the rooted issues of substance abuse and decrease the risk of harm to patients under the healthcare provider’s care.
There is no clear evidence that drug testing at work has a significant deterrent effect. Drug testing is not a measure of current intoxication and will reveal information about drug use that can have no impact on safety, productivity or performance. Drug testing is designed to detect and punish conduct that is usually engaged in off-duty and off the employer's premises - that is, in private. Employers who conduct random drug tests on workers who are not suspected of using drugs are policing private behavior that has no impact on job performance. Someone may test positive after taking a drug days, weeks or months before. People not generally required to organize their lives to maximize their productivity at work...
Substance abuse in the field of nursing has become a serious problem. Every day exposure to drugs in addition to other factors have contributed to the issue of substance abuse among nurses and the impact on patient care. Some may still be unaware of the substance abuse problem nurses struggle with, and they don't realize until they see the consequences on overall patient outcomes and work productivity. Learning to recognize the chemically impaired nurse has allowed the health care field to expand its awareness and begin to take action on this issue. “To ensure productivity, safety, and quality of care, most hospitals have instituted drug-free workplace programs...that identify prohibited behaviors and the consequences of violating the policy” (Epstein et al., 2010, p. 515). In hope of change to this issue, further action continues to be a work in progress.
It absolutely and entirely is. Substance abuse issues do not only affect the abuser, the whole environment around them, families, friends and colleagues are all affected by this problem. Since we are examining a case at office, we might as well point out that work performance problems that could happen with an employee. It is also quite necessary to let the employees know it is expected of them to seek professional help if their problem is
"NIH Study Finds Chronic Alcohol Use Shifts Brain's Control of Behavior." NIH News Release. 22 Aug. 2013: n.p. SIRS Government Reporter. Web. 19 Mar. 2014.
When we view substance use disorders, alcohol is the most widely used drug within the United States and 11 percent of workers have drinking problems (Frone, 2006). Over 20 million people used illegal substances in 2006 and 7 million people abused prescribed medications. Of the 18 million drug abusers, 18 years or older in 2006, 13.4 million (74.9 %) were employed full or part time (SAMHSA, OSA). These addiction problems have an expenditure of $276 billion dollars per year with most of this cost from loss of productivity and health care (H. Harwood, D. Fountain, and G. Livermore, 1992).
Jody was born biologically with male genitals and he was brought up as a boy. Unlike his more gender-typical older brother, Jody’s childhood behavior was considered “sissy”. Jody genetically preferred the company of girls compared to boys during childhood. Jody considered herself a bisexual male until the age of 19. At 19 years of age, she became involved with a man, and her identity would be transgender, meaning that Jody was unhappy with her gender of birth and seeks a change from male to female. It would seem that there was some late-onset dissatisfaction, and late-onset is linked to attraction to women; in comparison to early childhood-onset, which are attracted to men. Jody identified herself as bisexual. The relationship with the man ended; nevertheless, Jody’s desire to become a woman consumed her, and Jody feels that’s he was born in the
The ingestion of alcoholic beverages for their enjoyable effects is a custom which has been around for thousands of years, and alcohol continues to be a popular drug because of its short-term effects (Coleman, Butcher & Carson, 1984). An enormous amount of damage can be attributed directly to alcohol abuse as a result of lost jobs, accidents caused by drunk drivers, and so forth (Maltzman, 2000). Alcohol also compounds other problems--an estimated 25% to 40% of hospital patients have problems caused by, or recovery delayed by alcohol abuse (Maltzman, 2000). Clinical psychologists spend about one-fourth of their time dealing with people who are suffering in part from alcohol or other substance problems (Vaillant, 1995). Although alcohol problems have been around for so long, it is only recently that these problems have begun to be associated with medical or psychological difficulties.
The current situation of drug control in the United States is imperfect and inadequate. Millions of men and women, both young and old, are affected by illicit drug use. It costs the United States about $6,123 every second because of drug use and its consequences (Office). Moreover, 90 percent of all adults with a substance use disorder started using under the age of 18 and half under the age of 15. Children who first smoke marijuana under the age of 14 are five times more likely to abuse drugs as adults than those who first use marijuana at age 18. Finally, the children of alcoholics are four times more likely to develop problems with alcohol (Prevent). Current legislation that has to do with the United States’ drug control policy is the Controlled Substances Act, which regulates the manufacture, importation, possession, use, and distribution of certain substances (Shannon). In 1966, Congress passed the Narcotic Addict Rehabilitation Act also known as the NARA. This legislati...
Drug use does not belong in the workplace. A person would not appreciate a banker on drugs depositing his or her money in the wrong account. This person would probably complain to the manager and want to switch banks. In today's workforce there are jobs held by employees on drugs. Drug testing can eliminate drug abusers in the workplace. However, testing in the workplace has become a controversial issue in today's world. Most drug testing is complex and has many procedures. Since using drugs is against the law, and drugs can cause harm to people who take them, companies should use drug testing to dismiss employees using drugs. Drug testing should be a mandatory practice in the workplace to stop drug abuse and help employees be more productive on the job, follow safety regulations, and avoid absences.
Drug abuse has been a hot topic for our society due to how stimulants interfere with health, prosperity, and the lives of others in all nations. All drugs have the potential to be misapplied, whether obtained by prescription, over the counter, or illegally. Drug abuse is a despicable disease that affects many helpless people. Majority of those who are beset with this disease go untreated due to health insurance companies who neglect and discriminate this issue. As an outcome of missed opportunities of treatments, abusers become homeless, very ill, or even worst, death.
Long working hours are associated with increased use of illegal drugs. Many people who own their businesses have been said to work for long hours in order to get higher returns. In order to achieve this success, they have turned to hard drugs such as cocaine, heroin and even marijuana. They are also using drugs to reduce fatigue and make them to remain alert for long hours. This is having an adverse effect on their bodies especially their vital organs such as heart, liver and kidney. Majority of them end up suffering from chronic diseases (Sutherland, Cooper & Palgrave Connect, 2000: 83). Once they are addicted, they are unable to control their feelings. In extreme cases, they get fired from their places of work or their ventures collapse due to poor management. As a result, they end up becoming depressed and some even commit suicide.
Perhaps most substance abuse starts in the teen years when young people are susceptible to pressure from their peers. One of the main concerns when dealing with substance abuse is the long term problems with substance such as addiction, dependency and tolerance. The physical state of an individual, who is addicted to a substance, will deteriorate over a long period of time. This is due to the chemicals that are being put into an individual body. One of the most important aspects of the effect of substance abuse on society includes ill health, disease, sickness, and in many cases death. The impact of substance abuse not only affects individuals who abuse substances but it affects our economy. Our government resources are negatively impacted by individual who abuse substances. According to (Lagliaro 2004) the implication of drug users extend far beyond the user, often damaging their relationships with their family, community, and health workers, volunteer and wider
The use of drugs is a controversial topic in society today. In general, addicts show a direct link between taking drugs and suffering from their effects. People abuse drugs for a wide variety of reasons. In most cases, the use of drugs will serve a type of purpose or will give some kind of reward. These reasons for use will differ with different kinds of drugs. Various reasons for using the substance can be pain relief, depression, anxiety and weariness, acceptance into a peer group, religion, and much more. Although reasons for using may vary for each individual, it is known by all that consequences of the abuse do exist. It is only further down the line when the effects of using can be seen.