Substance abuse is a serious topic and starts affecting those as young as 15 years and older. Alcohol and drug use is becoming more and more prevalent each year. According to the World Health Organization, substance abuse is the act of consuming a harmful amount of hazardous drugs or the overindulgence of alcohol ("Substance Abuse." World Health Organization. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2016). The more cases of abuse results in more abuse in the workplace. This report will touch on why people abuse in the workplace, who abuses, the signs of abuse, how it affects coworkers and those in the place of employment, and how to treat it. With over 14 million employees abusing drugs in the United States it is important to recognize the signs and terminate …show more content…
The safety of those around the abuser is especially in danger because of the unpredictable factor. The unpredictable factor is not knowing how a person may act when buzzed or high. This factor puts all those around them in danger. In work places that control heavy equipment or deal with any kind of machinery the penalty can be even more sever. “Analyses of workplace fatalities showed that at least 11% of the victims had been drinking.” ("Working Partners - Statistics -Working Partners - Statistics - General Workplace Impact - SAPAA Substance Abuse Program Administrators Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 May 2016.) This statistic shows just how dangerous drinking on the job can affect your safety and the safety of those around you. “Furthermore, the impact of employee substance use and abuse is a problem that extends beyond the substance-using employee. There is evidence that co-worker job performance and attitudes are negatively affected. Workers have reported being put in danger, having been injured, or having had to work harder, to re-do work, or to cover for a co-worker as a result of a fellow employee’s drinking.” ("SAPAA Substance Abuse Program Administrators Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2016.) Another result of drug and alcohol abuse is lack of motivation and decreasing work ethic. This is mostly caused from of the substance that is abused on the body, which relaxes muscles and decreases brain activity. It affects the workers around the abusers causing anxiety sometimes caused by the stress of confronting the abuser or the unpredictability of the employee. It affects customers by the unprofessionalism, and anxiety dealing with an abuser brings. Working in a public service job dealing with people day to day can deteriorate the view of the business by the person whose behavior is unacceptably unprofessional. For those who abuse may not consider all the affects it has not only on the person but
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).
The environment includes everything around you. Good and bad things are a part of the environment. People and substance abuse is something that is a part of our environment. Therefore, people abuse substances such as drugs, alcohol, and tobacco for different and complex reasons, but it is clear that our society pays a significant cost. Drugs can be injected, snorted, smoked, or ate (Mental Health Center: Substance abuse, 2013). Abusing drugs and alcohol can lead to job loss, family feuds, homelessness, and even death. In big cities you are most likely to see a person who suffers from substance abuse and they are on the street for one of those three reason. Death is not far away if they keep up with this bad habit. This problem not only affects the individual but also the organization they are currently in. Drugs such as, cocaine, crack, marijuana, inhalants, club drugs, heroin, steroids are all examples of illegal drugs any individual could be using while in an organization that require all individuals to work in a drug free environment.
Substance abuse in the medical field is a growing issue, and nurses are no exception to the stigma. The American Nurses Association (ANA) reports an estimated six to eight percent of nurses has a substance abuse issue that has directly impaired their practice (Alunni-Kinkle, 2015). This means that as many as one in every ten nurses is practicing with an unidentified or untreated substance abuse issue (Alunni-Kinkle, 2015). This paper will briefly discuss the many factors that contribute to substance abuse among nurses, as well as reporting and consequences associated with
a wise man recognizes the face of necessity. It is of great importance for persons to be mindful of destructive elements in their communities. In doing so the safety and positive growth of such a community can be realized and maintain. Substance abuse is a very destructive force, that is why it is important to have the right support in the community to help individuals get over it. Proper management of this condition is also crucial in order to help individuals affected to get fully recovered overtime. Therefore, elements such as drug abuse is relative and to talk about, and the recovery resolution.
Over the years, substance abuse in the United States has become a persistent issue affecting many individuals. In 2008, it was estimated that 17.8 million Americans over the age of 18 where substance dependent (Epstein, Burns, & Conlon, 2010). Many of these individuals being affected are nurses. Ponech (2000) stated that "approximately 10% of the nursing population has alcohol or drug abuse problems, and 6% has problems serious enough to interfere with their ability to practice" (as cited in Talbert, 2009, p.17). Studies show that nurses have a 50% higher rate of substance abuse compared to the rest of the public (Epstein et al., 2010). Among the many factors that contribute to the nurse’s issue of substance abuse, accessibility to drugs in the work environment has played a significant role. Substance abuse among nurses is an arising issue in need of attention, it is alarming to know that patient safety and care is in danger when a chemically impaired nurse is in the workplace.
Substance abuse among nurses is one of the problems faced by the nursing profession today. Registered nurses abuse substances at a rate higher than the general public (Eipstein, Burns, & Conlon, 2010). While, according to the American Nurses Association (as cited in Crowley & Morgan, 2014) nurses and the general public misuse drugs and alcohol at almost the same rate. “Substance abuse among nurses threatens not only the quality of care to patients but also the professional standards of nursing” (Eipstein et al., 2010, p. 513). Substance abuse differs from one specialty to another. Areas that have high acuity patients and easy access to drugs creates an opportunity for nurses to abuse substances especially prescription medications. There are
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
Substance abuse impacts people in society every day, from teenagers to adults. Specifically, abuse happens among a large number of students across college campuses in the United States. While advancing in college, numerous students obtain habits that have negative effects on his or her health, emotions, and relationships. While the main drug of abuse across college campuses remains alcohol, the problem of drug abuse today goes far beyond that to illicit substances.
One night ,while working as usual, Jane Doe injects nasal spray butorphanol (Stadol) to a couple women who are in labor. Some of the women did not require the full dosage of the drug so she slipped the leftovers in her pocket. Once her shift had ended that night, Jane was getting ready to leave when she decided to use the restroom. When she was there she remembered that she had some leftover drugs in pocket. Jane cautiously looked around and checked every stall to make sure no one was there. She then took the drugs out and injected herself. Thirty minutes later a colleague finds Jane passed out in the restroom. She is immediately treated and once awake, is taken to a drug-testing facility to provide a urine sample. At the drug-testing facility Jane admitted to stealing the drug and justified herself by saying it helped her cope with the stress of taking on extra shifts, and caring for her two young children and her severely disabled mother. Jane said “I thought I could stop any time but I was wrong.”
As reported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, our nation spends 700 billion dollars annually in relation to substance abuse. Substance abuse doesn’t just affect the individual involved, but as well as their family, and the society they live in. There is no single reason why a person chooses to abuse drugs and other substances. A person’s environment, like their socioeconomic status, and family can influence their abuse. Some factors in their environment include peer pressure, stress, sexual abuse, and parental involvement, which can all determine if someone is inclined to abuse any type of harmful substance.
Before I start to discuss the various ways to get control of substance abuse I
It is unfortunate that many people within our society and worldwide suffers from the affects of alcohol addiction. There are many issues associated with this addiction and many times it’s not only the victim that deals with the addiction but also the people in close association with the individual. Alcohol addiction can afflict anyone and knows no limits of its damage that it can do to a person’s life or the people in their lives. Most importantly are the ones whom seek help for their addiction as it becomes a lifelong healing period for them. It has become clear that constant consumption of alcohol leads to addiction. It has also become clearer with the laws and policies that have been drawn up to combat drunk drivers that it is not a normal thing to do anymore as was thought to be normal in the late 60’s and early 70’s. This is not normal behaviour and it becomes clearer as the laws for drinking and driving is enforced by law enforcement officers. It is a duty for addiction workers to help in the aid of these problems and its laws and policies that help in putting a stop to some of the problems that arise from this addiction.
Substance abuse is a challenging battle that cannot be won over night it takes a lot of hard work and dedication from every one. Local government agencies, national, and global evolvement needs to be present to overcome substance abuse. It is important to try and overcome substance abuse due to the negative impact that it is having on society, financially and
45% of male and 28% of female heavy drinkers report that the after-effects of their drinking affected their work in the past week. 75% of problem drinkers are in full-time employment.
Drug addiction is a very big problem in today’s society. Many people have had their lives ruined due to drug addiction. The people that use the drugs don’t even realize that they have an addiction. They continue to use the drug not even realizing that their whole world is crashing down around them. Drug addicts normally lose their family and friends due to drug addiction.