Substance Abuse Flashcards
What are some negative effects regarding a business due to substance abuse?
- Higher healthcare expenses
- Higher rates of absenteeism
- Reductions in job productivity and performance.
- Higher number of workers’ compensation claims and disability claims.
- Safety and injury impacts to other workers.
- Liability for equipment and property claims.
What are some general characteristics of employees with substance abuse issues?
- Failure to fulfill obligations not just at work, but in their personal lives as well.
- Lack the ability to control their use of alcohol or drugs whether prescription or illicit even when a control is dictated due to hazardous conditions such as driving a vehicle or operating a machine.
What are some of the results from drug and alcohol abuse?
- Arrests
- Driving under the influence infractions.
- Physical violence episodes
- Persistent social or interpersonal problems.
- Needless risk taking where common sense or caution seems to be disregarded.
Behavioral characteristics that directly or indirectly relate to substance abuse?
- Absence from work without notification or explanation.
- Excessive use of sick days.
- Frequent disappearances from work area or worksite.
- Long, unexplained breaks.
- Failure to keep scheduled appointments or meet deadlines.
- Work performance that alternates between periods of high or low productivity.
- Frequent mistakes that can be attributed to poor judgement, inattention, or bad decisions.
- Confusion or difficulty concentrating or recalling details and instructions.
What are three measures Safety Professionals should take to help manage company and employee risks associated with prescription drug use?
- Revise substance abuse policy to include prescription drug abuse.
- Provide education to employees about the dangers of prescription drug use and misuse specifically prescription pain killers.
- Train all employees on the warning signs of drug impairment and drug free workplace policies.
What drugs are included in the Opioid Class?
- Oxycodone
- Hydrocodone
- Codeine
- Heroin
- Fentanyl
Three signs of opioid addiction?
- Range of personality shifts.
- Inconsistent eye or motor coordination.
- Incoherence
What policy should companies have relating to substance abuse?
A Zero Tolerance Policy. May indicate that drug and alcohol abuse in the workplace will not be tolerated but that drug testing is not performed, or testing will be performed under specific circumstances.
What are some points to consider when preparing a substance abuse policy?
- Establish a strict policy that drug and alcohol use in the workplace is prohibited.
- State what the consequences are.
- Summarize what types of employee assistance is available.
- Outline specifics of the companies policy relating to non-work activities such as parties or picnics.
- List the specific activities or conditions that will trigger mandatory drug testing and the consequences of positive results.
- The written policy should acknowledge that any problems with substance abuse will be treated confidentially.
What is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)?
A type of employee benefit designed to help employees and families of employees whose attendance and job performance are adversely affected by job stress, personal problems, or substance abuse.
Besides substance abuse, what else can be included in an EAP?
- Stress Management
- Mental Health
- Personal Issues
What are some factors to consider when creating a drug testing program?
- What are the laws concerning drug testing in the jurisdiction in which you are working?
- Do you clients require drug testing as a condition of a contract or site access?
- Are all employees required to be tested?
- If only certain employees will be tested, how will these employees be selected?
- How will the criteria for these testing events be determined?
- Should clearly outline the consequences associated with a refusal to test or a positive result when tested.
