Workplace drug and alcohol abuse prevention programmes1
Drug and alcohol abuse - an important workplace issue
Drug and alcohol abuse is by no means a new problem. At various times throughout history there
have been movements to address substance abuse and its effects. These range from the early
temperance movements, prohibition in the United States, the banning of absinthe, the various
campaigns against drug producers and traffickers, and the increasingly vigorous measures currently
being taken against drinking and driving.
Over recent years, one important development, actively supported by the ILO, has been the growing
realization in many countries that drug and alcohol abuse is an important workplace issue.
The issue of drug and alcohol abuse at the workplace has traditionally been met by a dismissive
attitude and the reflex of trying to sweep the problem under the carpet, based more on moral
precepts than a concern for the health issues involved. Yet, drug and alcohol abuse is not a problem
which can be isolated from the workplace. Quite the contrary. It is now coming to be much more
widely, although not by any means universally understood that substance abuse is harmful to both
enterprises and workers, and is therefore prejudicial to national and international competitiveness.
Drug and alcohol abuse - An important factor in accidents, absenteeism and illness
Drug and alcohol abuse not only affects work performance in general, but also results in higher
rates of absenteeism, accidents, illness and mortality, with all their related costs. It is therefore an
important health and safety issue in its own right. Over recent years, studies have shown that:
•
absenteeism is two to three times higher for drug and alcohol users than
for other employees;
•
employees with chemical dependence problems may claim three times as
many sickness benefits and file five times as many workers' compensation
claims;
•
in many workplaces, 20 to 25 per cent of accidents at work involve
intoxicated people injuring themselves and innocent victims;
For further information, please contact SafeWork
Tel: +41.22.799.7875
Fax: +41.22.799.6878
E-mail: [email protected]
www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/index.htm
Copyright © 1999 International Labour Organization (ILO)
on-the-job supplies of drugs and alcohol account for 15 to 30 per cent of all
accidents at work.
•
Drug and alcohol abuse - Even fairly low levels of consumption are detrimental to
performance, quality and safety
As greater knowledge has been acquired over recent years, through the increased volume of
research carried out on the subject, it has become increasingly evident that workplace problems
associated with substance abuse are not confined to alcoholics and drug addicts.
This is particularly true in the case of alcohol. While, at the individual level, alcoholics and other
heavy drinkers are the most likely to cause accidents, their numbers in the workplace are relatively
small. In comparison, the relative risk of an individual moderate or occasional drinker causing a
problem associated with the consumption of alcohol is much lower. However, in collective terms,
simply because their numbers are much higher, moderate and occasional drinkers account for the
largest proportion of alcohol-related problems in the workplace.
Further investigations have also confirmed that a relatively high level of performance impairment
can occur after the consumption of even fairly low quantities of alcohol.
According to a study carried out in 1990, when airline pilots had to perform routine
tasks in a simulator under three alcohol test conditions, it was found that:
•
before the ingestion of any alcohol, 10 per cent of them could not
perform all the operations correctly;
•
after reaching a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10/100ml, 89 per cent
could not perform all the operations correctly; and
•
fourteen hours later, after all the alcohol had left their systems, 68 per
cent could not perform all the operations correctly.
(Modell and Mountz, "The problem of alcohol use by pilots", in New England Journal of Medicine, 1990)
These findings support the establishment of broad-based prevention and problem management
programmes, rather than concentrating principally on the identification and rehabilitation of heavy
drinkers and alcoholics. Similar research is being conducted for drug users and may well show the
same results.
Most problem drinkers and drug users work
Another very important reason why the issue of drug and alcohol abuse cannot be isolated from the
workplace is that so many problem drinkers and drug-takers work. The workforce is typically a
reflection of the community in which the workers live. Inasmuch as alcohol and drug abuse are
present in the community, it is highly likely that the workforce has a similar level of abuse.
The workplace is therefore a very significant channel for preventive and remedial action, with the
potential to reach an extremely high proportion of workers with alcohol problems and drug users, as
well as the members of their families. The workplace can therefore be a vital component of
community programmes to change attitudes towards the consumption of alcohol and drugs.
Some sectors and categories of workers are more affected than others
Research work has also helped to identify, not just the sectors in which the workforce is at
particular risk of drug and alcohol abuse, but also the reasons why such problems are likely to occur
in particular industries and occupations.
The sectors which have been identified as being at special risk include the food and catering
industry, transportation, the maritime sector, construction, assembly line workers, military
personnel and recreation and entertainment services.
In very general terms, lower status workers, young persons and males would appear to be
particularly prone to alcohol and drug abuse. However, the problem is not confined to lower grades.
High consumption rates have also been noted among company directors, lawyers and even doctors
and police officers.
Several characteristics of work are coming to be more clearly recognized as being related to the
increased use of alcohol and drugs. These include job stress, occupational and co-worker norms, the
availability of drugs and alcohol at the workplace and long periods spent outside the family
environment. In contrast, it is also becoming steadily clearer that the level of awareness at the
workplace, along with the development of an attitude of prevention and greater responsibility
among the workforce, can be a very important factor in reducing the use of drugs and alcohol by
individuals both at work and in the community.
Drug and alcohol abuse is a problem that employers, workers and their partners just cannot
afford to ignore
Drug and alcohol abuse is prevalent almost everywhere, sparing very few countries and workplaces.
It is a major contributory factor in accidents, absenteeism, health problems, theft, lower productivity
and job loss.
•
For workers, substance abuse can result in deteriorating health, injury, disciplinary
action, family problems, job loss, and therefore poverty and social deprivation.
•
For employers, substance abuse leads to safety problems affecting the enterprise,
the workforce and the public at large, and it gives rise to increased costs, lower
productivity and loss of competitive edge.
In today's globalized economy with its emphasis on rapid reaction, innovation and the capacity to
constantly renew skills, it is easy to see that ignoring workplace substance abuse problems, and
absorbing their costs, is not a viable option.