Everyone’s problem

The professionals at Medscreen explain why overlooking alcohol and drug abuse can seriously damage your business and your property

Cost of UK’s illegal drug habit hits £110bn (Addaction February 2007)
The number of ‘crack house’ closure orders increased by 263.8 percent between 2003/04 and 2005/6. (Home Office Statistics)
The number of cannabis farms being found by police in domestic dwellings and on industrial estates has trebled over the last two years. Locations include London, Birmingham, South Wales, the North East, Yorkshire and East Anglia (Drugscope March 2007)
17 million ‘sickies’ taken each year because of hangovers (Alcohol Concern)
Yes - drugs are everywhere. Alcohol continues to be used irresponsibly.

Both drugs and alcohol can have an adverse impact on your reputation and profitability - whether by permitting drug dealing in premises you manage, risking revenue because properties are closed by police, risking injury to employees from discarded syringes, or post-customer entertainment inattention to the details of a contract which goes out with one too many or one too few zeros in the costing.

Common sense plus health, safety and corporate governance requirements all indicate that companies need to do a basic assessment of the risks drugs and alcohol could bring to their workplace. Your employees need to know and understand these risks and the backing of a robust policy on drugs and alcohol will support them in situations which may be caused by other people’s drug use, and could help defend them against implications of collusion or corruption.
When carrying out your risk assessment, keep a sense of proportion where your own employees are concerned. Remember that alcohol and drugs are primarily used for enjoyment and relaxation. However, although most users will have a moderate intake, others may be irresponsible. A few may see drugs and alcohol as a way to forget worries from home or work. If these worries are not addressed, drug / alcohol consumption can become a habit, and then an addiction.

People take drugs and alcohol to change or enhance moods, but they also alter the user’s ability for rational judgement and sensible assessment. They can exacerbate fatigue and other conditions that may already be reducing the individual’s capabilities. There are also more subtle effects of drug use on individual performance which could have knock-on effects for your business. For example, regular cannabis use is associated with poorer occupational and employment performance, greater job instability and lower job satisfaction.

What does your company currently say about alcohol and drugs? Do you have a written policy that makes the company’s expectations clear? If you asked, how many of your employees would (a) be aware of the policy and (b) consider they had to comply with it? Would they consider it their ‘duty’ to drink whilst entertaining customers, and would they return to work afterwards to work on the detail of contracts?

Successful drug and alcohol policies reflect the interests and concerns of the entire organisation. A workplace policy has to provide for responses both to immediate impairment and to anyone developing dependency problems.
The workplace is an excellent environment for promoting the sensible use of alcohol, awareness of the side effects of medicines, and an understanding of the harmful effects of the illegal drugs. General drug awareness information may help people identify the signs of illegal drug use in managed properties.

Having an Employee Assistance Programme in place that provides a 24 hour helpline for any type of problem can reduce many of the home and work stress factors that could contribute to excessive drug and alcohol use.
Can testing for drugs and alcohol contribute to your policy? Include it, and you will find that the prospect of being tested brings the objectives of the company’s drug and alcohol policy sharply into focus. Employees will know the policy is there, and that they are expected to comply with it. Testing provides a deterrent to irresponsible use, and helps people with problems face up to them. The answer to a positive result does not have to be dismissal – the outcome should depend on the circumstances, and for many it is the start of a route to help.

The use and misuse of drugs and alcohol can affect all businesses. Because drug use is less visible than alcohol does not mean it isn’t there. Ignoring the possibility can appear to condone drug use, and allow the problem to grow.

Lindsay Hadfield
Email: lindsay.hadfield@medscreen.com Tel: 020 7712 8000