Last updated : December 16, 2024
It’s easy to spot the obvious effects of drug use, like workplace accidents, but drugs impact businesses in many more subtle ways as well.
Before you write drug abuse off as someone else’s problem, you should know that according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, nearly 75 percent of all drug users are employed. The American Council for Drug Education estimates that over 31 million employees regularly use illegal drugs. That means one in eleven Americans abuse drugs in the workplace. Are you satisfied with those odds?
Studies have shown that drug abusers are more likely to
- change jobs frequently
- be late to or absent from work
- be less productive employees
- be involved in a workplace accident
- file a workers’ compensation claim
These factors add up to an estimated $81 billion loss for employers annually; that works out to about $7,000 per employee, per year.
When evaluating potential drug abuse in your company, ask yourself these questions:
- Can your company afford (and do you have the time) to repeatedly hire new employees to replace those who leave or are fired?
- Can your staff absorb the increased workload when employees who abuse drugs arrive late or fail to show up at all?
- Can your staff pick up the slack (or should they have to) for employees who are under-performing due to drug abuse?
- Can you afford the liability of increased and more sever workplace accidents as a result of drug abuse?
- Can you afford the increased costs of unjustified workers’ compensation claims?
Drug abuse in the workplace costs employers plenty, both in terms of time and money, but you don’t have to accept it. Attentive employers may notice details that indicate drug abuse, such as:
- Inconsistent work quality
- Poor concentration and lack of focus
- Lowered productivity or erratic work patterns
- Increased absenteeism
- Unexplained disappearances from the job site
- Carelessness, mistakes or errors in judgment
- Needless risk taking
- Disregard for safety for self and others- on the job and off the job accidents
- Extended lunch periods and early departures
- Frequent financial problems
- Avoidance of friends and colleagues
- Blaming others for own problems and shortcomings
- Complaints about problems at home
- Deterioration in appearance or hygiene
- Complaints, excuses, and time off for vaguely defined illnesses or family problems
But you shouldn’t stop there because signs of drug abuse may not show up until an accident or other serious event—at that point, it’s often too late. A better option is to implement a drug free workplace program to help identify drug use before it causes a problem. Depending on the circumstances, the employer may choose to terminate an employee, or refer them to a treatment program and give them a second chance.
Would you like to learn more about implementing a drug free workplace program at your company to increase productivity and decrease risk and liability? Give us a call at 440-653-5003 or contact us online today.
