Addiction in the workplace
The most valuable resource of any company, large or small,
is its people. Without healthy, productive, capable
employees, no business can remain competitive and
profitable.
Chemical dependency or compulsive addictions can
dramatically affect an employee's ability to contribute to
your company's success. In economic terms, an addiction can
lead to a drop in productivity, reduced product quality,
increased absenteeism, and higher health care costs. In
human terms, an addiction can lead to failed marriages,
broken homes, severe emotional problems, and even death.
Depending on the nature of the individual's work, public
safety can be jeopardized.
Because an addiction impacts every facet of a person's life,
the problem must be addressed at many different levels,
including the place of employment. The Illinois Institute
for Addiction Recovery at Proctor Hospital allows employers
to offer a comprehensive program of evaluation, treatment,
counseling and support for employees and their families.
The IIAR was established in 1979 to help persons with
chemical and/or behavioral addictions lead comfortable and
productive lives without the use of mood-altering drugs or
compulsive behaviors. We achieve this goal by providing a
variety of medical and counseling services designed to help
our patients, as well as their families and employers.
Available care ranges from modern intensive medical
treatment to preventive counseling.
Identifying addiction in the workplace
How much do you know about addiction in the workplace? The
answers to some of these questions might surprise you.
1. The most frequently used drug in the US workplace today
is:
- a) Marijuana
- b) Alcohol
- c) Cocaine
- d) Heroin
2. When a person is abusing drugs, the likelihood of him or her having an accident on the job:
- a) Increases by two times
- b) Does not increase
- c) Increases by four times
- d) Increases by ten times
3. According to law, any business in the US with a government contract of____or more must have a
drug-free
program in place.
- a) $1,000,000
- b) $25,000
- c) $1,000
- d) $10,000
4. Continued abuse of drugs on the job by an employee can cause:
- a) Loss of family and friends
- b) Loss of the job
- c) Endangerment of other employees
- d) Loss of personal health and possible death
- e) All of the above
5. If an individual admits his or her drug problem to a supervisor, he or she will most likely:
- a) Be fired on the spot
- b) Be referred to an Employee Assistance Program
- c) Be subject to instant arrest and incarceration
- d) Not lose his or her job
- e) b and d
6. According to the Institute for a Drug-Free Workplace, what percentage of employees are in favor of
their
company's drug policy?
- a) 82%
- b) 50%
- c) 13%
- d) 100%
7. Drug abuse in the workplace affects everyone in what way?
- a) Added stress in the workplace
- b) Increased productivity
- c) Increased risk of injury
- d) Added job security
- e) a and c
8. If a person decides to get help through an Employee Assistance Program, his or her problem will:
- a) Be kept strictly confidential
- b) Be shared with his or her supervisor and others in management
- c) Probably lead to termination
- d) Never be solved
9. Our nation's economy loses at least___a year to drug abuse.
- a) $100,000
- b) $7,500
- c) $100 million
- d) $100 billion
Click here for the answers to this quiz on addiction in the workplace.
Six possible symptoms of addiction in the workplace:
- Change in work attendance or performance
- Alteration of personal appearance
- Mood swings or attitude changes
- Withdrawal from responsibility or associate contacts
- Unusual patterns of behavior
- Defensive attitude concerning the object of addiction
If you have reason to believe an employee is having a problem with alcohol or any drug, gambling or other
compulsive
behaviors, call an IIAR counselor at 1-800-522-3784.
For more information on addiction in the workplace, click on the topics below:
To comment on this site or inquire
about IIAR programs and services, or to receive additional information on any of
the subjects discussed in this Web site, please e-mail our Vice President of Ancillary Services, Rick Zehr (eric.zehr@proctor.org) or
call 1-800-522-3784.