Prescription Drug Abuse in the Workplace

According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, prescription drugs are the second most abused drug category following marijuana. People who misuse prescription drugs often have the belief that prescription drugs are safer than illegal drugs because they are prescribed by a doctor. Prescription drug abuse is often referred to as the nation’s fastest growing drug problem. Over the past decade, prescriptions for painkillers rose from 75.5 million to 209.50 million.

Prescription drug abuse among employees can cause expensive problems for their business or industry. It is estimated that drug abuse cost employers $81 billion annually. Drug abuse causes lost productivity, absenteeism, injuries, fatalities, theft, low employee morale, increase in insurance costs, legal liabilities and worker compensation fees. Statistics demonstrate that prescription drug abuse presents a recognized occupational hazard that is likely to cause death or serious physical harm.  Substance abusers are more than three times more likely to be involved in workplace accidents and five times more likely to hurt themselves on the job.

More than 75% of all drug users in the US are employed.  Over 16% of these employees use illicit drugs or are heavy alcohol users.  Certain industries have higher rates of substance abuse.  Mining and construction top the list with approximately 28% of employees engaged in illicit drugs or heavy alcohol use, while workers in professional services and the government have the lowest rates: just above 9%. An estimated 5% of substance abusers engage in illicit drug and alcohol use before reporting to work and nearly 10% do so during work hours.  Every industry, from blue collar to board room executives, is affected by drugs in the workplace. Employees who are not in typical “safety-sensitive positions," can still have tremendous negative impact on their company when drug use is an issue. These employees may have jobs in which they make decisions affecting other workers, have access to financial records, maintain confidential information or are privy to company ideas and product plans.  In order to ensure the safety, security and success of your company and its employees, workplaces must be alcohol and drug-free.

Training programs in the workplace for management and employees are beneficial in keeping the workplace safe. Traditional drug testing may not uncover the issue alone, proper training can help employees identify the signs and symptoms of drug abuse.  SafetySkills offers online safety training courses to help address the issue of drugs in the workplace. The Drug Free Workplace course demonstrates the importance of eliminating drugs in the workplace and what employees can do to help. This course is intended to assist the employer when meeting the various State and Federal Laws that cover Drugs in the Workplace. The Substance Abuse Training for Oil and Gas Supervisors online training course will train supervisors on the DOT’s requirements for supervisor training under its drug-free workplace program mandates for safety-sensitive industries. In addition to illegal and prescription drug abuse, the course also covers the physiological effects of alcohol and how they are produced, and general physiological and behavioral characteristics of alcoholism

To learn more about SafetySkills and additional course offerings, please visit us at SafetySkills.com/