Utilize These Three Methods to Combat Addiction in the Workplace

It is common to view drug and alcohol addiction as a problem for others. If you’ve never struggled with addiction and it hasn’t been a problem in your social circles, you likely associate it with poverty, unemployment, homelessness, and poor life choices.
However, what if I told you that 70 percent of Americans who use illegal drugs are employed? Instead of viewing it as a societal issue, you must confront it as a challenge. Are you able to handle that?

THE REALITY OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN THE WORKPLACE

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) research indicates that 70% of the estimated 14.8 million Americans who use illegal drugs are employed.
If the prevalence of substance addiction and abuse in the workplace shocks you, you will be even more surprised by the side effects. For instance, did you know that employees with drinking problems are 2.7 times more likely to miss work due to an injury than employees who do not abuse alcohol? Or consider the fact that 35% of emergency room patients with occupational injuries are high-risk drinkers.
Even higher rates and dangers exist for drug addicts, who also struggle to maintain steady employment. The NCADD notes that workers who have held three or more jobs in the past five years are twice as likely to be current or former illegal drug users compared to those who have held two or fewer jobs.
While you may continue to believe that addiction and abuse do not occur in your industry, it would be foolish to maintain this viewpoint. Substance abuse is a problem for millions of Americans from the working class, many of whom hold white-collar jobs. If you are unprepared, you may be taken by surprise.

RECOGNIZING SYMPTOMS OF ADDICTION

If you assume that your employees do not struggle with drug addiction, you are probably not looking for signs and symptoms. You must change your perspective and recognize that this issue permeates all socioeconomic classes, industries, and occupations.
Some signs of addiction are easier to recognize than others, but here are some of the most common ones that employers observe:
– Persistent attendance issues Do you have an employee who consistently arrives late or misses multiple days in a row? This is one indication that something may be afoot.
– Lackluster performance When chronic attendance problems are accompanied by poor performance, it is a sign that the employee’s mind is not on the job. There could be any number of causes, but addiction and abuse are possibilities.
– Problems with conduct It may be worthwhile to investigate the possibility of an addiction problem if erratic and unexplained behavior issues are frequent.
– Tension in professional relationships. Healthy workplace relationships are essential to the success of a small business. Substance abusers and alcoholics frequently struggle to maintain healthy relationships with coworkers.

3 TIPS FOR DEALING WITH EMPLOYEE SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Substance abuse is extremely tragic on a personal level. It is disheartening to see people repeatedly make poor decisions that harm themselves and others. But from the perspective of an employer, it is equally difficult to observe the negative effects of their poor decisions on your business.
Employee addiction can have a significant negative impact on your business due to poor work performance, excessive absences and inconsistent hours, high job turnover, lack of productivity, and an increase in workers’ compensation claims and healthcare benefits.
The best course of action is to take a proactive stance. By doing so, substance abuse and addiction can be prevented or at least addressed when they become a problem. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

1. LAUNCH PROGRAMS

Small businesses that take the time to implement drug testing and education programs will see a healthy return on their investment, despite the fact that they will incur a cost. According to DrugAbuse.com, the proven benefits include an increase in morale, a decrease in workplace accidents, a decrease in employee theft, an increase in productivity, a decrease in employee turnover, and a decrease in insurance and workers’ compensation costs.

2. AVOID ENABLING

You must cease enabling employees who may be abusing substances or alcohol. This implies avoiding lending money, covering up an employee’s mistakes, making excuses, and delegating work. These may appear trivial, especially if you are unaware that substance abuse is involved, but they exacerbate the problem.

3. OFFER SUPPORT

Many addicts have personal difficulties and may not receive the necessary social support. While you should always remain as professional as possible in your role as an employer, you can assist your employees by providing addiction recovery support and encouraging them to seek treatment.

ADDICTION: IT HURTS MORE THAN THE BOTTOM LINE

You have two major responsibilities as a business owner: increasing profitability and caring for your employees. There are times when these two objectives appear to be at odds with one another, and times when they appear to be complementary. Substance dependence falls into this category.
If your employees struggle with substance abuse and addiction, it is not only detrimental to your company’s bottom line. It is harming the health of your employees and causing incalculable suffering to their families.
When you are aware that addiction and abuse are pervasive in the American workplace, you can take a more proactive approach and reduce the likelihood that your business and employees will experience this terrible problem.