Drug & Alcohol Misuse in the Workplace -

dedicated to the health of your employees and your business, we understand the concerns faced when an employer is considering the introduction of a Drug & Alcohol Policy.

Did You Know…?


• 25% of drug users seeking help are in full-time employment (Source: CBI)
• People with substance abuse problems are between two and eight times more likely to be absent from work for more than a week than those without such problems (Source: ILO)
• Alcohol related sickness absence costs business 2 billion a year (Source: McDonnell & Maynard, 'The costs of alcohol misuse', 1985 (80) Br J Addiction 27-35)
• Drug using employees are 3.5 times more likely to injure themselves or a colleague (Source: Jackson, Drugs and Alcohol Policies, 1999)
• People with substance abuse problems are at least 25% less effective than other workers (Source: WHO)
  
  *Eye-Opening Facts...
  
  
• On average, 44%of all workers' compensation claims are related to substance abuse in the workplace.
• Substance abusers incur 300% higher medical costs than non abusers.
• Companies that have a drug free workplace policy and drug testing program averaged a 11.4% reduction in their workers' compensation experience rating modification factor...
• ... At the same time, companies that did not implement drug testing programs saw no decline in their workers' compensation experience rating modification factor.
• 1 out of 5 of workers killed on the job in 1998 had drugs or alcohol present in their bodies according to postmortem toxicology tests.
• The highest rates of illicit drug use and heavy drinking by workers are in these industries: Food Preparation, Construction, Service Occupations, and Transportation and Material Moving.
• More than 60% of adults know someone who has reported for work under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• 1 out of 5 of workers have had to work harder, redo work or cover for a co-worker as a result of a fellow employee's drinking.
• Almost half of all industrial accidents can be linked to alcohol consumption and alcoholism.
• Workers who are current illicit drug users are two-and-a-half times more likely to have missed one or more days in the past month than those who have not.
  * Source - The Illinois Chamber Statewide Drug-Free Workplace Resources

For More Information About Starting Your Drug Free Work Place - Contact The U.S. Department Of Labor Toll Free at 1-866-4-USA-DOL or visit their web-site www.dol.go/workingpartners.