NCJ Number
169246
Date Published
1998
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This chapter discusses the dangers of workplace drug abuse and employers' attempts to deal with the problem.
Abstract
Chronic drug abusers and addicts compromise the workplace in numerous ways: decreased productivity and increased accidents, medical claims, absenteeism, product defects, insurance costs and employee theft, to name a few. Drug users who are employed are one-third less productive and incur 300 percent higher medical costs. Drug abuse has a major impact on workplace crime, introducing the criminal element in the dealer-employees who carry weapons and large amounts of cash. A national Gallup survey found that more than 97 percent of employees favor drug testing in the workplace at last under some circumstances. Employers are attempting to deal with the drug problem in several ways: (1) adopting antidrug abuse policies, communicating them to employees and job applicants and enforcing them; (2) implementing comprehensive drug education and drug awareness programs; (3) implementing drug testing programs; and (4) providing employee assistance and rehabilitation programs, which typically provide support groups within the organization, counseling for family members and the promise of a job waiting for those who successfully complete treatment.