NCJ Number
48155
Date Published
Unknown
Length
21 pages
Annotation
THE PROBLEM OF DRUG ABUSE BY EMPLOYEES AND RELATED CRIMES AGAINST EMPLOYERS IS EXAMINED IN A STUDY OF 95 PARTICIPANTS IN NEW YORK CITY DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS.
Abstract
THE SUBJECTS, MOST OF WHOM WERE YOUNG MINORITY MALES, WERE PARTICIPANTS IN FOUR DRUG-FREE VOLUNTARY RESIDENTIAL THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIES FOR DRUG ABUSERS AND ADDICTS. ALL OF THE SUBJECTS HAD BEEN DRUG USERS AT A TIME WHEN THEY WERE GAINFULLY EMPLOYED. THE SUBJECTS HAD HELD A VARIETY OF JOBS. MOST (91) SAID THAT THEY HAD USED DRUGS DURING WORKING HOURS. FORTY SAID THEY HAD USED DRUGS IN THE RESTROOM ON THE WORK PREMISES. OF THE 91 ON-THE-JOB USERS, 48 SAID THEY SOLD DRUGS TO OTHER EMPLOYEES. SIXTY-EIGHT OF THE SUBJECTS NOTED INVOLVEMENT IN OTHER FORMS OF ON-THE-JOB CRIMINAL ACTIVITY (STEALING OF GOODS FROM THE OFFICE OR JOB SITE AND LATER SELLING THE GOODS FOR PERSONAL PROFIT, STEALING CASH OR CHECKS FROM EMPLOYERS OR FELLOW EMPLOYEES). ONE SUBJECT SAID THAT HE HAD FORGED AN ENTIRE PAYROLL. THE FINDINGS INDICATE THAT HEROIN ADDICTS ARE CAPABLE OF HOLDING DOWN PAYING JOBS AND THAT OFTEN THEIR DRUG USE GOES UNDETECTED FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. ALTHOUGH 30 PERCENT OF THE SUBJECTS HAD BEEN FIRED FROM THEIR JOBS, NONE OF THE FIRING EMPLOYERS GAVE DRUG ABUSE AS THE REASON FOR DISMISSAL, CITING INSTEAD POOR PERFORMANCE, TARDINESS, AND ABSENTEEISM. THE STUDY ALSO SUGGESTS THAT MANY ABUSERS AND ADDICTS COME TO THE WORK FORCE DIRECTLY OUT OF HIGH SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES WHERE THEY HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE DRUG SCENE. STEPS THAT BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY CAN TAKE TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF EMPLOYEE DRUG ABUSE AND TO COMBAT ITS CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES ARE SUGGESTED. SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)