Why should an employer care about substance abuse issues?

When individuals report to work under the effect or influence of alcohol or drugs, they pose a danger to co-workers, the public, the environment and themselves.

The human costs of substance abuse are tragic.

The financial impact on businesses is staggering. 

Why screen your employees for substance abuse?

Because you can’t afford not to.

The statistics are startling. Consider the following information from the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) 2004 Canadian Addiction Study and the “Costs of Substance Abuse in Canada 2002” Study.

• 77% of drug users and 90% of alcoholics are working.   5% of the typical Canadian workplace is using illegal drugs and/or alcohol.
• In 2001, substance abuse cost the Canadian economy more than $30 billion.  
• Canadians are among the heaviest consumers of psychotropic medications in the world. The fourth highest per capita user of prescription narcotics in the world. The second highest user of sedative hypnotics and is among the top 15 countries in the use of prescription amphetamines.
• Addicted workers cost 300% more in benefits and are absent up to 16 times more often and are 1/3 less productive than other employees.
• On average, employees with substance abuse cost their employers a minimum of $7,000.00 more annually than their non using employees.
• 47% of workplace accidents that result in serious injury are caused by substance abusing employees.
• 40% of workplace accidents that result in death involve drug and/or alcohol use. 
• Drug using employees are 3.6 times more likely to be involved in workplace accidents and are responsible for 40% of all industrial fatalities.
• More than a quarter of workplace accidents involve workers who have been drinking and up to 14 million working days are lost every year through alcohol abuse alone.
• 44% of substance abusing employees admitted to selling drugs to co-workers. 
• 18% admitted to stealing from their employers with 50%-80% of workplace pilferage loss due to employees who are users.
• 38%-50% of all workers’ compensation claims are related to substance abuse with drug using employees 5 times more likely to file claims.
  

A study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) found that drug using employees were:

• 2.2 times more likely to request early dismissal or time off.
• 2.5 times more likely to miss 8 or more days of work per year.
• 3 times more likely to be late for work.
• 3.6 times more likely to be involved in a workplace accident.
• 5 times more likely to be injured in an accident away from work resulting in absenteeism and increased benefit costs.
• 5 times more likely to file a workers’ compensation claim.

Identification and treatment of substance abuse can result in dramatic improvements.

• Drug and alcohol-free employees have fewer accidents and make fewer errors.
• Screening out substance abusers helps employers control the costs of excessive absenteeism and improve productivity.
• Drug and alcohol testing programs can reduce liabilities with customers and fellow employees.
• Removing drug abusers can reduce the number of staff conflicts and workplace violence.
• Eliminating substance abusers can reduce the costs associated with higher health care benefit usage and workers' compensation claims.
• Serves as a deterrent to continued use of an illicit substance.
  

By establishing a comprehensive substance abuse program, employers can protect their companies, their workers and their customers from those who, through abuse of illegal drugs or prescription drugs and/or alcohol, endanger both personnel and profit in the workplace. Precision Screening Medical Services can assist with meeting all of your screening needs.