SUBSTANCE ABUSE: The Multi-Million Dollar Problem SUBSTANCE ABUSE  Substance abuse is the misuse of alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescription drugs.  Cost to companies is $60 to $100 billion each year.  Alcohol and Drug Information Alcohol and Drug Information Alcohol and Drug Information Human Relations

ACTIONS TAKEN BY ORGANIZATIONS TO CONTROL SUBSTANCE ABUSEACTIONS TAKEN BY ORGANIZATIONS TO CONTROL SUBSTANCE ABUSE –Testing Pre-employmentPre-employment Expected intervalExpected interval Random intervalRandom interval For causeFor cause –Employee assistance programs –Employee education Human Relations

DOWNSIDE OF DRUG TESTINGDOWNSIDE OF DRUG TESTING –Cost –Intrusive, humiliating, invasion of privacy! –Not foolproof –Don’t measure “impairment”, only amount in blood. Human Relations

COMMONLY ABUSED SUBSTANCESCOMMONLY ABUSED SUBSTANCES –Alcohol –Cocaine –Marijuana –Sedatives and tranquilizers –Amphetamines –Inhalants –Hallucinogens –Narcotics Human Relations

SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICIESSUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICIES –Athletes Athletes –Companies Companies SEEKING TREATMENTSEEKING TREATMENT –Where? Where? –AA AA Human Relations

DEALING WITH A SUPERVISOR OR COWORKER WHO ABUSES SUBSTANCESDEALING WITH A SUPERVISOR OR COWORKER WHO ABUSES SUBSTANCES –Intervention with an employee. Intervention –Intervention with a boss. Intervention Human Relations