Drug Free Policy
Drug and alcohol abuse costs employers billions of dollars each year in the United States. As employers, you have the power to make changes in your workplace.
As you begin to create or implement a drug free policy and/or program it’s easy to become overwhelmed with the complex laws involved. To avoid legal issues, educate your leadership, managers and supervisors on steps to avoid. Access to legal information concerning drug free policies is available from SAMHSA.
Organizations with successful drug free policies and/or programs experience increased improvement in morale and productivity along with decreased absenteeism and turnover.
Conversations (Dos and Don'ts)
75% of individuals who suffer from substance use disorder are active in the workforce; therefore, organizations should promote open conversations regarding this topic. An employer should not wait until there is an accident in the workplace to initiate this conversation. Employees who abuse drugs are more than three and half (3½) times more likely to have an accident on the job. Employers need to be proactive in engaging with employees to encourage safe spaces and confidentiality when these topics are discussed.
How should these conversations be structured? Employers have a responsibility to conduct unbiased discussions to assist employees or give guidance for next steps. According to the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), employers are limited on questions they can and cannot ask.
Educate and train your management team(s) on protocol surrounding sensitive conversations dealing with substance use disorder, mental health and prescription medication.
Adhere to legal laws and regulations relating to these issues; if you are uncertain, seek legal counsel to protect your organization.
ROI Calculator
Studies have shown that substance abuse costs the United States more than $500 billion a year. If, as an employer, you would like to see how substance abuse is affecting your bottom-line, you can use the National Safety Council’s Cost Calculator.
Substance abuse affects productivity, absenteeism, workers’ compensation, disability, legal and medical costs within the workplace. Employees with substance use disorder miss more days of work than others in the workforce. The general workforce misses an average of 10.5 days a year. Employees with substance use disorder miss an average of 14.5 days per year. In addition, those employees who suffer from opioid use disorder miss nearly three times as many days as the general workforce, missing 29 days per year. Those employees who receive treatment for substance use disorder and are in recovery miss 9.5 days of work, which is less than the general workforce. Employees in recovery also have the lowest turnover rate.
Absenteeism is only one area that can be negatively affected, and cost you money as an employer, by substance use disorder. Use the substance use employer calculator to determine the impact of substance use disorder on your organization. You can also view the ROI Calculator Methodology to compare your results to those of other American businesses.
