Drug Free Workplace Program

Drug-Free Workplace, helps you develop a customized drug-free workplace policy statement for your organization. Before changing your Drug Free Workplace Program, be sure to check all local/state/federal requirements and union contracts for limitations and implementation. A drug-free workplace policy forms the foundation for a drug-free workplace program; however, it is not the same as a drug-free workplace program. Rather, it is one of five components.

In addition to a policy, a comprehensive drug-free workplace program includes supervisor training, employee education, employee assistance and drug testing. Effective program planning and philosophy are critical to success. Employers and employees should work together to examine each component and design a Drug Free Workplace Program which is balanced, fair program suited to the unique needs and challenges of your specific workplace.

Substance abuse increases absenteeism and turnover.

• An estimated 500 million workdays are lost annually due to alcoholism.
• Employees who use drugs are 2.2 times more likely to request early dismissal or time off, 2.5 times more likely to have absences of eight days or more, and 3 times more likely to be late for work.
• Illicit drug users are more than twice as likely than those who do not use drugs to have changed employers three or more times in the past year.

Substance abuse increases an employer’s medical costs.

• Employees who use drugs cost their employers about twice as much in medical claims as do non-drug-using employees.

Implement a drug-free workplace program.

In 1988, the Drug-free Workplace Act was passed, requiring all federal grantees and some recipients of federal contracts to agree to provide a drug-free workplace as a condition of receiving federal money. In a drug-free workplace, all employees adhere to a program of policies and activities designed to provide a safe Workplace. The policies and activities discourage alcohol and drug abuse and encourage treatment, recovery and the return to work of those employees who have abuse problems. Even if your organization is not required to have a drug-free workplace program, your organization can still benefit.

DRUGS IN THE WORKPLACE

Substance abuse is a widespread problem in our society. An estimated 14.8 million Americans are current illicit drug users.1 The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported that 77 percent of illicit drug users in the United States are employed. That’s 9.4 million people. The chances are good that your organization employs one of these workers.

Who is using drugs at work?

A survey by the federal government showed full-time employees who admitted to being current illicit drug users tend to be:
• between the ages of 18 and 25
• less educated
• male
• divorced or never married
• white
• low paid

Industries with the highest rates of illicit drug use

• food preparation workers
• waiters, waitresses, and bartenders
• other service occupation workers
• construction workers
• workers in transportation and material moving

How does substance abuse impact the workplace?

Employees who abuse alcohol and other drugs bring their problems with them to work.

Substance abuse lowers productivity.

• Problems related to alcohol and drug abuse cost American businesses roughly $81 billion in lost productivity in just one year.
• Studies have shown that substance-abusing employees function at about 67% of their capacity.

Substance abuse causes accidents and injuries.

• Up to 40 percent of industrial fatalities and 47 percent of industrial injuries can be linked to alcohol use and alcoholism.

• Employees who use drugs are 3.6 times more likely to be involved in a workplace accident and 5 times more likely to file a workers’ compensation claim.

A successful drug-free workplace program may include:

• a written policy
• employee education
• supervisor training
• access to assistance
• drug testing

All materials in the members area for this topic index

Program Material
Programs (written)		(1)
Drug Free Workplace Safety Program	Download
Program Development		(2)
Drug Free Workplace Program Development	Download
Fleet Driver D A Testrates	Download
Fact Sheets		(3)
Drugfree Companypolicy	Download
Drugfree Recognizing Problem	Download
Drugfree Testing Types	Download
Forms & Documents
Checklists		(1)
Drug Free Workplace Program Checklist	Download
Training Material
Management		(2)
Drug Free Workplace Management Safety Brief	Download
Management Drug Free Workplace	Download
Outlines		(1)
Drugfree Programoutlines	Download
Awareness
Posters		(3)
Drug Car Poster	Download
Focus On Safety Poster	Download
Marijuana Poster	Download

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