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Workplace Substance Abuse: Reactive vs Proactive Measures

Learn about the impacts of substance abuse on employers and strategies to tackle it. Understand alcohol and drug effects, signs of abuse, and ways to maintain a drug-free workplace.

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Workplace Substance Abuse: Reactive vs Proactive Measures

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  1. Workplace Substance Abuse - Are You Reactive or Proactive? An Overview of Trends, Testing and Techniques. JOHN THROCKMORTON, C-SAPA EMPLOYEE SCREENING SERVICES OF MISSOURI, LLC

  2. Everyone Bears the Impact Substance Abusers COST an EMPLOYER$13,000+ a year 2.5 X Higher Absenteeism 1/3 Lower Productivity More Loss-Time Accidents 3 – 5 X Higher Workers Compensation Claims 300% Increased Health Care Costs 5

  3. Why should a company test it’s employees? Regulatory compliance? Safety and loss prevention? Productivity? Organizational culture and values? Standard within your specific industry? Developing a Drug Free Workplace Fear of what happens if you don’t?

  4. Drugs of Abuse - Alcohol - Marijuana - Cocaine - Amphetamine/Meth - Opiates/Heroin - PCP - Club Drugs Inhalants Prescription Designer DOT NON-DOT 7

  5. ALCOHOL

  6. Alcohol Prohibitions An employee may not perform work duties if: • the employee has an alcohol concentration in excess of company cutoff levels. • NOTE: company policy should set SPECIFIC level of violation (e.g., .02, .04). An employee is not to consume alcohol: • while on duty • within the company designated timeframe after a reportable accident/injury

  7. Effects of Alcohol • on Function • .01-.05 Mostly normal behavior; can be considered moderately impaired* • .03-.12 Mild euphoria, increased self-confidence, lowered inhibitions, impaired judgment and control, talkativeness, motor impairment • .09-.25 Impaired hearing, balance, coordination, memory, perception, visual acuity and emotional instability • .18-.30 Staggering, slurred speech, disorientation, exaggerated emotions, blackouts • .25-.40 Stupor, loss of motor functions, vomiting, passing out, lack of response, inability to walk • .35-.50 Coma, lower body temperature, loss of reflexes • .55+ Death • *AT 60 m.p.h., a car travels 88’/second

  8. Accumulation of Alcohol • AFFECTED BY: • - Body weight, muscle to fat ratio, food intake, and gender • - Type of alcohol, amount consumed and rate of consumption • REMEMBER: • - Alcohol is a poison!

  9. AlcoholAccumulation One Drink =

  10. Accumulation and Dissipation - Average accumulation for a 170# male: 0.01-0.02 per drink - Average dissipation rate: 1 drink per hour. - How is alcohol eliminated? • Evaporation (perspiration), excretion (urination), metabolism • Time is the only proven method of eliminating alcohol

  11. Signs & Symptomsof Alcohol Use Mental Functions: • Judgment and decision making are affected first Sensory Functions: • Visual, auditory, smell and taste are diminished Psychomotor Functions: • Over enunciation and slurred speech • Eye-hand coordination, reflex reactions (slower) • Gait and balance – staggering

  12. DRUGS

  13. Common Drug Effects - Fatigue - Confusion - Poor memory - Slow reactions - Learning difficulty - Poor coordination - Authority problems - Loss of concentration - Depression or anxiety - Difficulty prioritizing - Neurotic or psychotic - Delayed decision making - Erratic judgment quality

  14. Appearance Signs of Drug Use Appearance changes range from subtle to extreme. Personal Grooming Often deteriorates Extreme hairstyles, make-up or clothing Should be viewed in the broader context of overall changes in workplace performance and behavior

  15. The EYES have it… Eyes are susceptible to the physical effects of substance use. • Red or bloodshot • Excessive tearing • Unfocused

  16. Behavioral Signs of Drug Users - “I don’t care” - Erratic performance - Hung-over - Drug culture jargon - Secretive behavior - Loner (avoids straight arrows) - Forgetful, indecisive, erratic

  17. Marijuana

  18. Drug Paraphernalia

  19. Signs & Symptoms of MARIJUANAuse - Hemp, Mary Jane, Weed, 4:20 - Restless, dreamy, “munchies” - Loss of short-term memory - Odor - Rolling papers or pipes - Bent paper clips or roach clips - Sunglasses indoors - Visine use - Cough & sore throat - Feeling of heightened insight - Apathy & fatigue

  20. K2 • Known as K2 ,“spice”, “genie” • Created in 1995 to research the effects of cannabinoids on the brain • Organic material is sprayed with a synthetic compound chemically similar to THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana

  21. Cocaine • - White/Creamy granular powder • - Coca plant (South America) • - Snorted or Injected • Average high lasts 20-90 minutes • Crack • - Cocaine free-base • - Cheaper than powdered cocaine • - Recreational use is wide-spread

  22. How Will Cocaine Affect Employees? - Hallucinations - Mood Swings - Paranoia - Compulsive Behavior - Aggressive Behavior - Talkativeness - Insomnia - Fast Breathing & Hyperventilation - Loss of Appetite – Weight Loss

  23. Signs of Use - White crystals on lower nose/upper lip - Nose red and very sensitive to touch - Scabs and sore on under side of nose - Erratic work performance - Excessive sweating - Long “pinky” fingernail - Tightly rolled up currency

  24. BATH SALTS • Ivory Snow, Red Dove, Vanilla Sky, Cloud Nine, Ivory Wave, White Lightning, Hurricane Charlie and others. • Taken orally, snorted, smoked, rectally and IV • Produce powerful psychotic effects leading to violence

  25. JEWELRY CLEANER • Sold as “Cosmic Blast” • Can raise core body temperature to 106-108 • Synthetic Cocaine, similar to bath salts

  26. Amphetamine/Methamphetamine/MDMA Amphetamine (speed, uppers, black beauties, bennies, dexies) Methamphetamines (ice, crank, crystal meth) MDMA (ecstasy, molly, XTC, X) Amphetamine – Prescription drug Methamphetamine – Street chemically altered amphetamine, highly addictive. “For every pound of meth produced……5 to 7 lbs of toxic waste are left behind”

  27. Health Issues of Amphetamines • Rapid weight loss • Irritability • Hyperactivity • Excessive sweating • Dilated pupils • Mood swings - Excessive tooth decay

  28. Signs/Symptoms - Corners of baggies & paper clips - Circular burns or scars on the tip of the fingers (crack pipe use) - When Meth is wearing off, users will often grind their teeth. - Tennis balls

  29. “Crank Bugs”

  30. Opiates (codeine, morphine, heroin) Used to alleviate pain, opiates depress body functions and reactions. In large doses, can cause a strong euphoric feeling. “Cheese”, a mix of Heroin and Tylenol PM, 1/10 gram, a “bump” is $2.00.

  31. Heroin is known by many names SMACK, HORSE, BIG H, SKAG, MUD, BROWN SUGAR, JUNK, BLACK TAR, DOPE, CHEESE Finding new popularity in pill form About 1.4 percent of people 12 and older have used Heroin and the average age is dropping!

  32. How Will Opiates Affect Employees? • Drowsiness followed by sleep • Decreased physical activity • Drug craving • Depression and apathy • Critical thinking skills decreased

  33. Opiate Use – What a Supervisor Should Look For: Drugs & Paraphernalia Reduced productivity Pinpoint pupils Slow reactions Lost of sense of time/space Poppy Seeds?

  34. Phencyclidine (PCP) • (angel dust, rocket fuel, killer weed) • Deliriant or dissociative drug • Blocks pain • NO LAWFUL USE • Scrambles the brain • High doses produce delusions • Aggressive behavior • Users have incredible strength

  35. How Will PCP Affect Employees? Severe disorientation Routine activities very difficult Potential for accidents is high due to extreme mental effects combined with the anesthetic effect on the body

  36. Prescription Drugs/Non-DOT • Make yourself aware of RX drugs of abuse - Have a RX company reporting policy (i.e., a fitness for duty statement from the employee’s doctor). DRUGS

  37. Club Drugs/Non-DOT - MDMA – Ecstasy * - GHB – Date rape drug - Ketamine – Date rape drug (Special K) - Rohypnol – Date rape drug - Inhalants * - LSD (Temporary tattoo's) *Can cause brain damage and death. *When you are out for an evening….don’t drink from a glass or opened bottle you left unattended.

  38. Drug Testing Trend – Oral Fluids • Oral fluid drug testing provides a convenient, accurate alternative to urine. • Oral fluid drug testing has become common in workplace programs. • Oral fluid drug testing is conducted following the same procedures as laboratory urine drug testing with an initial screen followed by confirmation.

  39. Developing a Drug Free Workplace: Drug and Alcohol Testing is no longer a simple transaction: • Quality in the custody and control procedures • Drug testing: urine vs. oral fluid vs. hair • What drugs are included? DOT vs. DFWP testing • State and Federal laws governing drug testing • Under what circumstances should I test? • Location of testing: onsite vs. clinic

  40. It starts with company-wide commitment and policy: • Employer AND employees share responsibility for maintaining a drug free environment • Compliance with federal and state law • Who is eligible for testing? • Circumstances for testing must be outlined: • Pre, Ran, P/A, R/S, F/U, RTD • Violations and consequences must be well-defined and consistently applied • Employee Assistance Program – will you offer one?

  41. Reasonable Suspicion – Step-by-Step Observe……………….………….1 Confront……………..……….2 Document…….……….....3* Test……………..…….4 Refer…….….….....5 * Refer to your company’s Reasonable Suspicion check-list.

  42. Review: • The ABC’s of Reasonable Suspicion • Appearance–Current observations of the employee Behavior–Cumulative patterns of change in the employee’s behavior or appearance Conduct–Reports from others :

  43. A Supervisor’s Role IS To… • Know Your DOT &/or Company Policy & Reasonable Suspicion Procedures Identifythe specific observations of employee behavior and appearance Confront the employee concerning therequirements to undergo the test Documentyour observations

  44. A Supervisor’s Role is NOT To… • Be a skilled ‘drug recognition’ expert. • Consider a Reasonable Suspicion test an accusation of illegal drug use. Identify the specific drug associated with behavior or appearance. Offera diagnosis of substance abuse or addiction.

  45. Drug Testing Criteria - Direct observation of drug use or possession - Symptom of being under the influence of drug - Pattern of abnormal behavior

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