ON-THE-JOB DRUG ABUSE HURTS EVERYONE

Ask yourself, "Are there alcoholics and other drug abusers where I work?"

Never? Maybe? Take a good look at some hard facts.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse figures that about 68 percent of
illegal drug abusers are employed either full-time or part-time. And the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services figures that one out of every
10 people in the United States has an alcohol problem.

What does this mean? Abuse of alcohol and other drugs is a problem that
affects everyone. Workers who abuse alcohol and other drugs:

* Are far less productive

* Miss more work days

* Are more likely to injure themselves or someone else on the job.

* File more worker's compensation claims.

Employers cannot absorb all these costs; they are passed on to employees
through higher insurance premiums and reduced salaries or benefit packages,
and to consumers through higher-priced products and services. Hidden costs
include the high stress to other workers who continually fill in for absent
or tardy co-workers, damage to equipment, waste of materials, drains on
supervisory time and damage to the company's public image.

What to do? Don't turn your back on someone in trouble, but don't "enable"
or assist a troubled co-worker or employee to continue abusing drugs by
ignoring the problem, lying or covering up, doing his or her job or lending
money. Be alert for the following signs of abuse:

* Frequent tardiness or absenteeism

* Abrupt changes in mood or attitude

* Frequent complaints of not feeling well

* Poor relationships with co-workers

* Uncharacteristic errors in judgment, poor concentration

* Unusual flare-ups of temper

* Deterioration of personal appearance and hygiene

* Repeated or unusual accidents

* Deteriorating job performance

* Borrowing money from co-workers or frequently requesting advances on
paychecks

* Using a company credit card for personal business

Take a stand. Examine your own consumption habits. If you have a problem,
get help. Help establish a policy against drug use in your workplace. Make
sure people know about your company's employee assistance program, or start
one to direct people to treatment services. (It is much more cost-effective
to treat employees than to replace them.) Set up an anonymous "tip line" to
report drug dealing on the job.

Helping people stay off drugs is good business. It also lightens everyone's
tax burden by reducing the need for drug-related law enforcement and health
services.