Drug and Alcohol Research Connections | August 2018 | Professor Ann Roche, Ms. Victoria Kostadinov, and Associate Professor Ken Pidd, The National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (Australia)

AOD-related stigma is often present in a variety of settings and contexts, including the workplace. It is, however, not always recognised or even well understood. Despite this, AOD-related stigma at work is ubiquitous, disproportionate, and profoundly harmful on many levels. Its effects range from overt discrimination in hiring practices to marginalisation and exclusion from full...

Knowing what to do when encountering an employee with a suspected substance use issue can be confusing and perhaps even shocking.  Knowing the signs and symptoms of substance use, the explicit requirements of the company’s drug-free workplace policy, the company’s procedures to attend to the behavioral concerns, and the resources available to help the employee are key to confidently handling the situation.

Learn about one organization’s perspective here

According to the 2021 World Drug Report, approximately 275 million people used drugs worldwide in the last year, while over 36 million people suffered from drug use disorders. Globally, only 1 in 7 people receive the treatment they need.

In the United States alone, the estimated cost of drug abuse, including illegal drugs, alcohol, and tobacco—is more than $740 billion a year and growing, according to data reported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

 Of this figure, more than $120 billion per year in lost productivity, according to The National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC). ...

View an excellent presentation on the impacts of marijuana on the workplace by Jo McGuire, Executive Director of the National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA) and President/CEO of Five Minutes of Courage. 

View the presentation here

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) released the video “Addressing Opioid Overdose Deaths in the Workplace” describing the use of naloxone in the workplace to counteract opioid overdoses.

Workplace conditions that may lead to opioid prescription use include unsafe working conditions that can lead to injuries like slips, trips, and falls; heavy workloads; job insecurity; job loss; and demanding, low-control jobs, according to the NIOSH video. The video explains that naloxone may counter the effects of an opioid overdose but that more than one dose may be needed...

Most employers strive to provide a safe and healthy work environment as well as encourage their employees to have healthy lifestyles.  They consider the use of drugs and alcohol on the job to be an unsafe counter‑productive work practice and a serious threat to all of their workers and the public. In consideration of this, most employers prohibit the use, of illegal drugs and alcohol at work.

While drug testing can indicate the presence of a drug, it does not indicate the level of impairment. Additionally, there are many impairing substances, such as designer drugs, or inhalants, that aren...

Prescription opioid medications intended for pain management and prescription benzodiazepines for conditions such as anxiety or insomnia, when used alone or together, often have side effects that can affect workers’ health and safety. In addition, some occupational factors, such as work-related motor vehicle crashes, falls, other injuries and job stress, have the potential to increase the chances that a worker is given a prescription for an opioid or benzodiazepine [Kowalski-McGraw et al. 2017].
 

The [U.S.] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed resources for...

On the occasion of this year’s recent World Drug Day that was themed “Share Facts On Drugs. Save Lives.”, we are reminded that workers who are parents, grandparents, or other caregivers to children can positively enhance their own career and personal workplace experience through positive parenting at home. Employers who acknowledge and support the parental role can enrich the working environment and boost employee morale benefitting everyone.

Miwa  Kato, Director of the Operations Division at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) shared some thoughts on the significance of...

From the the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

The effects of opioid use and misuse are not isolated to work or home environments, and the potential for opioid use disorder may be preceded by injuries that happen in the workplace, with the consequences affecting both an individual’s working life as well as their home life.

By using Total Worker Health principles, NIOSH is developing solutions to help workers and employers facing this crisis in their communities. Learn about the specific steps NIOSH is taking to...

Quest Diagnostics Employer Solutions Blog - February 2021

Most people’s experience with a drug test comes from the interview process for a new job which is what we call a pre-employment drug test. It is the most common reason for testing and helps employers screen applicants to safeguard the organization from the negative impacts of hiring employees who use drugs. However, employers committed to safety and a drug-free workplace should consider incorporating strategies that monitor drug use beyond pre-employment drug testing.

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Acknowledging the reality of opioid misuse in the workplace is a productive step for any business, and a benefit to every community. With the help of Operation Prevention, employers now have the opportunity to empower their staff and strengthen their organization with simple, no-cost workplace resources that give clarity to the opioid epidemic, including perspectives on science, health, society, and the legal system. Become a leader who inspires personal progress and productivity with versatile learning resources that stress the importance of prevention.

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The coronavirus pandemic shook up the U.S. employment picture last year, but one trend persisted: a rising share of workers who test positive for marijuana.

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Substance use disorders represent a pressing issue for employers and workers around the world. According to data from the U.S. 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 70% of all adults with an alcohol or illicit drug use disorder are employed. Nearly 9% of all employed adults (approximately 13.6 million workers) have current alcohol or illicit drug use disorders, while a relatively equal number (approximately 13.4 million workers) report that they are in recovery or have recovered from a substance use problem. 

Workplaces are a critical point of contact for people...

This guide, developed and published by the Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of he U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is for employers to identify and prevent opioid and other substance misuse in the workplace. The resource includes education, identifying the issues, preventing misuse, and workpace resources.  

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The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s Center for Motor Vehicle Safety recently issued its newsletter focused on workplace driving.  The main article, “Marijuana and Driving: Keep Your Fleet’s Drivers Safe” provided an overview of marijuana, its science, and its effects on driving.  Also featured was “How Employers Can Address Motor Vehicle Safety Risks Related to Marijuana Use.”

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A Side Event of the 64th CND hosted virtually April 16, 2021 by the Green Crescent Malaysia with support from the organizations represented below:

H.E. Dato’ Ganeson Sivagurunathan, Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the UN

Dr. Ahmad Fairuz Mohamed, Green Crescent Malaysia

>Presentation:  World Progress and Challenges of Drug Free Workplace Program

Dr. Norli Abdul Jabar, The International Federation of Non-Government Organizations for the Prevention of Drug and Substance Abuse (IFNGO)

>Presentation: One Stop Centre for Addiction (OSCA)

Amy Ronshausen, Executive Director of Drug Free...

Quest Diagnostics is a leader in workforce drug testing analysis and data through its Drug Testing Index (DTI). The latest data available indicates an 11.2% drug positivity rate among the U.S. workforce.

Hair drug testing provides results from a 90-day window that shows patterns of substance use. It is the largely a tamper-proof method as collections are observed. 

Check out Quest Diagnostics latest Employer Solutions Blog:  Ask the experts: Hair testing vs. hair follicle testing.

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Watch an on-demand recording of our "Back to basics: Hair drug testing" webinar.

Watch...

This excellent article by the U.S. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides an overview of the issues that are evolving regarding marijuana use and its effect in the workplace.  Marijuana is the most frequently used illicit drug in the U.S. with 43.5 million past-year users age 12 or over in 2018. Approximately one-fifth of all U.S. workers reported using marijuana in the past year. The implications for the workplace are significant, especially for risks to workplace safety and for the well-being...

National Prevention Week is an annual health observance dedicated to increasing public awareness of, and action around, mental health and/or substance use disorders.

Purpose of National Prevention Week

The three primary goals of National Prevention Week are to:

• Involve communities in raising awareness of substance use and mental health issues and in implementing prevention strategies, and showcasing effectiveness of evidence-based prevention programs;
• Foster partnerships and collaborations with federal agencies and national organizations dedicated to improving public health; and
• Prom...

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have disseminated more evidence-based prevention resources for parents.   “Listen First” is an initiative to increase support for prevention of drug use that is based on science and is thus an effective investment in the well-being of children and youth, their families and their communities. Listening to children and youth is the first step to help them grow healthy and safe. The website offers a variety of videos, science fact sheets, parenting tips, monthly newsletters, and much more. 

Since most parents are employed, having tools such...