For many years it has been a theory among some in the substance abuse prevention field that inclusion of the workplace in community prevention efforts has been a “missing link.” A recent essay published this month in the American Journal of Public Health, entitled, Work Environment Factors and Prevention of Opioid–Related Deaths, lends further credence to that assumption, stating the authors’ belief that “this is a critical gap in prevention efforts.”

The article outlined a number of studies relating opioid overdose deaths preceded by workplace–related injuries and opioid use. One U.S...

The combined effects of COVID19 including the outcomes of contracting the disease itself, prolonged quarantine, isolation, fear of getting the virus, uncertainty of the future, hopelessness, grief over loss of a loved one, and general disruption, have negatively impacted many people’s mental health with anxiety, depression, and worse.  It has also caused some persons to turn to alcohol and drugs to cope, potentially affecting their workplace.  Whether people are still employed at their job site or at home, drug-free workplace programs continue to be important, now more than ever, to...

Workplace drug testing around the world is quite varied and must address a number of regionally unique factors that affect the collection and processing of suitable test specimens.

There are a few challenges to international drug testing that may arise during the strict specimen collection and handling process.  It is extremely important to maintain the integrity of the testing protocol and the security of the specimens as they move through the collection and test analysis process.  This procedure, often called the “chain of custody,” protects the employee’s rights of accuracy. Some of...

E-Cigarettes

You've seen them everywhere and may know someone who uses one. Electronic cigarettes, looking like regular cigarettes, have become the latest smoking-related trend. The slim e-cigarette holds liquid nicotine that, when heated into a vapor, can be inhaled. There is no smoke, only water vapor. The liquid nicotine, also known as e-liquids or e-juice, are trendy and hip; sold in some areas at "juice bars" and offered in fruity flavors such as strawberry, peach, and mango, among others.

In fact, they are becoming so popular that “Big Tobacco” has targeted young adults in their...

Featured in Aqua Magazine  | Phillip M. Morris | May 2020

Drug problems for pool and spa businesses range in severity. There are many employees whose quiet consumption of recreational drugs in off-hours will never be noticed. But there are plenty of others who will make drug use part of their workday, compromising the quality of their work and the reputation of their employer.  

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Hello!

Here is the link to the recording of our most recent webinar, Substance Use Prevention in the Workplace and Its Role in the Community, held 16 June 2020: 

https://www.ndwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Webinar-Substance-Use-Prevention-in-the-Workplace-and-Its-Role-in-the-Community.mp4.

You may respond here if you have any questions.  Also, please stay tuned for announcements on future drug free workplace webinar events in the coming months.

Synthetic drugs, also referred to as designer drugs or club drugs, mimic the effects of illicit drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, LSD, opium, and ecstasy. They are often marketed as "legal highs" and are available over-the-counter at smoke shops and many neighborhood convenience stores.

Government authorities in many countries have banned certain chemicals used to manufacture these products and many of them have been added to the lists of controlled substances. Despite new laws banning the chemical compounds of these drugs, manufacturers of synthetic drugs stay one step ahead by...

As substance use and the availability of highly potent drugs increases globally, so too does comorbid substance use and mental health disorders.  According to the World Health Organization there was a 13% rise in mental health conditions and substance use disorders in the decade from 2007 to 2017.

Comorbidity is the occurrence of two or more disorders or illnesses within the same person either simultaneously or one following the other. Interactions between illnesses can exacerbate both. Comorbidity can be caused by a number of factors such as genetics, trauma, and adverse childhood...

Tuesday June 16, 2020

at 10:00 AM EDT

Calling All Workplace Stakeholders!

Drug Free America Foundation cordially invites you to participate in a webinar Tuesday June 16th on: Substance Use Prevention in the Workplace and Its Role in the Community 

Webinar Summary
Engaging young adults aged 18 – 25, parents and local businesses in meaningful and relevant ways sometimes challenges community prevention providers. The workplace provides an excellent venue to reach these populations in ways that promote the goals of a safe and healthy community, and for businesses a safe and...

An Employee Assistance Program, or EAP, allows organizations to offer help to employees with a work-based intervention program that helps workers to resolve a wide variety of personal problems, including problems with alcohol and drugs.   

The EAP assistance may be provided in a variety of ways that fits the needs of the employer. Some of the program types include: in-house programs, fee-per-person programs, pay-per-use programs, consortia programs, labor union-based assistance programs, or peer-assistance programs. While the cost of the EAP is generally covered by the employer, there are low...

Live Webinar
Tuesday June 16, 2020 
at 10:00 AM EDT

Calling All Workplace Stakeholders!

Drug Free America Foundation cordially invites you to participate in a webinar Tuesday June 16th on: Substance Use Prevention in the Workplace and Its Role in the Community 

Webinar Summary
Engaging young adults aged 18 – 25, parents and local businesses in meaningful and relevant ways sometimes challenges community prevention providers. The workplace provides an excellent venue to reach these populations in ways that promote the goals of a safe and healthy community, and for businesses a safe and...

Hello!

Here is a link to the recording of our most recent webinar, The Three I's: Impairment, Intoxication, and Under the Influence - How to Identify These in the Workplace, held 28 April 2020.  
 

https://www.ndwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Webinar-How-to-Identify-Impairment-Intoxication-Under-the-Influence-in-the-Workplace-1.mp4

You may respond here if you have any questions.  Also, please stay tuned for announcements on future drug free workplace webinar events in the coming months.

Good communication with your employees is an essential function in all workplaces, and extremely important when dealing with the company’s drug-free workplace program. When working with employees, supervisors must be aware of potential employment–related legal issues and practice standards.  When the interaction includes discussions of substance use, the supervisor must also be aware of and understand the disease nature of substance use, substance use disorders, and addiction.

Supervisors should prepare ahead by ensuring they have followed all the required steps of the drug-free...

Alcohol Use and Its Effects on the Workplace

As one of the most commonly used substances, the effects of alcohol use by employees can have a big impact to the workplace.  Absenteeism, job turnover, accidents and injuries, increased insurance costs, theft, and increased training costs are all some of the negative effects that result from the use of alcohol and other drugs in the work environment.

Employers can encourage and positively influence workers to consider the amount of alcohol they consume and individually adopt strategies to reduce their drinking and make healthy changes to...

As a manager, knowing the steps to take to properly document situations such as the reasonable suspicion of substance use is of paramount importance. This documentation, along with the results of drug and alcohol testing, provide the basis for potential serious employment action in accordance with company policy.  The resulting steps may include but are not limited to the following referral programs: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), medical and/or substance use evaluation and treatment, or other appropriate resources in the area.

It is imperative that supervisors and managers are...

Although the World Health Organization (WHO) is rightfully focusing its 2020 World Health Day promotion on nurses and midwives, we wish to promote the universal importance of health and safety in the workplace especially related to the dangers of substance use.

In a 2013 report, the International Labour Organization estimated that globally there are more than 3 billion workers (International Labour Organization, 2013). WHO stated that employees spend an average of one-third of their lives generating the products and services of their countries, however, 15.8% of occupational risks to...

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...

When creating a drug-free workplace policy, there are a number of key considerations that an employer must make.  Among those decisions may be: what drugs will be included, which employees will be included, and the behaviors to be included.  While the focus of a policy that prohibits certain behaviors can easily shift to a seemingly negative, punitive consequence, the emphasis of a drug-free workplace policy must remain on safety and health to make this a win-win for all stakeholders.

Considering the possible consequences for a violation to an employers’ drug-free workplace policy...