BASE Conference Substance Misuse in the Workplace

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BASE ConferenceSubstance Misuse in the Workplace

• Paul Grainge
• Workplace Development Manager

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Business Objective

• The object should be to drive drugs and alcohol,
  not the people, out of the organisation.

My employers ignored it because its difficult
to tackle someone about drug use, but by
colluding with me they prolonged and facilitated
my addiction. Peter, Finance Manager, alcoholic
and cocaine user for six years
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How does drug and alcohol misuse affect your
business?

• Drop in quantity and quality of work
• Absenteeism / accidents
• Bad decision-making
• Poor judgement / discipline / behaviour
• Increased risk to theft or fraud
• Low staff morale
• Deterioration in public perception of the
• organisation

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Statistics

• Hangovers alone cost UK employers 6.4
• Billion a year to lost working days DOH 2004
• It is estimated that 25 of all accidents
• are drug and alcohol related
• HSE 1981
• Contrary to popular belief, 75 of
• alcohol dependents are also employees
• CBI 2003

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Statistics

• A member of staff under the influence
• of alcohol or drugs will only achieve
• 67 of their work potential
• Substance Abuse Survey IPD 1998
• Health and Safety research found that
• a third of employees under 30 years
• tried an illegal drug last year
• HSE 2004

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Legislation

• An employer has a duty of care to its employees
  under Common Law and Statute.

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HS at work Act 1992

• Statute imposes a standard of care on employers
  to employees in the workplace
• It imposes a civil duty of care on employers in
  respect of employees
• Duty of employer to provide a safe/healthy
  environment. Failure to deal with someone under
  influence and causing a risk to others leaves a
  business open to prosecution.

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Management of HS at work regulations 1992

• This legislation places a duty on employer to
  carry out assessments to ensure welfare of staff
• If an employer knowingly allows an employee
  under the influence of drugs or alcohol to
  continue working and their behaviour places the
  employee or others at risk then the employer
  could be prosecuted.

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Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
This is the principal criminal legislation for
restricting the use of psychoactive drugs,
preventing their misuse from causing harm to
individuals and society Section 8 Drugs on
Premises

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Employment Rights Act 1996

• This statute gives the employee the right not to
  be unfairly dismissed

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RESPONDING TO SUBSTANCES

• How we respond to a substance is influenced by

Drug
Person
Environment
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(No Transcript)
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Alcohol

• Do you look or feel like this sometimes?
• Changes in strength
• What is a unit?
• Daily / Weekly guidelines

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Up to date alcohol units

• Current daily guidelines for sensible drinking
• Females 2-3 units or less
• Males 3-4 units or less
• With 2 alcohol free days per week

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Burn up rates

• Men 1 hr to burn up 1 unit of alcohol (2 hrs
  for the 1st unit)
• 10 units 11 hours
• Women 1½ hrs to burn up 1 unit

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Drugs of choice

• Hallucinogens
• - Cannabis / Skunk
• Stimulants
• - Amphetamine /
• Ecstasy / Cocaine
• Depressants
• - Alcohol / GHB /
• Rohypnol / Ketamine
• Opioids
• - Heroin / Codeine

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How long do drugs stay in the body for?

• Amphetamine 2-4 days
• Ecstasy 2-4 days
• Cocaine 12 hours-3 days
• Cannabis 2-7 days (casual use)
• Cannabis Up to 40 days (heavy use)
• Alcohol 12-24 hours
• Opiates 3-5 days
• Benzodiazepines Up to 3 weeks

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Indications of misuse

• Work performance
• Physical evidence
• Absence from work and working
• Habits and mood states

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Other problems presenting similar signs and
symptoms

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Stress
• Bereavement and loss

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Reasons for tackling substance misuse

• Raise awareness
• Identify problems
• Recognition as an illness / help in confidence
• Set clear guidelines
• Help managers deal with suspected problems
• Support for employees
• Satisfies Health and Safety legislation and EU
• Directives

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Workplace Development Project

• Immediate Ongoing Support
• Policy Review / Consultation
• Experienced Specialist Confidential
• Counselling
• Training Services / Bespoke Programmes