Drugs - On The Job
One of the greatest challenges organizations face is overcoming the misconceptions and stigmas that surround substance abuse in the workplace. At GetFit.SAMHSA.Gov, we provide you with facts and information that can help you clean up the confusion and create a healthier work environment.
Substance abuse costs businesses $100 billion each year due to the loss of productivity, absenteeism, and increased insurance premiums.
Source: Commission on Model State Drug Laws, 1996
At home, in the office, on the railroad, on an airplane, or even underground— wherever you may work— all of us should be aware of steps we can take to address substance abuse problems and create a healthier work environment.
Quick Facts
- Drug users at a minimum consume almost twice the benefits as nonusers, are absent 1.5 times as often, and make more than twice as many workers' compensation claims.
Source: U.S. Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI)
- Between 1998 and 1995, Americans spent $57.3 billion on drugs, broken down as follows: $38 billion on cocaine, $9.6 billion on heroin, $7 billion on marijuana, and $2.7 billion on other illegal drugs and on the misuse of legal drugs.
Source: 1995 Drug Control Strategy, The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Visit SAMHSA's Workplace Resource Center
[www.workplace.samhsa.gov] for centralized access to information about drug-free workplaces and related topics.
Visit the NIOSH Workplace Solution's
[www.cdc.gov/niosh/pubs/workplace_date_desc_nopubnumbers.html] for centralized access to information about drug-free workplaces and related topics.
homepage which offers easy-to-understand,
easy-to-access, and easy-to-use recommendations that turn the results of NIOSH research
into occupational safety and health practices.
Check out OSHA's latest e-tools
[www.osha.gov/dts/osta/oshasoft/index.html] for centralized access to information about drug-free workplaces and related topics.
in English and Spanish "stand-alone", interactive,
Web-based training tools on occupational safety and health topics.