Role of the Workplace in Drug Rehabilitation

There is no doubt that the majority of more advanced drug addicts would end their addiction on their own if possible, but the stark reality is that drug addiction is typically stronger than the will to stop. In addition to the physical and mental health issues suffered by many addicts, employment opportunities may also be severely limited because many companies and organisations are now instituting strategies drug and alcohol programmes and various Drug Testing Equipment requires that are part and parcel of the conditions for ongoing employment. Is Australia, many sectors now screen for drug and alcohol use, and in safety sensitive realms the use of drugs and alcohol is prohibited from a legislative and organisational perspective?

However, those who become addicted to illegal drugs after they have been hired may have options available to them because of the Employee Assistance Programmes of their employer and these can be affected and utilised so that an otherwise valuable (but substance using) employee can regain his or position as a valued member of the team.

Drug addiction may be a disability

According to the World Health Organisation, drug addiction and dependence “is as much a disorder of the brain as any other neurological or psychiatric disorder.” The report, launched by the WHO in 2004 also makes it plainly clear that recovery from addiction is indeed possible. By utilizing drug screening programmes, along with education strategies, employers can actually support this stance and create an ongoing win-win situation that maintains employee stability and workplace streamlining and also helps a valued but flawed individual rehabilitate.

Convincing addicts of treatment needs

Not every addict will admit their addiction and those that do may need to be convinced that they require outside help to put an end to their addiction. The use of a Drug & Alcohol Testing or drug screening programme can actually be a first-phase intervention that spells out certain realities to the using addict employee. He or she – if testing positive – may well be forced to face the very real ramifications of their drug addiction and usage. They may be confronted with the possibility of losing employment and stability – which may in turn cut through their denial and help them to see the reality of their behavior and plight. In this sense, the drug test can even work as a true lifeline to a new life.

Hands-off approach never beneficial

Some organisations and companies still take a hands-off approach to an employee’s addiction. This decision can in fact be costly in terms of poor work performance, workplace disruptions and the eventual loss of an otherwise qualified worker.

Employers can hand the addicted employee a lifeline in the form of help in ending their addiction. The first stage in this may well be the implementation of a true quality onsite screening programme at Drug Testing Australia.

Lessons Learned from the Roadside Test

Today Mediscreen considers some of the lessons learned from roadside testing and how certain facets of the roadside testing programmes that exist in Australia have been successfully adapted to an onsite screening regime.

All the states of Australia utilise roadside testing. Why? Because the vastness of the continent is connected by an extensive and complex network of highways and roads that are the main means of transport for recreation, business, organisations and families and communities.

Roads and vehicular use are synonymous with life in Australia and equates with the old adage have vehicle will travel.

Drug Testing Australia relies so heavily on vehicular use for most practical aspects of life and we do so in a manner that is far more intensive than many other countries. Compare travel distances in Australia as compared to the United Kingdom or Europe and it is evident that the distances and conditions here are uniquely extreme for a westernised nation.

While freight transport in the form of trains picks up a degree of the transport load, the use of heavy transport vehicles is still a major feature of industry and product transport nationally and state wide.

Random Testing

Random Workplace Drug Testing is the practice of screening vehicle drivers for indication of alcohol or drugs. This involves breathalysing with a hand held unit or the saliva testing of the drivers. The Police force in Australia performs “random roadside saliva testing to detect drivers travelling while affected by illicit drugs.” Testing aims to ensure road safety and reduce road accidents and death. It also effectively acts as a deterrent, the 2010 ROSITA study states.

According to the Federal Government’s full report on Drugs and Driving, safety approaches over the last 3 decades have reduced road trauma statistics. It has also contributed to debate on the use of illegal drugs behind the wheel and says that there is “increasing evidence that pharmaceutical drugs and illicit drugs impair driving ability and are thus a safety concern. Cannabis, methamphetamines and ecstasy appear to be the drugs of most concern from a road safety perspective… some pharmaceutical drugs – benzodiazepines in particular, are implicated in a considerable proportion of road accidents and trauma.”

Saliva Testing

Saliva testing is the preferred method of drug test used by Police. It is easy, quick, efficient and less invasive and allows for less disruption to the Police operations and less disruption to those being tested. It allows for a greater throughput in terms of testing ratios and numbers and is therefore a comparatively cost effective mode of bulk testing.

There is no doubt drug urine tests also have their place and are exceedingly important as an option in certain contexts and each have distinct advantages.

However, for a cost effective and efficient mode of screening that can detect recent use, saliva screening may be ideal.

Onsite Screening Programmes

The efficiency and adaptability factors of saliva tests, as well as the recent use detection factor, translate well to a workplace screening context. This form of Drug Alcohol Testing actually dispels with the possibility of identification of drugs through urinalysis, where the window of detection is longer and therefore usage may not be specific to recency of use. A positive urine sample may well indicate use, but the use may be in the distant past and this can cause issues for both employees who demand rights to privacy in relation to recreational use of substances on a weekend.

If your organisation requires Onsite Drug And Alcohol Screening, consider the options available through Mediscreen and discuss the possibility of a saliva screening programme. 

Educating Employees about Drugs and Alcohol

In the Australian workforce climate of 2011, many organisations now recognise that the use of drugs and alcohol can be an impediment to safe and sound business practices. Consequently they have implemented drug test requirements to safeguard against workplace safety compromises that are due to the onsite use of alcohol and/or drugs. May organisations also use workplace drug testing because of legislative requirements or a zero tolerance approach, such as that which occurs in the mining and the transport industries. Safety is of the essence, and minimising risk or accidents caused by the use of drugs and/or alcohol is of paramount importance. Private employers and large scale organisations have a wide range of options when developing drug alcohol testing policies that work in their specific industries. Mediscreen can in fact advise on the development of tailored onsite screening programmes suitable for all contexts.

Education efforts focus on health risks

One of the complementary efforts employed by organisations to safeguard against workplace substance and alcohol abuse is the use of education s to teach their employees about the dangers and health hazards of using drugs and alcohol. These complementary efforts are a vital part of a drug and alcohol programme but may only go so far, and without Drug & Alcohol Testing it is difficult to measure success.

For optimal outcomes, organisations and companies can also use a combination of efforts to greatly reduce the number of employees engaging in substance abuse. These may include such as:

• Pre-employment Drug Screening
• Random workplace drug testing
• Employee education programs
• Supervisor awareness training

These combined approaches and efforts may afford the greatest security for organisations who require a consolidated approach in the fight against drugs and alcohol onsite.

Early detection provides better atmosphere

Pre-employment screening is a fact of life with large organisations in the United States and may also be gaining in momentum here in Australia. The rationale behind pre-employment testing is one of early identification and deterrence with the view being that suing addicts and alcoholics are perhaps less likely to apply for jobs where pre-employment screening in company policy. When people who can’t pass a drug test are looking for a job, they often find their opportunities limited by the number of companies that require drug screening before making a job offer. Such a test, typically consisting of urinalysis, may in fact screen out and even deter those recent drug users who may have the qualifications on paper, but whose addiction patterns render them unsuitable for long term, reliable employment.

Work environment compromised by substance abuse

Employees, who go to work under the influence, or who are still suffering from the effects of their addiction can create an unsafe work environment or an environment that is extremely problematic or hostile to other employees and the employer. OH&S supervisors may be trained to keep an eye out for difficult or problematic employees who may exhibit the signs and symptoms of drug influence or addiction and this may in some cases lead to the individual employee being recommended for drug alcohol testing to determine their current alcohol and drug status.

Following legal guidelines for workplace drug testing

While private employers are pretty much unbridled in drug test requirements, they must be certain that the test and its results are handled in accordance with state and federal privacy laws. Chain of Custody paperwork is often a necessary feature of testing and screening procedures to safeguard against privacy breaches, and one company that has a fully comprehensive and thorough approach to privacy is Mediscreen.

Remember to activate a clear education programme about alcohol and other drugs at your workplace. IF you also require a thorough and expert onsite screening programme for your organization.