Alcohol Awareness Month
Alcohol and Workplace Safety don’t mix. If any of your employees are reporting to work under the influence, they’re putting themselves and others at risk. Take advantage of Alcohol Awareness Month to promote an alcohol-free and drug-free workplace.
Workplace use of alcohol and drugs is a problem that costs American businesses more than $100 billion annually, according to the U.S. government. If that figure sounds high, consider these statistics:
Most substance abusers are employed.
Substance abusers are 2.5 times more likely to be absent 8 or more days a year than other employees.
Between 30 and 50 percent of all workers’ comp claims are related to substance abuse, (abusers file 3 to 5 times as many claims as other workers).
Substance abusers incur 300 per cent higher medical costs than nonabusers.
Alcohol and Drug Abuse occurs when a person drinks more then the recommended amount of alcohol in a single setting, or uses alcohol or drugs to help them change the way they feel about themselves, and some aspects of their lives.
Some people abuse alcohol or drugs everyday, some once a week, and some just now and then.
Not everyone who drinks every day is abusing alcohol, so long as they adhere to the suggested moderate amounts as advised by the “Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005.” These are, Up to one standard drink per day for a Female and two standard drinks per day for Males. Some examples of a standard drink are; one 12-ounce bottle or can of beer, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.
A few people who drink alcohol and/or use drugs become alcoholics and/or addicts.
Alcohol and Drug Abuse is characterised by, people who experience negative consequences associated with their drinking or using drugs but continue to drink or use despite the consequences.
Sometimes these people will set limits on how much or how often they will drink or use but they then exceed those limits. They will often promise themselves, and other people, that they will drink or use in moderation, but break those promises, and although they feel guilty or remorseful about their drinking or using, they still fail to permanently alter the way they drink or use.
With Alcohol and Drug Abuse often there will be complaints about their drinking or using, and the user will resent, discount, or disregard those comments and complaints.
If you or someone you know drinks more then this each day, then you may be in a higher risk category for some serious illnesses and injuries associated with alcohol abuse. If a person is a regular heavy drinker, they may develop serious illnesses like liver cirrhosis, immune system disorders, or brain damage. Even when a small amount of alcohol is consumed a person’s judgment is impaired, their coordination is effected, and their reaction time is slower and they are at risk of household accidents, including falls.
Another severe form of Alcohol and Drug Abuse is binge drinking. Binge drinking is becoming an increasingly large social problem, especially for our youth. Binge drinking is when a person does not drink for a number of nights and then drinks a large amount in one night – well above the recommended amounts. Many young people drink very heavily – or binge drink Friday and/or a Saturday night with groups of friends. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “About 90% of the alcohol consumed by youth under the age of 21 years in the United States is in the form of binge drinks.” Binge drinking is seen as an acceptable way of having “fun” in many peer groups. Even though binge drinkers are not considered to be alcohol dependent, there are still major health implications with drinking in this way. Things such as; an increase in car crashes, falls and drowning; a higher likelyhood of firearms injuries, sexual assault or domestic violence; a risk of alcohol poisoning; a greater chance of contracting an STD or even an unplanned pregnancy.
People abuse alcohol for many different reasons and the consequences for this substance abuse vary from person to person.
Here are some ways to know if you abuse alcohol:
· You drink more then the recommended amounts daily
· You binge drink regularly
· You tend to drink more when you are disappointed or under stress
· You are unable to recall events while under the influence, even though you didn’t pass out
· If you feel like you need to drink in order to cope with the day to day stresses of life
· You are having financial, work, school and/or family struggles because of your drinking
Alcohol and Drug Abuse is not a joke. It is a serious health and social problem in the U.S. There are endless health issues that arise from substance abuse for ourselves, our friends and family, our children and our unborn babies. Rehab centers are available to help.
Recognizing and Preventing Alcohol Abuse
One in five workers says they have been put in danger or injured, because of a co-worker’s substance abuse. To keep your workplace safe, you have to recognize alcohol abuse that affects job performance, and take steps to correct the problem. Recognizing alcohol abuse is the first step in preventing it in your workplace. A number of signs can tell you if a worker is abusing alcohol.
Performance issues indicating an alcohol abuse problem include:
Inconsistent work quality
Poor concentration
Reduced productivity
Increased absenteeism (particularly on Mondays)
Extended lunch breaks
Early departures
Carelessness and mistakes
Errors in judgment
Risk-taking and disregard for safety
Behavior problems that warn of a possible alcohol problem include:
Blaming others for problems
Making excuses for mistakes and accidents
Mood swings
Deterioration of personal appearance
Complaining to co-workers about problems at home
Complaints about a vaguely defined illness
Avoiding friends and co-workers
Frequent financial problems (although you might not learn about this until the company gets a garnishment order, or you start hearing things through the grapevine)
Of course, an employee who displays any, or even a number, of these symptoms doesn’t necessarily have a drinking problem. There might be other explanations. But when an employee’s performance deteriorates, and especially when safety is an issue, it doesn’t matter what the reason is, you have to take action.
You can download a Drug Free Home Agreement for teens below.
