Transcript Drug-Free Workplace Employee Education

Drug-Free Safety Program
Employee Education
Presented by:
HealthSpan EAP
(formerly Life Management Systems EAP)
225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 320
Cincinnati, OH 45246
513-551-1500 1-800-733-0257
All Rights Reserved
Unauthorized use, duplication, and/or distribution is prohibited
Welcome to the online Drug Free Safety Program
Employee Education session presented by your
employee assistance program, HealthSpan EAP.
If you have any questions please contact Diane Pipes,
LISW, LCSW at 513-551-1484.
Today we are going to learn about alcohol and other
drugs. The objectives for the training are…
Objectives
 Review the disease model of addiction.
 Discuss the impact of recreational alcohol and drug use
on workplace safety.
 Review signs, symptoms, safety concerns and effects of
commonly abused substances.
 Provide community resources and information where
employees and their loved ones can seek assistance.
Another objective of today’s training is to ensure you
are familiar with your company’s drug and alcohol
policy.
Do You Know The Answers?
 What is the purpose of the
policy?
 Who is covered by the policy?
 What behavior is prohibited?
 Are employees required to
notify supervisors of drugrelated convictions?
 What are the consequences
for violating the policy?
 What type of employee
assistance is available to
employees needing help?
 How is employee
confidentiality protected?
A few statistics to help us understand why this topic is
so important.
 Drug dependent workers have 200-400% more
accidents on the job!
 47% of all serious workplace accidents have drug or
alcohol involvement!
 Drug dependent workers use twice the amount of
healthcare benefits!
 Drug dependent workers are 5 times more likely to
file a worker’s comp. claim!
 Drug dependent workers are 16 times more likely to
be absent from work!
Dangerous and Expensive
Substance abuse cost drains
more than
$100 Billion
from
American businesses annually!
Check the Numbers
• It is untrue that most
drug users are poor
or unemployed.
• About 9 million
regular drug users
went to work this
morning in the US.
More numbers
Some of us want to believe
people with jobs don’t have
substance abuse problems but…
 90% of alcoholics are
employed!!
 74% of drug addicts are
employed!!
National Institute on Drug Abuse, Department of Health and Human
Services, DHHS).
How Substance Abuse Affects the
Workplace
 Employee health
 Employee morale
 Productivity
 Security / Theft
 Decision making
 Safety
 Organizational image
 Insurance cost
Now let’s look at each one.
How Substance Abuse Affects the
Workplace
Employee health – Alcohol and drugs cause
many short and long term health problems
resulting in absences from work.
How Substance Abuse Affects the
Workplace
Productivity - Productivity is reduced by
employees who are present at work but
whose efficiency or quality is compromised
because of their substance abuse. They are
much more likely to be slower, preoccupied
and prone to mistakes.
How Substance Abuse Affects the
Workplace
Decision making - Substance abuse may
affect your ability to think through a situation
and make the best choice. An impaired
person usually does not think about the
consequences of his/her actions in the same
way that a sober person does.
How Substance Abuse Affects the
Workplace
Organizational image – Employees with
substance abuse problems who interact with
customers may harm the perception of their
company. Also the public may not want to buy
goods or services from a company with a
reputation for employing substance abusers.
How Substance Abuse Affects the
Workplace
Theft - Employees with substance abuse
issues many turn to theft to support their
habits, stealing from the workplace and/or
their co-workers.
How Substance Abuse Affects the
Workplace
Employee morale – Coworkers’ attitude and
performance are greatly affected by the
substance abuse of those who use drugs and
alcohol. Frequently coworkers report having
to re-do the work of other employees, work
harder because of the other employees and
do more because the other employees do
less.
How Substance Abuse Affects the
Workplace
Safety – Employees who abuse drugs and alcohol are
3.5 times more likely to be injured or cause injury to coworkers. Being under the influence of drugs and/or
alcohol impairs your ability to focus on details, to be
fully aware of your surroundings and it slows down
reaction time to threats or dangers. As a result,
situations that could have been prevented become
accidents for the employee and his or her coworkers.
How Substance Abuse Affects the
Workplace
Insurance cost - Healthcare costs for
employees with alcohol problems are twice as
high as those for other employees.
Now let’s take a look at alcohol.
Alcohol
 How is it absorbed
and eliminated?
 How does it affect
the body?
 What is the
difference
between alcohol
use, abuse and
dependency?
So remember alcohol is quick to enter
your body; it is rapidly absorbed through
the mucous membrane of the body,
mainly the intestines.
But slow to leave; once it is in your blood,
your body is not good at eliminating it.
Which one of these has the highest
alcohol content?
Don’t be fooled!!!
 If you answered they are all the same, you are right!
The standard ways we consume alcohol (12oz.
Beer, 5oz. Wine, 1.5 oz. of 80 proof Liquor) each
have almost exactly the same amount of alcohol in
them. But remember glass size and “pours” can
vary!!
 There is no way to speed up the elimination from
your body. Coffee, energy drinks, cold showers,
exercise, water etc. will have no effect on “sobering
up”. Time is the only way.
Alcohol on the Job
Most workplace
alcohol policy
violations do not
involve actually
drinking at work.
Usually, someone
has used alcohol
too close to
reporting to work.
Blood Alcohol Percentage
 The actual percent of one’s blood composed of alcohol.
 Most of us are used to the cut-off of .08 for DUI arrest but
most workplaces do not permit any alcohol in the blood.
General guidelines based on weight, health and age:
 Once your blood alcohol level has peaked,
assuming you stop drinking, it will only fall about
0.015% per hour.
 Each drink (can of beer, glass of wine, shot of
liquor) will take about one hour to leave your body
(assuming standard oz. of alcohol per drink).
Over time, alcohol can have devastating effects on
your body. Here are just a few of the long term health
consequences…
 Gastrointestinal Illness
 Liver Disease
 Damaged Immune
System
 Heart Disease
 Brain Damage
 Reproductive Problems
 Contributes to Fetal
Alcohol Syndrome
There are also short term dangers!!!
Alcohol creates safety
risks because it slows
down and distorts the
messages your brain
sends to your body.
Alcohol affects your vision too.
Even at relatively low
levels of consumption,
alcohol reduces the
ability of the eyes to
work properly. The
ability to judge distance
and speed of moving
objects is particularly
impacted.
And there’s more. Here are a few more
effects on the brain…
 Reduces ability to make good decisions, or solve
complex problems.
 Increases the time it takes to react to things, such
as the time it takes to avoid dangerous moving
objects.
 Impairs short-term memory and damages long-term
memory.
 Impairs balance, coordination and speech.
My Safety, Your Safety
 If you have alcohol in your system while on the job,
you are an increased danger to yourself and others.
 If you work with someone who is impaired by
alcohol, you are at a higher risk of being hurt than
the person who is impaired.
Use, Abuse and Dependency
What’s the difference between alcohol
use, alcohol abuse and alcohol
dependency?
Many Americans drink alcohol. The Centers for
Disease Control estimate about 60% of adults drink
alcohol, but most drink in moderation without any
negative results of their drinking.
What is alcohol use?
 Any harmful consumption of alcohol. This implies
alcohol use that causes either physical (brain
disorders, anemia) or mental (loss of memory,
difficulty learning) damage.
 A person drinks despite recurrent social,
interpersonal, occupational and legal problems as a
result of alcohol use.
What is alcohol abuse?
Alcoholism is a physical dependence on alcohol.
What is alcohol dependency?
Alcohol dependence includes all of the symptoms of alcohol abuse
plus…
 Drink-seeking behavior (only going to social events that will include
drinking or hanging out with others who drink).
 Alcohol tolerance (having to drink increasing amounts to achieve
previous effects).
 Withdrawal symptoms (getting physical symptoms such as nausea,
headaches, and sweats after going a short period of time without
drinking).
 Drinking to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms (such as drinking to
stop the “shakes” or to “cure” a hangover.
 A return to drinking after a period of abstinence (deciding to quit
drinking but unable to follow through).
What is alcohol dependency?
The Disease Model of Addiction
 Alcohol is a physically addictive drug.
 Addiction to alcohol is a progressive and
ultimately fatal disease.
 The good news is we know more about
alcohol addiction than many other diseases.
The Disease Model of Addiction
 Wide ranging bodies of evidence support the
concept that addiction is an illness. It is a brain
disorder.
 Like other illnesses, it has risk factors, a
typical sequence of progression, can result in
death, and is treatable.
 Stopping, does not cure the illness.
 Further support is given to the concept that
addiction may be genetically predisposed.
 People with a close family member who were
alcoholic have a higher probability of becoming
alcoholic themselves. That is, alcoholism seems to
run in families.
 Addiction is a family disease.
 It tends to trend and repeat with family groups
across generations and tends to result in
predictable, dysfunctional behavior within the family
by the user and by other non-using family members.
Genetics
So what are some common traits of addicts?
 As the disease progresses, alcoholics develop an
increased tolerance for alcohol. (Increasing amounts
required to achieve the same buzz.)
 Alcohol addicts begin to lose control over when, where,
and how they drink.
 Alcohol becomes more and more influential in the
person’s life and health.
 They are less and less able to drink without drinking to
the point of intoxication.
 They begin to lose control over how they behave. Often
doing/saying things they wouldn’t sober.
 They continue to use alcohol or other drugs despite
negative consequences.
 Once someone has reached a particular stage of alcohol use,
he or she will return to that stage and resume their progression
towards dependency with the next drink, even if they abstain
from use for a long time.
 Intervention as early in the progression as possible is key.
 Employment can be the last thing to go. Because employment
provides money, many substance abusers protect it and do
anything to keep their workplace from finding out. Ultimately
their work is effected throughout the disease.
A Progressive Disease
Treatment
 Alcohol addiction needs to be medically treated, as
withdrawal symptoms can be very serious. Because
alcohol is physically addictive, people who are
dependent will get sick if they stop drinking. They may
have hallucinations, seizures, pain, sleeplessness etc.
Death is also a risk.
 Most experts agree support is important, such as an AA
or other sober support groups.
 Often treatment needs to be repeated. Relapses are
common and recovery is a life-long process.
Relapses
 Once someone is alcohol
dependent, any drinking
can be risky.
 Alcoholism is a progressive
illness that simply
continues if there is a
relapse.
 Relapses are very
common.
 Alcoholism is never
“cured”, but “managed”.
Drugs other
than Alcohol
What is a drug?
In the strictest sense, a
drug is anything natural
or artificial that alters
your thinking, feeling,
emotions, behavior, or
physical state when
ingested.
 For purposes of this training
 ...a drug is any substance that the
use of is prohibited or regulated by
one’s employer and/or by regulations
to which one’s employer is subject.
 This also includes alcohol.
Drugs in the Workplace
What drugs am I tested for?
6-Panel Drug Test
Amphetamines
(dexedrine, adderall)
Cocaine
Phencyclidine (PCP)
Cannabanoids
(Marijuana)
Opiates (heroin)
Ecstasy
 Amphetamines(dexedrine, adderall)
 Cocaine
 Cannabanoids (marijuana)
 Opiates (heroin)
 Phencyclidine (PCP)
 Barbituates (seconal)
 Benzodiazepines (valium, xanax, klonopin)
 Methadone
 Propoxyphene (narcotic pain relievers)
9-Panel Drug Test
Let’s take a look at the different types of
drugs.
Stimulants
 Increased heart rate
 Suppresses appetite
 Feel energized
 Suppresses sleep
 False sense of alertness
 Cardiac risk
What do stimulants do to you?
What are some of the effects?
 An estimated 13 million Americans abuse
amphetamines.
 Amphetamines are powerful stimulants, like
cocaine. They produce wakefulness, increased
activity and decreased appetite. These drugs
produce feelings of euphoria, well-being and selfconfidence.
Amphetamines
 True amphetamines come in tablets or capsules,
although they are sometimes ground up and/or
diluted before use. Look-alike drugs are also made
in underground labs.
 Amphetamines may be swallowed, snorted, or
injected.
Amphetamines
 Tolerance develops rapidly leading to addiction.
 Withdrawal symptoms include craving, exhaustion,
depression, mental confusion, insomnia, extreme
hunger, psychosis, intense anxiety.
 Health problems include cardiomyopathy, heart
attacks, hypertension, liver damage, impotence,
ulcers, etc.
Amphetamines
Cocaine
Made from the coca
plant.
Powder Cocaine - salt
form of the alkaloid
present in the leaves of
the plant.
How do people use cocaine? What
are the methods of ingestion?
 Snorting
the powdered form through the nose
 Smoking
free-base rock cocaine
 Injecting
cocaine solution into a vein
 Chewing
leaves of the coca plant
What are some of the effects of cocaine in the
workplace?
Poor attention to detail
Cost of use often leads to theft
Paranoid thinking, aggressive behavior
Absenteeism
Mood swings
 What is crack?
 How is it different than cocaine?
Crack is produced by dissolving powdered
cocaine in a mixture of water and baking soda.
The mixture is boiled until a solid substance is
formed (crack rocks).
Crack is nearly always smoked. This delivers
large quantities of the drug to the lungs
producing an immediate intense euphoric effect.
Crack cocaine is cheaper than cocaine and is
more addictive. Effects last only 5-15 minutes.
 Weight loss
 Agitation
 Irritability
 Insomnia
 High blood pressure
 Irregular heartbeat
 Restlessness
 Impulsive behavior
What are some of the signs and
symptoms of stimulants abuse?
Depressants
Slow the heart,
brain function and
metabolism
Induce sleep
Relax muscles
Numb nerves
Take the edge off
A few marijuana facts
 2nd largest cash crop in the U.S.
 #1 positive drug test in the workplace
Source: NIDA
 Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug.
 Daily or near daily use of marijuana increased
from 5.1 million in 2007 to 7.6 million in 2012.
Source: Lexology
Marijuana / Cannabis
The dried leaves and
flowering tops of the
cannabis plant is
usually smoked via
joint, pipe or water pipe
(bong).
The psychoactive
ingredient in marijuana
is THC.
Stays in your system…
 THC is not water soluble and is stored in the
fat cells of the body, sometimes for weeks
after the last usage.
 Therefore a positive drug test is possible 4-6
weeks after last use and maybe longer for
heavy users.
You cannot...
 Legally use, possess, or grow pot for any reason in the
state of Ohio.
 You can not purchase marijuana in another state where it
is legal, and legally possess it in Ohio.
 Test positively for marijuana because of casual secondhand smoke.
 Test positive for wearing hemp-based clothes or jewelry.
 Claim a positive test is unrelated to work time or
activities.

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





Dilated (large) pupils
Bloodshot eyes
Sleepy appearance
Reduced motivation
Difficulty thinking
Distorted sensory perceptions
Dry mouth
Euphoria (temporary feelings of
elation and energy)
 Feeling sluggish
 Red, puffiness under the eyes








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Impaired judgment
Impaired short-term memory
Inappropriate laughter
Increased heart rate
Increased appetite, craving
sweets
Reduced coordination
Temporary feelings of reduced
anxiety or stress
Sadness/depressed mood
Sensation that time is passing
slowly
What are some of the signs and
symptoms of marijuana use?
Prescription drug abuse is …
 The use of a prescription medication in a way not
intended by the prescribing physician. For example,
taking more than the prescribed amount.
 Most common in young people.
 Drugs most often abused include painkillers,
sedatives, anti-anxiety medications and stimulants.
 Nearly 3 out of 4 drug overdose deaths are now
caused by prescription painkillers. In 2008, some
14,800 deaths were attributed to the pills – "more
than cocaine and heroin combined."
 More than 12 million Americans reported using
prescription painkillers in 2010 without a prescription
or just for the high that they cause.
CDC in Atlanta
Narcotic drugs are often called opiates
because they are derived from the opium poppy
plant or made synthetically. Narcotics has
several meanings – one of which refers to all
illegal drugs of abuse.
Natural opiates include opium, morphine, and
codeine.
Semi-synthetic narcotics include Oxycodone
and Dilaudid.
Opiates/Narcotics
Opiads are used medically for pain relief. These
are dependency producing drugs.
They are Central Nervous System depressants.
When used medically, narcotics are given orally
or intramuscular injection. When abused they
are smoked, snorted, or subcutaneous (skin
popping) or intravenous (mainlining).
Opiates
In 2011, 4.2 million Americans aged 12 or older (or 1.6
percent) had used heroin at least once in their lives. It
is estimated that about 23 percent of individuals who
use heroin become dependent on it.
•
NIH
Heroin Use
What does someone look like who is using heroin?
 Shortness of breath
 Dry mouth
 Constricted (small) pupils
 Sudden changes in behavior or actions
 Disorientation
 Cycles of hyper alertness followed by suddenly
nodding off
 Droopy appearance, as if extremities are heavy
Some common signs and
symptoms of heroin use are…
What are some of the materials connected to heroin
use?
 Needles or syringes not used for other medical
purposes
 Burned silver spoons
 Aluminum foil or gum wrappers with burn marks
 Missing shoelaces
 Straws with burn marks
 Small plastic bags, with white powdery residue
 Water pipes or other pipes
 Constipation
 Depression
 Low blood pressure
 Decreased breathing rate
 Confusion
 Sweating
 Poor coordination
What are some of the signs and
symptoms of opioid painkillers
abuse?
What are some other signs of drug abuse in general?
 Stealing, forging or selling prescriptions
 Taking higher doses than prescribed
 Excessive mood swings or hostility
 Increase or decrease in sleep
 Poor decision making
 Appearing to be high, unusually energetic or revved
up, or sedated
 Continually “losing” prescriptions so more
prescriptions must be written
 Seeking prescriptions from more than one doctor
 If you or someone you care about, may have a substance
abuse problem, a trained chemical dependency counselor is
essential to do a thorough evaluation.
 Your EAP can provide a substance abuse assessment and
make the appropriate recommendation for which level of care
is right for you or other household members.
 There is no cost to the employee for an assessment.
HealthSpan EAP can help
There are many places in the Cincinnati area to get
help. The following slide lists some of those
resources.
 Bethesda Oak
513/569-6116
 Bethesda Blue Ash
513/489-6011
 Gateway Recovery Center
513/861-0035
 Northland Intervention Center
513/753-9964
 CCAT
513/381-6672
 Community Behavioral Services
Hamilton
513/887-8500
 Community Behavioral Services
Middletown
513/424-0921
 St. Elizabeth Falmouth – KY
859/572-3500
 St. Elizabeth Outpatient – KY
859/212-5384
Resources In Greater Cincinnati
For More Information
Contact Us
513 / 551-1500
or toll-free at
800 / 733-0257
or visit us on the web
Healthspannetwork.com