The millions of substance abusers in the workforce cost global employers billions of dollars annually. Recent studies show confounding results regarding the trend in illegal drug use by employees.
Use of illicit substances or misuse of controlled substances, alcohol, or other drugs is called substance abuse. Employers’ concerns about substance abuse stem from the ways it alters work behaviors, causing increased tardiness and absenteeism, lower productivity, a higher rate of mistakes, and more industrial accidents. It can also cause an increase in withdrawal (physical and psychological) and antagonistic behaviors, which may lead to workplace violence.
Alcohol and drug use among employees and their family members can be an expensive problem for business and industry, with issues ranging from lost productivity, absenteeism, injuries, fatalities, theft and low employee morale, to an increase in health care, legal liabilities and workers' compensation costs.
