Alcohol Abuse Advice

Evolving a Drug Free Environment in your Workplace

A drug-free workplace is a protective workplace. They are linked to drug-free and happier families, school and communities. Working Partners ensures a drug-free and secured environment for everyone and helps the employers and employees work together. They also play a vital role in reducing the drug use and end the social, economical and emotional destruction in its wake.

Drug-free workplace

It is working environment free of the health, productivity and safety hazards, which are caused for abusing drugs, alcohol, or any such substances by the employees in that workplace. To attain a drug free workplace, many companies are developing various drug-free workplace programs. Usually, these programs include five components: Drug free workplace policy, Employee Education, Superior Training, Employee Assistance and Drug Testing. However companies don’t include all the five components, it is suggested to explore them when developing the program.

Reasons for Establishing a Drug Free Workplace

The law may require your workplace to be a drug free environment. If you are in a government organization, or if you have a transportation industry or if you are billing for more than $ 25000 per annum, then the Law requires you to have a drug free workplace.

Though the law doesn’t require, there are other reasons for establishing a drug free workplace. They are:

• It reduces operational costs.

• It can preserve investor or shareholder interests.

• It can protect loyal employees

• It can improve products and services

• It results in better service to customers and clients

• It can increase your profits.

• It helps many people lead healthier lives

Tools and Resources for Drug Free Workplace

To develop a drug free workplace, there are certain tools and resources that the employers can adopt. They are:

• Drug-free Workplace Advisor: It is a tool used to develop tailored drug-free workplace policies and programs and informs companies and workers about its requirements and coverage.

• Substance Abuse Information Database (SAID): It is an online repository of various documents related to workplace alcohol/drug abuse and legal information.

• Resource Directories: It has the updated lists of local, state and national resources such as, Summaries of state laws related to workplace drug and alcohol abuse, Helplines that assists the individuals who have the alcohol/drug problem.

• Training and Educational Materials: Resources to provide drug and alcohol education in the workplace such as, brochures, presentation materials, articles and fact sheets and posters. They also include, statistics about how substance abuse impacts the workplace in general and across a range of industries.

This information gives you in understanding about the drug free workplace and its tools and resources. It helps you in maintaining a drug free environment in your workplace.