THE Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia (ADCA) is holding a Drug Action Week from 22 to 28 June 2008 to combat drug use in the workplace.
Frontline Diagnostics, which specialises in drug and alcohol testing and screening, has thrown its support behind the event. It claims not enough is being done to focus on the drug problem, even though 70% of drug users in Australia are employed.
According to the company, it will raise the awareness of drugs at the workplace. Unlike common perception, many chronic users are in fact employed. However, most organisations have no drug-safe programs in place, and in many cases are unaware of the problems at the workplace.
Safety-sensitive industries such as transport, mining and engineering have already implemented drug-safe programs, but users do not work solely in those industries. The diagnostics company says on average it finds 15% substance abuse in workplaces.
The screening provider says drugs in the workplace do not just affect safety, but also productivity and reputation. While it can detect drug users, it is up to workers to assist workmates to eliminate illicit substances from the workplace.
It is also very important that any drug-safe workplace program be communicated throughout a company so as to ensure management, staff and unions feel comfortable with its development and implementation.
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