Effects of drugs and alcohol on behavior, job performance, and workplace safety

• Published in: Journal of employment counseling Vol. 43; no. 3; pp. 130 - 134
• Main Authors: Elliott, Karen, Shelley, Kyna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2006; American Counseling Association; John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subjects: Accident Prevention; Accidents; Alcohol use; Alcoholism; Behavior; Comparative Analysis; Drinking; Drug Abuse; Drug use; Drug Use Testing; Employee performance; Employee problems; Employees; Industrial safety; Intervention; Job Performance; Job Skills; Management; Occupational health and safety; Occupational Safety and Health; Outcomes of Treatment; Safety; Screening; Self Disclosure (Individuals); Selfdisclosure; Substance Abuse; Substance abuse treatment; Work Environment; Workers; United States
• ISSN: 0022-0787; 2161-1920
• DOI: 10.1002/j.2161-1920.2006.tb00012.x

A study of records for 1 large U.S. company revealed that employees with positive drug screens were fired, whereas workers who self‐disclosed drug/alcohol problems remained employed. Both groups were offered substance abuse intervention, and some previously fired workers were rehired after they received treatment. Accident results showed that drug‐test positive employees, as compared with self‐referred workers, had a significantly higher accident rate in all categories. Treatment data revealed that drug‐test positive workers had significantly higher accident rates before and after treatment than self‐referred employees. Posttreatment results showed that drug‐test positive employees had a significant decrease in accidents after services, whereas the self‐referred group showed no change.