Drugs at Work Place

Drug use at Work Place
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Drug use at workplace
Use of drug and substance abuse in working place has been associated with poor performance and general poor conditions at work which range from psychological, physical and social harms. Situations such as night work, working remotely, traveling, job stress and poor communication are among key issues that have been associated with this conflict which in turn increases economic burden on governments, employees and society. According to (Cohen, 1984), drugs commonly used in work settings include alcohol, marijuana and cocaine and these have adverse effect not only on the user but also on the community.
Lack of standard methodologies and measures linked to drugs at work place have been difficult to estimate its effect on the ground. However the burden looks substantial to business, workers, society and economy as a whole. Both employers, workers and governments have duty in ensuring that this vice is reduced to minimal levels to give a healthy environment that inflict social-economic factors. (Cole, 1976) discusses how to deal with drug related problems in the workplace and explains how it is precluded by a variety of myths and prejudices about chemically dependent people and their strong addiction to drugs.
The awareness on use of substances at workplace is a need that should be addressed with emphasis as serious accidents and effects at work has been reported just because the individuals misinterpreted the logic of using drug to control stress, instead of addressing their purpose, they end up sinking in a deeper stress-related effects interfering with the performance at their work place, co-workers and even family at home.

In addition, Susser 1995, explains the various types of work behavior that create problems for the employer such as drug intoxication on the job and employee thefts to support a drug habit. Organizations are encouraged to establish policies that can be used in a consistent way which workers can rely on when the need arise, and in addition supervisors and managers should be educated on how to identify and deal with the substance-stress related issues and employees to be offered programs on stress handling.
Other employees have argued that night-shifts and heavy traveling while on work have had an effect on their performance at work and they opt to use drugs to facilitate their performance at work. The drugs are described to reduce sleepiness, cold or energy among the users which to some extend is a genuine concern (Frone, 2004). However the effects in the lack of enough sleep and overworking could be handled well with voluntary sleeping and resting at free time rather than taking drugs that will eventually have adverse effect on the body health and work performance.
Communication is very important to an organization, and it becomes positive when the right information is conveyed from the source to the user and that the source is responsible and accountable to its damage. Hence information should be true and aimed for construction while communicating, but many people have gone against this at work place. A good example is when workers wants to confront a situation or a colleague at work place they first take a stimulus or get drunk before they address what they have just to hide their personality or to gain courage.
In conclusion I believe that employers have a general duty so as to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable the safety health and welfare at work of their employees. It is also advisable for employers to have a drug and alcohol (substance use) policy. Governments has placed laws on drugs but lack of monitoring and enforcing them has been a challenge, but I believe with coordination of these stakeholders; workers, employers and relevant government bodies
References
Frone, M. R. (2004). Alcohol, drugs, and workplace safety outcomes: A view from a general
Model of employee substance use and productivity.
Castro J. (1986). Battling the Enemy Within: Companies Fight to Drive Illegal Drugs Out of the
Workplace. Time Dated, pp.52-61.
Cohen (1976). Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. Norfolk Publisher. New York. USA.
Cole (1976). Clinical Toxicology, Peugeon Publishing Ltd. London. UK.
P. A Susser (1995). Journal of Addiction Nursing.