2. What is a Drug-Free Safety Program?
A drug free safety
program is about having
a work environment
that protects the health
and safety of the
employees.
3. So What’s the Big Deal?
Substance use is a national problem that is also a workplace
issue. According to the Department of Labor:
In 2007, of the 17.4 million current illicit drug users age 18 and
over, 13.1 million (75.3 percent) were employed.
Similarly, among 55.3 million adult binge drinkers, 44.0 million
(79.4 percent) were employed, and among 16.4 million persons
reporting heavy alcohol use, 13.1 million (79.6 percent) were
employed.
Of the 20.4 million adults classified with substance dependence
or abuse, 12.3 million (60.4 percent) were employed full-time.
4. Impact of Drug Abuse on Safety
Accidents — Users are three
to four times more likely to
have an accident on the job,
and five times more likely to
file a workers’ compensation
claim.
Medical claims — Substance
users file 300 percent to 400
percent more costly medical
claims.
5. Why do you need a
Drug Free Workplace policy?
Productivity — Substance
users are 33 percent to 50
percent less productive.
Employee theft — An
estimated 50 percent to 80
percent of all pilferage, theft
and loss is due to substance-
using employees.
6. Benefits of a Drug Free Workplace
Reduce operational
costs
Preserve investor or
shareholder interest
Protect loyal employees
Improve products and
services
Result in better
customer services
7. Impact of Drug Abuse on Safety
• Absenteeism — Users
are absent an average of
three weeks or more per
year and are tardy three
times more often than
non-users.
8. Drug Abuse is defined as . . .
Patterns of
using that give
rise to health
problems,
social
problems, or
both.
9. Drug Dependence is defined as . . .
A disease that is
characterized by
abnormal seeking
and consumption of
drugs that leads to a
lack of control over
using the drug.
11. ADDICTION
Addiction is a disease.
It is the repetitive, compulsive use of a substance that
occurs despite negative consequences to the user.
Addictive drugs activate circuits in the brain that
respond to normal pleasures.
Every brain possesses these circuits, so every human
could potentially become addicted to a drug.
12. Why Do Some People Become Addicted While
Others Do Not?
There are no single factors, but contributors are:
Biology/Environment – combination of an individual’s
environment and genetics can operate as a risk or
protective factor.
Gender, Ethnicity, emotional health are contributing
risk or protective factors.
15. Cocaine in The Brain
Cocaine is a strong central nervous
system stimulant that increases levels
of dopamine in the brain that allows
us to experience pleasure; have the
ability to move.
16. Physical Affects of Cocaine
Cocaine constricts blood vessels,
dilates pupils.
Increases body temperature, heart
rate, and blood pressure.
It can also cause headaches and
gastrointestinal complications such
as abdominal pain and nausea.
Because cocaine tends to decrease
appetite, chronic users can become
malnourished.
18. How is Marijuana Abused?
Marijuana is usually smoked as a cigarette (joint) or in a
pipe.
It is also smoked in blunts, which are cigars that have
been emptied of tobacco and refilled with a mixture of
marijuana and tobacco.
Blunts allow for marijuana's active ingredients to react
with nicotine and other harmful chemicals.
Marijuana can also be mixed in food or brewed as a tea.
Marijuana can be detected on a urine drug screen for
weeks to months.
19. Commonly Abused Drugs
Physical Affects Cannabinoids
Common Symptoms:
altered perception
dilated pupils
lack of coordination
craving for sweets
increased appetite
inappropriate laughter
22. Heroin
Heroin is an opiate drug that is synthesized from
morphine.
Heroin can be injected, snorted/sniffed, or smoked—
routes of administration that rapidly deliver the drug to
the brain.
23. Commonly Abused Drugs
Physical Affects Opiates
Common Symptoms:
insensitivity to pain
euphoria
sedation
nausea
vomiting
itchiness
watery eyes
running nose
25. Opiates
Methadone
Currently, it is used as a maintenance
drug for narcotic addicts.
Methadone Maintenance Users:
better able to tolerate withdrawal from
their addiction.
Although tolerance and addiction may
occur, withdrawal is milder than from
morphine or heroin.
26. Commonly Abused Drugs
Physical Affects of Methadone
Common Symptoms:
Constipation
Water retention
Drowsiness
Skin rash
Excessive sweating
Changes in libido
30. Commonly Abused Drugs
Physical Affects Amphetamines
Common Symptoms:
Loss of Appetite
Anxiety
Irritability
Rapid Speech
Hand Tremors
Mood Elevation
31. Amphetamines – How it works
In the “fight or flight” response to stress, the adrenal
glands produce the hormone adrenaline, making a
person feel stimulated and ready to either fight or
run.
Amphetamines are chemically similar to adrenaline.
They are used for alertness, excitation, euphoria, and
to suppress appetite.
32. Recipe for danger Recipe for danger
Cold and allergy
medicine
Rubbing alcohol
Brake Cleaner
Engine Starter
Drain Cleaner
Gasoline additive
Camera Batteries
Gun scrubber
Farm fertilizer
Lye
Matches
Veterinary products
Can be made from lye
Do you recognize any of these products?
33. Do you recognize any of these products?
Table salt or Rock Salt
Gasoline
Muriatic Acid
Campfire Fuel
Paint Thinner
Acetone
MSM (cutting agent)
48. MDMA/Ecstasy
MDMA is classified as a "club drug."
In the past few years, however, MDMA abuse has
spread to a wide range of other settings and
demographic subgroups.
Despite growing evidence of its potential harmful
effects, MDMA still has a deceptive reputation as a
"safe" drug among its abusers.
49. MDMA/Ecstasy
MDMA significantly impairs:
Memory and information processing.
Interferes with performing skilled activities, such as
driving a car.
Moderate exposure to the drug, many MDMA
abusers report:
Anxiety, restlessness, irritability, and possible
clinical depression.
50. Commonly Abused Drugs
Physical Affects Ecstasy
Common Symptoms:
inability to sleep
low appetite
high blood pressure
fainting
nausea
hallucinations
blurred vision
sweating
52. Commonly Abused Drugs
Physical Affects Alcohol
Common Symptoms:
slurred speech,
disorientation
odor of alcohol, unsteady
gait
obnoxious, rapid speech
cocky, impaired judgment
very talkative
53. Over The Counter Medications That May
be Abused
Many over the counter and
prescription medications contain
alcohol and/or other ingredients that
can be addictive.
Antihistamines: (Benadryl, Actifed,
Coricidin, Dimetapp, Excedrin PM,
Sleepeze Sinutab)
Combinations: Cough medicines
which usually contain alcohol with
antihistamines (Nyquil, Vicks)
Weight Control Tablets which
contain amphetamines and usually a
sedative or tranquilizer (Dexatrim)
54. Over The Counter Medications
That May be Abused
Many over the counter and
prescription medications contain
alcohol and/or other ingredients that
can be addictive.
Mouth Wash: contains alcohol
Inhalants: Neosynephrine spray and
drops
Vitamin Elixers: Read the labels!
Some contain high concentration of
alcohol.
55. Testing Program
MANY EMPLOYERS TEST
FOR THE FOLLOWING
DRUGS:
Cocaine (and its derivatives, including
crack cocaine)
Cannabinoids (THC/marijuana, hash)
Opiates (heroin, codeine, etc.)
Amphetamines (central nervous system
stimulants)
Phencyclidine (PCP)
Barbiturates (central nervous system
depressants)
Propoxyphene (Darvon)
Methadone
Benzodiazepine (Valium, Librium, etc.)
Methaqualone
Ecstasy
Alcohol
56. When Can I be Tested?
*See your companies policy for testing possibilities:
Pre-Employment / New Hire
Reasonable Suspicion / Observed Behavior
Post Accident
Return to Duty
Follow Up
Random (subject to policy)
Promotion (optional)
57. Types of Test
Pre-Employment/New Hire – All applicants are
required to consent to, take, and pass a pre-employment
(post-offer)/new hire drug screening test as a condition
of employment. Applicants who refuse will not be
considered for employment.
58. Types of Test
Reasonable suspicion – If the
employer has reasonable cause to
believe that an employee is
impaired by drugs or alcohol while
on company premises or while
working.
Reasonable suspicion testing may
be initiated based on, but are not
limited to, any of the following:
59. Reasonable Suspicion
Reasonable Suspicion:
Observed behavior (direct observation of drug or
alcohol use)
A pattern of abnormal conduct (frequent
absenteeism, excessive tardiness)
Repeated violations of the company’s safety or
work rules
60. Common Questionable Behaviors
The following is a list of some common
suspicious behaviors you may see in a substance
abuser (this list is not all inclusive):
Excessive absences / tardiness.
Pattern of being absent on or after payday.
Employee verbalizes multiple family or personal issues as
the cause for excessive absence or tardiness.
Problems staying awake on the job.
Consistently having problems completing job
responsibilities.
61. Common Questionable Behaviors
Continued
Pattern of borrowing money
from co-workers
Change in appearance
Unexplained crying spells
Taking extra smoke or
bathroom breaks
Unusual isolation from peers
Problems concentrating
Odor of Alcohol or
Marijuana
Wearing sunglasses
Slurred speech
Prolonged lunch hours
62. Types of Test
Post Accident- Any employee
involved in an accident resulting in:
Fatality
Bodily injury requiring medical
attention off-site.
Vehicular damage in apparent
excess of chosen dollar amount.
Non-vehicular damage in apparent
excess of chosen dollar amount.
If medical treatment is sought after
work hours or on the weekend, a
drug test must be taken immediately
upon employer notification of the
injury.
63. Types of Test
Return to Duty or Follow up Testing – Employees who have
previously tested positive and entered a rehabilitation program.
Must have a negative test prior to returning to work.
Subject to random tests for a period following return to work.
64. Types of Test
Random- An unannounced test that occurs at a pre-
determined frequency among randomly selected employees.
This includes equal probability of selection each time testing
occurs. Unannounced test of all employees, or all those in a
classified group (i.e. safety sensitive).
65. What happens if I test positive?
*See your companies policy for
positive results consequences: