The abuse of alcohol and illegal drugs can lead to serious problems in the workplace. Now many employers are facing additional issues brought on by worker abuse of prescription drugs. Besides affecting worker productivity, the abuse of prescription drugs in the workplace can lead to unsafe working conditions. This is especially true in occupations that require the use of vehicles or machinery, including factory workers, transportation workers and construction workers. Employees who perform high-risk services, such as healthcare providers, firefighters and police officers, also pose a safety risk when they abuse prescription drugs.
Small Businesses Are Sought Out by Addicted Individuals
The prescription drugs that are most often abused in the workplace are:
- pain relievers
- stimulants
- sedatives and tranquilizers
Workers take prescription drugs without medical supervision for a variety of reasons, including a desire to self-medicate, stay awake, go to sleep or get high. There is a common misconception, especially among young people, that prescription drugs are safer than illegal street drugs. Unfortunately, this mindset leads many to become addicted to narcotic medications like OxyContin, Vicodin and Percocet.
Workplace Drug Testing for Prescription Drugs
It’s been two decades since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that employers can test for illicit drugs in the workplace. In response to the current wave of prescription abuse, many employers have begun to test workers for the presence of prescription drugs as well as illegal drugs.
In a landmark case that is currently working its way through the court system, a Tennessee company fired employees who tested positive for hydrocodone (a pain killer), even if they were taking it under a doctor’s supervision. Dura Automotive Systems was acting on the decision that certain prescription drugs create a hazardous situation in the workplace. Several fired workers are now suing Dura for discrimination and invasion of privacy. The outcome of the case could set a precedence for other employers who are concerned about powerful prescription drugs in the workplace.
Quest Diagnostics, a leading provider of workplace drug tests, has reported that between 2005 and 2009 the detection of prescription opiate pain killers among workers increased by more than 40 percent, with almost half of the increase occurring between 2008 and 2009. These results were obtained from more than 5.5 million worker drug tests. Another disturbing finding from Quest is that workers who were tested following a workplace accident were 4 times more likely to have opiates in their system than workers who were tested before being hired. The implication is clear – prescription drugs play a significant role in workplace accidents.
Small to Medium-Sized Businesses Most Affected
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, small businesses are more deeply affected by worker prescription drug abuse. Because they often lack the resources for anti-drug programs, they are sought out for employment by drug abusers. The Department of Labor estimates that 9 in 10 of illicit drug users who are employed work for small to medium-sized businesses. The cost of a single drug-induced accident can bankrupt a small business. In addition, prescription drug abuse can lead to higher turnover and a higher rate of absenteeism, both of which severely impact a small business. The Department of Labor urges smaller businesses to develop drug-free workplace programs and to educate workers about the dangers of any type of drug abuse, whether illicit or prescription.
