Worker impairment caused by mood-altering substances is not new. For several decades, alcohol has topped the list of drugs that can adversely impact an employee's health; however, use of over-the-counter medications, as well as abuse of prescription drugs, poses an increasingly large problem in the workplace. In addition to alcohol, the common types of drugs that may be encountered in today's workplace include:
· Marijuana: Use of marijuana may impair or reduce short-term memory and comprehension, alter sense of time, and reduce a person's ability to perform tasks requiring concentration and coordination. Marijuana can also produce paranoia and psychosis.
· Amphetamines: Because of the stimulating effect these drugs have on the central nervous system, they are frequently abused by people who must stay awake for long periods of time.
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· Barbiturates: Barbiturates comprise the largest class of drugs, and, as a result, are the most widely abused. The effects of tranquilizers and barbiturates, when taken in large doses, are similar to those evident from overindulgence in alcohol. · Cocaine: Cocaine, the most powerful natural stimulant, is widely abused and very dangerous. A powerful derivative of cocaine called crack (or rock), is also used, and is known as one of the most powerfully addictive drugs on the illegal market. |
· Inhalants: A variety of psychoactive substances have been inhaled as gases or volatile liquids. Many popular commercial preparations, such as paint thinners and cleaning fluids, are mixtures of volatile substances making it difficult to be specific about their various effects.
· Narcotics: The term narcotic is given to drugs of the opiate family. Heroin and other semi-synthetic drugs such as Darvon, Dilaudid, and Percodan, are also derived from opium. Narcotics initially produce a feeling of euphoria, followed by drowsiness, nausea, and vomiting.
· Hallucinogens: Phencyclidine (PCP) is one type of hallucinogen that produces behavioral alterations that can be multiple and dramatic. Because the drug blocks pain receptors, violent PCP episodes may result in self-inflicted injuries.
Know someone with a drug problem?
Tell the person that based on what you've seen, you believe something is happening and it concerns you. Urge that person to get help.
Think you have a drug problem?
Talk to someone in your company's employee assistance program or call an information hotline: National Institute on Drug Abuse, (800) 662-HELP; 1-800-COCAINE; Alcoholics Anonymous, (212) 686-1100; or National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, (800) 729-6686.
