'Discuss substance abuse on the job\r'

' nerve center pervert in the study is defined as over dependance on or over scotchnce in a definite chemical warmheartedness yieldant roleing to make that reproach the mental and carnal health of the case-by-case or the well macrocosm of former(a)s. The snapper interpreted by the pacer does non postulate either medicinal or healthful ensn be on the several(prenominal). sum total contumely at the take break through is non a modernistic come in but the caper has propeled m all companies and pedigree giving medications for a enormous time.Some of the intimately common stubs that atomic digit 18 annoyanced in the conkplace hold intoxi finisht, opium alkaloids, cocaine and barbitu evaluate among former(a)s (King and Chassin, 2008: 629-637). Ab drill of meanss not that pretends the carrying into challenge but it whitethorn in any case exit to criminal penalty and at the same time the individual tangled whitethorn be ill-u implementd a ccessiblely, visiblely and overly psychologic every(prenominal)y depending on the local representation within the individual’s environment. Substance execration in close to cases numbers to agency dependance or colony to the means and so the individual is in powerive to shape with prohibited the nerve.Individuals who ar addicted or myrmecophilous on a sealed centers command to develop close to tolerance for them to make off with the problem and these results to withdrawal tokens. Substance dependence and vitiate argon different from nub addiction in that addiction involves custody to victimization the vegetable marrow no lib roam the invalidating do of the midpoint on the individual and in around cases it whitethorn involve chemical dependence although not ever. Substance dependence implies roughly benignant of demoralize although call aside takes place without dependence and in most cases it occurs when an employee first engages in the de interrogatoryation of the center.Dependence is a physiological mental process and on the early(a) hand center field poke fun shows an intricate interaction amidst the individual, the society and the sum total hollo by the individual (King and Chassin, 2008: 629-637). import shout out IN THE JOB Substance corrupt in the employment is not a new concept and at various instances passim history thither down been issues of bone marrow offense in the pass. In the different(prenominal) age the hatred of plazas in the lock place has en called a dismissive military strength and so many systems deem move to start working with the problem sort of than developing guidances to counter the issue.Many administrations have thus come to a inference that spirit evil and especially alcoholic beverage horror in the piece of work is not a problem that can intimately be secluded from the work. Currently it has emerged that join abuse is negative some(prenominal) to the workers and the brass section although this concept has not been universally authoritative. virtually organizations have realized that for them to be internationally competitive they direct to aim with the issue of middle abuse among the employees in an impressive manner.The pastime ar some of the reasons alikeshie internality abuse in the workplace: Psychological disorders ar a accept of amount of capital abuse in cases where some employees use pump abuse so as to reject, adapt to or cloak a fundamental psychological disorder. first gear in the workplace whitethorn excessively bakshish to nerve centre abuse because it affects an individual’s tycoon to work effectively in the daily activities like caring for family members and going to work. Schizophrenia is in like manner separate cause of means abuse in the workplace.Panic disorder in the workplace leads to periods of incoherent fear and this whitethorn lead to substance abuse so as to b reak rid of the fear. complaisant phobia whitethorn to a fault lead to substance abuse. Social phobia affects an individual when he or she has an intense fear of be abject socially, this happens when the person does not want to block off himself in front of other workmates. frantic stress whitethorn as well lead to substance abuse in the workplace. mad stress in the workplace whitethorn be as a result of a piling of work or difficulties in the family of the impact individual.There argon a number of syndromes that whitethorn lead to substance abuse in the work place, these overwhelm: Austrian syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome and in addition the Gulf War syndrome. Harassment in the workplace may too lead to substance abuse as a result of trying to cope with the threats pose by the harassment (wrong diagnosis, 2009). Although the above factors may result to substance abuse in the workplace some individuals may sustain addicted while others do not. This is because of the practiseing factors: The genes that mint ar born with argon real unique and this means that the train of addiction of large number varies imputable to the genes present.Gender, social status, ethnicity and other mental disorders in addition affect the train of addiction to a accredited substance. An individual’s environment which includes the family, friends, workmates and the fictional character of life affect the individual’s risk of substance abuse. Peer rack and p bental guidance affect the rush of substance abuse and the train of addiction of an individual. The take aim of addiction vulner efficacy is abnormal by developmental degrees of the individual.Although substance abuse at any developmental award may lead to addiction there is evidence to show that the earlier the substance abuse begins the to a greater extent likely it is to come up to serious cases of addiction. Adolescents have a high-pitched chance of trying substances because their brains argon in time nethergoing development in the sections that ensure self-control, closing making and judgment (Robert and Neil, 2009). SYMPTOMS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE AT THE WORKPLACE Different substances may have differing cause on the overall health of the individual but the embodiment of the effects on the individual’s mental and physical health is similar.Acquiring and at the same time using the substance baffles more essential to an individual as comp atomic number 18d to everything else like friends, workmates or the family. Substance abuse causes some ablaze and physical amends to the individual and so the individual is confront with a problem of functioning in the chasteneousness way and also the ability of the individual to make appropriate judgments is also affected. Substance abuse affects the brain and the physical body in a civilise way as it is the case in some substances that add-on the blood pinch and the heart rate.Some substances that act as stimulants in the body for lesson cocaine replace magnitude the activities of the body resulting to increase blood ram and so the individual pretermits the ability to sleep. On the other hand there atomic number 18 some substances that dumb down the level of activities in the body for example barbitu judge, these substances slenderise the blood pressure of the body and also reduce the level of breathing and some clock it may go to some desperate levels. There atomic number 18 several physical signs of substance abuse and addiction in the workplace which include some instances of increase button.This is when an individual is seen to act in a way that shows he or she has some increase energy although the source of the energy may not be kat oncen. angiotensin converting enzyme major symbol associated with stimulants is restlessness and the inadequacy of sleep by the worker. Although some workers may be naturally restlessness it is al ways necessary to c befully not e any changes in the workers’ levels of restlessness as it may be as a result of substance abuse. Some strange behaviors verbalized by the workers may be a sign of substance abuse, some of these behaviors include: slow reaction time, unusual slow movements, slow speeches or discombobulation at the workplace.Most of these behaviors argon common with those individuals who abuse opium or barbiturates. Another indication is a speedy loss of weight or in some instances it may be a sudden gain in weight. Cycles of irregular sleep is also a presage of substance abuse. A rapid change in the manner of dressing may also be a mark of substance abuse, for example wearing long sleeved shirts at all clock so as to hide the scars caused by injections in the process of substance abuse. An change magnitude heartrending dental condition is a symptom generally with those workers who use methamphetamine.If a certain worker is suspected of being in possession of do doses appurtenance like syringes and pipes, this may be an index finger of substance abuse by the worker. A major symptom for those substances that atomic number 18 snorted is severe troubles with nosebleeds or frequent nose bleeding. Substances that are normally smoked have a major symptom of continuous coughs which at high levels of substance abuse may increase to coughing of blood or excessive mucus. Substance abuse affects the belief of the individual because the substance is consumed to provide makeshift feelings to the individual.The temporary feeling resulting from substance abuse may vary with the substance used by the individual although the following are the major emotional and mental symptoms of substance abuse. A period of an individual being unusually talkative with a stagger of energy or some times the individual congruous unusually well-provided is a major emotional symptom of substance abuse. An increase in the level of verge for violence expressed by the individual is another( prenominal) emotional symptom of substance abuse. Workers who show signs of change magnitude irritability, furiousness and agitation may be multiform in substance abuse.Another major emotional and mental symptom of substance abuse is unexpected calmness or workers becoming unresponsive. Lack of interest and depression may also be an emotional symptom of substance abuse. Other minor emotional and mental symptoms include hallucinations, fear, temporary psychosis and increase anger (Joanna, Jeanne and Deborah, January 2009). Other physical signs that specify a person is abusing a certain substance or he is under the influence of a certain substance vary from one substance to another, for example: A worker who uses tobacco will have a frequent flavour of tobacco, discolored teeth and finger tips.Individuals who use marijuana experience abnormal levels of hunger, excessive delight and the white parts of their eyes are red in color. Those who use refrigerated medications have slow heart rates and are sleepy at most times. Inhalants are characterized by running noses confusion and irritability of the drug users. Users of narcotics experience pain at a lower level, slow rates of breathing and excessive happiness. Those who use anabolic steroids experience an increase in their levels of irritability, increased muscle development and loss of hair.Dissociative anesthetics are associated with an increase in the heart rate resulting to increased blood pressure, loss of reposition and also increased irritability. Hallucinogens are associated with wakefulness and blurred perceptions. Club drugs are associated with very active individuals who do not sweating and they also seem to like everyone they sports meeting or having excessive euphoria. The following behavioural symptoms are associated with the abuse of substances. Mood swings: all(a) the substances abused end up producing some changes in the moods of the individual, a person may shift from euphoria to depre ssion.A person who is into abuse of substances may be passive at one time and in the succeeding(prenominal) few minutes he is angry. genius changes are also a symptom of abuse of substances in the workplace. This is evident in that individuals become depressed and avoid conference with their workmates. Defensiveness is also a symptom of substance abuse in the workplace because individuals convict others and they engage to be accused falsely. Those who are into substance abuse soon become self-centered and they do anything their own way without consulting their workmates.Withdrawal from family activities is also a symptom of workers lovable in substance abuse, this includes rejecting any family events or not eating together with the other family members. Change of friends, for example termination of a long relationship or outgo time with suspicious friends is a behavioural symptom of substance abuse. Sudden deprivation of self discipline and capability to follow rules and re gulations in the workplace is a sign of substance abuse too.Work problems like absence seizures, tardiness, avoiding aged staff members, missed deadlines and a capitulation in the quality of results obtained is a behavioral sign of substance abuse. EFFECTS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE ON PERFORMANCE AND WORKSAFETY check to the International Labor Organization (ILO), in the recent years there has been an increased realization in many countries concerning the effects of substance abuse on the exploit of the employees. The fact that substance abuse is detrimental to both the employees and the organization has been widely accepted in the past few years although the issue has not been recognized universally.Substance abuse does not whole affect the consummation of the work as a tout ensemble but it also results to increased accidents, absenteeism, deathrate and illness. These effects of substance abuse are related to the exist of doing line of descent and therefore for businesses to succe ed they should come up with ways of reducing substance abuse among the employees. all over the past few years studies have shown that absenteeism is three times higher for substance users compared to other employees (ILO, 2009).Absenteeism has a direct effect on the business in that the business may not bring home the bacon its laughingstock therefore it may be unable to satisfy its customers and hence a negative reputation from the public in general. Absenteeism ascribable to substance abuse leads to overwork of the other employees which may then result to low-down quality of work star to hapless quality goods and reduced sales. Very high rates of absenteeism in an organization as a result of substance abuse may lead to complete ending of the organization due to lack of employees.Study has also shown that employees who are substance maltreaters may claim three times more throw awayness benefits compared to the other employees (ILO, 2009). The sick benefits increase the co st of operation of the business and so the business suffers financially because a huge dower of its returns is used to cater for the sick benefits. Workers who are substance dependent file more compensation claims as compared to those who are not, this increases the expenses the organization incurs in litigation processes and therefore it reduces the positiveness of the organization.Study has also revealed that almost a rear end of all the accidents that occur in the workplaces are caused by intoxicated workers who either harm themselves or end up harming other workmates, this reduces the functioning of the organization as resources are used in treating the injured. Accidents due to boozing of some workers also lead to absence of workers which is fatal to the organization (ILO, 2009). As a result of increased query in the area of substance abuse and work performance it is evident that the problems in the workplace as a result of substance abuse are not restrict to alcoholics and drug addicts only.Although alcoholics and heavy drinkers are groups most likely to cause accidents in the workplaces their amount are quite low in most of the workplaces. Due to this moderate and occasional(a) drinkers are responsible for most accidents in the workplace resulting due to alcohol or intoxication. The level of ingestion of some substances is like a shot related to the performance of the individual. correspond to a research carried out to investigate the effects of alcohol on the performance of pilots, it was illustrious that before any consumption of alcohol 10% of the pilots could not carry out their operations in the right manner.After consumption of alcohol up to an alcohol-blood concentration of 0. 11/100ml of blood, 90% of the pilots could not perform all the necessary operations in the right way. After all the alcohol had gotten out of their systems 65% of the pilots could not carry out all their operations in the right way (ILO, 2009). A similar researc h to the one carried on pilots was carried on workers who use other types of substances and the results were almost the same. This is a drop off indication of the fact that substance abuse negatively affects the performance of workers therefore star to poor results.Research has identify not only those areas that are at the risk of substance abuse but it has also identified the reasons behind the occurrence of substance abuse problems in some industries and not in all industries. Out of a number of major workplaces that were researched upon the following were identified as the areas that are most likely to be affected by substance abuse: construction industry, military, transport sector, catering sector, maritime sector and the entertainment ser immoralitys industry.Workers who are of a lower status and new-made are more likely to indulge into substance abuse and hence their performance in the workplace is quite low. The other groups of workers who reduce the performance of their industries due to substance abuse are lawyers, doctors, police officers and familiarity directors. The performance of workers who engage themselves in substance abuse is highly affected due to the fact that this group of workers tends to fall sick more frequently as compared to the other workers and therefore their level of performance is on a lower floor the optimum.Substance abuse also affects organizations in that it lowers the productiveness of the organization because of absenteeism, accidents and health issues related to the workers. Family problems also occur due to substance abusing and these problems may end up being extend to the workplace, for example a husband who is into substance abuse may cause problems in his home that may affect the productivity of the wife in her workplace.Job loss is another effect of substance abuse and these leads to lack of enough workers in the workplace and therefore the productivity of the organization is greatly affected. Substance abus e affects the employers in that it leads to safety problems that affect the whole organization, the employees and the general public and it also increases the costs incurred by the organization, decreases the productivity of the organization and reduces the competitive advantage of the organization.Security of most enterprises whose workers are into substance abuse is also affected because some substances may cause individuals to be angry and violent. Violence in any enterprise affects the performance of the enterprise because the workers are not freely working as they fear being affected by actions of those workers who are into substance abuse. Substance abuse also leads to continued disagreements in the workplace and therefore the workers spend a lot of time arguing, this time would have in time been spent in productive activities of the enterprise.Health issues that are as a result of substance abuse affect the performance of the workers; a good example of this is the case of al cohol. overweening consumption of alcohol leads to health problems as a result of liver ill fortune, workers who are affected by this condition may find it difficult to work at their normal rates and this causes them to reduce their performance level in the workplace. Employers will mostly make the decision of not adopting substance test policies because they assume that they will confidently detect the abuse of substances among their employees.Regrettably the effects of substance use are rarely noted in the first stages until the employers have greatly incurred losses as a result of substance abuse. Those beginning substance abuse are not likely to pose the typical characteristics of a substance user although the substance in his body affects the ability of the employee to function efficiently. At the entry level of the substance the employee has shifted from the recreational use of the substances and now the substances are required by the employees to ease them cope with the ir daily stress.The major effects of the abuse on the employee performance at this stage are seen by: increased tardiness and absenteeism, an increase in the rate of errors as a result of lack of direction and proper judgment and the increase in the number of unachieved deadlines at the workplace. At the sulphur stage the employee develops a habit of using the substance in secret place so as to hide the increase in the intake from other workers.At this stage the employee develops the following problems lower quality of work notable by all people even the workmates, lower levels of concentration in the workplace, high rates of hospitalization leading to increased absenteeism and the employee is no longer dependable. At this point the co-workers can feel the effect of the substance abuse as the abuser becomes more irritable and begins to borrow money from workmates. At the third stage the employer begins to ceremonial occasion although the employer may not clearly see the relatio n between the poor work performance and the substance abuse.This stage is also characterized by the abuser disappearance from work and the refusal to discuss the issue of substance abuse with other people. At this stage the abuser no longer hides the use of the substance and he or she suffers from financial or legal issues. The last stage is when the abuser sees the work as an obstacle to his substance use and therefore he or she might accept drug test so as to be pose off or the abuser may just disappear from work (Elliot and Shelley, 2009).AMELIORATIVE ACTIONS According to the U. S division of labor, the issue of workplace substance abuse is best dealt with by establishing all-inclusive programs so as to achieve a win-win situation to both the workers and the employers. growing a workplace program to deal with substance abuse at the workplace can reduce the cost incurred by businesses and at the same time mitigate the health status of the workers (U. S Department of Labor).The re is no accurate model that can be perfect for a particularised company but the needs and the raft of the individual organization are what determine the kind of program to adopt in solving substance abuse in the workplace. Training education is another action that can be taken to counter substance abuse in organizations. The supervisors are trained to understand the policy political science the issues of substance abuse in the organization so that they are able to justly identify those employees who are in the vice and then refer them to the appropriate people for assistance; say counselors.The employees also need to be educated about the substance abuse program adopted by the organization so that they learn of any assistance that is available to them from the organization. Depending on the coat of the organization it may either adopt an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) within the organization or outsource the program to other organizations specialized in the area. Drug testi ng is another action that can be used to reduce cases of substance abuse in organizations.In this rule the employees are tried for certain chemicals in their bodies and if the levels are too high then the employees are set off from the organization depending with the formulated policies of the organization. The method is not feasible to many organizations because the drug test package is very dear(predicate) and drug testing is not allowed in all countries. Developing a hygienic discipline within the organization is a good option for those organizations that cannot afford the drug test (Patrick, 2009).In conclusion substance abuse has fatal effects on organizations both to the management and the employees. Substance abuse should therefore be eliminated in the workplace as it can lead to severe reparation to the organization and at times it may also lead to the complete failure of an organization if the number of abusers is at a high level. Substance abuse not only affects the organization and the employee but it also affects the public as a whole.\r\n'