Substance Misuse | Employee Wellness | Health

SUBSTANCE MISUSE:

LET’S TALK ABOUT IT

Substance misuse doesn’t always look the way we expect. It can affect anyone regardless of their background, job title or age.

It can impact mental clarity, workplace safety and overall health. Ahead of World Drug Day on 26 June, it’s important to raise awareness of the major problems that substance abuse poses to society.

While alcohol and drug abuse in the workplace is prohibited by most conditions of service, dismissing alcoholics or drug addicts can be costly. “It is legally very dangerous for employers to discipline and fire employees who commit offences due to illness or disability. For example, an employee who uses alcohol or narcotics and becomes addicted is legally classified as being ill and is protected by law,” says Ivan Israelstam, CEO of Labour Law Management Consulting.

The first approach should rather be putting mechanisms in place to help employees seek medical assistance for diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation for dependency and addiction.