Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Drug and Alcohol Abuse in the Workplace

According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD), 70 percent of Americans that abuse illegal drugs are employed. Many of these employees work in the mining, construction, food service, arts and entertainment industries, and substance abuse problems are often associated with longer work hours, physically demanding job requirements, and/or a particularly stressful work environment.

With the majority of substance abusers being a part of the workforce, it shouldn’t be surprising that drug and alcohol addiction play a large role in the overall efficiency and profitability of a company. Not only does drug abuse in the workplace cost employers about $81 billion annually, but it’s also associated with a number of other negative consequences, such as:

• More workplace accidents
• Increased number of workers’ compensation claims
• Higher turnover
• Increased theft
• Increased number of medical claim filings
• Reduced productivity and performance
• Safety risks for other non-substance-using employees

Employees themselves may experience negative consequences associated with substance abuse. Employees who suffer from addiction may experience the following difficulties at work:

• Problems concentrating and/or making sound decisions
• Frequent absences or tardiness
• Decreased productivity
• Frequent complaints about problems at home
• Deterioration of personal appearance and hygiene
• Avoidance of colleagues
• Careless mistakes and inconsistent work quality
• Extended lunch periods and breaks

All of these things may also damage the image of the company, reduce employee morale, and hurt overall productivity.

Additional Facts About Substance Abuse in the Workplace

• One-fifth of workers and managers report that a co-worker’s drinking habits (on or off-the-job) jeopardized their own productivity and safety.
• Employees with alcohol problems are 2.7 times more likely than employees without drinking problems to have injury-related absences.
• Marijuana and cocaine are the most commonly used and abused illegal drugs by employees. Prescription drug abuse is also common among employees.
• Employees who report having three or more jobs in the past five years are twice as likely to be current or previous drug abusers when compared to those who have had two or fewer jobs.
• 16 percent of ER patients who were injured at work had alcohol in their system.

Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs): An Effective Solution

The development of Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) can be traced all the way back to the 1800s. Today, there are more than 10,000 EAPs in the U.S. Many companies offer EAPs as an employee benefit and plans are typically 100% paid by the employer. Employees may use this service to deal with personal issues that interfere with their ability to perform well at work, such as substance abuse, stress, financial issues, and marital problems.

Covered employees suffering from addiction receive free, confidential substance abuse assistance in the form of short-term counseling and/or referrals to local rehab centers and recovery groups. Many EAPs also provide:

• Addiction education
• Family support
• Peer group programs
• Assistance re-integrating back into the workforce upon completion of treatment

These programs are beneficial to both parties because managers and supervisors have the tools they need to help an employee with personal problems and the employee can utilize the EAP to get addiction treatment and become a more productive member of the workforce without losing their job.

Many EAPs also provide employees with adjusted work schedules so they can attend treatment while working. Some eligible employees may also choose to take FMLA leave (when medically necessary) to enroll in an addiction rehab program. This gives them the opportunity to receive treatment without jeopardizing their employment status.