Businesses seek ways to combat drug abuse
By JENNIFER PALMER NewsOK.com on Mar 13, 2012, at 2:23 AM Updated on 3/13/12 at 7:54 AM
The numbers are staggering: Drug abuse is estimated to cost employers $276 billion a year, and three-fourths, or 76 percent, of people with a drug or alcohol problem are employed.
Employees coping with drug and alcohol abuse are less productive and more likely to waste time at work by taking long lunch breaks, leaving early or sleeping on the job. They have increased health-care expenses - costing their employers twice as much as other employees, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. And they are 3 1/2 times more likely to be involved in a workplace accident.
But replacing a worker costs 25 percent to 200 percent of their annual compensation, not to mention the loss of institutional knowledge, service continuity and co-worker productivity and morale that often coincides with employee turnover, the administration said.
Drug testing and implementing a company Employee Assistance Program are two ways employers control costs related to substance abuse.
Click here to read the complete article at NewsOK.com.
This is the fourth part of a series exploring drug addiction in Oklahoma.
It is produced by the staffs of the Tulsa World, The Oklahoman, Oklahoma Watch, State Impact Oklahoma, OETA, and Griffin Communications
The project reporting on addiction seeks to undercover reasons leading to Oklahoma's top ranking in prescription drug abuse and high use of other substances, current efforts to address the problem and possible solutions.
WEDNESDAY: Find out how many veterans are becoming addicted to prescription painkillers after returning from combat and what faith communities are doing to address addiction problems.
MARCH 18: Find out in Sunday's Tulsa World what treatment options are available in the public and private sectors.
jpalmer@opubco.com
