Drug misuse can be a serious problem not only for the misuser but also for the business where they work and, sometimes, for their co-workers. The possession of some drugs is illegal, exposing the individual to the risk of criminal charges as well as causing harmful effects to their health.
Employers have a legal responsibility to look after employees’ wellbeing, health and safety. A good employer will want to help employees. In some cases, alcohol or drug misuse may be used to help cope with work-related stress. If there is a problem with alcohol or drug misuse in your workplace then this may be part of a wider stress problem.
Some employers treat alcohol and drug misuse as a medical rather than a disciplinary matter. In this case, the chances of overcoming the problem is assessed and a reasonable period of time off for recovery is agreed.
In Somerset we have the Somerset Drug & Alcohol Service (SDAS), which is a countywide service for both young people and adults. It has six main hubs across Somerset. Individuals can be seen without being referred by someone else, and can drop into any of the SDAS hubs or can phone 0300 303 87 88. This number is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
SDAS offers free, confidential advice and support to anyone whose life is being adversely affected by drug and/or alcohol use. A variety of treatment and support options are available, and the team will help people find ways to make the changes they want to make. At New Leaf, we believe that these problems need to be worked through within a treatment team initially before integrative counselling can help.
