Drug Abuse On The Workplace Essay

Drug Abuse in the Workplace:

The human resource topic I chose to write my research paper on is "Drug Abuse in the Workplace". Drug abuse in the workplace is something very common that many of us will encounter at some point. Alcohol and drug abuse has a major effect on employee absence and lost productively that leaves a negative working environment. It is important a company addresses the right guidelines to keep a drug free workplace. Establishing a clear and fair substance abuse policy and providing frequent drug testing can help with these issues. Drug abuse has proven to be a result of work related stress; companies that provide employee awareness training help teach employees how to better manage these issues.

Substance Abuse in the workplace in one of the top concerns in the United States today "Studies show that 73 percent of drug users are employees, costing American businesses billions of dollars annually in lost production and staffing costs (Walsh)." These are some of the few topics I will be addressing in my research paper.

In order to understand what effects drugs have on the workplace, you must first understand how drugs affect the human body. "Most abused drugs directly or indirectly target the brain 's reward system by flooding the circuit with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, cognition, motivation, and feelings of pleasure. When drugs enter the brain, they can Get

Drugs and Alcohol

For nearly 85 years, the government has prohibited pscychoactive drugs. American leaders attempted to do the same to alcohol with Prohibition in the 1920?s. In any society, drug use plays a part in the people?s culture. Whether it be a native taking hallucinogens for a religious ceremony, a destitute alcoholic drinking on a city street, or a group of teenagers smoking marijuana, drugs and alcohol have the same effects in any culture. The question of ?why do people use drugs? has been a dilemma which American medical experts and government leaders have fought to answer for years. Recently, many institutions and organizations have formed in order to fight thewar on drugs and help diminish the percent of Americans who use...show more content... Sadly, prolonged or excessive use can lead to alcoholism. In fact, of the 175 million drinkers in America, 10 to 13 million are alcoholics. Additionally, the majority of all hospital emergencies involve accidents or illnesses related to alcohol use. The production, distribution, and marketing of alcoholic beverages are employers of many people and generate large sums of money. As a whole, drinking is as much of a part of American society as apple pie and the Fourth of July. Because drinking is such a big part of our lives, the problems which arise from its use are not to be easily diminished (Snyder 19).

Despite the fast–paced growth and apparent success of Alcoholics Anonymous over the past 50 years, American society has collectively paid little attention to alcolhol–related problems. In the early to mid 1900?s, drinking was deemed generally acceptable behavior, and alcoholics were typically viewed as ? an unfortunate minority of weak–willed people, victims of self–inflicted damage and hardship?(Snyder 27). Some major steps have been taken by the institutions of American society to combat alcoholism. In 1956, the American Medical Association declared alcholism was a disease. However, the societal fear of marijuana, heroin, and prescription–drug abuse of the 1960?s and 70?s caused concern over alcoholism to reduce quite dramatically. However, the government soon captained more programs which researched and attempted