Substance abuse costs society over R18 billion each year and more than R11 billion be borne by the business community. 30% of short-term sick leave and 15% of long-term sick leave due to alcohol, according to recent research.

In addition, the absence caused by pills and drugs, and of course all that is not reported as absent due to drugs / alcohol.

If you want to improve corporate performance and absenteeism statistics, it is wise to look at the procedures and guidelines around alcohol and drugs.

Here are some questions that you may want to consider:

Does your company have a clear policy and clear guidelines for the use of alcohol and drugs in and outside the workplace that all employees are familiar with?

  • Does your company have clear consequences for violation?
  • Does your company have expertise in prevention, treatment, and follow-up confrontation?
  • Does your company have a system and expertise for monitoring and reversal of a drug addict after treatment?
  • Does your company have systems to warn about drug abuse?
  • Does your company have a system to detect drug abuse?
  • Do you feel confident that the procedures and consequences are working within the law?
  • Do you and your colleagues that this is a difficult area in the HSE work?

For more information on workplace addiction issues chat to Recovery Direct South Africa.