Aug 29

Substance Abuse Screening In The Workplace

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Prompted by a need to guarantee safety, well-being and health of employees and visitors, employee alcohol and drug policies have become more common within the United Kingdom. Though, there are still numerous misinterpretations associated with the practice, which may cause worry amongst the personnel being screened.

Substance Abuse Screening In The Workplace – Where is the danger?

Numerous people suppose that the impact of illegal drugs throughout the workplace is a trivial issue. We all have taken notice of Christmas drink-driving TV advertisements and recognise that drink-driving and drug-driving can cost lives, so isn’t it possible to rely upon most people’s common sense? Alas, around fifty percent of all road and industrial deaths around the UK are connected with drinking, drug abuse, or both. Present-day figures reveal that in excess of two thirds of drug abusers are engaged in full-time jobs, meaning that the typical drug misuse is, in effect, the average staff member. Freshly released Home Office reports estimate the number of 16 to 29-year-olds who misused illicit drugs within the last year at a staggering fifty percent. So, you cannot treat this as somebody else’s problem, it is relevant to just about every place of work. While the consumption of illegal substances doesn’t necessarily suggest irresponsible attitudes within the working environment, it does dramatically increase the probability of accidents, absenteeism, a drop in productivity, damage to plant and equipment, being involved in a lawsuit and a higher than average turnover of staff.

Substance Abuse Screening In The Workplace – What can be done? Isn’t employee drug and alcohol testing disruptive?

Numerous organizations only administer workplace drug screening in response to an accident, an incident or near miss, or in the event they have reasonable grounds for concern or suspicion that an employee could be unsafe for active duty. Given the large assortment of possible dangers within industrial companies, a lot of managers assume it to be entirely prudent to perform testing in such instances, as a measure to prevent them from occurring in future.

Of course, random workplace drug screening takes testing a stage further, where a fraction of the personnel is picked at random to provide a sample of urine and/or breath. This might sound a little intrusive, but it is actually very commonplace for as few as five percent of the staff to be screened up to once in every year. This is the same as only one in 20 people being drug and alcohol screened, or perhaps, as an individual, your probability of being screened might be just once every 20 years. Incredibly, such minimal screening has been demonstrated to decrease failure rates from as high as 46% down to as little as only 2% in as little as only a couple of months. This just shows that the typical substance abuser found within the work environment isn’t hopelessly addicted and unable to change, but is simply making lifestyle decisions which may possibly be adjusted towards a more agreeable outcome.

Substance Abuse Screening In The Workplace. Could this be regarded as a violation of a person’s civil Liberties?

While some individuals within the company can be hesitant at first regarding the likelihood of workplace screening, most recognise that this is primarily undertaken to assure the well-being of everyone throughout the work environment. As long as the amount of diagnostic testing is proportionate to the dangers throughout the workplace and does not deliberately impact upon personnel life outside of work, it does not pose a threat to people’s human rights. Around the United States, over ninety eight percent of the most successful 1000 companies drug test their work force without issue.

Is there any danger when using drugs and alcohol away from work?

A lot of illegal substances have certainly created a softer image due to their repeated exposure throughout the nation’s television, radio and newspapers. Indeed, terminologies including “recreational cocaine use” have been shown to cause a great amount of harm in misleading the general public. For some teenagers, snorting cocaine is actually more habit forming than heroin and, for this reason can’t be abused recreationally without significant threat of addiction. Dependence aside, the purity of cocaine has decreased from an average of 45% purity in 2004 to approximately 25% purity as of 2010 (with the purity of cocaine as low as nine percent reported). Worryingly, the powders that the dealers use to pad out the cocaine powder can be anything from dangerous anaesthetics, carcinogenic pharmaceuticals, cat worming powders, all the way through to to insecticides. The underlying message is that you can certainly never rely upon a drug dealer.

In fact, drugs typically thought of as soft drugs nevertheless carry dangers. Right now in England and Scotland, a dramatic 92% of people admitted for therapy for mental health issues are regular users of cannabis. With this in mind, workplace drug and alcohol testing truly has the realistic opportunity to take on wider antisocial and mental health concerns when it eventually is more common.

For more information on on-site drug testing as well as home drug test kits, browse through www.drug-aware.com

Information on the author: Christopher Evans is the Technical Director of Drug-Aware Ltd, a supplier of Substance Abuse Screening In The Workplace, alcohol and drug test equipment, laboratory services as well as drugs and alcohol awareness training. He has instructed literally thousands of delegates spanning hundreds of organisations, Her Majesty’s Prison Service, the British police and hospitals and GP surgeries across the United Kingdom.

Aug 28

Drugs Information For Employers

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Pressed by a commitment to safeguard well-being, safety and health of employees and contractors, workplace alcohol and drugs screening has eventually become increasingly common in Britain. Nonetheless, there still persist a number of misinterpretations relating to the practice, which can possibly cause apprehension amongst the members of staff involved in screening.

Drugs Information For Employers – So, where is the real danger?

Numerous people assume that the effect of abused drugs throughout the average workplace is a very minor matter. Everyone has been exposed to Christmas time anti-drink-driving TV advertisements and as a consequence, know that drink-driving and drug-driving is dangerous, so isn’t it possible to depend upon the general public’s judgement? Alas, approximately one-half of all workplace and roadside deaths around Britain relate to alcohol, drugs, or both together. Present-day stats reveal that in excess of two thirds of illegal drug abusers are engaged in full-time jobs, suggesting that the typical illegal drug user is, in effect, the average company employee. Current Home Office statistics estimate the number of 16 to 29-year-olds who have engaged in street drugs throughout the previous 12 months at just under fifty percent. In light of this fact, you can’t treat this as somebody else’s concern, because it involves just about every business. Whilst the usage of narcotics might not by default suggest risk-taking and irresponsibility within the workplace, this does significantly broaden the likelihood of workplace accidents and incidents, absenteeism and attendance issues, a reduction in productivity, damages to workplace equipment, being involved in a lawsuit and a more substantial turnover of employees.

Drugs Information For Employers – What can be done? Isn’t employee drug testing disruptive?

Plenty of companies only carry out an employee drug test in response to an injury or significant damage to property, an incident, or in the event they have reasonable grounds for concern that a member of the workforce could potentially be unfit to be at work. Due to the vast variety of potential threats found within heavy industrial sites, numerous businesses see it as being completely acceptable to carry out workplace drug and alcohol screening on these occasions, as a way to avoid them from happening again.

Of course, random workplace drug screening takes drug testing to the next degree, wherein a proportion of the personnel is randomly picked to volunteer a sample. You may see this as a little invasive, though it is pretty normal for just five percent of the workforce to be drug screened up to once per 12 month period. This is the same as only one in 20 individuals being screened, or maybe, as an employee, your likelihood of being actually screened would be once every 20 years. Amazingly, this style of minimal testing has indeed been confirmed to lower rates of positivity from as much as forty six percent down to a low of just 2% inside of only a few months. This just shows that the typical drug abuser found within the work environment isn’t addicted, but is just simply making choices about their lifestyle which can possibly be influenced toward a more positive outcome.

Drugs Information For Employers. Can this be regarded as a violation of an individuals’ civil Liberties?

Whilst a few members of staff can be hesitant at first regarding the thought of on-site drug screening, the majority are aware that this is primarily performed to underpin the safety of everybody in the work environment. Provided the extent of screening is proportional to the risks inside the workplace and does not deliberately interfere with staff leisure activities, it shouldn’t pose a threat to and employee’s human rights. Within the United States of America, more than 98% of the most successful 1000 companies screen their personnel without any problems.

Where is the risk while misusing illegal drugs outside of the workplace?

Countless illegal drugs have certainly established a softer image by virtue of their continued exposure in the country’s newspapers and television. In reality, phrases including “recreational cocaine use” have been known to cause a significant deal of harm in glossing over the dangers to people. For many young people, cocaine as a drug is even more habit forming than heroin and, as a result cannot be used recreationally without major threat of becoming addicted. Dependence aside, cocaine purity has decreased from a typical 45% cocaine content in 2004 to as low as a mere 25% purity as of 2010 (with purity being as low as 9 percent being reported currently). Alarmingly, the compounds used to increase the mass of the cocaine powder can range from dangerous anaesthetics, cancer-causing pharmaceuticals, dog worming agents, all the way through to to dangerous insecticides. The reality is you should never rely upon a drug dealer.

Indeed, drugs generally considered to be soft drugs nonetheless carry risks. In recent years in the UK, a shocking 92% of patients admitted for treatment for mental health issues are heavy cannabis users. With this in mind, workplace drug screening undeniably possesses the ability to take on wider social and health problems when it eventually becomes more common.

To read more on company drugs and alcohol policy and also home drug screening kits, visit www.drug-aware.com

About the author: Christopher Evans is the Technical Director of Drug-Aware Ltd, a provider of Drugs Information For Employers, drugs and alcohol test devices, lab services as well as drug and alcohol awareness training courses. He has trained literally thousands of delegates from hundreds of businesses, the HM Prison Service, the British police and hospitals and GP surgeries throughout the UK.

Aug 28

Employee Alcohol and Drugs Testing

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Propelled by a necessity to assure well-being, health and safety of employees, company substance misuse policies have come to be more popular within the British Isles. Even so, there still persist a variety of myths relating to the process, that can generate worry amongst the personnel being screened.

Employee Alcohol and Drugs Testing – Where is the risk?

Many people suppose that the effect of misused drugs throughout the modern workplace is a very minor matter. We all have seen Christmas anti-drink-driving commercials and know that drug driving and drink-driving can cost lives, so can’t we trust in people’s common sense? Alas, as many as fifty percent of all industrial and road fatalities across the United Kingdom are connected with drinking, drugs, or both together. Latest stats indicate that beyond 70% of substance misusers are in full-time employment, which means that the typical drug user is, in a sense, the typical staff member. Recent Home Office statistics estimate the amount of 16 to 29-year-olds that have used drugs in the most recent 12 months at approximately fifty percent of that age range. Therefore, it is irresponsible to view this as somebody else’s problem, as it is relevant to just about every place of work. While the intermittent use of illicit substances might not necessarily mean irresponsibility within the business, this does considerably broaden the probability of accidents, attendance issues and absenteeism, decreased productivity, damage to equipment and stock, compensation claims and a raised turnover of staff.

Employee Alcohol and Drugs Testing – What do businesses do? Isn’t random drug testing complicated to set up?

Numerous businesses only perform an employee drug screen after an injury or significant damage to property, a near miss or incident, or in the event they have reasonable grounds for concern or suspect that an employee may be unsafe or unfit for duty. Given the broad assortment of prospective dangers found within industrial workplaces, many managers believe it to be perfectly acceptable to trigger diagnostic tests in such instances, as a way to prevent them happening in the future.

Having said that, random drug and alcohol testing brings drug screening the workplace a stage further, whereby a fraction of the personnel is selected at random to produce a sample of breath and/or urine. You may see this as a little invasive, but it is quite commonplace for as little as five percent of the workforce to be tested up to once in every 12 month period. this is equivalent to just one in 20 individuals being drug and alcohol screened, as an alternative, as an individual, your likelihood of being actually screened would likely be just one time in each 20 years. As incredible as it seems, this kind of minimalistic testing has indeed been demonstrated to lower failure rates from as high as forty six percent down to a low of two percent in just a handful of months. This highlights that the typical substance abuser found within the average company is not addicted to drugs, but is merely making lifestyle decisions which may be reshaped in the direction of a better conclusion.

Employee Alcohol and Drugs Testing. Is this viewed as a violation of freedoms?

While certain staff members may be hesitant at first regarding the possibility of workplace drug screening, many are aware that this will be carried out in order to assure the basic safety of anybody within the place of work. So long as the extent of on-site drug screening is in proportion to the hazards inside the workplace and doesn’t deliberately disrupt staff time outside of work, it should not represent a threat to employee human rights. When it comes to America, more than ninety eight percent of the largest 1000 organisations drug test their staff without any difficulties.

Who says there is any danger when using drugs and alcohol away from the working environment?

Lots of illicit drugs have already developed a softer image by virtue of their glamorised portrayal within national radio, television and newspapers. Undoubtedly, phrases including “recreational cocaine use” do a significant deal of harm due to it glossing over the dangers to individuals. For a lot of people, snorting cocaine is unexpectedly more habit forming than heroin and can’t be used recreationally without significant threat of dependency. Dependence aside, the purity of cocaine has decreased from approximately 45% cocaine content in 2004 to as low as approximately 25% purity as of 2010 (with cocaine purity as low as 9% being reported). Even more worryingly, the cutting agents used to increase the mass of the powdered cocaine often range from local anaesthetics, cancer-causing chemicals, animal worming powders, through to insecticides. The underlying message is you can never ever count on a drug dealer.

Even substances formerly considered to be soft drugs often still carry risks. At present in Britain, a dramatic 92% of men and women taken in for treatment for mental health problems are regular users of cannabis. bearing this in mind, workplace drugs testing ultimately possesses the realistic opportunity to take on wider community and mental health concerns when it eventually is more commonplace.

Read more about drug and alcohol testing and home drug testing kits, see www.drug-aware.com

Information about the author: Christopher Evans is the Technical Director of Drug-Aware Ltd, a supplier of Employee Alcohol and Drugs Testing, alcohol and drug testing devices, laboratory services and drug awareness education. He has trained literally thousands of delegates from hundreds of companies, the HM Prison Service, the British police and hospitals and GP surgeries across the country.

Aug 28

Drugs Awareness Training At Work

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Prompted by a commitment to guarantee safety, well-being and health of members of staff, employee drugs screening has come to be more and more common around the UK. Be that as it may, there still persist a number of misinterpretations relating to the strategy, which can lead to apprehension among the workers subject to screening.

Drugs Awareness Training At Work – Exactly where is the danger?

Numerous people presume that the effect of street drugs within the working environment is a very minor concern. Pretty much everyone has taken notice of Christmas time drink-driving TV advertisements and recognise that drink-driving and drug-driving is risky, so can’t we depend on the public’s judgement? Alas, almost 50% of all road and industrial deaths throughout the United Kingdom relate to drink, street drugs, or both. Present research prove that roughly 70% of illicit drug users are engaged in full-time work, which means that the average drug abuser is, effectively, the average business employee. Current Home Office studies estimate the number of 16 to 29-year-olds that have abused street drugs in the last year at just under 50% of that age range. In light of this, this shouldn’t be viewed as somebody else’s concern, because it is relevant to each and every single work environment. Although the indulgence in narcotics doesn’t by default imply risk-taking and irresponsibility within the company, it does substantially broaden the likelihood of accidents, attendance issues, a reduction in productivity, damage to machinery and wasted materials, litigation and a much higher turnover of personnel.

Drugs Awareness Training At Work – What can be done? Isn’t random drug and alcohol screening rather complicated?

Lots of businesses only administer workplace drug screening in response to a significant damage to property or an injury, an incident, or in cases where they find reasonable cause for concern or suspicion that an employee might be unsafe for active duty. Due to the vast variety of prospective hazards found within heavy industrial sites, numerous employers consider it completely justifiable to conduct workplace drug and alcohol screening on such occasions, as a way to avoid them from occurring again.

However, random employee drug screening brings workplace testing to the next degree, wherein a percentage of the personnel is randomly selected to provide an urine sample. It might sound a little invasive, however, it is very normal for just 5% of the workforce to be drug screened up to once in every 12 month period. This is the same as only one in 20 people being tested, or else, as an individual, your probability of being tested would probably be just one time in every 20 years. Incredibly, such marginal testing has actually been shown to reduce rates of failure from as high as forty six percent down to as low as just 2% in as little as just a few months. This just shows that the commonplace substance abuser present in the average company is not addicted and unable to change, but is merely making decisions about their lifestyle which can be adjusted in the direction of a more positive end result.

Drugs Awareness Training At Work. Should this be perceived to be an invasion of human rights and civil liberties?

While a few members of staff might be resistant at first to the prospect of testing, the majority of them understand that this is being undertaken to guarantee the safety of anybody within the workplace. Provided that the extent of on-site drug testing is proportionate to the risks within the work environment and doesn’t specifically impact upon employee life outside of work, it will not represent a danger to individuals’ human rights. In America, around 98% of the most successful 1000 organisations screen their staff without any problems.

Is there any risk while experimenting with drugs and alcohol away from work?

Numerous illicit drugs have certainly created a less dangerous image as a consequence of their repeated exposure in national radio, television and newspapers. Sure enough, terminologies including “recreational cocaine use” may cause a significant amount of harm in misleading individuals. For some teenagers, snorting cocaine is more addictive than heroin and, as a result can’t be taken recreationally without substantial risk of falling prey to addiction. Addiction aside, the level of cocaine purity has fallen from a typical forty five percent purity in 2004 down to a mere 25 percent purity in 2010 (with cocaine purity at an all-time low of 9 percent currently being reported). Worryingly, the compounds that dealers use to cut the cocaine range from local anaesthetics, carcinogenic chemicals, dog worming agents, through to dangerous insecticides. The reality is you should never ever rely upon a drug dealer.

Indeed, drugs generally deemed to be soft drugs frequently still carry dangers. In recent years in England and Wales, a shocking 92% of patients taken in for therapy for mental health problems are regular users of cannabis. bearing this in mind, workplace drug and alcohol testing ultimately has the opportunity to attack wider antisocial and mental health concerns as it becomes more common.

To read more on workplace drug screening together with home drug testing kits, go to www.drug-aware.com

About the author: Christopher Evans is the Technical Director of Drug-Aware Ltd, a provider of Drugs Awareness Training At Work, drugs and alcohol testing equipment, lab services along with alcohol awareness education. He has educated literally thousands of delegates across hundreds of businesses, Her Majesty’s Prison Service, the British police and hospitals and drug treatment centres throughout the UK.

Aug 28

Substance Misuse Awareness Training In The Workplace

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Encouraged by a demand to provide health, safety and well-being of members of staff, employee substance abuse screening has gradually become noticeably common within England and Scotland. Having said that, there are still a significant number of misinterpretations surrounding the process, which can most likely generate worry among the employees involved in testing.

Substance Misuse Awareness Training In The Workplace – Exactly where are the threats?

A significant proportion of the population get the idea that the impact of drugs and alcohol throughout the workplace is a trivial problem. Everyone has taken notice of Christmas time drink-driving campaigns and know that drug driving and drink-driving isn’t safe, so can’t we trust in the general public’s common sense? Alas, as many as one-half of all roadside and industrial deaths around England and Scotland relate to drink, drug misuse, or a combination of both. Present-day statistics prove that over 70% of drug abusers are engaged in full-time work, meaning that the average drug abuser is, effectively, the average staff member. Published Home Office statistics put the number of 16 to 29-year-olds who used illegal drugs in the last 12 months at a significant 50%. Therefore, this shouldn’t be seen as someone else’s issue, it is a factor to consider in every work environment. While the recreational use of illicit substances may not necessarily point to a tendency to ignore risks within the workplace, it does significantly increase the likelihood of workplace accidents and incidents, attendance and punctuality issues, a drop in productivity, damage to plant and equipment, being the target of legal action and a much higher turnover of personnel.

Substance Misuse Awareness Training In The Workplace – What is your recommendation? Isn’t random drug screening difficult to do?

Many businesses only conduct a workplace drug screen after a workplace accident, an incident or near miss, or when they find reasonable cause for concern or suspicion that a worker may be unsafe to be in the workplace. Given the large assortment of possible threats within heavy industrial company premises, a lot of workplaces see it as being entirely logical to carry out testing in such instances, as a way to prevent them occurring in future.

However, random testing brings the testing process to the next level, whereby a predetermined sample of the personnel is randomly selected to volunteer a breath and urine sample. You may see this as a little invasive, though it is pretty normal for as little as five percent of the staff to be tested up to once every 12 month period. This means that only one in 20 staff being drug screened, or maybe, as an employee, your chance of being subject to a screen could be just once every 20 years. As incredible as it seems, such minimal screening has been documented to reduce rates of failure from as high as 46% down to as low as 2% in only a handful of months. This might indicate that the commonplace drug misuser found within the work environment isn’t addicted and unable to change, but is merely making decisions about their lifestyle which might be adjusted towards a more agreeable outcome.

Substance Misuse Awareness Training In The Workplace. Is this seen as an invasion of a person’s civil Liberties?

Although certain individuals within the business may be initially resistant to the prospect of workplace screening, the bulk of them get the idea that this is being conducted to underpin the health and safety of everybody in the business. Provided the amount of on-site drug screening is comparable to the possible dangers found in the business and does not intentionally interfere with employee time outside of work, it will not represent a threat to staff human rights. Across the USA, around 98% of the largest 1000 companies drug and alcohol screen their members of staff without issue.

Where is the danger while misusing illegal drugs outside of work?

Countless illegal drugs have established a less dangerous image due to their continued exposure within the nation’s television, radio and newspapers. Undoubtedly, phrases including “recreational cocaine use” are responsible for a significant deal of harm in misinforming impressionable young people. For a significant proportion of people, the use of cocaine is even more addictive than heroin and, for this reason can’t be abused on a recreational basis without considerable threat of addiction. Dependency aside, the level of cocaine purity has fallen from approximately forty five percent purity in 2004 to a low of just 25 percent purity as of 2010 (with the purity of cocaine at an all-time low of 9 percent currently being reported). Shockingly, the compounds that dealers use to add mass to the cocaine powder often range from dangerous anaesthetics, cancer-causing chemicals, pet worming agents, all the way through to to insecticides. The reality is you should never place confidence in a drug dealer.

In fact, substances typically thought of as soft drugs still carry risks. Presently in England and Wales, a shocking 92% of patients admitted for therapy for mental illness are regular cannabis users. With this in mind, workplace drug testing unquestionably possesses the opportunity to take on wider antisocial and health concerns as it comes to be more commonplace.

To discover more about drug and alcohol screening along with home drug test kits, check out www.drug-aware.com

Author biography: Christopher Evans is the Technical Director of Drug-Aware Ltd, a supplier of Substance Misuse Awareness Training In The Workplace, alcohol and drug test devices, lab services as well as alcohol awareness training sessions. He has trained literally thousands of delegates spanning hundreds of companies, Her Majesty’s Prison Service, the British police and hospitals and GP surgeries across the United Kingdom.

Aug 27

Substance Misuse Tests At Work

Uncategorized No Comments »

Motivated by a desire to ensure health, safety and well-being of workers, random drugs and alcohol screening has become more and more common throughout Britain. Nonetheless, there still persist a significant number of misunderstandings relating to the system, which may trigger worry among the staff subject to testing.

Substance Misuse Tests At Work – Exactly where is the hazard?

A significant proportion of the population get the idea that the influence of street drugs within the average workplace is a trivial issue. Everyone has seen Christmas time drink-driving TV campaigns and as a result, appreciate that drink-driving and drug-driving is dangerous, so shouldn’t we be able to depend on the general public’s judgement? Sorry to say, as many as fifty percent of all workplace and roadside fatalities across Great Britain involve alcohol, illegal drugs, or a combination of both. Up-to-date statistics show that beyond 70% of illicit drug users are in full-time work, indicating that the average substance abuser is, in effect, the typical employee. Up-to-date Home Office figures estimate the volume of 16 to 29-year-olds that have indulged in drugs throughout the last 12 months at just over 50%. So, this should not be seen as somebody else’s problem, because it affects almost every industrial environment. While the consumption of narcotics doesn’t necessarily suggest risk-taking and irresponsible attitudes within the business, it does significantly increase the likelihood of accidents and incidents, attendance issues and absenteeism, a drop in productivity, damage to machinery and wasted materials, litigation and a higher turnover of workforce.

Substance Misuse Tests At Work – What companies do? Isn’t random drug screening difficult to do?

Many organizations only administer a workplace drug test in the event of an accident, a near miss or incident, or in the event that they have reasonable cause for concern that a member of the workforce could be unfit or unsafe for active duty. On account of the wide range of possible risks found at heavy industrial workplaces, numerous managers assume it to be entirely prudent to perform screening on such occasions, as a way to prevent them from happening in future.

However, random employee drug testing takes the screening process to the next degree, where a predetermined percentage of the workforce is randomly selected to provide a sample of breath and/or urine. This could be seen as a little invasive, however, it is very commonplace for just 5% of the staff to be drug tested up to once per 12 month period. This means that just one in 20 people being screened, in other words, as a member of staff, your odds of being tested would be just once every 20 years. As amazing as it sounds, such minimal screening has already been demonstrated to decrease positivity rates from as much as forty six percent down to as low as only 2% in only a handful of months. This hints at the fact that the run of the mill drug misuser present in the average company is not addicted and unable to change, but is just simply making decisions about their lifestyle which may be reshaped towards a more agreeable conclusion.

Substance Misuse Tests At Work. Is this often seen as an invasion of an individuals’ human rights?

While a few individuals within the company may be initially resistant to the prospect of on-site drug screening, most are aware that this will be carried out in order to assure the health and safety of everybody throughout the working environment. Provided that the extent of diagnostic testing is comparable to the risks inside the business and does not deliberately interfere with employee life outside of work, it will not pose a threat to employee human rights. Within the US, more than ninety eight percent of the leading 1000 corporations drug test their members of staff without any issues.

Where is the harm while experimenting with drugs outside of your job?

Plenty of drugs have recently acquired a less dangerous image as a consequence of their continual exposure in the country’s media. Without a doubt, expressions such as “recreational cocaine use” cause a great amount of harm due to it downplaying the dangers to people. For a large amount of teenagers, snorting cocaine is more habit forming than heroin and, as a result can’t be used recreationally without having substantial threat of addiction. Addiction aside, the level of cocaine purity has fallen from an average forty five percent purity in 2004 down to just 25 percent purity as of 2010 (with the purity of cocaine at an all-time low of 9 percent reported). Alarmingly, the added cutting agents that dealers use to add mass to the cocaine can be anything from dangerous anaesthetics, cancer-causing chemicals, animal worming agents, through to cockroach insecticide. The underlying message is you should never ever rely on a drug dealer.

Indeed, drugs typically deemed soft drugs frequently still carry dangers. Presently in United Kingdom, a frightening 92% of patients accepted for therapy for mental health problems are regular users of cannabis. With this in mind, on-site drug screening definitely possesses the ability to tackle wider antisocial and mental health problems when it becomes more common.

Discover more about company drugs and alcohol policies and also home drug testing kits, check out www.drug-aware.com

Author biography: Christopher Evans is the Technical Director of Drug-Aware Ltd, a provider of Substance Misuse Tests At Work, alcohol and drug test kits, lab services and alcohol and drug awareness training. He has trained literally thousands of delegates across hundreds of businesses, Her Majesty’s Prison Service, the British police and hospitals and mental health units across the UK.

Aug 27

Substance Abuse Awareness For Employers

Uncategorized No Comments »

Motivated by a desire to provide well-being, safety and health of workers, random substance misuse screening has come to be more and more common within the British Isles. Having said that, there are still numerous myths surrounding the strategy, that can produce worry amongst the personnel involved in screening.

Substance Abuse Awareness For Employers – So, where is the threat?

Most people suppose that the effect of controlled drugs in the average working environment is a very minor matter. Pretty much everybody has caught a glimpse of Christmas anti-drink-driving television campaigns and as a consequence, appreciate that drink-driving and drug-driving is hazardous, so can’t we depend upon the general public’s common sense? The sad thing is, close to fifty percent of all road and industrial deaths around the UK involve drink, drug abuse, or both together. Present-day available data prove that roughly 70% of drug users are engaged in full-time employment, suggesting that the average illegal drug abuser is, basically, the average employee. The latest Home Office information estimate the volume of 16 to 29-year-olds that have engaged in illicit drugs throughout the most recent year at a significant fifty percent. As a result, this should not be seen as somebody else’s issue, because it is relevant to each and every single working environment. Although the intermittent use of illicit drugs might not necessarily imply a tendency to ignore risks within the business, it does significantly increase the possibility of accidents and incidents, attendance and punctuality problems, a decrease in productivity, damages to machinery and wasted materials, being involved in a lawsuit and a significantly greater turnover of employees.

Substance Abuse Awareness For Employers – What do you suggest? Isn’t workplace drug testing rather complicated?

Many companies only perform an employee drug screen in the event of an injury or significant damage to property, an incident or near miss, or anytime they have reasonable grounds for concern that an employee is potentially unfit or unsafe for duty. Because of the broad cross section of potential risks associated with heavy industrial company premises, many companies view it as entirely reasonable to perform workplace drug screening on such occurrences, in order to prevent them occurring ever again.

On the other hand, random employee drug testing takes drug testing a stage further, whereby a certain percentage of the employees is randomly picked to volunteer a sample. This sounds a little intrusive, though it is quite customary for just 5% of the personnel to be tested up to once in every 12 month period. this is equivalent to just one in 20 individuals being drug screened, or maybe, as an employee, your likelihood of being subject to a test would probably be just a single time each 20 years. Incredibly, this style of minimalistic testing has actually been shown to lower rates of failure from as high as 46% down to as low as two percent within only a couple of months. This strongly suggests that the run of the mill substance abuser found within the average business isn’t addicted and unable to change, but is merely making lifestyle decisions which can possibly be steered towards a more positive end result.

Substance Abuse Awareness For Employers. Could this be viewed as a violation of human rights and civil liberties?

Whilst certain staff members are hesitant at first regarding the prospect of workplace screening, the majority of them recognise that this is primarily carried out in order to underpin the health and safety of everybody in the place of work. As long as the level of on-site drug screening is proportional to the risks inside the company and does not intentionally impact upon staff leisure activities, it doesn’t technically pose a danger to staff human rights. In the United States of America, more than 98% of the richest 1000 companies drug and alcohol test their members of staff without any difficulty.

Is there really any harm in using illegal drugs away from the workplace?

A lot of street drugs have indeed established a less dangerous image due to their continued exposure throughout the country’s magazines and newspapers. Indeed, expressions including “recreational cocaine use” can cause a great amount of harm due to it glossing over the risks to consumers. For a large amount of young people, the use of cocaine is much more addictive than heroin and, as a result can not be abused on a recreational basis without major risk of dependency. Addiction aside, cocaine purity has reduced from approximately 45 percent purity in 2004 to roughly 25 percent purity in 2010 (with purity at an all-time low of nine percent currently being reported). Even more worryingly, the added cutting agents used to increase the mass of the powdered cocaine range from dangerous anaesthetics, cancer-causing pharmaceuticals, dog worming agents, all the way through to to cockroach insecticide. The underlying message is that you can certainly never rely upon a drug dealer.

Indeed, substances usually considered to be soft drugs frequently still carry dangers. In recent years in the UK, a shocking 92% of everyday people taken in for treatment for mental illness are regular users of cannabis. With this in mind, on-site drug testing realistically possesses the realistic potential to attack wider antisocial and mental health problems as it eventually becomes more widely implemented.

Discover more about employee drug screening plus home drug test kits, see www.drug-aware.com

About the author: Christopher Evans is the Technical Director of Drug-Aware Ltd, a supplier of Substance Abuse Awareness For Employers, alcohol and drug testing kits, lab services together with drugs and alcohol awareness education. He has educated literally thousands of delegates across hundreds of businesses, Her Majesty’s Prison Service, the British police and hospitals throughout the UK.

Aug 27

Employee Substance Abuse Tests

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Spurred by a desire to provide well-being, safety and health of members of staff, company drugs policies have eventually become increasingly commonplace within the UK. Be that as it may, there still persist a number of misconceptions surrounding the process, which could cause doubt among the employees subject to testing.

Employee Substance Abuse Tests – Where is the danger?

Most people suppose that the influence of misused drugs throughout the work environment is a minor matter. Everybody has caught a glimpse of Christmas drink-driving television advertisements and as a result, recognise that drink-driving and drug-driving is illegal and dangerous, so can’t we rely on most people’s common sense? Sad to say, more or less half of all roadside and industrial fatalities within England and Scotland relate to drinking, illicit drugs, or a combination of both. Latest available data prove that about 70% of illegal drug abusers are engaged in full-time work, meaning that the typical illegal drug user is, essentially, the typical staff member. Up to date Home Office research place the number of 16 to 29-year-olds who abused illegal substances within the previous 12 months at in excess of 50%. In light of this, this is not someone else’s problem, because it impacts almost every company. While the intermittent use of illegal substances may not by default point to risk-taking and irresponsibility within the place of work, it does significantly increase the possibility of workplace accidents and incidents, attendance and punctuality issues, a drop in productivity, damages to machinery and wasted materials, legal issues and a raised turnover of staff.

Employee Substance Abuse Tests – What do you suggest? Isn’t workplace alcohol and drug testing operationally disruptive?

Numerous companies only administer the screening process in response to an accident in the workplace, a near miss or incident, or whenever they find reasonable grounds for concern or suspect that a colleague is unfit or unsafe to be operating machinery. As a result of the substantial assortment of prospective risks within heavy industrial workplaces, numerous businesses see it as being wholly logical to carry out workplace drug and alcohol screening on these occasions, in order to avoid them from happening again.

Of course, random drug testing takes on-site screening to the next level, where a certain percentage of the personnel is randomly selected to produce a sample. This might sound intrusive, however, it is actually very customary for as few as 5% of the personnel to be tested up to once in every 12 month period. This means that only one in 20 staff being drug screened, in other words, as an individual, your chance of being subject to a test should be just once each 20 years. As amazing as it sounds, this style of marginal screening has already been shown to lower rates of failure from as much as 46% down to as low as only 2% in as little as only a handful of months. This just shows that the run of the mill drug misuser within the average company isn’t hopelessly addicted, but is merely making lifestyle choices which might be reshaped towards a more positive end result.

Employee Substance Abuse Tests. Is this considered a violation of the person’s civil Liberties?

While certain individuals within the business could be initially resistant to the possibility of on-site drug testing, many comprehend that this is primarily carried out to establish the safety of everyone throughout the company. Provided the amount of on-site drug screening is proportionate to the risks within the company and does not deliberately impact upon personnel time outside of work, it shouldn’t pose a threat to individuals’ human rights. Around the USA, around 98% of the richest 1000 corporations drug and alcohol test their staff without any issues.

Is there really any danger while experimenting with substances away from work?

Lots of illegal substances have recently established a less dangerous image as a result of their frequent mentions throughout the nation’s newspapers and magazines. Undoubtedly, phrases including “recreational cocaine use” may cause a great amount of harm due to it downplaying the risks to young people. For many young people, snorting cocaine is more habit forming than heroin and, as a result cannot be abused on a recreational basis without major threat of becoming an addict. Dependency aside, the purity of cocaine has reduced from an average forty five percent cocaine content in 2004 to a low of just 25% purity in 2010 (with cocaine purity at an all-time low of 9 percent being reported currently). Even more worryingly, the powders that the dealers use to increase the volume of the cocaine powder can be anything from local anaesthetics, carcinogenic chemicals, cat worming powders, all the way through to to insecticides. The unfortunate fact is you should certainly never rely upon a drug dealer.

Even substances formerly regarded as soft drugs often still carry risks. Presently in England and Scotland, a staggering 92% of patients accepted for therapy for mental illness are heavy cannabis users. With this in mind, workplace drug and alcohol screening undoubtedly possesses the ability to attack wider antisocial and health related issues as it eventually is more widely accepted.

To learn more about drug and alcohol testing and also home drug screening kits, browse through www.drug-aware.com

Information on the author: Christopher Evans is the Technical Director of Drug-Aware Ltd, a supplier of Employee Substance Abuse Tests, alcohol and drugs testing kits, laboratory services and also alcohol and drug awareness training sessions. He has personally trained literally thousands of delegates across hundreds of organisations, HM Prison Service, the British police and hospitals throughout the country.

Aug 27

Drugs and Alcohol Screening At Work

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Encouraged by a demand to safeguard well-being, health and safety of employees and contractors, random substance misuse testing has eventually become more and more commonplace across Britain. Yet, there are still several misinterpretations surrounding the strategy, which might trigger apprehension amongst the workforce subject to screening.

Drugs and Alcohol Screening At Work – Where is the risk?

A significant proportion of the population make the assumption that the effect of drugs of abuse within the work environment is a trivial issue. Each and every one of us has seen Christmas time drink-driving television campaigns and as a consequence, know that drink-driving and drug-driving is not safe, so shouldn’t we be able to rely upon the public’s common sense? Alas, in the region of half of all workplace and roadside fatalities across the United Kingdom relate to drink, drug misuse, or a combination of both. Up-to-date research reveal that more than seventy percent of illegal drug users are engaged in full-time jobs, meaning that the average drug abuser is, effectively, the average company employee. Modern Home Office research put the volume of 16 to 29-year-olds that have engaged in illicit drugs in the last 12 months at just over fifty percent. On that basis, it is irresponsible to view this as somebody else’s concern, as it impacts just about every single workplace. While the intermittent use of narcotics doesn’t by default mean risk-taking and irresponsibility within the work environment, it does dramatically magnify the possibility of accidents, absenteeism, a decrease in productivity, damage to machinery and wasted materials, compensation claims and a much higher turnover of workforce.

Drugs and Alcohol Screening At Work – So what should we do? Isn’t employee alcohol and drug testing operationally disruptive?

Lots of businesses only administer workplace drug screening after a significant damage to property or an injury, an incident or near miss, or if they have reasonable grounds for concern or suspicion that an employee is potentially unfit or unsafe to be at work. Because of the substantial cross section of potential dangers associated with heavy industrial work environments, a lot of businesses view it as wholly prudent to conduct screening on these occurrences, in order to avoid them from occurring ever again.

Having said that, random testing brings testing the workplace to the next level, wherein a predetermined proportion of the personnel is randomly selected to provide a breath and urine sample. This may sound a little intrusive, though it is actually quite normal for as few as 5% of the staff to be tested up to once in every year. This means that just one in 20 staff being screened, or maybe, as a member of staff, your odds of being screened would be just one time in every 20 years. As amazing as it seems, this kind of minimal testing has already been confirmed to decrease rates of positivity from as high as forty six percent down to a low of two percent in as little as just a handful of months. This indicates that the typical drug abuser found in the average business isn’t hopelessly addicted and unable to change, but is just simply making decisions about their lifestyle which may be reshaped towards a more agreeable outcome.

Drugs and Alcohol Screening At Work. Could this be considered an invasion of an individuals’ freedoms?

Although a number of employees may be resistant at first to the thought of workplace screening, the significant majority recognise that this is primarily carried out in order to improve the basic safety of anybody within the place of work. Provided the extent of testing is proportional to the dangers within the workplace and doesn’t intentionally interfere with employee life outside of work, it doesn’t technically pose a threat to individuals’ human rights. In the United States of America, beyond ninety eight percent of the richest 1000 organisations drug and alcohol test their workers without any issues.

Where is the risk while abusing illicit drugs outside of the workplace?

Various illegal substances have already established a softer image as a consequence of their repeated exposure throughout national newspapers, radio and television. Indeed, expressions such as “recreational cocaine use” have been shown to cause a significant amount of harm due to it glossing over the dangers to young people. For a significant proportion of people, the use of cocaine is even more habit forming than heroin and, for this reason cannot be used recreationally without having considerable risk of dependency. Dependency aside, cocaine purity has reduced from an average of forty five percent cocaine content in 2004 to a low of roughly 25 percent purity as of 2010 (with purity at an all-time low of 9% currently being reported). Even more worryingly, the chemicals used to increase the mass of the powdered cocaine can be anything from dangerous anaesthetics, carcinogenic pharmaceuticals, dog worming powders, through to dangerous insecticides. The fact of the matter is you should never trust a drug dealer.

Indeed, drugs generally perceived to be soft drugs still carry risks. Currently in Britain, a shocking 92% of individuals admitted for treatment for mental health issues are regular users of cannabis. bearing this in mind, on-site drug screening genuinely possesses the ability to take on wider community and health related issues as it eventually becomes commonplace.

For more information on drug testing in the workplace and home drug test kits, stop by www.drug-aware.com

Author biography: Christopher Evans is the Technical Director of Drug-Aware Ltd, a supplier of Drugs and Alcohol Screening At Work, alcohol and drug testing kits, lab services together with drugs awareness training courses. He has instructed literally thousands of delegates across hundreds of companies, Her Majesty’s Prison Service, the British police and hospitals and GP surgeries throughout the United Kingdom.

Aug 27

Random Substance Abuse Testing

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Spurred by a demand to guarantee safety, well-being and health of employees, business drugs screening has eventually become noticeably popular within the United Kingdom. Be that as it may, there still persist several myths surrounding the strategy, which could lead to misgivings amongst the workforce being tested.

Random Substance Abuse Testing – Where are the dangers?

Many people presume that the impact of illegal drugs throughout the modern workplace is a trivial matter. We all have caught a glimpse of Christmas anti-drink-driving TV advertisements and keep in mind that drink-driving and drug-driving can cost lives, so shouldn’t we be able to count on the general public’s judgement? Sorry to say, close to half of all industrial and road deaths in England and Scotland are connected with drink, illegal drugs, or both together. Present-day available data indicate that in excess of 70% of illicit drug users are engaged in full-time employment, suggesting that the average substance misuser is, essentially, the typical staff member. Modern Home Office figures put the volume of 16 to 29-year-olds who have used controlled drugs in the previous year at almost fifty percent of that age range. In light of this fact, this isn’t somebody else’s problem, it affects virtually every work environment. Although the usage of narcotics does not automatically suggest a tendency to ignore risks within the working environment, this does substantially magnify the likelihood of accidents and near misses, attendance issues and absenteeism, reduced productivity, damage to machinery and wasted materials, legal issues and a more extensive turnover of personnel.

Random Substance Abuse Testing – What companies do? Isn’t drug testing in the workplace rather complicated?

Many companies only administer testing in the event of an accident, an incident, or whenever they have reasonable grounds for concern or suspicion that a worker is unfit or unsafe to be at work. Due to the large variety of prospective threats found at heavy industrial business premises, lots of businesses consider it entirely justifiable to carry out diagnostic tests on such occasions, as a way to prevent them happening again.

However, random drug tests takes drug testing the workplace to the next degree, wherein a fraction of the employees is selected at random to volunteer a sample of breath and/or urine. It might sound a little intrusive, though it is quite common for only 5% of the personnel to be drug tested up to once per 12 month period. this is equivalent to just one in 20 individuals being drug screened, or, as an employee, your chance of being subject to a screen would likely be just a single time each 20 years. As amazing as it sounds, this form of infrequent testing has indeed been demonstrated to reduce failure rates from a high of 46% down to a low of only 2% inside of just a handful of months. This highlights that the typical drug misuser present in the working environment is not hopelessly addicted, but is purely making choices about their lifestyle that may possibly be steered towards a more agreeable outcome.

Random Substance Abuse Testing. Should this be viewed as an invasion of civil Liberties?

Whilst certain individuals within the business could be initially resistant to the possibility of workplace screening, many support the fact that this is being undertaken in order to improve upon the health and safety of everybody within the place of work. So long as the amount of diagnostic testing is comparable to the risks found in the workplace and does not deliberately disrupt staff life outside of work, it doesn’t technically pose a danger to staff human rights. Throughout the US, over 98% of the largest 1000 companies drug and alcohol test their staff without any controversy.

So where is the risk while using narcotics outside of your job?

Various illegal substances have recently developed a less dangerous image as a consequence of their continued exposure throughout nationwide newspapers and television. Without a doubt, expressions including “recreational cocaine use” cause a significant deal of harm in misinforming the general public. For a lot of youngsters, cocaine is more habit forming than heroin and can’t be abused recreationally without having major threat of becoming addicted. Dependency aside, cocaine purity has fallen from a typical 45 percent purity in 2004 down to roughly 25 percent purity in 2010 (with purity as low as nine percent being reported currently). Worryingly, the chemicals that dealers use to pad out the powdered cocaine have been known to range from local anaesthetics, cancer-causing chemicals, pet worming agents, through to cockroach insecticide. The bottom line is you should never trust a drug dealer.

In fact, substances usually deemed to be soft drugs frequently still carry risks. At the present time in Britain, a whopping 92% of people admitted for therapy for mental health problems are heavy users of cannabis. bearing this in mind, workplace alcohol and drug screening really possesses the realistic potential to deal with wider social and health related concerns when it becomes more commonplace.

Discover more about random drug screening and home drug test kits, go to www.drug-aware.com

About the author: Christopher Evans is the Technical Director of Drug-Aware Ltd, a provider of Random Substance Abuse Testing, alcohol and drug test equipment, lab services along with drug and alcohol awareness training. He has taught literally thousands of delegates spanning hundreds of organisations, the HM Prison Service, the British police and hospitals and mental health units across the United Kingdom.

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